#GERD / heartburn

[iris-polaris]

what the Hell is acid reflux

[bazilisk]

The LES is the laziest bastard

No, not the neighborhood in Manhattan, I am talking about the Lower Esophageal Sphincter. This guy:

I'm having a new case of something like frequent heartburn right now, so in my idle moments of health anxiety I'm looking at fun facts to stress about online.

I'm coming across lots of mentions of what causes GERD (advanced and potentially risky heartburn, basically), and how it's mechanically caused by the Lower Esophageal Sphincter relaxing too much, or not being stalwart enough in its defense against its hapless human host's Bacchanalian eating habits, or against their now-medically-significant-Fatness, or their Unfashionably Tight Pants. Basically, the stomach acid shouldn't be in the esophagus, but this underpaid-security-guard of a structure lets it get into there sometimes. There are some pretty easy-to-predict things that make stomach acid worse. They're obvious if you've ever eaten too much of something that didn't agree with you: rich food, acidic food, spicy food.

But I was surprised by the less-expected mentions of several things that make this flesh ring relax too much. It's PRACTICALLY ALL OF MY HABITS:

Alcohol

Cannabis

Caffeine

Menthol (1)

Antihistamines(2)

Here is the kicker, the thing on the list that will send me into infinite stress spirals if I consider it too much: one of the things that makes this little flesh hole chill out too much is

Anxiety

ANXIETY, the mental state that is famous for tensing muscles, makes this critically important muscle RELAX. I guess the LES is just "not like the other muscles."

========================================

By the way, this post is not a request for advice - I am getting plenty of advice from sources other than Tumblr. Including, if this doesn't let up soon, an actual doctor. Thank you.

And don't worry, I am completely cutting both alcohol and cannabis out of my life right now, until/unless I can figure this out.

Footnotes:===========================

(1) (Inconvenient because menthol is normally useful for treating nausea and sore throats, 2 symptoms of GERD. Also, because I have a habit of constantly chewing sugar-free peppermint gum).

(2) (Inconvenient because they're useful for sleeping through coughing fits, which GERD causes).

[alphagodith]

why did none of my fucking doctors tell me i can instantly relieve otherwise hours-long agony just by drinking a bit of baking soda in water...

WHY THE FUCK ARE ALL MY MEDICATIONS USELESS PREVENTATIVE TRASH WITH A MILLION SIDE EFFECTS WHEN I HAD ACTUAL RELIEF RIGHT HERE IN MY PANTRY THE WHOLE TIME

like i get that if you are experiencing abnormal pain you should get it checked out but IN THE MEANTIME i could have been treating myself, and even once i got seen they didn't give me jack shit for the pain!

[cockroachparty]

6 more days until my endoscopy!!

i have chronic GERD, but my doctor will be checking for any signs of ulcers, hernias, cancer, etc etc, anything abnormal. Im hoping it's none of the above and it's simply just GERD that I have.

Ever since August I've only been able to eat around 15 different foods (I had to cut out everything; sweets, sodas, red meats, bread, dairy, everything fun essentially!) And I've been eating a restricted diet for the past 4 - almost 5 - months.

I really want to be able to indulge in some of my favorite foods again (spicy ramen, for example <3) and I hope soon after the endoscopy I'll be on some sort of medication that will allow me to not be in pain after eating simple oatmeal!! Wish me luck

[arielluva]

ate spicy ramen and now i have heartburn! who could've seen this coming? (i did)

[non-un-topo]

They need to put me in an ad for Advil gel capsules, because yesterday I was sobbing on the floor and this morning I was in so much pain I couldn't talk, but now I feel like a normal human person and also could probably do a backflip (I would break my neck and tear my ACL but still)

[ayyy-imma-ninja]

it's late at night and i'm genuinely curious about something:

[eatclean-bewhole]

If you regularly experience acid reflux or the more advanced version of it, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), it is important you know common food culprits and figure out your triggers (see image 3) and start replacing them with healing foods (image 5). One of the best natural remedies for acid reflux is organic apple cider vinegar, which is excellent for gut health in general (image 6). Take care of your gut. It’s the root of your health!

[nonbinarynightcrawler]

the Senshi effect is so real I just went out of my way to fry up some garlic to add to my usual breakfast because historically toasted garlic has helped me manage some Symptoms

[crowcussion]

oh what a nice- and im about to puke again

[victorborkowski]

drinking chamomile tea for the first time thoughts and prayers appreciated because this is a moment of desperation and i find myself mildly worried it shall backfire on me

[cozmoz]

Random Tid-Bit

If you have GERD or problems with heartburn, acid reflux...

Try eating dinner before 6PM, and sleep at around 9-10PM. This helps and allows the food to fully digest within the stomach and travel throughout your digestive tract, making it harder to come back up into the esophagus!

[sherlockfreak05]

Honestly, this was good to hear.

It's so easy to minimize or trivialize what you're going through, especially if it's not the WORST possible version of whatever. Like my migraines--I don't get nausea or auras, so I often sell it short. But the fact of the matter is, moving and ANY light makes it impossible to function. I literally have to put on a mask or blindfold and wait for time (and painkillers) to take the edge off.

So yeah.

Always feel bad when I see someone say something like "I don't have a disability but I have [something that is a disability but society doesn't treat like one]"

Migraines. Food allergies. GERD. Vision problems. Skin problems. For people that menstruate, conditions that cause irregular and painful cycles. Those are all disabling. Anything that impairs you from functioning or completing a basic life task without accommodation is a disability. Anything that makes you spend days in bed during a flare up is a disability! Not everyone experiences your symptoms and you're not being weak or whiny.

Mental illnesses that people treat as "mainstream" these days like anxiety, depression, or ADHD are still disabilities. Overcoming a massive struggle just to get out of bed, slow down your thoughts, or focus on what you need/want to do is disabling. Starting the day with less mental energy than most people is disabling.

For the migraine people: yes, everyone gets headaches, but no not everyone gets migraines. It's a condition that can be inherited in which our nerves are literally wired differently and more sensitive than someone who doesn't get migraines.

For the food allergy and digestive disorder people: if you eat something your body can't tolerate, you become sick. Doesn't matter if it's a trip to the ER or skin irritation for a few hours, that's a negative response in your body. Going hungry at social events because you can't eat anything, that's not something you just have to grin and bear. Prohibitively expensive or hard-to-find accessible food. Most people have the privilege of not worrying about eating.

For people with abnormal menstrual cycles: you don't have to suck it up because "lots of people get periods, no one likes them, but they all deal with it." Majority of people who get periods don't spend days in bed with debilitating pain or nausea. Your heightened struggle is real. Going months between cycles can increase your risk of health conditions down the line, and it's good to speak to a gynecologist if you have access to one.

If you are feeling discomfort on a regular basis in any part of your body, or if you usually feel unwell after eating, that isn't normal and you deserve medical attention and support

Edit to reiterate this list is not exhaustive!

[cockroachparty]

i miss my life before GERD took over

[viralbiologist]

Complaining about our heartburn and stomach bs + alcohol mention

We spend an unbearable amount of time in the morning just telling ourselves to “lock the fuck in” as if we’ll mind over matter our heartburn. This has been like. Every day for the past week. Help.

Especially trying to lock in today bc last week I missed two of my classes because my heartburn was soooo bad that I threw up those mornings :’)

I’ve tried working on eating habits, I don’t drink alcohol anymore (lot of reasons on that), I don’t smoke, I try to limit stress as much as possible, I try to not eat at least three hours before sleeping, I try to get a good amount of sleep,,,,, girl !! wtf !!!!

I’m tired :( and I’m taking medicine for the heartburn in the mornings to try and get the stomach acid to calm tf down but it’s not working too much today. Aghhh I hate being sick all the time

[gastroenterologistinpunesblog]

Acidity, also known as acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a common disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. While it may seem like a minor inconvenience, untreated acidity can lead to severe complications, earning its reputation as a potential “silent killer.” Dr. Vikrant Kale, a leading gastroenterologist in Pune, emphasizes the importance of recognizing acidity early and seeking timely medical intervention.