Danny Rodriguez
"Life without heartburn is unbelievable."
Heartburn type: Episodic
Age: 58
Hometown: Winthrop Harbor, IL
Danny's life with heartburn
Before I got my heartburn under control, my life was filled with stress and bad eating habits. I live near the Wisconsin State border, but work long days in downtown Chicago. My work commute is two and a half hours each way, four times per week.
Most days, breakfast was a sandwich and coffee on the train coming into work — usually while taking 15-minute naps and reading the newspaper. There was little time to eat during the day (I work on a sales floor), so I often munched on snacks or crammed in fast food lunches when I could. At night, I rode a bus back to the train station, ate a big fast food meal for dinner there, then snacked on the train ride. I was still hungry when I arrived home, so I'd usually eat more, anything that was available, and then go to bed.
About once per week, I'd wake up at night with a terrible garbage-like acid taste in my mouth. It was disgusting. Then I'd rinse with mouthwash and take an antacid, belch once or twice and go back to bed. Once when my heartburn woke me up, I was sort of choking, and was scared. I asked myself why this was happening, and I read articles that suggested I cut back on fast food and eat healthier. The heartburn, the extra weight, an uncomfortable feeling about myself; it was all too much. I decided to make some changes.
Danny takes control of his heartburn
At first, I only cut back on fast food and eating late at night. I started packing my own lunches and began shopping at a fresh produce stand near my house. I cut up carrots, cauliflower, celery, grapes, and other fresh vegetables to make little snack packs throughout the day. I stopped being so hungry all the time and buying food at the train stop.
Little by little, I began noticing changes. I dropped a size and gained more energy. I started walking to the train station and riding my bike on the weekends. Then I noticed that I didn't need to rely on diet cola (I was a diet cola fanatic!) or other acidy liquids for energy. I began to sleep better. Not only did I begin to lose weight, the heartburn gradually went away, too. It went from about once per week, to about once per month. Now, I can't tell you the last time I've had heartburn.
Danny's new outlook
I can't change my work style. Long commutes and long, stressful days are part of my life. But I can change things that are part of the process, like all the eating that caused me to have heartburn.
Now that I don't have heartburn anymore, I find myself a lot more active. I like to say I do more "power walking." I ride a bicycle more often, too. And I don't have that nasty acid taste in my mouth at night. I've also lost 20 lbs., and my clothes have come down two sizes.
My outlook now is a lot more effervescent. I'm perkier, bubblier, and much more outgoing. Life without heartburn is unbelievable! I have a brighter, healthier outlook on life!
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