How do I get my sister not not be afraid of food?

Question

My sister (over 30) was diagnosed with GERD and refuses to take her Prilosec. She has GERD appropriate reactions to peanuts and chocolate but insists that she is allergic and lives in fear or eating or coming in contact with them. She also had an adverse reaction to something and now believes she is allergic to eggs. She has never been diagnosed with these or any food allergies and all her symptoms are consistant with GERD. How do I help her be more logical about this?

Additional clarification. I believe that she is right to avoid foods that bother her. I have the same problems and I avoid problem foods but also take Zantac. But she doesn't just avoid the foods, she is paranoid of them. And I really do not believe that it was the eggs that bothered her but something else that she had with the meal.

Answer 1

I encourage you to beware of professed doctors who give statements (e.g. "Prilosec is a dangerous drug. It is well documented that its use can lead to vitamin and mineral malasorption, intestinal dysbiosis and even a 'leaky gut syndrome'. " ) without any proof of where this "well known" data comes from. These people will often make up statements like this in order to prove a point instead of trying to really help people.

While it is fine for your sister to avoid foods that exacerbate her gastric reflux, it does not mean she is allergic to them. At the same time, if she doesn't want to take the Prilosec, that is her decision too. If she is truly "living in fear" of coming in contact with these agents then something more serious is going on and she should probably go see a psychologist to see if they can help her get to the root of her problems. I don't think the GERD itself is the most serious thing going on here.

Answer 2

She is being logical about this! GERD is not a diagnosis of the CAUSE of acid reflux - it is just a label of the process of acid reflux.

Your sister is 'right on track' in recognizing that her problem may be caused by food intolerances.

If you really care about her and truly wish to help her, get a copy of a wonderful and very educational book on this subject by Sherry Rogers, M.D. called: "No More Heartburn". It is available at Amazon.com or from the publisher at 1-800-846-6687.

Prilosec is a dangerous drug. It is well documented that its use can lead to vitamin and mineral malasorption, intestinal dysbiosis and even a 'leaky gut syndrome'. Acid inhibitors should absolutely be avoided when the cause can be found and treated.

Best wishes.