Hello everyone! I'm an Aussie who's just discovered this wonderful site.
My son has had severe stomach problems since birth. He had an operation to create a valve at the top of his stomach as when he was born it was all floppy and did not close off to keep stomach contents in the stomach. Since then he's been managed by doctors with very strong acid-reducing medication.

I have just started reading about how gastro-oesophigal-reflux-disease might actually be a lack of stomach acid rather than too much.

We have just seen a paediatric gastroenterologist who believes people with GERD have problems processing ALL dairy and soy proteins and has recommended he come off dairy and soy. It's amazing how much part of his life I had allowed dairy and soy to become and I was shocked when I started reading ingredients in processed foods I'd been buying.

Already - after 4 days - he is pain free for the first time in his life. He is asking for food which he has NEVER done! He said "mummy eating is nice when you don't have a sore tummy". This comment reduced me to tears. I felt like the worst parent imaginable.

My sister has suggested making stock from organic chicken frames and using this to bolster his protein/calcium. It has also been brought to my attention that using the fermented living apple cidar vinigar half an hour before meals might help his digestion.

If anyone has had any experiences with managing GERD and possibly being able to give up strong medication I would love to hear about your experiences. You seem to all have a lot of knowledge about various things and I am interested in hearing different points of view.....so please feel free to share with me!