Kira (Los Angeles, California) on 06/06/2008
Up until two months ago, I had never experienced acid reflux. I've spent almost 50 years eating almost nothing but chocolate, citrus and several cans of diet coke a day.I then developed a sudden onset of acid reflux attacks -- to the point that my throat was closing up, causing me real terror for about 48 hours as I struggled to breathe. I am writing to relate what I think may have caused the problem (which I now seem to have on a regular basis but less severely).I had minor cosmetic surgery that involved removing some of the "matrix fat" in my lower abdominal area. To put me to sleep for the surgery, I was given one Benedryl tablet. After the surgery, I had acid reflux -- although it remained mild and went away in a couple of weeks. I attributed the problem to the one Benedryl tablet. After the acid reflux went away, I thought maybe the Benedryl had been falsely accused. So I took a tablet to sleep one night, and the next day was fine. That night I took another Benedryl, and I had acid reflux the next day.
I stopped the Benedryl and was fine in about a week. I then had further cosmetic surgery and more matrix fat was removed from my abdomen. I took just one more Benedryl tablet for this surgery. The next day my throat was closing up and I've had daily acid reflux for 3 weeks now.
I am sure the Benedryl is part of the problem. I may also have been exposed to some bacterial infection in the doctor's office where both surgeries were performed under not overly sterile conditions (but then I've had plenty of surgeries in other doctors' offices with no problem re it not being very sterile). I'm just saying its possible I was exposed to some acid reflux causing bacteria in this doctor's office. It's also possible that the removal of the matrix fat itself somehow removed some sort of protective hormone in this fat -- just a theory.
I've also noticed that eating Flan seems to badly trigger the acid reflux (although I ate the same Flan constantly up until I took the Benedryl for the first time without a problem).
Jack (Mosier, Oregon) on 05/21/2008
I have been using ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) for acid reflux for over 2 years. I started having reflux after I had a sore foot and was prescribed 600 mg of Ibuprofin 3 x daily. prior to that time I could eat anything. After a couple of weeks of the large dose of Ibuprofin I could not eat anything without severe Reflux. After using antacids for a long time I tried 2 TBS. per 8oz ACV to Water 1/2 hour prior to eating. It worked better than all of the antacids to releive the symptoms and the reflux slowly went away.
Adrian (New Jersey) on 04/02/2006
All of a sudden, I found myself taking Mylanta 4 or 5 times a day. Before this, I was taking Tums which did not seem to help after awhile. I was getting heartburn day and night, no matter what I ate. It progressively got worse over a 3-month period. I said to myself, "it is time to visit the doctor." Before doing so, I went onto the web and looked up natural remedies for acid reflux. I found your website: Earth Clinic. I tried _______'s apple cider vinegar 3 times a day with a 1/3 glass of apple juice and a little water. The first time I took this combination (in the morning), I felt lousy. Nothing hurt; I just didn't't feel good for 15-20 minutes. Then, I felt great. This "bad feeling" happened again and again, each time for a shorter period, and eventually not at all. (This lasted about 4 days.) The first week I did a lot of belching. I am still taking the apple cider vinegar (about 3 - 4 weeks) and will continue to do so because last year, after a first time attack of asthmatic bronchitis, I came down with laryngitis. For one year, my voice has been hoarse, sometimes with a hoarse -type cough at night when I'm lying down. The hoarseness now seems to be going away, very slowly, and the cough is almost gone. After a more thorough reading of your website, there were some comments on taking ibuprofen. About a year ago, I started taking Advil (at night - 4 to 5 times a week) for leg pains which was probably from exercising (avid exerciser). A few months later (as best as I can remember) I started to get heartburn on and off. I have not taken Advil in approximately one month and do not intend to after what I read on your website. Remarkably, I am not getting the leg pains since I started taking the apple cider vinegar. Thank you for your informative website. I hope this information may help.
Bee (USA) on 04/01/2006
All of a sudden this past week I have been waking up in the night with bad acid reflux. I have rarely ever experienced this in my 25 years of life. I decided to look online for some natural remedies and I came across this site with a message from someone who had a similar situation and attributed it to ibuprofen. I also started taking ibuprofen this week to relieve menstrual cramps and think this must be the cause of my acid reflux! I will try the apple cider vinegar and see what happens! Thanks!
Robyn (Boston) on 04/07/2006
i was taking aspirin because i have a family history of heart disease and my sister who is a nurse suggested it to me. My acid reflux occurred two months later for the 1st time. i stopped the aspirin and now i am waiting patiently for it to rectify itself.
Joni (Minneapolis) on 04/13/2006
I am just starting to try Apple Cider Vinegar and pickles for my acid reflux. My husband and I were both diagnosed about a year ago, and have been on various medications, Prilosec being the one we have gravitated to. We were led to believe that being on the Prilosec for short term would heal our acid reflux, but every time we try to get off, it flares up almost immediately. My husband is a carpenter, so Ibuprofen has been a constant means of relief for him. I have had horrible menstrual cramps in the past and was told by my doctor that I could take 4 ibuprofen at a time during those times. We both believe that ibuprofen was the cause of our acid reflux problem. I am very hopeful that by using vinegar, pickles, and pickle juice that we can wean ourselves off of the Prilosec.
Kellye (Tulsa, OK) on 04/20/2006
I took Ibuprofen every morning for a year or more and started having stomach problems and I still do til this day. I am struggling with my diet and can't hardly eat alot of things. I did buy the apple cider vinegar but didn't continue because I thought it would make the acid worse. I went to the doctor and all they told me was to take Zantac twice a day to no end. I quit taking it because I believe there is an answer. If you have any extra advice let me know.
Rosemarie (Worcestershire, UK) on 04/21/2006
I've been taking a number of prescription meds including aspirin for years for high blood pressure and under- active thyroid. The latter is the result of radium treatment for over-active thyroid and I believe agreeing to that treatment is the biggest mistake I've ever made! Last year, in addition to all the other medication, I was prescribed anti-inflammatories and pain-killers after I suddenly developed osteoarthritis(?) in my lower spine and knees and, almost immediately, I had crippling indigestion and reflux which prevented me from sleeping. I became afraid too eat and The medication which was then prescribed to counter the effects of the anti-inflammatories and aspirin caused dreadful insomnia so sleeping became an even greater problem. I stopped taking the anti-inflammatories and was soon unable to walk despite spending a fortune on physiotherapy, osteopathy and acupuncture . Eventually, I returned to the anti-inflammatories because they took the edge off the pain in my knees and back and I was immediately back to square one with reflux etc
Elle (La Crosse WI) on 04/24/2006
After reading your website, I realized why I have suffered for a year with this condition. For the last 3 years I was taking a combination of Ibuprofen and tylenol for chronic sinus pain, and I was working a very active healthcare job... so I needed to be pain free. After many over the counter remedies, I came upon the ACV in a health food store and it has subsided the acid/ulcer problem along with the sinus pressure and pain!I never would have believed it!!!
Mollie (Jackson, WI) on 04/27/2006
I realize that this flare up of symptoms is probably due to Ibuprofen overuse." (full email below in Pickle Juice Section
Sandra (Conway, Arkansas) on 04/29/2006
I started having acid reflux when I was about 12. Now that I realize it was the Ibuprofen that was causing it, I can link this to the fact that I started taking Ibuprofen for menstrual pain about a year and a half before that. It took awhile for it to tear up my stomach because I wasn't taking it regularly at first, but I do believe that it may have been at least part of the problem. I was taking 2 of those tiny red pills at first. And after awhile, as my pain became worse, I started taking 3 of them. It was shortly after that that the reflux began. My acid reflux has calmed down. Now I only have heartburn if I eat something extremely spicy.
Shirley (Jonesborough, TN) on 05/01/2006
I have been taking ibuprofen and aspirin occasionally with no problems related to stomach. Lately I started overusing these medications and ended up with rebound headaches first and then my gerd started to flare up again after a 3 year remission of symptoms. I will be drastically restricting use of these meds in the future!
GG (Longmont, CO) on 05/03/2006
I have taking ADVIL for years for pain and just put it together that it caused my GERD and Barrett's. I am going to the store today to buy ACV. I am hopeful it will replace the Prevacid I was just given after my diagnostic Endoscopy.....I'll let you know! This is the only site that has given me support and hope. Thank you all!
Lura (USA) on 05/06/2006
As far as a cause of GERD ... I never had heartburn until I started taking Inderal for anxiety. A few weeks after starting the Inderal I started experiencing bad heartburn. For a while I didn't know what was wrong, I thought something was wrong with my heart and I was having trouble breathing. Later a doctor told me beta blockers like Inderal relax the sphincter muscle. Though no doctor will admit to me that Inderal was the cause of my GERD, it's the only thing that makes sense to me.
