Can doing a fast help with weak LES leading to GERD?

[RawInspiredAmy]

Hi All,

I have recently acquired a lump in my throat that my doctor said was a weak Lower Esophageal Sphincter. So basically food is coming back up my esophagus. I have tried to get this under wraps with diet but that doesn't seem to be working.

Would a fast of some sort help do you think? I've never fasted before, but am concerned with lack of energy with having 2 young children. Can anyone spare a moment to give me your thoughts?

I have been avoiding the script my doctor gave me to this point. I am starting to feel a little concerned with the damage I could be causing by not treating it.

Thanks in advance :)

[MysticTree]

My feeling is that reducing the amount of "work" this muscle has to do (by fasting) will only weaken it further. Have you tried looking to yoga perhaps. I had a quick look on the net but there didn't seem to be anything obviously helpful without considerable research.

[GlimR]

I don't have any knowledge or information to offer about your particular issue. But I take care of six children all day, from 6:30 am until 6 pm, ages 2,2,3,3,3 & 4...I am on day #13 of my fast and am doing fine...sometimes while they nap I read or just rest a little but a juice fast is doable with little ones...I don't see how it would weaken anything, a fast allows the body to heal and rest....jmho

[snoops]

what did the doc give you - I have been prescribed prilosec because of reflux and have managed in the past 10 days to not have an episode by staying off grain and eating clean. I knew it was the crap I was eating especially at night. I also feel a lump in the back of my throat and was getting a regular sore throat from the reflux. So I am hoping staying eating clean will fix the damage I have done. Stopped the meds after 3 days because I was not regurgitatin at night and on the advise of my naturopath who said it was the crap I was eating!!

[MysticTree]

I don't see how it would weaken anything, a fast allows the body to heal and rest....jmho

Unused muscles atrophy. Juicing or water fasting would give this muscle nothing to do and I think that would not help strengthen it.

So I am hoping staying eating clean will fix the damage I have done.

I hope so too Snoops. I was reading that certain things even raw, such as orange juice will make it worse. Fingers crossed I don't ever get this cos it sounds horrid.

[streetsurfer]

reflux can come from low acid production which leads to the sphincter not receiving a strong enough digestive gas signal from the stomach in order to close tightly. If you are near or over forty this is a common thing...acid production dropping off. If so, lowering your acid even more with the use of drugs that kill your acid pumps is probably not the right way to go. Taking apple cider vinegar or HCL can help. You have to combine it with some water so it doesn't burn the throat. The theory is you need more acid to complete the digestion, to make enough of this digestive byproduct gas, to tell the sphincter to close tight.

I hope you find all the info you need to recover.....you will eventually. Brenda Watson's HOPE program is where I learned how to rid mine. Food sensitivities were also related to it.
if you have a herniation that is responsible for it, do the "heel drop" method as a part of helping treat it. Google it and you should be able to find full instructions.
Best Wishes.