From Reflux to Relief

For anyone living with GERD, GORD or reflux

Fifteen years on PPIs.
Nobody asked why.

I was told I'd need reflux tablets for the rest of my life. It turned out my problem was too little stomach acid, not too much. I've been off PPIs for nearly a decade, and I share what I learned so you don't have to work it out alone.

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Cover of From Reflux to Relief by Neil Morley

My story

“For the rest of your life.”

After a course of antibiotics and a bad bout of food poisoning, my gut was in a state I'd never known. A doctor prescribed Lansoprazole without much investigation. When I asked how long I'd need it, he said, simply, “for the rest of your life.”

For fifteen years that's how I lived: managed, dependent, and never quite well. Every time I tried to cut down, the rebound convinced me I couldn't stop.

Then a practitioner told me something no doctor had mentioned in fifteen years of repeat prescriptions: I had very low stomach acid. Within six weeks I was off PPIs. Years later, an endoscopy showed no sign of damage.

I'm not a doctor, and this isn't medical advice. It's one person's experience, written for the people who suffer every day and believe a lifetime prescription is their only option.

The community

You're not the only one.

GERD/GORD – Acid Reflux – I want to be PPI free – A holistic approach is a free Facebook group for people who want to understand their reflux, not just mask it. Ask questions, share what's working, and hear from people who've reduced or come off PPIs.

Join the group on Facebook
  • Real stories from people who've been where you are
  • Practical food, lifestyle and supplement tips
  • No judgement, whether you're on medication or not
  • Free to join

What nobody told me

PPIs and the vitamin nobody mentioned

Your body needs stomach acid to free vitamin B12 from food. PPIs switch that acid down. A large 2013 study in JAMA found people on PPIs for two years or more had about 65% higher odds of B12 deficiency.

Nearly ten years after my last tablet, I still can't absorb enough B12 from food. Nobody warned me to watch for it.

Signs to watch for

Tiredness that rest doesn't fix, pins and needles, brain fog, low mood, breathlessness, a sore tongue and balance problems.

Why it matters

Left untreated, low B12 can cause anemia and nerve damage, and some of that damage can become permanent.

What to do

If you've been on PPIs or H2 blockers for a year or more, ask your GP for a B12 blood test. Don't stop any medication without talking to your doctor.

Read the full article

Source: Lam JR et al. JAMA. 2013;310(22):2435–2442.

Cover of From Reflux to Relief

The book

From Reflux to Relief

My journey through GERD and the lifestyle changes that made a difference.

  • Why fifteen years of PPIs never fixed the real problem
  • How I discovered my issue was too little stomach acid, not too much
  • The food and lifestyle changes that made the biggest difference
  • The vitamin deficiency nobody warns long-term PPI users about
  • The questions worth asking your doctor before you change anything
Get it on Amazon

Kindle and paperback. Free to read with Kindle Unlimited. The link takes you to your local Amazon store.

Neil Morley

About Neil

Neil Morley spent fifteen years on proton pump inhibitors before finding another way. He has now been off them for nearly a decade. He lives in Sydney, Australia, and runs a Facebook community for people who want to understand their reflux.