Hi Denna,

If you have seen your doctor, you should follow his/her advice as well. If you have not seen your doctor, here is some information that will help you ask all the right questions.

You can read about GERD here in the overview and you can check your symptoms here in the symptoms database. Once you have seen your doctor, if he prescribes medication for GERD, you can read about them here in the drugs database. You can also research treatments available and alternatives here in the treatments database.

People with heartburn should first try lifestyle and dietary changes. In one study, 44% of patients who experienced symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) reported improvement after changing their diet. Some suggestions are the following:

• People with heartburn should avoid or reduce consumption of foods and beverages that contain caffeine, chocolate, peppermint, spearmint, and alcohol. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee increase acid secretion.
• All carbonated drinks increase the risk for GERD.
• Although physicians often advise patients with GERD to cut down on fatty foods, studies are finding no evidence that a low-fat or high-fat meal make any difference in symptom exacerbation. Better studies are needed to confirm this. In any case, as a rule, it is always wise to avoid saturated fats (which are from animal products), and cut down on all fats if one is overweight.
• Increasing protein may help strengthen muscles in the muscle valve. Patients should choose low-fat or skim dairy products, poultry, or fish, in such cases.
• Whole grain products rich in selenium may have some protective role against dangerous cells changes in Barrett's esophagus.
• Patients should have a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, although avoid acidic vegetables and fruits (e.g., oranges, lemons, grapefruit, pineapple**, tomatoes).

** There is a discussion about pineapple where Dr. Eisner suggests it is actually good for you because it has an enzyme that promotes digestion. You can read that posting here.

Remember, online sites are a wealth of information for making sure you ask all the right questions, but they can not take the place of your doctor's solid medical advice.

Take care and stay in touch! Let us know how you are doing.

Vicki M