Cured my GERD ( Success story )

Hi everyone,

I promised myself that if I ever managed to cure my GERD, I would come back to this forum and share my experience. I’m happy to finally return with good news!

I know how challenging it can be living with GERD. When you're struggling with this condition, you spend hours searching for answers or trying to find success stories on forums like this, hoping someone has found a way to heal. The reality, though, is that success stories are often scarce, and it’s easy to feel discouraged. Many of us forget the tough days once we start feeling better, but here I am, as promised, sharing what worked for me TWICE. 6 years ago GERD caught me off guard the first time, but the second time, I knew exactly what caused it and how to handle it. I hope my story can help even just one person here.

Here’s my story:

6 years ago, GERD hit me suddenly, with no warning. I experienced a deep, burning sensation in my stomach, severe pressure in my chest, nausea, a constant lump-in-throat feeling, and an upset stomach that lasted for months. At the time, I didn’t know it was GERD or LPR. I didn’t yet have a family doctor, so I ended up visiting emergency rooms in search of answers. The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong, and after suggesting an endoscopy, they sent me home to wait for a specialist—a process that, in Canada, meant waiting at least six months!

The pain worsened over time. Even drinking water aggravated my symptoms. I didn’t experience regurgitation, but I could feel and hear the acid in my throat, along with a constant pressure and burning sensation in my stomach. So, I decided to visit a walk-in clinic. One of the doctors suggested it might be GERD and recommended taking Pepto or TUMS. I had already tried both with no relief, so instead, he prescribed me Rabeprazole 20mg and told me to wait for my endoscopy.

I wasn’t thrilled about taking a PPI, especially after reading that many people’s symptoms worsened on them, but I hadn’t heard much about Rabeprazole. Any relief is better than none! so I started taking it along with some diet changes, My lump in my throat went away after 1 month and after two months, my GERD was completely gone!

Fast forward to December 2024, just three days before Christmas. GERD came back—just like the first time. I immediately knew what had caused it: I had spent an entire day on an empty stomach, drinking coffee three times. My symptoms flared up again, but this time, I knew exactly how to handle it. I followed the same regimen I had used six years ago, and after just 2 months, my GERD was gone once again.

GERD can come and go depending on my diet, but I managed to keep it at bay for six years without taking any pills. Once I saw that my stomach had healed, I weaned off the PPIs and stayed pill-free for six years. During that time, I was able to eat and drink anything without any signs of GERD or pain!

** Remember you don't want your stomach to stay empty as this itself can make GERD worse, I would have small meals throught the day and snack in between - Small portions is the key!

I truly hope my regimen can help someone out there, and that you, too, can one day share your success story. Here’s the treatment plan that worked for me:

Medications/Supplements:

  • Rabeprazole 20mg
  • DGL (as needed – it really helped heal my gut lining)
  • Vitamin D with K3
  • B Complex
  • Melatonin 3mg (at night)

If you’re not interested in all the supplements, I recommend at least taking the PPI and DGL, as they were essential for my healing.

Daily Regimen:

Morning:

  • Take Rabeprazole 20mg on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before eating.
  • Breakfast: 1/3 cup oatmeal made with water, a little honey, and a sprinkle of cinnamon (adjust based on what you can tolerate).
  • 30 minutes after breakfast, make herbal tea (nothing caffeinated, like green tea). I prefer teas like lavender or chamomile—something soothing.

Snack:

  • Raw almonds. I would eat them even when I didn’t feel like it, as they really helped neutralize stomach acid. Sometimes, I’d blanch a handful in water and keep them in the fridge; this helped the skin to come off and make them easier to digest.
  • Herbal tea throughout the day along with 1L of water minimum

Lunch:

  • Bland soup made with turmeric, salt, and chicken stock. I’d add chicken breast, but in the beginning, it irritated my stomach, so I mostly relied on bone broth. I always included turmeric because it’s anti-inflammatory.

Dinner:

  • Grilled veggies, potatoes, or more soup—whatever was gentle on my stomach.

Before Bed:

  • Take melatonin and sleep on your left side with your head and shoulders elevated.

Bonus:

  • I also drank flaxseed water in the morning. I’d soak flaxseeds in a jar of water overnight and drink a tablespoon of the flaxseeds in the morning. You can skip this step, but studies suggest flaxseeds help strengthen the LES ) along with almonds.

I really hope this regimen helps someone out there. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I’ll do my best to answer. Good luck to all of you on your journey to healing!

\** Disclamer: Please consult with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements or PPIs. What worked for me may not be suitable for everyone*