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I'm planning to discuss cholestyrimine with my integrative medicine practitioner tomorrow. At my last visit she suggested Simillase GFCF to assist the digestive system with any trace gluten or casein. From what I can see, these two medications have opposite tasks to perform. Cholestyrimine reduces acid bile in the small intestine and it seems that Simillase GFCF increases acid I took a digestive enzyme in the past and it didn't seem to help. Am I correct that these two medications are conflicting?
My goal is to bring a horrible digestive cough under control.
I thought the clear (occasionally white) mucous that I was coughing up would have been extremely acidic so I tested it with a ph kit. It was not at all acidic. Per an ENT who scoped me, I have a rubbery protective coating built up on my vocal cords. I do not have a post-nasal drip or seasonal allergies.
I'm not a fan of supplemental enzymes, so I can't help you there. Regarding the mucus though — that's clearly a sign of a chronic allergy. I wonder if it could be due to something other than a food though, IOW maybe a respiratory allergy, despite the absence of seasonal allergy symptoms. For most of my life, yellow pollen caused classic pollen hay fever symptoms. But during the past few years, pollen no longer causes those symptoms. Instead, it causes mild to moderate throat congestion, in the form of a very thick (almost rubbery) mucus that is almost impossible to cough up, and it also affects my vocal chords (I assume it does, because it affects my speech). I note however that unlike pollen, mold still causes classic allergy symptoms for me.
If it's due to food, your pancreatic output might be suspect. Do you have any problems digesting fats?
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 Tex and Gabes,
I had extensive allergy testing in the early years of my cough and I tested negative for everything, including mold, pets, and nature. The ENT I saw years ago told me that my vocal cords are singed from GERD and that the rubbery stuff on my vocal cords is nature's way of trying to protect them from the acid. Maybe the non-acidic mucus is my body attempting to protect my esophogus. If I fasted, my cough would improve.
I plan to medicate for BAD for a short time as a test. I don't know what else to do.
Yes, that's definitely true that the mucus is there as a defensive tactic, but the question is, What is the defense against?
If you believe the problem is GERD, have you tried all the GERD remedies recommended on this board? (i.e. never lying on right side, avoiding certain foods several hours before bedtime, taking relatively large doses of D3, elevating the head of your bed, etc.?
Have you tried taking an H2 blocker before meals?
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 am a bit surprised that the integrative practitioner has not recommended Slipper elm powder for that issue
Slippery elm will provide a natural coating so that the body does not have to mass produce mucus
NB: it must be powder not capsule or tablet to get benefit in the upper GI tract
Native Americans traditionally used slippery elm in healing salves and poultices for wounds, boils, ulcers, burns, and skin inflammation. The inner bark of the slippery elm tree has been used as a herbal remedy for centuries.On contact with water, slippery elm powder becomes mucilaginous (slimey, gel-like) in texture which accounts for the majority of its medicinal properties. It has demulcent actions on all mucous membranes.
Demulcent means that it is soothing, softening, buffering, and has poison-drawing qualities. This herb has a number of health benefits. It helps to neutralise stomach acids, boost the adrenal glands, draw out impurities, and heal all parts of the body. The mucilage coats the mouth, oesophagus, and gastrointestinal tract with a slick residue. It soothes the inflammation of ulcers in the stomach and duodenum and helps to provide a barrier between the ulcer and stomach acid. It soothes irritations or ulcerations in the stomach and intestines and is good for helping with gastrointestinal conditions.
Hi Tex,
I don't eat after dinner, I take large doses of liquid Vitamin D, I have my bed on a slant, but I have not used anything to reduce acid in a long time because I can't identify my underlying problem. I don't know if I have too much acid or if my body is doing the wrong thing with the acid I have. Having the top of the bed elevated does help. I'm a side and tummy sleeper. I suppose I sleep more on my left side than my right but once I fall asleep, I turn to the other side and back. I have distress when I lie down, then I burp a lot and things quiet down. I wake up with a gasping cough once a night or less and I calm things by burping a lot. I would rate my cough as very severe but it was worse before I changed my diet! I've thrown my back out coughing. That doesn't happen now. I think I'll add H2 blockers to my list as I try things one at a time.
Gabes,
Slippery elm is a childhood memeory for me. I love the stuff. I used to get the actual bark at my great-uncle's pharmacy. I have tried it in recent years. I loved it but I don't think it made a difference. Now that you brought it up, I'm buying some. Whether it works or not, it will feel warm and fuzzy.
If reflex/GERD is the problem, the odds are relatively high that the reflux is occurring after you roll onto your right side. When you lie on your right side, much of the stomach is higher than the LES, so that if the clinching integrity of the LES is less than perfect, reflux will occur.
After my last surgery, the doctor in charge insisted that I had to take a PPI or use a ventilator, so I took a PPI for 2 or 3 days before I was discharged. After I got back home, if I rolled onto my right side for a while, I would wake up with a mouth full of acid. By avoiding lying on my right side, my LES regained most of its strength, but even today, if I lie on my right side for a long time, I sometimes have reflux. So I have to avoid doing that.
I used to be a belly-sleeper, but I had to get out of that habit when my symptoms began, because the extreme bloating wouldn't allow it. After I recovered, I never went back to sleeping on my belly.
An H2 blocker will not prevent GERD, but it will raise the pH of your stomach contents, to minimize the damage from refluxed acid. The "real" solution of course, is to prevent the reflux in the first place, because anything used to increase the stomach pH will compromise digestion.
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.
DJ wrote:I'm planning to discuss cholestyrimine with my integrative medicine practitioner tomorrow. At my last visit she suggested Simillase GFCF to assist the digestive system with any trace gluten or casein. From what I can see, these two medications have opposite tasks to perform. Cholestyrimine reduces acid bile in the small intestine and it seems that Simillase GFCF increases acid I took a digestive enzyme in the past and it didn't seem to help. Am I correct that these two medications are conflicting?
I don't think there is a conflict here. Cholestyramine binds bile acids, and thereby triggers the production of more bile acids. Cholesterol is used in the production of bile acids. This process causes cholestyramine to reduce cholesterol, which is what it was originally made for. As the increased amount of bile acids is sequestrated by cholestyramine, it doesn't irritate the colon while passing.
I took a digestive enzyme in the past and it didn't seem to help. Am I correct that these two medications are conflicting? 
