Acid Reflux & GERD Treatment
What if the problem isn't too much acid -- but too little? We find the real cause and fix it.
You've Been on PPIs for Years. The Reflux Is Still There.
A real estate agent in Jacksonville came to us after five years on proton pump inhibitors. Five years. The reflux was managed -- barely -- but she'd developed new problems. Bloating. Nutrient deficiencies. Bone density concerns. All documented side effects of long-term PPI use.
Here's what nobody told her: her reflux wasn't caused by too much stomach acid. It was caused by too little. When stomach acid is low, food doesn't break down properly. It sits, ferments, and produces gas that forces the lower esophageal sphincter open. Acid goes up -- and it burns. The PPI was making the underlying problem worse while suppressing the symptom.
Functional medicine flips the script. We test for the actual cause -- low acid, infections, SIBO, food triggers -- and treat that. Not the symptom. The cause.
More Than Just Heartburn
Acid reflux and GERD have a range of symptoms -- some obvious, some surprising. If you're dealing with several of these, your digestive system needs real attention.
Burning After Every Meal
That fire rising from your stomach into your chest -- sometimes your throat. It's worse after eating, worse lying down, and it's turned meals into something you dread instead of enjoy.
Regurgitation
Food or acid coming back up. That sour taste in the back of your throat. It's not just uncomfortable -- it's damaging your esophagus over time.
Chronic Cough or Throat Clearing
A cough that won't go away, especially at night. Constant throat clearing. Hoarseness. Most people don't connect these to reflux, but acid irritating the throat is often the cause.
Bloating and Feeling Full Too Fast
You eat half a meal and feel stuffed. Bloating kicks in within minutes. That's not overeating -- it's poor digestion. Food is sitting too long because your stomach isn't breaking it down properly.
Chest Pain That Mimics Heart Problems
Reflux can cause chest pain intense enough to send you to the ER. It's not your heart -- but it feels like it. That's how aggressively acid can irritate the esophageal lining.
Worsening Symptoms on PPIs
You've been on Prilosec or Nexium for months -- maybe years. It helped at first. Now it doesn't. Or your symptoms are different but not gone. That's a sign the root cause was never addressed.
Why the Acid Keeps Coming Up
"You make too much acid" is the standard explanation. But for most people, the story is more nuanced -- and often the opposite of what they've been told.
- Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) -- the opposite of what most people think
- H. pylori infection disrupting acid production and gut lining
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) creating upward pressure
- Food sensitivities triggering inflammatory responses in the gut
- Impaired lower esophageal sphincter function from chronic inflammation
- Stress-driven reduction in digestive enzyme production
How We Treat Acid Reflux in Jacksonville
We find out why your digestion isn't working -- not just suppress the burn. The goal is getting you off PPIs safely and resolving the reflux for good.
Functional GI Assessment
We test for what's actually happening in your gut -- H. pylori, SIBO, food sensitivities, stomach acid levels, and inflammatory markers. Most reflux patients have never had any of these tested. Their doctor just handed them a PPI and said 'take this forever.'
Stomach Acid Optimization
Here's the counterintuitive truth: most reflux is caused by too LITTLE acid, not too much. When stomach acid is low, food sits and ferments, creating gas pressure that forces the esophageal sphincter open. We test your acid levels and support proper production -- which often resolves reflux entirely.
Gut Infection Treatment
H. pylori and SIBO are two of the most common -- and most overlooked -- drivers of chronic reflux. We test for both and address them with targeted protocols. Once the infection clears, the reflux often disappears with it.
Dietary and Lifestyle Protocol
Not a generic 'avoid spicy food' list. We identify your specific trigger foods through testing, optimize meal timing and composition, and address stress-driven digestive shutdown. Practical changes that work with your life in Jacksonville -- not against it.
How Long Until the Burn Stops?
Dietary changes can reduce symptoms within the first 1 to 2 weeks. Infection eradication and gut healing typically take 6 to 8 weeks. Full PPI wean-off (when appropriate and medically supervised) is a gradual process -- usually 8 to 12 weeks. We monitor every step.
Related Conditions
Done Living on Antacids?
Find out what's really causing your reflux -- and get a plan to resolve it, not just suppress it.