I Am…Trying To Live Normally with GERD
A story for GERD Awareness Week – and for this time of year when food, family, and flare-ups collide.
Every November, as many gather around holiday tables filled with rich foods, warm spices, family favorites, and unaccustomed treats, millions of people brace themselves for something far less festive: GERD season.
For many, including our Smart Patients members living with cancer, autoimmune disease, or chronic GI conditions, GERD isn’t "just heartburn.” It’s a daily negotiation between food and fear, hunger and nausea, medication and uncertainty. And for many, it tends to get worse this time of year.
What It Feels Like
For one member dealing with multiple myeloma and worsening GERD, switching from one medication to another was just the latest attempt to quiet a stomach that felt out of control. Eating small amounts throughout the day went from an eating strategy to a survival strategy.
Others joined in to compare medications and the best timing for taking them, to share what brought on flares, and to admit fears they rarely say out loud. GERD affects roughly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S., so it didn’t take long for this Smart Patients community to grow and for people to validate how common these symptoms can be. Members shared how disruption in routines can worsen symptoms and how simple habits – like eating smaller meals, avoiding lying down for a few hours after eating, elevating the head of the bed – can make a real difference.
Because GERD doesn’t always show up as classic heartburn, the conversation widened to include the “hidden” symptoms: chronic cough, hoarseness, throat clearing, even asthma-like breathing trouble. Hearing others describe these atypical signs made it easier to ask questions and explore lifestyle shifts – which often help more than expected.
When GERD Mixes with Other Conditions
For many, GERD is not the sole problem. Cancer treatment is often a complicating factor. One member wrote, “I wrestled with GERD for years, and treatment for myeloma made it worse. But after a heart attack, I changed my diet during cardiac rehab and realized I haven’t needed GERD meds since losing 12 pounds.”
Another member taking prescription medicine for an autoimmune disease said it made her GERD unbearable. “I stopped it, and the difference was night and day… but now my joints hurt. I’m losing muscle. I don’t know what to do next.”
Getting diagnosed with GERD can be scary, although it can also be something of a relief: “I went to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. The spasms and fluttering in my stomach set off panic attacks.” Anxiety was definitely linked to an uptick in GERD for another member: “The GERD is nonstop. I didn’t know anxiety could feel like this.”
As these members can all attest, GERD is never just GERD. It affects sleep, mood, appetite, weight, confidence, identity, and relationships.
This Time of Year
Thanksgiving and the holiday season is supposed to be comforting and uplifting. But for many in our communities, this season also means trying to enjoy tradition while quietly managing symptoms or stress.
Of course, the holidays still can hold joy, even as they remind us how much life has changed. Small check-ins, shared questions, and honest connections matter more than ever. Smart Patients is here to help.
How do you navigate GERD when symptoms flare during the holiday season? Share the foods, routines, tips, and mindsets that have helped you the most. Someone reading will need it.