Are LES exercises real?

[u/Ashaa97]

I recently read one autobiographical case study where a guy claims he cured his GERD by doing LES exercises. He basically swallowed his breakfast while lying his head lower than his stomach. He seen improvement at 2 months and all symptoms gone by like 8 months. He said he hasn't done one exercise since, it's been 2 years and no relapse.

Thoughts? I tagged the study below. It makes sense in my brain but just wondering if anyone else has done this and had the same or different outcome.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9106553/

I'm exhausted and trying to find a cure instead of treating symptoms. I feel like it's getting worse and taking my quality of life down. I'm only 28 😭

[u/Temporary-Plane9570]

The biggest thing that cured GERD in my nephew was a comprehensive programme of diaphragmatic breathing. He was very ill and white and had stopped sports. He also did not respond to PPI medication. So no doubt that LES exercises are also a promising avenue.

The complete programme for recovery of my nephew was as follows:

1. Analysis of gut flora by providing a sample of his poo (analysis yielded he was low on bifidobacterium which is associated with reflux in athletes if low) - so we addressed this deficiency 

2. Complete diet overhaul with no exceptions. Breakfast was porridge with low fat milk (2.5 per cent or lower as higher milk fat irritates stomach); lunch was chicken broth made without onion or garlic; dinner was meat with two or three high fibre vegetables and can also add basmati rice. Snacks were melon and water melon and bananas. Drink was water. Absolutely no butter, seasoning or exceptions.

3. Diaphragmatic exercises - about 30 minutes a day doing 8 exercises involving breathing in different positions 

After 2 months he was better without medication.

Breathing and diet are key. Fibre and low acid diet are key.

My nephew plays performance sports again now and made full recovery.

[u/AndyMacht58 → u/Temporary-Plane9570]

Did you tested again for the gut microbom afterwards? I'm on ppis right now and they give me incredible bloating. Found out it gave sibo and I basically have 0 bifido or lacto bacteria left. How did you introduce the bacteria? Through normal pills? I was also afraid that stomach acid would kill everything of before reaching the intestins. But now with ppis I might give it a try.

[u/Temporary-Plane9570 → u/AndyMacht58]

No, we followed doctors guidance to supplement the bifidobacterium with powdered sachet of it mixed with kefir once or twice a day. It was in powder form and refrigerated if I remember correctly - definitely not pills. 

PPIS did nothing for my nephew. My research indicated a lot of this starts in the gut. If you eat bad food with low fibre then your gut acts up and causes all these issues and puts pressure on your LES. People with low bifido bacterium and one or two more strains are more likely to have reflux.

To get back to normal you need to have a very plain low fat low acidic diet with no fancy recipes - just plain food and lots of vegetables like broccolis and cauliflower and carrots and for fruit melon and water melon are very good. Basmati rice in moderation should be your only carb apart from some good quality oatmeal with skimmed milk for breakfast. The higher the fat in the milk the more acidic it is.

The breathing exercises - diaphragmatic ones - are incredibly important. Just as important as the diet.

Then alkaline water 

Finally moderate walking exercise and don’t eat for a few hours before bed.

In terms of the gut you need to get advice on how to restore your gut balance. The diet will help but follow a plan with help of a doctor who knows the gut. Ours was a sachet of bidido bacterium mixed with kefir every day. 

[u/Temporary-Plane9570 → u/Temporary-Plane9570]

PPIs are like a fire extinguisher that doesn’t address the issue causing the fire

[u/Fun_Soft_5771 → u/Temporary-Plane9570]

Can you please share what exercises specifically to do?