The vet did not tell me to switch to a food with grain. No one did. Did I say that? No, I did not. Trying to find something with a good protein source low enough was difficult so I tried one. I can't afford to feed a 100 lb dog the prescription food and it's really not very good anyway.

That being said, I work with dogs and have my entire life. I'm one of the few people who actually understand how to read a dogfood label.

I found your response a bit snippy.

I came back on this thread to see if anyone else had received messages from someone trying to sell them a product for acid reflux. I don't mind messages from members but do not like someone to try to sell me products.

Thanks for the encouragement Marll! I'm on day three and I haven't had any swelling in my feet for the past two days! Woohoo! My throat still feels a little tight, but I actually had a few hours today that I FELT NORMAL AGAIN! :) Even if my symptoms don't completely go away, I am holding on to hope that I won't have to be on meds forever. Plus, my hubby & I are saving lots of money (and calories) by eating at home because it's nearly impossible to find a restaurant that serves gluten-free food!

Hey guys, just curious, did you have problems with acid reflux every day before you started taking the cider vinegar, or was it just on occasion? I'm trying to figure out if this might help, or if I should just stick to the gluten-free diet.

Walnuts, even in small amounts set my reflux off. Some tablets do it too, even vitamins can. I avoid most manufactured stuff where possible. A commercially made treacle tart sets it off, even though all the ingredients listed on the package seem to be fine when I use them to cook! Not that I minded too much, not a big treacle tart fan.

I have reading the post on acid reflux. I am searchig or ways to control my acid reflux without the meds. I was told I would have to take them the rest of my life but I know there is much room for improvement on my part with my diet. There is some decussion about gluten being bad, some say yes and some say no. I am looking into decaf coffee right now. I gave up soda and fatty foods and lost weight. Three years ago my asophagus ruptured and my family was called in because the surgery is so serious. Even while taking meds I still have trouble so I'm researching what to give up to control acid. I really don't know anything for sure except don't eat 2-3 hours before bed and stay away from coffee and pop and don't overeat. Your body will tell you if you are doing it right....Judy

For those struggling with both "acid reflux" (a misnomer) and silent reflux, I can recommend "Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook and Cure" by Jamie Koufman MD and Joseph Stern MD. I am not affiliated in any way with this book; I just bought it and read it and had my eyes really opened. These two doctors are leaders in the fields of ear/nose/throat (ENT) and ENT surgery. Their research and reputations are impeccable. And one of the most important things I learned was that ACID IS NOT THE WHOLE PROBLEM. The problem is the pepsin enzyme which digests protein; it is activated by acid -- ANY acid -- and even after the acid dies away the pepsin molecule is still active. If acid reflux washed that pepsin molecule into your esophagus, it will stay there as long as it's getting triggered by acids you eat. So even if your acid reflux stops, the pepsin molecule has now attached itself to your esophagus, larynx, whatever and is now EATING YOU. Best of all, there is no medication of any kind that will deactivate the pepsin enzyme.

Drs. Koufman and Stern outline a program to allow the esophagus to heal, and then transition back to what passes for normal eating for a healthy person prone to acid reflux. I found the second half of the book, which is a cookbook prepared by a gourmet chef, to be one of the best parts of the book. Trying to figure out what to cook and how to avoid high-acid foods (which trigger the pepsin molecule even if they do not trigger reflux) is a job requiring a dietary degree and two spreadsheets; fortunately, Chef Bauer made it easy.

The second most important thing I learned from this book is that most doctors are behind the curve on this, largely due to outmoded information and the fact that ENT is a specialty apart from most family practice. I recommend that you not only get this book, but that you give a copy to your doctor. Since esophageal erosion may be a trigger for cancer, this may actually save your life.