How To Manage GERD Under Stress?

Posted on Wed, 31 Dec 2014

Question: Hi i have had gerd for a couple years and i had upper endeoscopy done and i had h pylori and took meds and felt all well after that. This past uear i had lot of stress house remodel as baby coming and i didnt eat muxh throught out the day and when i xame hone to eat my stomach was already small and i eould feel full and i could go to bathroom abd eazy without force bring food back up and trow up to feel lighy again and kt kinda became a habbit for 1 and hald almkst every other day couple tomes a day whatwver i ate that was heavy i would go trow up and feel better. I finally got getter snd i stoped doing tjst this couple months now ky only concer is could that of cause me to gdr barrets espphogus or stomach cancer cells forming or aome kind eaophgus cancer im 34 now my endscopey eas done 3 uears ago and i also had little bit red eaophugitus but nkthing serious o cslled ky doctor and he told me not to worrie hut inwanted a second opinion to make sure that what i did isent causing any damage thanks

Answered by Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
To reassure get a repeat GI Endoscopy done

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for writing in

The history is typical of GERD but as you said you are under stress, it needs management

Here are few tips I would suggest to manage GERD :

1] Avoid spicy, fermented meals
2] Do not have heavy meals
3] Avoid smoking and alcohol
4] Wear loose clothes
5] Do not stoop
6] Do not lift heavy weights
7] Raise the head end of your bed
8] If Obese lose weight
9] If under stress - Manage stress levels by meditation and exercise

Hope fully it is unlikely to be a malignant pathology
Also if you want to reassure yourself get a repeat endoscopy done

Hope this helps
Do write back in case of concern

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (14 minutes later)

So as far as the pas year and constant purging after eating all the time wouldnt had lead to anything serious god forbid like forming stomach cancer or esophgus cancer i dot smoke or drink or have cofdie ans my diet is kk my peoblem is candy and chicolate. The only concern i had is from the stress that i was uae to trowing up after raring all the tome past 1 i wakted to lake sure i havent cause major damage. I lnknkw lot of belimic people theu trow up all the time ans its almost the same concept except mine was due to stomacj tenshokn from stress and i got uae to it to trow up wverytome inhad a bg meal ao two to theee tines a day

Answered by Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Take small frequent meals

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for your followup

Candy and choclate are also known to cause adequate gastritis

Stress worsens the situation

Yes big meals can also aggravate the same
Take small frequent meals
Avoid stress

Skip chocolate and candy

It seems nothing serious. Do follow up with your doctor.

Hope this helps
Do write back in case of concern

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (2 days later)

So chances of baretts esopheaus or cancer are low

Answered by Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes you are right

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing in again
You are right the chances of Barrets esophagus and cancer with the current clinical history are negligible
Hope this helps
Do write back in case of concern
Wishing you a healthy life ahead

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju

Follow up: Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (32 hours later)

So as far
Af the barrets what ans how long does it take to elwvate to that like how fo people end up getting barrets

Answered by Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Repeat endoscopy will evaluate

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing in again

Explaining pathology and etiology is out of scope of any online forum.

yes, Gerd is primary risk for barrets but it will take years time to develop it but it depends upon severity of GERD, person habits and life style. If you had endoscopy couple years ago then better repeat it. See your gastroenterologist.

Barrets is pre cancerous but chances of developing cancer is only 1 %, not every person with barrets esophagus will not end up with cancerous. But you need to follow with your doctor regularly

If you want to know about your status see your gastroenterologist and he will clinically evaluate and rule out Barrets in your case

Hope this helps
Do write back in case of concern

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju