Reader finds relief from reflux

April 30, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I want to thank you for printing the article from the reader who submitted his or her experience with acid reflux and crunchy foods. For quite some time I had been experiencing symptoms after eating foods like granola bars, pretzels and nuts, which would then set me up to also have trouble after eating just about anything else later in the day.

All of the research that I did indicated that these foods should not have been triggers but they were for me. I was at the end of my rope until I saw your article and tried what the reader suggested.

For the past four days I have been limiting crunchy foods and have been chewing extensively. I have not had a single GERD symptom in those four days (miracle!). I have even been consuming acidy foods (that would typically be avoidance foods) with no problems. [Read more…]

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Some GERD drugs may cause bone loss

September 16, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Is it safe to take Prilosec daily as long as I am taking calcium citrate to protect my bones?

DEAR READER: Drugs such as Prilosec are used as acid suppressors and are believed to be the second-leading-selling medication worldwide. In May 2010, the Food and Drug Administration determined that Nexium, Dexilant, Prilosec, Zegerid, Prevacid, Protonix and Aciphex might include a warning on their labels regarding the possibility of fracture risk, stating proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may interfere with the ability of our digestive tracts to absorb calcium.
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Alternative causes of chronic cough

March 13, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: In January 2011, your column responded to a 19-year-old who had a chronic cough for 16 months. I, too, had a chronic cough whenever I sat, stood, laughed, was around smoke or after exercising. It lasted more than 15 months. My other symptom was hoarseness with a sensation of something in the back of my throat. I had been put on prescription cough syrups and pills. I had also tried some of the same medicines that were mentioned in your column, including those for asthma, acid reflux and allergies. I was asked about acid reflux but hadn’t had the usual symptoms for it. I saw an allergist and a pulmonologist. I had a chest X-ray, allergy tests, CT scans of my sinuses, breathing tests and a bronchial scope.

While awaiting an appointment with yet another doctor about the cough, I had my yearly pap test, and blood was also found in my stool. [Read more…]

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Gallstones may be cause of GERD

February 13, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: This is in response to the writer diagnosed with GERD and a hiatal hernia who questioned taking omeprazole. Several years ago, I suffered with the same symptoms and the same diagnosis. Medication did not help me, and finally, after a CT scan, gallstones were discovered. I had laparoscopic surgery to remove my gallbladder and repair the hernia. I have not had any problems since.

DEAR READER: When gallstones form, they can cause a blockage that may cause bile to build up, leading to inflammation and/or pain. The pain can often be confused with that caused by stomach acid.
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Gagging has many causes

November 9, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Thank you for your balanced, sensible and unbiased information. It is a breath of fresh air.
My husband has a problem with spontaneous gagging. It does not seem to be related to eating, foreign objects or any activity in particular. It has caused him to pull the car over or stop talking with clients.

This has been going on for almost a year. We have had monitoring of his throat for acid reflux, and he did have some, but the rise in acid doesn’t seem to correspond with the gagging, and medication doesn’t make a difference. He has tried over-the-counter medications as well as prescriptions. He has also had an endoscopic procedure, which showed no polyps.

I would greatly appreciate any information you can provide; our doctors seem to be at a dead end.
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