My husband has so many problems with his tummy, from gastritis to acid reflux. Whenever he would consult a doctor, the usual prescription is snacking. He should eat 6 times a day in small portions so the acid wouldn't be acting up. When he gets hungry, he would burp. When he gets too full, he would burp. That burping signals the onset of acid in his stomach. But he is a lazy eater so I had to remind him to get a snack. I would always buy his favorite snack foods whenever I would remember - raisins, prunes, roasted chestnuts in packets, nuts, and fruits in season especially seedless grapes. And while he is snacking on his healthy foods, I have my ice cream and chocolate cake, huh.
@Corie Henson ... careful there, Corie, your mean streak is showing! (Well, unless he doesn't like ice cream and cake, then I guess it's okay to torture the poor man in this way!)
I've never had stomach problems and I've always been a snacker 5-6 times a day than really eating a full meal 3 times a day. I'll eat about 250 calories 5-6 times to maintain my weight. I've only had acidy stomach once and that was last month when my mom died and that thoughtless person chose to bother me with something trivial and that I didn't do...that combination of events upset me to the point where I couldn't eat and was taking meds on empty stomach. Just remembering that incident now is putting a knot in my stomach. Anyway went to dr and he gave me a prescription for Prilosec and I don't need it anymore, but it helped at the time. I'm just counting on karma to give back. Wow, just thinking about what she did to me makes my stomach upset and starts it churning.
@Chrissy Page - it will Chrissy, whenever I'm upset, so is me tummy - try and switch off from this 'being' @Corie Henson - is your husband better now ? My guy had terrible acid problems before and after ulcers the only thing that has helped is a tincture I get for him from Amazon, you put 20 drops in a little water - good stuff !
My husband had a bleeding ulcer before and was even hospitalized to replace blood loss. He had endoscopy and found that the culprit was a bacterium called Helicobacter Pylori. While smoking and the presence of too much acid in the body may increase the risk of ulcers, the real culprit is this tiny bug that resides in the lumen of the stomach and resists its host natural defenses.
Oh me. I have dealt with an acidic stomach and can pass on what my doctor told me: no tomato based products, nothing spicy, no dairy as it will sour on the stomach, no citrus, nothing fried, nothing with caffiene, and nothing carbonated. For snacks he can have breads, nuts, apples, melons, white potatoes, rice , and nonfried veggies.
My mother had some serious problems with GERD at one time. The main thing that she has stopped doing is lying down while eating. She is one who likes her bed, and she knows now, that she can not go to bed or lie down withing a few hours of eating. It is good for your husband to take care of this situation, because sometimes people who have this acid reflux or GERD problem can go on to develop espophegal cancer. I find I only have these issues, if I eat late at night...so I avoid that scenario.
I used to have that problem years ago and found the answer. Now I keep apple cider vinegar on hand and salt my food to taste. Now I have a cast iron stomach.
I remember that H. Pylori organism which caused the ulcer of my husband way back in 1997 or so. He was reading the Readers Digest when one article caught his eye - 2 Australians discovered the H. Pylori organism which is the real cause of stomach ulcers. It was actually an old Readers Digest that he bought in a book sale. But nevertheless, he showed it to my sister's husband who is a physician. To make the story short, my husband was administered the combination of antibiotics.
Indeed, the discovery of H.pylori in 1983 is one of the most gratifying things to have happened in the medical circle. And that it can be wiped out by medication.
If the stomach has proper acid PH of2 than the stomach is sterile that means no bacteria can live there. When the stomach is low on acid by taking proton pump inhibitors or anti acids bacteria and yeast can grow. There is also one mineral that help the defence in stomach is bismuth. This is why one of the favorite medicines is Pepto-Bismol.
Pepto Bismol reminds me of my husband, he always had it on hand. I've never even tasted it. My stomach is brag worthy, I have never had trouble with it. I can eat or drink anything and it won't bother me. I'd be exaggerating if I said I threw up about 3 times in my whole life and that includes 2 pregnancies. Nothing gives me acid indigestion or heartburn, and I can eat all foods. I better knock on wood. The time I had trouble was recently when my mom died and someone decided that was a good time to bother me with something stupid.