I guess acid reflux goes along with a hiatus hernia, but it is the hernia giving me the most pain. I have extreme pain in my stomache and diaphram and it really hurts when I walk so I can only walk maybe 1/2 block. It also is affecting my breathing and if I walk to fast or to far, I am short of breath.

I have been on medication 2 weeks and I am strictly following the DO NOTs and SHOULD DOs right down to the apple cider vinegar. I am a bit overweight, but that will be resolved soon as I feel I am going to starve to death. It is hard to figure out what bland food to eat.

I feel it is important to do all this for at least one month to see how much the medication is helping. I am wondering any of you suffer in this way and what kind of meal plan do you do. How long does one need to be on diet and medication to heal this up, or does it ever heal? Have any of you had the operation?

When I can't lay down due to the reflux, I have read hours on this topic. Any information and advice you have to offer will certainly be appreciated.
Jean

I never tried the vinegar, does it help do you think?

As for food, I found that the best for me is bananas, yogurt, plain rice or pasta, peanut butter sandwiches on whole grain bread, and applesauce. Tomatoes or anything with tomato sauce needs to be cut out immediately, I can now (it has been two years since I was diagnosed) eat it in small amounts. Milk or any dairy can he a culprit, I am okay with it but not everyone is. I like the Nutrigrain bars, they are pretty easy on the stomach too. You probably know to cut anything spicy out of your diet.

You will lose a lot of weight, which is a good thing! When you feel hungry eat a banana or a cup of yogurt. It is a pretty bland diet, but these were the foods that were easy on my stomach and tasty and filling enough. Take vitamins, Trader Joe's multi vitamin is rated one of the best because it dissolves completely and you get 100% of the nutrients absorbed into your system as opposed to other brands which end up out of your system before they are absorbed.

Prop the head of your bed up; we bought a 2x6 and put it under the legs at the head of the bed, it doesn't lift it up that much but it does make a difference.

Go to sleep on an almost empty stomach. The acid is worse when you lay down, if there is nothing in there it won't be a problem. I am hypo-glycemic (unrelated to the illness) and have to have some glucose in my system. The applesauce or banana provide enough to get me through the night, and I have Nutrigrain bars by the side of my bed if I wake up.

I hope this helps, I totally feel for you, it is really scary when you have a attack and it feels like a searing knife through your esophagus. It will be trial and error finding your balanced diet, I wish you the best of luck!

Haven't done the bed yet but I can see it would help. I feel like my throat is choking sometimes.

I know it is important not to aggrivate this condition. You mean I will not eat a fresh tomatoe out of my garden this year...or many years! I am sorry you are off work with this, but you obviously are doing well coping with this condition. Please be my mentor.

I started out on Nexium but my healthcare won't pay for it so I am on the cheap stuff and it is actually working better for me. I only bought the vinegar today and took one spoon...pretty powerful. Anything is worth trying. I drink Liptons Ginger Tea which I like very much and find it soothing on the stomache. Can't do the caffine any more.

Have you seen a GI specialist? I was wondering if it is important to see one as they can do more specialized tests.

Thanks again and pop on my thread any time.
Jean

I have a GI that I see on a regular basis. I have had two endoscopies and one colonoscopy. I had my gallbladder removed (the hydascan put my output at 0%, they had to redo the test because they had never seen anyone have a zero output!) and that was sucky, but it helped.

Rest, drink lots of fluids, stay elevated, and yes, sorry, stay away from your tomatoes! I love fresh tomatoes too, that was one of the things I hated to give up.

Oh, most non-citrus fruits are good too, apples, peaches, nectarines.

This is day 2 of sleeping on my 2 1/2" elevated bed and day 2 of not having pain in my stomache! Is this for real...it is not much elevation but seems to help. DH will raise it more if I need it. He likes it too...seems to help his sinuses.

Three days of taking the apple cider vinegar..just 1 spoon at night. Don't know if it is helping the guts but my throat feels much better and I haven't coughed for 2 days. I found some real tasty applesauce by Motts. Enjoyed that today with toasted rye bread. I eat oatmeal for breakfast and am not a big bread eater..I like speciality breads best.

I am one up on you...I'm having my third colonscopy in Aug. and 1 endoscopy. The GI specialist I see for the colonoscopy is not local but I think I will ask my GP to refer my hiatus hernia condition to him as well. If anything developed I would want him taking care of it...he's very thorough. What is a hydascan? I have never had any major surgery.

With just DH and I to cook for, our meals have suddenly become sporatic. He likes fried food..not on my list so we are worse than a restaurant. It will settle down and I hope he learns to eat more my style...it will be healthier for him. Thanks for all the food suggestions, it has really helped.

I hope you are enjoying a lovely summer weekend and felling well. Keep in touch. If anyone else wishes to contribute ideas or their experiences with acid reflux, please do so.
Jean