My husband is a model of healthy aging. He stays active, is physically fit, eats and drinks mostly healthy foods in moderation. He has a calm, even demeanor…most of the time. Since he’s been retired, he has kept candy and other things not healthy for me around the house. I believe he should be able to do this, and I should be able to handle it.
As for me, I admire him and try to emulate him, but chronic digestion problems, since I first discovered I had GERD in my early 40s (I’m 65 now) have just gotten worse. I read and research everything about my condition and keep up with my doctors. I have a gastroenterologist, same guy for 20 years, who put me on a double dose of PPIs (protein pump inhibitors) when he discovered I had Barrett’s Esophagus, which is a precursor to esophageal cancer.
The immediate problem was my stomach was producing too much acid, which sat in my esophagus all night. Acid doesn’t just sit, though, it eats away. And that’s how the cancer starts. Lucky for me, after a few years on these PPIs, the Barretts had healed. I was lucky. But while they have benefits, PPIs do take their toll on the body. For example, they kill the bad bacteria in your gut but while doing so wipe out the good bacteria that enables nutrients from food to be absorbed into the body.
I told my doc that (he already knew) and he said, “So your choice. Die of cancer or hope you can get along without PPIs.” He did say, a few years later, that I could try reducing my dose from 20 mg to 10 mg. I got horrible reflux the day after I tried that. My primary care physician is working with me on this and the other unhealthy side effects of PPIs, specifically IBSD and pre-diabetes. I’m tapering but slower.
I have tried natural remedies and many diets (vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, Starch Solution, South Beach) with little lasting success. Gradually my IBSD symptoms got worse. I can no longer tolerate wheat, sugar or dairy. Some vegetables that are highly acidic and most fruits are also off the table. No alcohol, coffee or tea. No caffeine at all. I stick to this diet most of the time. You think I’d have lost weight, but no. I have read and researched and this inability to lose weight is a sign of negative gut health.
I’m 65 and I do not want to be diabetic. Nor do I want to continue to grapple with the horrors of IBSD. People who have not gone through this will say “Take a probiotic.” Yes, I tried that. My body doesn’t tolerate them well. My doc gave me a referral to a dietician and also some pills that are fiber and peppermint oil. That’s where I’m at. I’m writing this in hopes that if you have anything going on like this, you’ll recognize that heartburn is the start of a long painful road.
I wish I would have known more about the medicine I was prescribed. I wish I had known what foods I was consuming were contributing to heartburn, and that it would lead to acid reflux, then on to IBSD. But I didn’t know and so I’m coping. I just keep researching and trying things to make my gut healthy again. Meanwhile my husband eats and drinks whatever he wants, in moderation. He’s always been moderate in all areas of life and I have been…the opposite. But I’m learning. It’s never too late.
And after 35 years, I’m still in awe of his ability to not eat an entire box of chocolates in two days. One thing I have discovered is that if I cut all sugar, I won’t crave it or any carbs that turn immediately to sugar in the body. It takes me three days of “no sugar” white knuckling and I’m back to better health. I can do anything for three days. Some things I’ve learned along the way really have helped. And who knows, maybe peppermint oil pills are the cure I’ve been looking for for so long.
Cynthia Harrison 
When I was following an elimination diet last year I had to eliminate coffee too. I love my coffee! So I tried chicory root as a caffeine free substitute & I liked it. It’s not coffee but it’s close enough. It even had some health benefits do I thought it was worth passing along to you.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/chicory-coffee#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7
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Thanks Brenda. Amazing how much is out there! I will for sure check out your link xo
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You poor thing, how difficult for you. Something I’ve started to do, as I get older, is research every single medicine I’m prescribed, before I start taking it – and see how it reacts with other things, even vitamin tablets, which is something your doctor often won’t tell you about (because, I suspect, they don’t know).
Nothing like what you experience, but I’ve always had digestive problems, too. Anything peppermint is good for the gut – I drink peppermint tea whenever I feel nauseous – but EVERYTHING has improved since I gave up dairy (give or take the odd ice cream). Ginger is good for gut stuff, too. I think that at our age it’s just about finding the foods we can eat, that agree with us, and sticking with them. Good luck! xxx
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Thanks for the tips Terry. I got heartburn today and camomile tea took care of it. The other day my dentist offered me an antibiotic for a stray root left behind years ago that got infected. I have to see a endodontist to get it fixed. Meanwhile, he says, you can take this. I said “No thanks.”
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I’ve noticed the same thing about going on a sugar-free diet. It gets easier the longer you do it!
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Yes Lydia – I really need to continue not to eat sugar. I’m addicted to it. I need to stop saying “It’s a special occasion” and “just this once” and “I deserve to treat myself.”
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Your smile is really heart touching. This post inspire us to how we make a wonderful life.
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Thanks so much Avinash!
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really love this. thanks for sharing!
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💕 Thanh you 💕
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Cindy, thank you for sharing your experience. I hope peppermint oil helps. Since I read first read this post I have been paying more attention to when I get heartburn, and doggone it it’s after I drink too much coffee. I thought back to what you shared and sure enough the same things in excess bother me. It has been a summer of excess in trying to make up for all the things I missed out on. Now that fall is here it’s time to buckle down and take better care of myself. Your words made a difference;)
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Glad that post helped. I tend to feel a little shy about sharing health issues. I’m always so happy to know you are out there in the world and still blogging. Going to catch up right now xo
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I am trying my best on eliminating the bad stuff. My fiance has the perfect fix, he hates chocolate and coffee.
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Geri I really wish I did too!
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Congratulations to your husband, an excellent model to you and others
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I wish I was even more like him, but he has already made a big impact.
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Thanks for sharing this. I will have to try the “NO sugar” (NO exceptions) approach as allowing as a special treat is playing with fire for me.
As for GERD, for me a huge difference-maker is eating dinner early and making dinner the lightest meal of the day, and no snacking in the evening.
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