Bad Mouth Taste From GERD

What is GERD? 

It is “Gastroesophageal reflux disease“.  “Acid Reflux” is what we typically know it as.   So, what is that?  In layman’s terms: the valve (so to speak) that connect the lower esophagus to the stomach does not function properly.  Allowing acid from the stomach to travel up the esophagus.

A typical person will experience this a few times in their life when they eat foods high in acid (spaghetti dinner, for example) and a burning sensation will come over them in their chest.  A few Tums later, the average person will be fine.  GERD is more than just one or two episodes in that person’s life.  It actually becomes their life filled with prescription medications, generally PPI’s, to combat the issue.   If left untreated or poorly treated, it can have dire consequences.    So, please talk to your health care provider, if you feel you suffer from Acid Reflux more than you feel you should.   I also did a blog on PPI’s: https://melissagpfight.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/ppi-long-term-warnings-proton-pump-inhibitors/

GERD Symptoms (Common and Uncommon):

• Heartburn
• Difficulty swallowing
• Chest pain
• Regurgitation
• Sore throat
• Nausea
• Bad breath
• Respiratory problems – such as: wheezing and coughing

Home remedy to get rid of the sour mouth taste:

• Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa (soothes GERD for 1hr) –Alley
• Brush with a baking soda based toothpaste –Alley
• Peppermint Hot Tea (to drink and as a mouth wash) –Lyn
• Hard Mint Candies –Diana
• Halls –Sande
• Breath Savers Candy/Mint (blue wrapper) –Diane
• Wintergreen Candy/Mint (green wrapper) –Diane
• Listerine strips –Kirsten
• Cinnamon Disc’s (candy) –Deborah
• Chew on fennel seeds (spit out any fibrous parts)  –Betsy

Please be aware that Peppermint may aggravate GERD symptoms, so proceed with caution.

Thanks Facebook GP Family!!

What Should We Eat?

• Avoid Acidic Foods
• Consume Alkaline Foods
• Neutral Ph Foods are a good choice too
• Here is a link that lists these different ‘food’ options (so many I could not list):  http://rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm 

LINKS:

GERD = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease

Home Rem = http://www.mademan.com/mm/bitter-taste-mouth-remedy.html

Food = http://www.livestrong.com/article/305189-a-list-of-acid-alkaline-neutral-foods/

Bitter Taste Remedy = http://www.mademan.com/mm/bitter-taste-mouth-remedy.html

PPI Long Term Warnings — Proton pump inhibitors

I am very thankful that my GERD is not too bad and that I seldom need to take a PPI.  It is controlled well with what I eat and how much I eat.

There are a few things that you need to know, if you are on PPI’s for a long time (1 year or longer):

1. Broken Bones are more common.  Have your physician monitor your Vitamin D and Calcium levels.
2. Low magnesium.  Don’t think it’s important?  Low magnesium can cause: muscle spasms, tremors, irregular heartbeats, and seizures.
3. Low Vitamin B12.   This can cause: Weakness, Anemia, numbness/tingling of hands/feet, memory problems, soreness of the tongue and mouth.
   
4. Bacteria Pneumonia.  Since the stomach has less acid to destroy the bacteria’s in it, there is a greater chance of bacteria infections.
5. Effects drug digestion.  The amount of time a drug is broken down in the stomach can be reduced, making it less effective.  If you have gastroparesis too, it is unknown how long a drug can take to process in your stomach -if at all.
6. Zinc deficiency.  This has so many complications with our body, it is too great to list.  Serious are:  inflammatory bowel disease, increased allergic sensitivity, behavioral and sleep disturbances, mild anemia and hair loss.
7. Clostridium difficile (C. difficile).  Is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea that does not improve.  Symptoms include watery stool, abdominal pain, and fever, and patients may go on to develop more serious intestinal conditions.

Want more information on GERD? 

Want to know what foods to eat and avoid for GERD?

Want tips on how to get rid of the bad taste in your mouth from GERD?

Then visit my “Bad Mouth Taste From GERD” blog, click HERE. 

Here are a few resource links if you want to read more:

• http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm245011.htm
• http://stopacidrefluxpro.com/ppis-side-effects/
• http://www.pdrhealth.com/proton-pump-inhibitors/side-effects-and-safety-of-proton-pump-inhibitors
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton-pump_inhibitor
• http://www.nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com/zinc-deficiency-symptoms.html
• http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm290510.htm  (C.Diff warning on PPIs)