u/ZapppppBrannigan

From hard work for 12 months of clean eating, no coffee, no smoking, bed wedge, gaviscon before bed I was symptom free.

But if I had so much as 3 cigarettes in a night or 10 standard drinks or overeating a fatty meal I would have issues for a few days.

I started THC edibles to see how I would react as I needed some fun in my life haha. I have not only found that I react fine with it but I have also found my tolerance was much higher to bad habits.

I've been eating fattier meals more often, smoking often, drinking alcohol is fine.

But a coffee did tip me over the edge. Nonetheless I feel amazing since.

I think it's also down to the fact that I am a lot less stressed because of it.

Anyone else have a similar experience?

I had harsh symptoms about 1.5 years ago and through trial and error I have become symptom free if I desire. I get back to baseline and then have a cheat meal or two, wear through the issues for a week and be strict then back to baseline and repeat.

1. Diet is almost everything

- The most important part of this is diet. You can be on omeprazole, famotadine, sleep inclined, reflux gourmet, eat 4 hours before bed, alkaline water etc all the recommendations but none of it matters if you arent locked into the right diet.

As bland as bland can be is the best. I didn't follow any specific diet. I just ate bland foods ie boiled chicken with veges and low fat mayo sandwiches/wraps for lunch and dinner with oats, oat milk and protein for breakfast. These are good tasting meals. They aren't chocolate or pizza but they taste good.

2. Caffeine/smoking/alcohol/illicit drugs are massive triggers

- I find smoking does a lot of damage to the throat, caffeine is a massive trigger and illicit drugs are self explanatory. You can have the perfect diet alongside all the right habits but so much as 1 cigarette every 2 days is going to cause issues and stack up. So much as 5-6 standard drinks in one night gave me 4-5 days of issues even if I'm perfect otherwise.

3. Stacking triggers when you still have symptoms is going to delay everything severely.

- It's all or nothing to get back to feeling normal. If you still have symptoms and you have a bad meal or have alcohol for a night, have some chocolate, lie down after eating etc then you'll be set back more and make the symptoms worse. If you truly want to feel normal again, you have to commit to it.

4. I am not cured I am just managing symptoms

- I can't eat whatever, I can't do whatever, I still don't drink coffee, but I know what each trigger does and how much they affect me and how they affect me from baseline. I get back to baseline and feel normal then on the weekend I chose what I would like to do and suffer the consequences for a set amount of time depending on what I do.

For example

- 5-6 standard drinks of alcohol in one night and 2 cigarettes = 3-4 days of throat problems and another 1-2 days after of slight issues. I work in sales so I can't push it. Then after being super strict I am back to normal

- 2 cheat meals and some chocolate = 3-4 days of issues

There has been some times when I say stuff it and go all out and pay for it.

But whatever I do, if I have symptoms, being a very strict diet is the number one mandatory requirement to feeling better alongside patience.

For those who are having severe issues, it's going to take a long time to feel better and a very strict regime.

Edit: Sleeping incline is very important. I sleep with a wedge pillow under my mattress with bed raises under the bed. I have had symptoms get worse being perfect when I tried to sleep flat