thoughts/experiences?

Kimenem

Kimenem

Cathlete
Ok....I know weight loss is beneficial on so many levels. But I want to know if it's been of benefit to anyone here regarding certain issues, such as a hiatal hernia or acid reflux. Most research says that weight loss can greatly reduce symptoms from both of these things. Also, I found out yesterday that my gallbladder is only emptying to 37% instead of 50% which means it's not totally working like it's supposed to. Dr said as long as it's not causing problems, don't need surgery, though I'm sure I'll need it eventually. The feeling I'm trying to rid myself of is one of acid washing DOWN through my stomach on occasion if I DON'T take Nexium. And, if any of you have read my previous hypochondriac posts re: Nexium, I don't want to take it. They say there is no increased risk of heart problems but I also have MVP and take BCP so all of those together I'm thinking may increase my risk. SOOOO I'm hoping that weight loss will all but get rid of the acid feeling. Also, I'm wondering if all this could be coming from the gallbladder????
 
Hey Kim,

My DH had acid reflux and changing his diet to low carb, lean proteins, staying away from junk food made a WORLD of difference for him. Caffine and chololates are also big culprits. Start by first look at what you are eating....serious look and you can change it. Also you need to be drinking a lot more water. You need to flush your body.

Therese
 
Oh yes.....the chocolate :eek:

Does he also take meds? There probably isn't too much of my diet that COULDN'T ne changed for the better. I have cut out soda, even diet, and am drinking more water and decaff unsweetend tea. Even though it doesn't look it because I'm 5'11, I need to lose at least 40 pounds. IF I can do it, I'm hoping it will make a bog difference with the reflux and hernia because I think the hernia is causing the reflux.
 
Hi Kim, I have had bouts of relux on and off for yrs. My Dr. put me on Nexium for a month, which helped tremendously, after that he told me to take Mylanta before bed and sleep on 2 pillows. It has worked liked a charm for me, it hasn't come back for quite a while. The rationale is when you lay down the acid flows up and irritates your esophagas, after you take the mylanta, the mylanta coats and flows up instead of the acid. I hope that I am making sense. Also get rid of the caffeine, I have read studies on weight loss also. But being so tall you can carry extra weight, I have read even a small amount of weight loss can make a difference . I hope that you feel better. Mary
 
See that's just it.....I don't feel bad. How do you know if you even HAVE reflux? I don't have any burning or a feeling like anything is coming back up when I lie down or bend over. This is so confusing. Do you take the mylanta every night? Is acid reflux mainly just a problem when lying down?
 
Kimenem said:
See that's just it.....I don't feel bad. How do you know if you even HAVE reflux? I don't have any burning or a feeling like anything is coming back up when I lie down or bend over. This is so confusing.
Click to expand...

This may sound like a silly question but if you don't have any symptoms how come you were prescribed Nexium?

I am not sure that it would be the weightloss that causes the improvement. I would think that it is the change in diet that would make most of the difference.
 
I never had heartburn either. I went to the ENT b/c I had the sensation of a lump in my throat. Kind of bizarre, anyway, he told me it was reflux, he said that you didn't need to have the burining sensation, but the acid was still causing the irritation. This happened to me about 2 yrs ago. I took the Nexium, only for a month, then con't with the mylanta. I had a flare-up (with the lump sensation) a few months ago, I have been taking the mylanta ever since and have had no problems, the lump is gone! He did tell me it was cyclical, seems to bother me more with stress, I don't know if I'm being of any assistence. How did the Dr. decide that you have reflux? Mary
 
Well originally, I did have an indigestion type feeling at the top of my stomach. I went to the dr and he gave me the Nexium and said itcould be galbladder. This indigestion feeling wasn't even bad. Anyway, he ordered an ulatrsound of the galbladder (no stones) and an endoscopy. They found the hiatal hernia through the endoscopy and I had a hidescan to check the galbladder function. I asked the surgeon who did the endoscopy if I had reflux and he said "not bad." he never said if it was the galbladder or hernia that was causing it. He just said take the Nexium daily. The only thing I have now is a feeling like a wave of acid down through my stomach off and on. Sometimes eating makes it stop. Ijustdon't want to be taking nexium if there is something less powerful thatwill work...like Pepcid. However, I don't think you can take those long term. Again...confusing because I though reflux needed to be treated daily.
 
If you have a hiatal hernia causing your acid reflux, losing weight, especially in the abdomen will tremendously help your symptoms. If you are normal weight and still a hiatal hernia, you may need meds and a drastic change of diet. I had a hiatal hernia and ulcer and I was miserable. i didn't have any weight to lose, and I radically changed my diet(no coffee, citrus, carbs etc) and started Nexium and antibiotics for the ulcer. It took several months, but it worked. i am symptom free now. As for your gallbladder, it is called the great mimicer because it can act like so many different other ailments, like heart attack, stomach ulcer, abdominal pain, even asthma. IMHO I would adopt a very clean diet, lose a few pounds and see if it helps. if you go to webmd.com I believe they have a diet for you to follow for your gallbladder. good luck and I hope you start getting better soon.
 
I sent you a message but maybe I didn't do it correctly. Did you hernia go away? The hernia or galbladder or the onlythings I can think of that could be causing acid/heartburn. I could definitely lose some fat around the middle too. It's SOOOO hard. I don't have an ulcer though so that's good. Did theytell you what size your hernia was?
 
I didn't get your message! But on my hernia, it was a sliding one. My dr believed that excessive weight lifting had caused it. I don't know if I believe that or not, but it sure as heck did not help and I did quit lifting all weights over 2 lbs for months. as far as the hernia goes, I don't know if it is completely reduced or not, I sure did not want another test to find out, but I am 95% symptom free. My advice though is a very very clean diet, weightloss and if they prescribe meds, for the short term, I would consider it. I took prevacid(did nothing) but nexium was wonderful. I took it for about 5 months. I know how you feel about meds. That is the only med I have ever taken in my life for longer than a week! But I had to make a choice and I sure couldn't go on the way I was. I hope this helps!:)
 
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