mrsD,
I am about to my wits end with this GERD situation. I am still taking the supplements you recommended, but my "stomach" is fighting a heck of a battle.

We have a friend who is an RN, she listened to my story and said I might consider baking soda. 1/2 teaspoon to 4 oz of water, every 4 hours for a day or two. It has helped some.

Any suggestions? I have totally quit tea and chocolate. Any help appreciated....Dave

As long as you don't over do the baking soda... it is okay for temporary use. Using everyday may cause problems with acid/base balance in the blood.

GERD can occur when you have poor lining of the stomach. It also occurs with poor digestion. Gas build up will push gastric contents UP and cause the backwash of acid into the esophagus that we call heartburn.

When proteins are not digested well, they make gas in the intestines from the bacteria who ferment it and make the gas.

To improve the lining of the stomach and lungs (since you have that lung issue) ones needs to be consuming in the diet Omega-3 fatty acids. Flax oil and fishoil. I had terrible GERD over a decade ago... and it totally went away when I started to use these essential nutrients properly. (I have a severe hiatal hernia that makes me prone to GERD.)

Something better than baking soda that might work for you is Gaviscon. This product foams up and coats the lower end of the esophagus and protects it from burping, and reflux. It is unique and designed for this.
http://www.gaviscon.ca/

http://www.essentialsforlivingwell.c...n/default.aspx

Chocolate is a definite no-no for people with GERD. If you need to have a warm drink, I'd try peppermint tea. I use Bigelow brand and find it very soothing. It is not so acid like black tea.

Eating high fat content meals, will keep food in the stomach longer, and may aggravate GERD. So keep that in mind. Smaller more frequent meals are better.

Try these and see your doctor if you continue with severe problems. Any difficulty swallowing should be seen ASAP.

Thank you, I will try the Gaviscon today. My "eating" problems have been going on for a year now. Can't seem to find an aggressive doctor in the Sacramento area. My Gastrointinologist is highly rated, but too busy I guess.

Respiratory issues complicate things for me. I pulled my right bicep off the bone Oct 4, 2010, but they said they cannot sedate me due to my respiratory problems. Let me rephrase that, they can sedate me, but are concerned I will quit breathing and they won't be able to "bring me back". I now have Carpal Tunnel in both hands, they sent me to see a surgeon (same one) and they talked to the anesthesiologist, who still says no. If I were dying, YES, they would do it, but I have some use of my hands and bicep, so they don't think it is worth the risk.

I have several other medical problems that get intertwined so that "you can't get there from here." Frustrating. BTW, remember that I drank drano when I was 3. Ate my teeth and gums out, scars in my Esophagus, etc.

Finally, notice the time I am writing this. Been up since 2am. Can't sleep anymore. TIRED all the time. I understand many of my problems are beyond the scope of your assistance, but they all contribute to the medical situation I am in. Thanks again, Dave

Those tendon ruptures and issues may be coming from your
continued use of Cipro. This is a well known side effect. No known way to control that yet either, I am sorry to say.

(all the fluoroquinolone antibiotics can cause them)

fluoroquinolone antibiotics are well documented. As I told you before, between Feb 2007 and Feb 2011 I was given OVER 300,000mg of antibiotics.

Now, before anyone criticizes, I was pretty sick. Sent to the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, CO for a week of testing. Got home almost 6 weeks later.

Levaquin and Cipro (and the corticosteroids I take) appear to be the culprits. The tendon behind my right knee is giving me fits right now. I fear I will lose it.

I wish they would educate people about these problems.

Sleepy now....grrrrrr....if i can nap, more tore to me. TTUL, Dave