Lifetime PPI use

Likewise, I would ditch the vinegar.

Often, one of the contributing factors to the symptoms (so goes one hypothesis, at least) is that the digestive enzyme pepsin is refluxed along with the acid and other contents, and it can attach itself to the exposed tissues (esophagus, larynx, sinuses, etc) and cause problems long after the reflux event has ended. It is fed by acid, so a high acid diet, or adding acid like vinegar, exacerbates the problem. This is also why taking some baking soda can relieve it, as it kills off the pepsin so that it stops trying to digest your non-stomach tissues. There are also a number of alkaline waters that are trendy now that do the same thing - higher cost but they may taste better.

I stopped it with baking soda and it only took about a week of a teaspoon a day in a glass of water. I was waking up with it every night. Now it happens about once a year. I can't remember the last time it happened. It is caused by acid and baking soda is alkaline and neutralizes it. It is what was used before PPI's were invented.

Best cure ever.

Do you take in the morning or night?

it was waking me about 3 in the morning. Would take the baking soda and be back to sleep a few minutes later and no more acid. I had three different PPI prescriptions and have thrown all of those away.

I'm a little shocked that anyone thinks having RNY is worse than the very real possibility of cancer or alzheimers.

I agree. I watched my dad battle esophageal cancer for 2 years caused by acid reflux. It was a slow horrible death.

We were told by multiple doctors that an esophagectomy is the second worst surgery to endure as a patient (heart transplant was #1) due to the pain. Surgery, chemo, radiation...not an easy path.

90% of people diagnosed with esophageal cancer are dead within a year.

My mom's identical twin sister died of esophageal cancer 4 weeks after being diagnosed. It was due to untreated GERD, which she never took seriously. Very sad.

I have a brother-in-law who had esophagectomy about 20 years ago. He is now sixty years old. The doctor told him recently how unique he is to have survived this long.

His life has not been easy, but he has made the best life possible for my sister and my niece. He is always going back to have it stretched and is sometimes on feeding tubes for long periods of time.

Although he is often in pain, I have never heard him once complain and it has not stopped him from his job where he travels the world. But to risk that kind of cancer when there is a way to prevent it, just is hard for me to understand.

Agreed. Does the OP not realize that there are hundreds of us, on this site alone, living productive, healthy lives as RNY patients? I think her understanding of RNY is incomplete if living a life with GERD/on PPIs is preferable to having an RNY.