Sara's Friend - Update - GERD?

[Guest guest]

Hey there folks -- thanks to everyone who offered advice about my friend

with stomach problems, and all of you who were silly enough to ask me to

keep you updated.

He's not doing any worse, which is a good indication at least that he

doesn't have gallstones or anything serious...argh...and we're starting

to figure out that certain dietary changes help keep it from being

nearly as bad as it was. Namely, he can't drink coffee any more--at

all, pretty much--and he feels a bit better if he eats small amounts

frequently, as opposed to large amounts once or twice a day like he used

to. He still belches a lot, but not as much by far, and he gets

heartburn at least once a day. The real problem is just that his stomch

is always " sore " and sensitive, and usually upset after he eats or when

he gets hungry. He was taking an acid-reducer that his mom brought him,

but though it helped a little a few weeks ago, by now it's stopped

working completely. Stress / anxiety also seems to make it worse almost

immediately.

Other things that I've noticed: Laying on his left side tends to help;

right side makes it worse. Drinking plenty of water helps ward it off,

but doesn't fix it when it flares up. And if he doesn't get any

exercise for a day, it tends to be worse. (Thankfully, he's my toddler

daughter's babysitter, so he usually gets plenty!)

Based on the above, do you all agree with me that it sounds like he

probably has acid-reflux disease (GERD)? (I am still looking for a free

clinic to take him to, but no luck so far, so of course we're going to

keep trying whatever we can to help his pain in the meantime.) And if

you do agree, of course, suggestions would be *wonderful*, specifically

for foods and teas (but especially foods) that would help him. I have

tons of research on GERD that I used to help another friend a long time

ago, but he had the money for things like hawthorne berries, and also

medication from a doctor, and on my advice he got a dietician

too...don't know if I'll have any of that to help us this time, though

wow, I would give my right arm for a dietician, heh.

Mostly, I need to know about food, because we can't figure out what does

and doesn't aggravate his stomach. Granted, he doesn't eat great, but

he hardly touches junk food (and never alcohol and now, no coffee

either), so it's a challenge figuring out what he can eat that will keep

him from being in pain. I do things like give him fresh fruit and it

ends up doubling him over, but then he'll eat chicken & potatoes and

feel better...I don't know; I'm rather lost there.

Thanks again to everyone--you've all been a lifeline. -ST