Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
In ‘04 I started having episodes of food getting caught in my esophagus, it would start with hiccups while eating, then food would get stuck, I couldn’t even swallow water to “wash it down”. The water would come right back up, & eventually the food would too.
I had no idea why it was happening or even what was happening. I went to a Dr. to get help & his answer was that I was subconsciously bulimic.
Yes, that was his diagnosis. Because it often happen while eating bread, his logic was since I was overweight & knew I *shouldn’t be* eating carbs, I was subconsciously making myself sick.
At the time I wasn’t confident enough in myself to tell him to fuck off, & honestly I think I was shocked that he even said it.
So I lived with it. 2 years later I eliminated wheat from my diet & I wasn’t having symptoms.
That lead me to get an Ig-G food sensitivity test and eliminate my food sensitivities. I saw a GI specialist & got a diagnosis- eosinophilic esophagitis (EE).
EE is a build up of white blood cells in the esophagus as a result of allergens, food sensitivities, and acid reflux (GERD).
The GI doc gave me corticosteroids. It helped but I was determined to heal things naturally.
Over the years I have learned that my symptoms are aggravated by wheat & high sulphur foods.
And my symptoms are hiccups especially after periods of fasting, belching, sensitivity to hot liquids, left ear pain, & neck pain. I now rarely have episodes of dysphagia, impaction, or regurgitation.
2 yrs ago, I had an endoscopy to see how things were & the EE was gone! The reflux remains.
GERD can lead to cell dysplasia and increases the risk of esophageal cancer. So treating it is still important not just for my symptoms.
Supplements that I find helpful:
DGL (deglycerolized licorice)- increases mucous production & protects the esophagus & has been shown to heal and renew the cells. This type of licorice is w/o the part of the licorice that causes high blood pressure. (I drink tea- b/c licorice 🤢)
• Molybdenum- this mineral helps with sulphur sensitivity by helping to convert sulphur into sulphate