Yes I can see the reviews from that link, thank you.

Don't worry, I don't take Tums. It isn't even distributed where I live. I just thought of Tums when you mentioned Prelief was calcium-based, and you didn't know how it worked.

I doubt Prelief is sold here, but it is helpful to know that an antacid might make the difference, so that I can eventually add some coffee back. I LOOOOOOOOOOVE coffee! I'll ask at the pharmacy about the active ingredient in it, per your recommendation.

For now, I'll continue with tea as long as I can, hopefully until things are controlled. I will be trying to reduce my now escalated tea consumption, also.

Do you drink much tea? If so do you find it bothers you the way coffee does? Because if it is just about the caffeine for you, a cup of tea might prevent your headache as well as a half cup of coffee. I've read that tea is not as bothersome as coffee for GERD, and that seems to be the case for me.

waves

is it the caffeine that bothers the gerd?
different teas have differing amounts of caffeine.
I think it goes from higher to lower:
black white green decaf then herbal that has none.
which kind of tea are you drinking waves?
and I guess it matters how long you steep it for too.
bizi

I ended up having a 6 ounce cup of coffee at church this morning around 11am because I was nervous and wanted to hold onto something.

Waves,

I am following along but not 100% getting it so I have to ask a stupid question (or two) once in a while.

1. You like caffeine.
The coffee is a problem
Caffeine in tea is less of a problem.

2. Do you like coffee for properties other than the pick up from the caffeine?

Do I have it mostly right?

M

Wow, I didn't keep up well on this one.

But I love coffee also. But I have to watch how much I
drink it causes migraines for me.

Also I have been drinking lots of hot tea lately. Just the
plain stuff with sweet n low and sometimes a little milk.

Donna

That all sounds right, Bizi, as far as I know, in terms of caffeine. Not sure about the order of white and green -- someone else can confirm or correct.

Caffeine seems to be the main culprit, but mixed results indicate that it is not the only player. Coffee has been found to bother GERD more than tea. However, according to at least one study, while decaffeinated coffee produced fewer symptoms than regular coffee, no such difference was seen between regular and decaffeinated tea.

My regular "tea" is strong black tea. I do also drink other things (green tea, any of many herbals, broth, water) as the need or desire for them arises. I really don't do substitutions other than occasionally decaf for coffee (but never for tea).

Holding a beverage can work for nervousness. Done that.

Yes you do.

I used coffee for its high caffeine content.
ALSO
I enjoyed coffee for its taste.

Right now I am "using" tea, and it feels very, very strange indeed... vaguely blasphemous!

Tea contains less caffeine. My understanding, from studies and articles, is that this is why it is less of a problem. Some studies show that other chemicals in tea may be a factor, because decaffeinating tea does not reduce its impact on GERD. But it produces fewer symptoms by volume than coffee does.

I have effectively stopped drinking coffee (at least until I cave into a taste craving for it). I will try to reduce my tea intake gradually, as well. Need to hedge my bets at this point.

==> I still have burning, but it is less than yesterday. I hope it isn't a coincidence.

waves

Not sure of the website but the info seems right to me:

http://ratetea.com/topic/caffeine-content-of-tea/21/

It is a widespread myth that black tea contains more caffeine than green tea, and another myth that white tea contains the least caffeine of all teas.

This I found interesting:
M

Wow,

That was very interesting, Mari, thank you!!

I also remember something about phenol content in tea, and across types of tea, affecting the rate of absorption of caffeine (and therefore the relative "joltiness" and duration of the effect). I either read this a long time ago, or my mother read it and told me.

I'm going to look that up and see if I can confirm it. I wonder now, if it is another myth.

waves

I went to the above link and read the whole article. wow...very interesting. hard to tell what teas have what.
bizi

Regular tea (black tea?) doesn't really bother me. I would have to drink a ridiculous amount before it becomes an issue on both the GERD and headache fronts. So, it's safe.

However, green tea is another story. It doesn't bother the GERD, but it will give me a headache. A darn shame, as it is so good for you.