The FastDay Forum

Hello!

In the last 3 weeks, I have noticed an increase in acid reflux on fast days. I searched this site, but couldn't find any info. on the subject.

I had my gall bladder out in Sept 2012, so I could have GERD, a common side effect of non gall bladder bodies. I am going to the doctor, but thought I would check with my helpful pals also.

I have been fasting since Oct.
Drinks litres of water, herbal tea
Exercise a bit on fast days
Fasting today, currently have heartburn.

Thanks!

Hi Crafty i havent had heartburn since doing 5:2 and eating more carefully so i would have to say no,its more to do with your op,but someone like Caro may come along soon with some stats about IF and heartburn
I hope you soon get relief from it whatever the cause..its so uncomfortable, i know x

[carorees]

Hi @Crafty

Yes, I had some problems with 'globus' which is a lump-in-the-throat sensation that is thought to be connected with reflux. I got it after about 6 months of 5:2 and went to the doc who prescribed omeprazole. I took the omeprazole for a couple of weeks until the sensation disappeared. It hasn't come back and I still have half the omeprazole tablets left. I am not too sure why it happened. It may be related to hormonal changes occurring during weight loss/fasting or the change in eating habits. A small increase in the occurrence of reflux has been reported with Ramadan fasting.

Other people on this site have found a decrease in reflux with fasting, which is to be expected as reflux tends to improve with weight loss and is worsened by weight gain.

Hopefully a short course of omeprazole will sort you out!

Carorees

Thank you and your photo inspires me each time I look at it.

The thing is, I do not normally suffer from heart burn, so this is new. I have read that some foods/drinks irritate it further, so stopping those straight away (peppermint tea is one!)

Off to the doctor - thanks for your help.

Janice

[carorees]

Yes, I hadn't suffered with it before (apart from during pregnancy). Hopefully your doc will sort you out! Let me know how you get on.

Morning!

By some sheer miracle, I managed to get a doctor appt today! very handy for me as I was working form home to attend a dentist appt!

The doctor told me the fasting was probably the main culprit, along with Ibuprofen and chili) suggested that I eat a normal diet for a month while taking omeprazole.

I do not want to give up my fasting for a week, let alone a month! Did you carry fasting?

Thanks again for your support!

I think the ibuprofen and chili are MUCH more likely to be the culprits. I have occasional heartburn/acid reflux but it has no relation to fast days or not. I think your doctor might have a prejudice against 5:2 dieting. Try the omeprazole and limit ibuprofen if you can - it is highly associated with GERD - and keep on 5:2. I bet it the problem will go away.

[carorees]

I carried on fasting. I got as many symptoms on non-fast days as on fast days so I didn't think it was fasting itself that was the problem but the consequences of the weight loss process. I'd keep fasting...

[Debs]

Hi there,
I used to get terrible heartburn and used to take ranitidine. It has eased off and now I occasionally get it after a rich, wine laden meal. However, I do get it on occasion on fast days for some reason, but it won't stop me fasting.

I used to suffer with GERD quite a bit, but have learned to ease up on acid-filled foods, raw onions and garlic and extremely hot spices. I often sprinkle a product called here Calciblend http://www.calciblend.com/ on tomato sauce and sometimes put it into a coffee mug before pouring in the coffee. It's a harmless calcium/magnesium thingy that helps to neutralize the acid before actually eating the food.

To avoid this problem on fast days I have my very necessary morning coffee with 1/4 cup (40 cals) of low-fat cottage cheese. Seems to do the trick.

I suggest experimenting a little to see what kinds of foods on an empty stomach tend to bring on the heartburn. Good luck--I'm sure you'll find a way to tame this problem and keep fasting!

Thank you Marybeth ! very useful! I will try that product.

I am off the chili, coffee and ibruprofen - that will help. I started the omeprazole yesterday and already the burning has subsided.

I will carry on fasting as I am so good at it now

Thanks again for all your guidance. I am fasting today, first time since starting my prescription. I had a bit of heartburn this morning until I ate a small banana, it has subsided for now. But, saying that, I did go to the gym first thing and "they" say acid refulx increases with exercise.

Thanks for all your support, but I have to stop fasting for atleast 1 month according to doctor. The acid reflux got worse when I did attempt a fast, really painful, so to avoid damage, I am off the Fast Plan, on medication and back at Weight Watchers.

Not happy as I loved the fast Plan, but do not want to do any damage!

Hopefully I will see you again soon - !

That's a real shame as I found that my, on occasions very severe, heartburn disappeared totally after I cut back on bread in particular and carbs in general. My heartburn had no relation to fasting, just diet, but we are all different, good luck and I hope things settle down soon for you.

Ballerina x

Could you not do a fasting window instead rather than a 24 hour fast?