Wow, I was searching for something else and came across this old thread. Since I have had some experience I thought I'd drop in with my own particular solution... I think it will work for most people though. Drink "green juice"... its simply concentrated fresh veggies. Mainly greens like lettuce, spinach, dandelions, beet greens, etc stuff like that run through a juicer... NOT a Blender, blenders leave all the roughage in, which dilutes the flavors and bulks up and is just plain too much extra to drink. Root veggies are okay to add as well, especially carrots and beets. Cabbage related veggies are too strong flavor-wise and will render the juice very unpleasant to drink, mushroom will make it taste like the forest floor. Fruits will make it more palatable but do add a lot of sugar in the form of fructose its so best to limit that. Drink just a cup of green juice at least once a day and within a week or two, no more acid attacks, ever! If I fall off the wagon (stop drinking it daily) in about a month the night-time acid issues resume. I've been doing this for almost twenty years now, the pattern/connection is un-mistakeable. Additional benefits from drinking green juice... sleep more soundly, blood pressure normalized after the first several months, bowle movements are quite regular within 20 minutes after having my morning green juice. And I'm not the only one... my wife and several friends also drink green juice with similar results. My conclusion is we (meaning everyone) just aren't getting enough of what freshly consumed vegetables supply (likely high concentrations of minerals in highly absorbable forms) into our diets... so fix the diet and you'll likely fix a number of physical health issues. Its not a magic potion, its not a drug to instantly treat symptoms.... Rather green juice is real nutrition and so it will take time to work, it needs to be a lifestyle change, if you treat it as a fad it will have no lasting results. Peace, I'm outta here...

Make sure to take ALL the antibiotics they give you! Drink plenty of fluids, too...that helps with the reflux. I had a bout where I had a sore throat, then my throat closed up. I could breathe, but not swallow, it was miserable! Turned out that I'd had reflux, that caused an inflamation in my throat. They gave me what they called a GI cocktail, it was something with an anesthesia to ease the pain, and Maalox to reduce the acid. I was finally able to swallow, but boy, was that miserable. I get occasional reflux, and I up my quanitity of fluids. Some foods, not spicy, however, tend to be bigger triggers for me than others.

I had Gerd the highest degree with scaring on the verge of Barretts. I was in the original drug testing for Prevacid and prilosec. I was put on ppi way back then and stayed on them for years and years. I know they contributed to some of the health issues I have today. My current gastrointerologist is wonderful he understands the dangers of the ppi drugs he is trying to get all his patients off of them. I had already heavily researched the use of apple cider vinegar and reflux. He encouraged us to get off the ppi by metering our doses down slowly and beginning immediately taking a dose of the Apple cider vinegar at least 2to3 times a day and any time we felt reflux. We only use the ACV that says with the mother it's important to use that type. I and my husband were absolutely amazed at how quickly this process reversed our reflux. I now put some in my water bottle every morning and take a spoonful in a cup of water if I feel the need. We have been completely off the ppi for a long time now and we never have the reflux we used to. Taking the ppi is causing the gut to get more alkaline and making the problem worse. Research reflux and ACV. It's made a world of difference in our lives. My little dog has severe reflux, the vet recommended we put ACV on her food every day and it's made a big change in her, she is no longer having the reflux puking.

Thank you for the kind words Linelle, we are unfortunately part of a club that no one should have to be in and my heart really does go out to you. You are right. I love your perspective and have learned something from it, thank you. My husband is currently in remission which is the best we can hope for right? The lesson I personally walked away with from this entire experience is that we, as patients (and advocates) need to be involved with our care and not just accept what a doctor says as gospel. ETA: I also am in a lot of clinics for work and chat with a lot of doctors. They really do want us to be involved and proactive too.