Acid Reflux

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:02 pm

Just curious if there is anything out there for acid reflux that wouldn't cause MC problems. I have only had ingestion when pregnant. So I'm not familiar with this. It's in my throat unlike my chest when I was pregnant. Its been going on for about 3 weeks, but couldn't figure out what it was until today. I slept with my bed elevated and am eating nothing that would cause problems, except 6 ounces of green tea. Going to try smaller meals too.

Was going to try gaviscon, Pepcid has only partially helped. Thanks guys!!!

jlbattin · Post by **jlbattin** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 4:48 pm

Martha,

I had problems with acid reflux and heartburn when I was first diagnosed. I slept elevated (still do). I took over the counter for about a week only, but once I got my diet under control, the acid reflux and heartburn went away.

But one thing that really helped me was I took a coffee cup full of water and warmed it in the microwave for about 30 seconds. I also had put in just a dab of honey in the bottom. I stirred that up and then added a capful of apple cider vinegar. I did that every time I was having an issue. It really helped. Apple vinegar has lots of healing characteristics. I don't have to use anything now.

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 5:59 pm

Thank you Jari! Crazy, I've never had this before so it has to be this new diet. I feel it's because everything I'm eating is dry. Its awful, it feels like food is stuck in my throat constantly. I will definitely try the vinegar! I'm willing to try anything.....so hoping this is temporary!

Post by **tex** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 7:47 pm

Martha,

The vinegar may help, because when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) allows reflux, it's almost always because the pH of the stomach contents is not low enough. Research shows that the more acidic the stomach contents, the tighter the LES clinches.

H2 blockers such as Pepcid of obviously raise the stomach pH so that when/if reflux occurs, it will not be as likely to damage the lining of the esophagus. And of course that's the theory behind PPIs, but PPIs can cause long-term or even permanent damage to the parietal cells of the stomach, plus other adverse side effects, so if you're going to go that route, H2 blockers are a much safer choice than PPIs. But of course raising the pH of the stomach contents increases the risk of having reflux.

If you feel as though there is something stuck in your throat much/most/all of the time, you might have a hiatal hernia, allowing part of your stomach to slip up above the opening in your diaphragm. Of course I'm just guessing from your description of your symptoms (a feeling that something is stuck in your throat constantly) that you might have a hiatal hernia. Obviously my guess may not be correct.

If this should be the problem though, there is a simple home remedy that can be used to relieve the discomfort. Drink a glass of warm water, to add some weight (mass) to your stomach, then raise your heels off the floor by standing on tiptoe. Drop your heels onto the floor abruptly, so that the inertia of the stomach will jar the displaced portion of the stomach back down below the diaphragm when your heels strike the floor. It may need to be repeated if the first attempt or so is not successful. If you do it barefooted, be sure to stand on a carpet or mat, so as not to damage your heels.

Tex

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 8:23 pm

Thank you so Tex, I will try that too. If this seems long term I'll go to the dr and get an upper endoscopy. I'm not wanting to take any med, but it really is bad and so out of the blue. The pepcid caused D the next am and helped but not totally. It really doesn't matter what I eat, it's constant irritation. I'm burping after every meal. How does one get a hiatal hernia?

Post by **tex** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 8:43 pm

I'm not sure what the risk factors for the development of hiatal hernia might be, but it seems to be somewhat common among the members here. It's not a high percentage of members, but it's far from being a rarity with MC. Some diaphragms may be more easily torn than others, and/or the bloating that often accompanies MC might put too much upward pressure on the stomach.

The easiest way to diagnose a hiatal hernia is probably an x-ray study done in conjunction with a barium swallow. Upper endoscopies aren't much fun either, and after the Joan Rivers incident, it would probably take a team of wild horses to drag me into the room for that procedure.

Tex

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 8:56 pm

That is interesting Tex! That's great about the X-ray, didn't know that was an option....

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Thu Dec 03, 2015 6:50 am

Thank you so much Tex and Jari, I feel so much better this am! Either jumping up and down or the vinegar water helped. This all started after my allergic food reactions and the dr telling me to take a h1 and h2 antihistamines for it. Maybe my pH got too high allowing reflux (oh I so hope)....we shall see!

Thanks again, you guys are the best!!

Post by **tex** » Thu Dec 03, 2015 9:52 am

Hi Martha,

It's good to see that you're feeling much better. Yes, if it was a reflux problem, it could have been a result of the H2 blocker. Doctors rarely seem to recognize the risks associated with taking acid-reducing medications.

As always, you're most welcome.

Tex

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 12:44 pm

Sadly Tex it came back after I took 2 vit d3 with lanolin. I got into the dr this morning and she ordered the X-ray with barium for Friday morning along with a h-pylori stool sample...

I just wanted to pick your brain and ask you about whether what I have been eating could have caused this. Typically I cook a whole turkey and freeze it or make ground turkey in patties and freeze it. When I am ready to eat it, I thaw for a few seconds then cook it in coconut oil in an iron skillet. I bake a potato then put coconut oil on it for butter or jasmine rice that was frozen and use coconut oil on it. Other times I eat 3 slices of uncured bacon on a baked potato. One week I ate this every morning

. I boil frozen cauliflower, or frozen green beans. For drinks, it is 6 ounces (really small) of green tea in the morning and 1 or 2 sugar pepsi's a week, and lots of water. For snacks, rice cakes with honey, cape cod plain potato chips, and enjoy life cookies.

As you can see I have been eating lots of coconut oil. Could that possibly be the cause? Thank you so much for all of your help! I just wonder if I changed my diet (once again) would it help. I can honestly say, this is worse than D

.

She recommended omeprazole. I'm holding off on that until I'm really desperate.

Post by **tex** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 1:52 pm

Martha,

Your meals look good to me. However, the question you raised about coconut oil may have some merit. Coconut oil is 85 to 90 percent saturated fat. Many of us have definite limits on how much fat we can tolerate in our diet, especially while we are still recovering.

There are about as many people who promote coconut oil as a treatment for indigestion or acid reflux as there are who claim that it causes their symptoms. So yes, if I were in your situation I would definitely try eliminating the coconut oil for at least a few days, and if that resolves the problem, then you can try adding it back into your dioet in smaller amounts to determine your tolerance level.

Considering all the known iatrogenic effects of PPIs, I would have to have my back to the wall before I would consider that line of treatment. I would try all other antacid options first.

Lanolin also has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. Technically it's a wax, rather than an oil, but maybe there's something about lanolin (perhaps the antibacterial properties) that insults your digestive system.

Good luck with this,
Tex

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 2:00 pm

Thank you so tex, you always make me feel better!

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 9:45 pm

I just wonder if my daily antihistamine is causing reflux from the lack of saliva? Since my allergy scare, I have been faithful in taking it. That is when my reflux started. I'm sure it will take a few weeks, maybe a month. I could try the methione instead if I start having problems.

Going to discontinue the allergy med. I have always had problems with dryness especially during the winter. I'm running a humidifier right now.

Just thinking out loud.....

Post by **tex** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 10:53 pm

Martha,

Yes, like antidepressants, the reduced saliva production resulting from antihistamines can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to loosen it's clamping strength, which can increase the risk of acid reflux. If your symptoms started when you started using an antihistamine, then the antihistamine is almost surely the culprit.

Good detective work.

Tex

crervin · Post by **crervin** » Fri Dec 11, 2015 2:24 pm

An update on my upper GI series, the results showed:

Small to moderate amount of gastroesophageal reflux noted in the level of the midesophagus with stress maneuvers. The gastric mucosa is unremarkable. The duodenal C sweep is normal in appearance.

Images demonstrate a smooth flow of contrast of the thoracic esophagus which is of normal course, contour, and caliber. The gastroesophageal junction is unremarkable. There is no evidence for hiatal hernia. The gastric mucosa is unremarkable. Contrast flows smoothly through the pylorus and into the duodenal bulb. The duodenal bulb and remainder of the C sweep are unremarkable. A small-to-moderate amount of gastroesophageal reflux is noted to the level of the midesophagus with stress maneuvers.

I've been taking tums which is helping, but it has corn in it of course. Trying to tolerate the reflux, I'm sure tums will cause some issues in the long run too.

So hoping the lack of antihistamines for awhile can reverse this or keep it from getting worse. I have read once the damage is done it's not reversible....

On a side note, my allergy dr finally returned to work and my bloodwork was negative for shellfish or soy allergies which was indicated on my skin test. Now the next step is to do an oral challenge in her office with shrimp and soy. That should be interesting.