Most people suffer from heartburn at least once a month. If you're dealing with indigestion on a weekly basis, you may have a more serious condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Here are some real life remedies to deal with heartburn:
Lynne Apodaca writes: For five years or more, I suffered from heartburn and acid reflux that steadily got worse. It got to the point where anything I put in my stomach triggered it... even water. It would get so severe at times that even while sitting upright, the acid would rise into my mouth.

At night, I would often wake up out of a sound sleep and have to run for the bathroom. The contents of my stomach would back up into my mouth.I tried all of the over-the-counter remedies. I could only sleep propped up with three pillows, and only on my back or my left side... never on my right. It was really quite miserable.

One day I spotted an ad in my local newspaper looking for heartburn sufferers toparticipate in a double-blind controlled group study. I called and signed up. I was given a physical, blood work and some medication. I kept a log of what I ate and drank and how many episodes of heartburn I got each day, at what time, and how long they lasted.

When the blood work came back, it showed that I had a stomach bacteria called Heliobacter pylori. I was referred back to my regular physician for a high-level antibiotic treatment. I wish I could remember the exact names of the drugs they gave me. There were two drugs involved. I didn't have prescription drug insurance coverage at the time, and it cost me over $400 for these two medications. But I took all of the medication prescribed, and suddenly I was heartburn-free!

That was several years ago, and I am now starting to get occasional mild bouts, which are treatable with over-the-counter medications. I was told that H pylori can come back, and also that it is contagious (airborne). It seems a high number of gastroenterologists suffer from Hpylori, and it is believed that they catch it from close examinations of their patients' mouths and throats.

My advice to anyone who suffers from chronic and severe heartburn and reflux? See your doctor and have them run a blood test. It could be the H pylori bacteria.

Nancy Zare writes: I woke one night from a sound sleep with projectile vomiting. It was very scary, as you can imagine. When I reviewed the previous day's menu, I realised that the last time I had eaten anything was at dinner, around 6 pm. So here it was, nearly nine hours later, and the contents of my dinner were burning a hole through my esophagus! Another thing I noticed was that even though I normally fall asleep lying on my back, I awoke on my stomach.

Shortly after this episode, I visited my doctor who had me undertake an upper GI series, including a process called slow emptying. That's when I was diagnosed with GERD and prescribed medication. The initial dose failed to work successfully, and further incidents of projectilevomiting, not as severe though, followed.

My physician referred me to a dietitian, who was supposed to help me make diet and lifestyle changes. I didn't find her particularly helpful, so I elected to consult a nutritional counsellor on my own. She did a thorough history of my health and food intake. And gradually, she recommended some changes in my diet.

Under her direction I did a colonic cleanse to "clean" my digestive tract: For the first week, I ate fruits and vegetables, no other foods, and took a supplement called Michael's Tri-cleanse, which was basically bulking agents. By the second week, I was able to add a grain at one meal. And by the final week, I added either a grain or a protein source, such as tofu, lentils, nuts, or fish for one meal.

Today, I am very careful about my food combinations, never mixing fruit with either grains or protein. I combine protein with vegetables. In addition, I've elevated the head of my bed, and I never sleep on my stomach. I'm happy to say that my symptoms ofGERD are gone and I am free of medication!-- www.betterhealth.com