GERD
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GERD
Hello I posted a bit ago as I got diagnosed this September with CC. I did the elimination diet, a antibiotic, and I did entocort for 6 weeks. I tapered off and I do have some springs already coming back which now that I am reading it looks like a longer course was necessary but now I'm also feeling a bit off and think my adrenals are probably affected since they weren't optimal to begin with so maybe I will try the pepto routine. I am going to get tested for the foods through the blood and stool in a few weeks. Right now I am confused about GERD.. The md told me to take Zantac but I think that made my symptoms of mc worse. I have a hiatal hernia and have done chiropractic and Bowen therapy. I don't have a classic burning but a feeling of something in my chest or throat and a dry cough/sore throat. I have taken DGL but?? Any ideas? I'm typing from my phone so sorry for spelling errors.
Hi Thumbs,
Yes, for some of us, Zantac seems to make our MC symptoms worse. IMO, GERD is rarely caused by excess acid. While reducing the acidity of the stomach seems to help to reduce the burning for some patients, it does not address the cause of the problem. The cause of GERD can often be traced to insufficient stomach acid, or a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), or both. The LES clinches more tightly as the stomach becomes more acidic, and it tends to relax as the stomach contents become less acidic. Because of that, lowering the acidity (except in a very few cases where excess acid actually does exist) may seem to help, but it does not resolve the problem.
In addition, if the LES is not normally allowed to clinch tightly (because of low stomach acidity), like any other muscle, it loses strength, and soon becomes incapable of clinching as tightly as it should. This is why proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are counterproductive, because they actually cause the very problem that they are prescribed to treat.
The best way to treat GERD is by natural means.
1. Avoid eating foods that are known to be associated with GERD, especially for at least 4 or 5 hours prior to bedtime, such as fried foods, spicy foods, dairy products, coffee, carbonated drinks, alcohol, some types of meat that are difficult to digest, and baked goods made with refined sugar and enriched flour.
2. Avoid lying on your right side, especially while sleeping, because in that position the LES is below the upper portion of the stomach, and if it is not clinched tightly, stomach contents can backflow into the esophagus.
3. If necessary, elevate the head of the bed a few inches, by placing blocks under the legs.
If you have a hiatal hernia and you notice the feeling of something in your throat, the upper portion of your stomach is probably protruding above your diaphragm. To encourage it to slip back into place, drink a glass of warm water (to add some weight), stand on your tiptoes, and then drop abruptly onto your heels. This will usually pop it back into place. If it doesn't work the first time, try standing on tiptoes again, and dropping onto your heels.
For additional tips on controlling GERD, please read the threads at the following links:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14245
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14344
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15313
Tex
Yes, for some of us, Zantac seems to make our MC symptoms worse. IMO, GERD is rarely caused by excess acid. While reducing the acidity of the stomach seems to help to reduce the burning for some patients, it does not address the cause of the problem. The cause of GERD can often be traced to insufficient stomach acid, or a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), or both. The LES clinches more tightly as the stomach becomes more acidic, and it tends to relax as the stomach contents become less acidic. Because of that, lowering the acidity (except in a very few cases where excess acid actually does exist) may seem to help, but it does not resolve the problem.
In addition, if the LES is not normally allowed to clinch tightly (because of low stomach acidity), like any other muscle, it loses strength, and soon becomes incapable of clinching as tightly as it should. This is why proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are counterproductive, because they actually cause the very problem that they are prescribed to treat.
The best way to treat GERD is by natural means.
1. Avoid eating foods that are known to be associated with GERD, especially for at least 4 or 5 hours prior to bedtime, such as fried foods, spicy foods, dairy products, coffee, carbonated drinks, alcohol, some types of meat that are difficult to digest, and baked goods made with refined sugar and enriched flour.
2. Avoid lying on your right side, especially while sleeping, because in that position the LES is below the upper portion of the stomach, and if it is not clinched tightly, stomach contents can backflow into the esophagus.
3. If necessary, elevate the head of the bed a few inches, by placing blocks under the legs.
If you have a hiatal hernia and you notice the feeling of something in your throat, the upper portion of your stomach is probably protruding above your diaphragm. To encourage it to slip back into place, drink a glass of warm water (to add some weight), stand on your tiptoes, and then drop abruptly onto your heels. This will usually pop it back into place. If it doesn't work the first time, try standing on tiptoes again, and dropping onto your heels.
For additional tips on controlling GERD, please read the threads at the following links:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14245
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=14344
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15313
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.
I'm thinking this is a typo and you meant right side?2. Avoid lying on your left side, especially while sleeping, because in that position the LES is below the upper portion of the stomach, and if it is not clinched tightly, stomach contents can backflow into the esophagus.
Also, I have been having a tbsp of live vinegar (Bragg's) in a glass of water every morning and it seems to help my issues, including GERD
and esophogeal spasms.
Whoa! Good catch. Yes, that's definitely a mistake. It's OK to lie on the left side. Never lie on your right side. I'll go back and edit the original post, also.
Many thanks, Deb.
Tex
Many thanks, Deb.
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.
Hi Thumbs.
I'm so sorry to hear about your problems.
I have hiatal hernia too, I take Nexiam 40 mg a day for it. That seems to do it for me. I don't have any problems anymore. But of course, your case may be more severe.
You say you've been feeling a little off. You had taken entocort for 6 weeks. I would say: get a bloodtest to test your cortisol levels. Here's what happens when you take entocort: entocort is a corticoid. Your body makes a natural corticoid, called cortisol. When you take entocort for a significant period of time, your body starts to produce less cortisol, since you already take entocort. Other wise, you'd be having to much cortisol. When you wean entocort, your adrenal glands have to start function at a 100% again. The problem is: that takes a while! I went through this because my specialist stopped the entocort cold turky and I had been taking it for a year. My cortisol levels were very low. I had a form of adrenal insuficiency. People who wean off entocort, can still have a mild form of adrenal insuficiency. The common symptoms are: forgetting things ( a lot), feeling tired, feeling weak, your muscles hurt, your joints hurt, you feel depressed, your intestines hurt, you have D and even your stomach hurts. This affects your body.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to test your adrenal glands.
Good luck!I can't really help you with the rest of your problems, all I know, is the problems you can have with your adrenal glands.
Keep us posted and I hope you feel better soon.
Julie
I'm so sorry to hear about your problems.
I have hiatal hernia too, I take Nexiam 40 mg a day for it. That seems to do it for me. I don't have any problems anymore. But of course, your case may be more severe.
You say you've been feeling a little off. You had taken entocort for 6 weeks. I would say: get a bloodtest to test your cortisol levels. Here's what happens when you take entocort: entocort is a corticoid. Your body makes a natural corticoid, called cortisol. When you take entocort for a significant period of time, your body starts to produce less cortisol, since you already take entocort. Other wise, you'd be having to much cortisol. When you wean entocort, your adrenal glands have to start function at a 100% again. The problem is: that takes a while! I went through this because my specialist stopped the entocort cold turky and I had been taking it for a year. My cortisol levels were very low. I had a form of adrenal insuficiency. People who wean off entocort, can still have a mild form of adrenal insuficiency. The common symptoms are: forgetting things ( a lot), feeling tired, feeling weak, your muscles hurt, your joints hurt, you feel depressed, your intestines hurt, you have D and even your stomach hurts. This affects your body.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to test your adrenal glands.
Good luck!I can't really help you with the rest of your problems, all I know, is the problems you can have with your adrenal glands.
Keep us posted and I hope you feel better soon.
Julie
It doesn't matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get up en go for it again. HOPE !!!!
Great information. I have had issues with my cortisol before MC so that seems suspect. I will look into that again. I have done the vinegar and warm water the last two days and think that might be helping but I have also been eating less the balance of everything seems so depressing. I was just diagnosed with lichen planus oral too. I am so upset. My mom thinks an antidepressant might help but I have read alot of worrisome connections. I am doing the stool testing and blood here soon, eating restricted diet, and seeing a counselor but I am still just so sad. I have little girls and need to get it together!! I'm also taking a pepto in the am and pm and that seems to be enough right now to stop the relapse. Thanks for listening.
Hi Thumbs,
please don't give up. You can do this.
Please don't take Nexiam. Apparently it triggers MC, I've just found that out. So don't take Nexiam.
You say you feel depressed, when my cortisol level was too low, I felt depressed all the time. Now that my levels are normal, I feel like I used to.
Grts
Julie
ps: we are here for you.
please don't give up. You can do this.
Please don't take Nexiam. Apparently it triggers MC, I've just found that out. So don't take Nexiam.
You say you feel depressed, when my cortisol level was too low, I felt depressed all the time. Now that my levels are normal, I feel like I used to.
Grts
Julie
ps: we are here for you.
It doesn't matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get up en go for it again. HOPE !!!!