Tex I'm working on the calculations right now and have found that the stomach produces about 700ml of acid related liquids per meal. Gastric acid is a digestive fluid, formed in the stomach it has a pH of 1.5 to 3.5 and is composed of hydrochloric acid (HCl) (around 0.5%, or 5000 parts per million) and large quantities of potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl). If any of the common calcium preparations such as CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) are introduced in quantities of about 1500mg it would increase the PH by about 22% due to ionic exchange; keeping in mind that an increase in PH is a reduction in the acidic level, water has a PH of 7 and is neutral. Hopefully some other chemistry types here can check my math on this...my world is physics.
Jenny the other med you are refferring to might be Questran, I have used that as well and occasionally if things are acting up and I need to settle them down soon, I will mix a packet with juice and it does help.
norman-norman-norman
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Joe,
Your math appears to be correct, and I see nothing wrong with your observation about calcium carbonate, since it's commonly recommended to reduce heartburn and acid indigestion. Most people think that reducing the acidity of the stomach helps to control those symptoms, but for most people, the opposite is true, because (IMO) heartburn and acid indigestion are usually the result of poor digestion (due to insufficient acidity) rather than too much acid.
Tex
Your math appears to be correct, and I see nothing wrong with your observation about calcium carbonate, since it's commonly recommended to reduce heartburn and acid indigestion. Most people think that reducing the acidity of the stomach helps to control those symptoms, but for most people, the opposite is true, because (IMO) heartburn and acid indigestion are usually the result of poor digestion (due to insufficient acidity) rather than too much acid.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Joefnh
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- Location: Southern New Hampshire
....that is the question 
Overall if you are not getting enough through your diet, supplementation may be the best way to go. I know I am going to change the way I take mine by splitting up the dose into 3 equal doses taken at meal times. The study about cardiac risks really suggests that may be the best way.
In line within a other discussions, if you have not already, you may want to get your vitamin D levels checked. If they are below 40 I would increase that dosage accordingly.
Overall if you are not getting enough through your diet, supplementation may be the best way to go. I know I am going to change the way I take mine by splitting up the dose into 3 equal doses taken at meal times. The study about cardiac risks really suggests that may be the best way.
In line within a other discussions, if you have not already, you may want to get your vitamin D levels checked. If they are below 40 I would increase that dosage accordingly.
Joe
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Gabes-Apg
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the gabe theory of 'listen to your body' does apply a bit here
for me, calcium carbonate helps the GERD, so that tells me my GERD is based on too much acid (that and when i have reflux it burns my gums)
i have got the intake amount just right so that no C occurs.
Make small changes at a time, try them for three days - keep tabs on what is happening and you will figure what works best for you and your digestion....
we are all different
for me, calcium carbonate helps the GERD, so that tells me my GERD is based on too much acid (that and when i have reflux it burns my gums)
i have got the intake amount just right so that no C occurs.
Make small changes at a time, try them for three days - keep tabs on what is happening and you will figure what works best for you and your digestion....
we are all different
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
After reading this thread, I've reduced my calcium to a 250 mg pill with each meal, giving me 800 mg. in supplements, including my multivitamin. I'm getting about 500-600 mg. from my diet, so I should be getting enough. I hope that taking a reduced amount with each meal will minimize any problems.
I think we would all like to get our nutrients from the foods we eat, but that's pretty impossible when you're on a limited diet. We do the best we can and hope it's going to work for us.
Gloria
I think we would all like to get our nutrients from the foods we eat, but that's pretty impossible when you're on a limited diet. We do the best we can and hope it's going to work for us.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
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mzh
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- Contact:
Maybe this post will help someone.
I quit taking calcium because I'm taking HCL with pepsin - just one pill at a time with protein meals only - to increase acid; the calcium would reduce it. Also, I read the study about too much calcium and getting it in the arteries. Not having it hasn't made any difference in my BMs. However, when I cut out the HCL, my BMs get worse, even while taking 3 mg Entocort a day.
Add in the 4 grams of L-Glutamine I feel much better overall; I can actually do stuff around the house and go to the gym. This is the first time in my life that I've ever wanted to work out.
PS Taking HCL when one has focal Barrett's like I do is risky but it's kind of like a homeopathic approach - take what bothers you. My GI doc thought it was too little an amount to worry about anyway. I refuse to take PPIs again; they make me terribly sick in time.
I quit taking calcium because I'm taking HCL with pepsin - just one pill at a time with protein meals only - to increase acid; the calcium would reduce it. Also, I read the study about too much calcium and getting it in the arteries. Not having it hasn't made any difference in my BMs. However, when I cut out the HCL, my BMs get worse, even while taking 3 mg Entocort a day.
Add in the 4 grams of L-Glutamine I feel much better overall; I can actually do stuff around the house and go to the gym. This is the first time in my life that I've ever wanted to work out.
PS Taking HCL when one has focal Barrett's like I do is risky but it's kind of like a homeopathic approach - take what bothers you. My GI doc thought it was too little an amount to worry about anyway. I refuse to take PPIs again; they make me terribly sick in time.
Also have sleep apnea
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draperygoddess
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- Location: Tennessee
Still doing really well! I seriously haven't changed my diet from when I was still having D but, just added in extra Vit D (liquid), calcium and coQ10 everyday and things have settled down.
I have 1 norman every morning and then maybe another late in the day (sometimes).
Keeping my fingers crossed this will stay!
Jenny
ps-I have cut down on my calcium and sometimes just take 1 pill every other day. instead of the 4 a day at 1000mg
I have 1 norman every morning and then maybe another late in the day (sometimes).
Keeping my fingers crossed this will stay!
Jenny
ps-I have cut down on my calcium and sometimes just take 1 pill every other day. instead of the 4 a day at 1000mg
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Deanna in CO
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- Location: Colorado
Jenny,
I am so happy for you! I also take vitamin D (10,000 IU/day) and a calcium/magnesium/zinc/D3 combination, along with B-complex, C, and L-Glutamine every day (and yes, I have to watch them like a hawk to be sure nothing has anything in it I can't tolerate). Taking this stuff hasn't been a "magic bullet" for - I've been taking them for 6 months and am only now beginning to see Norman visit once in a while - but I'm convinced they have been helpful in the healing process.
Congratulations on finally apparently making it into (dare we say it?) remission! May you stay there for a long, long time! :)
Deanna
I am so happy for you! I also take vitamin D (10,000 IU/day) and a calcium/magnesium/zinc/D3 combination, along with B-complex, C, and L-Glutamine every day (and yes, I have to watch them like a hawk to be sure nothing has anything in it I can't tolerate). Taking this stuff hasn't been a "magic bullet" for - I've been taking them for 6 months and am only now beginning to see Norman visit once in a while - but I'm convinced they have been helpful in the healing process.
Congratulations on finally apparently making it into (dare we say it?) remission! May you stay there for a long, long time! :)
Deanna
