reflux problems and ppi

[sonja]

Hi Tex and everyone,

Some weeks ago we had a discussion about my helicobacter pylori. I took the antibiotics and the ppi for one week.
Since then my problem with stomach acid did not disappear and I even have the idea that they become worse.
I fout out that I have no problem when I eat very early (5.30) and don't drink wine. But normally I eat round 7 or even 8, drink one glass of white wine at 5 or 6.
I tried once the betaine HCL, but after that the problem was also there.
I did the bicarbonate sodium test and that seemed to point out that i have low stomach acid.
But now I am confused. In the meantime it is 6 weeks ago that I toke the antibiotics and the ppi. Tex wrote this:

" PPIs will trigger microscopic colitis reactions for many of us, and PPIs are very addictive. Once you start taking them, they'll weaken your glorious esophageal sphincter (between your esophagus and your stomach), and you will have problems with acid reflux, and possibly GERD, after you try to wean off the PPI. Furthermore, weaning off PPIs is very difficult for most people, because with a weakened lower esophageal sphincter, you'll continue to have acid reflux problems until your lower esophageal sphincter is able to regain its strength, and that will take weeks to months. it should be illegal to prescribe PPIs for patients who have microscopic colitis, in my opinion."

Now I wonder: is it possible that taking one week PPI made my problems worse?????
And does anyone has an advice for me? I want to continue to try to eat early and if this doesn't help skip my wine, but maybe I look in the wrong direction.

Thank you, Sonja

[tex]

Hello Sonja,

I noticed in that quote from me there was a mistake in the first line. Obviously we're not talking about the "glorious" esophageal sphincter, it's the lower esophageal sphincter. After I had the stroke, I had to relearn how to type, along with having to relearn almost everything else, and so I started using DragonDictate to dictate everything I wrote. It was so convenient that I've continued to use it. But like the dictation system used in iPhones, it occasionally makes mistakes. Usually, they're just humorous, but occasionally they change the meeting of the entire sentence. Anyway the word "glorious" was the result of an incorrect interpretation of my dictation.

Getting back to your question, let me tell you about an experience I had with PPIs. Almost 13 years ago, I had to have emergency abdominal surgery, because of massive colonic bleeding due to a genetic defect that runs in some of the males In our family. I almost bled to death before they removed most of my colon, and my terminal ileum. As I was recovering, after a couple of days they decided I should try to eat something to see if my digestive system would restart (the digestive system almost always stops working during abdominal surgery, and has to be restarted, afterward).

They apparently were afraid I wasn't going to survive, because I had a respirator tube down my throat. I choked on a piece of chicken, and coughed up the respirator tube. I found that I was able to breathe on my own, without the respirator, but the doctor insisted on reinserting the tube. When I argued, he said that the only way that could be avoided would be if I took a PPI for at least a few days. I argued against that, also, but finally had to give in, and I chose the PPI. As best I can recall, I was in the hospital for three more days, as I recovered, and then they allowed me to go home. The point is, I only took a PPI for three days.

When I got home, I seemed to be okay for a day or two, but maybe I was still so sick that I didn't notice the problem. Anyway, early one morning, a few days after I got home, I woke up with a mouthful of stomach acid. I was mighty sore, but I got out of bed as fast as I could, and went to the bathroom to spit it into the sink. I rinsed my mouth a few times with water, and then drank some water, but my throat still burned for hours. After that, almost every night, and sometimes during the day, I would have acid reflex problems. So at night I had to be very careful that I never laid on my right side, and I didn't eat anything after a few hours before bedtime. It took me over six months of being very careful, before I was able to be confident that I had the problem under control, and it still took a few more months, before my lower esophageal sphincter had regained enough strength that I could safely lay on my right side, at night. All this happened because I took a PPI for three days. Before I took a PPI for three days, I didn't have any noticeable problems with GERD or acid reflux.

Tex

[sonja]

Hi Tex,
Thank you for your reply and for your personal story. I did not know that you had to go through this heavy proces and I am sorry to hear this.

I had to laugh about glorious. I did not mention it before, because my English is too bad.....

But your answer on my question is very clear.....I am very glad en thankfull to hear this, because I already thought that maybe I should need a ppi....
But now I know I just have to be patient, eat early, don't sleep on my right side and stay alert.

Thank you,
Sincerely
Sonja

[Gabes-Apg]

Keep in mind that alcohol wine will cause inflammation / deplete magnesium / raise histamine

Magnesium and P5P are both essential for balancing stomach acid and moderating histamine

[sonja]

Thank you Gabes

I will keep that in mind that alcohol depletes magnesium.
Since 6 weeks I take extra P5P, because you advised so, and I take 300 mg magnesiumbisglvycinaat, spread over the day.
I thought that was enough.

Sleeping on my right side helps, Tex!

Sonja

[Gabes-Apg]

300mg of magnesium is the daily requirement for healthy people

things like medications, coffee, alcohol etc deplete magnesium
if there is inflammation or you are deficient you may need more than 300mg per day