Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Hello. I am new to the forum but have had active MC for 20 years. I was just also diagnosed with celiac disease Marsh Level 3C. I started GF diet a month ago. My diarrhea issues are not as severe as many people but just enough to make life difficult while traveling. Since having Covid in November I have been struggling with WD. I have an upcoming vacation so I am trying the pepto regimen of 8 pills per day. I am on week 3 and have some slight improvement (WD has stopped but still having sludgy BMs several times a day). But a new symptom has started and I am thinking it is related to the pepto. I have heartburn several times per day. Could this be from the pepto preventing stomach acid necessary for proper digestion? I have a prescription for Budesonide but haven’t gotten it filled as I am concerned about the side effects. I am leaving the country for two weeks and diarrhea will be very inconvenient!
Re: Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Hi,
Welcome to the group. Pepto is supposed to be a remedy for heartburn, and I doubt that it's all that effective for neutralizing stomach acid. But I suppose at eight tablets per day, anything is possible, especially since were all different. Average time to remission with Pepto was two weeks in the medical trial, but since you're just on week three, it still might do the job in time. If you're budesonide naïve (never taken any budesonide) it would probably work for you, if you want insurance, but you would probably need to take the fall dose, and go through the entire treatment regimen, in order to get good results.
Covid 19 tends to cause most MC patients to relapse, and getting back to remission often takes half a year, or more. According to published research, the virus can be found in the intestines many months after the respiratory symptoms are resolved, so it's possible that the presence of the virus is a persistent trigger for MC. That raises a question about whether budesonide will work normally in this situation, because I'm aware of some patients who have used budesonide without success for months after having the virus. It's a complex situation, at this point. Considering the short time left, there are no guarantees.
Sorry that I couldn't be more helpful.
Tex
Welcome to the group. Pepto is supposed to be a remedy for heartburn, and I doubt that it's all that effective for neutralizing stomach acid. But I suppose at eight tablets per day, anything is possible, especially since were all different. Average time to remission with Pepto was two weeks in the medical trial, but since you're just on week three, it still might do the job in time. If you're budesonide naïve (never taken any budesonide) it would probably work for you, if you want insurance, but you would probably need to take the fall dose, and go through the entire treatment regimen, in order to get good results.
Covid 19 tends to cause most MC patients to relapse, and getting back to remission often takes half a year, or more. According to published research, the virus can be found in the intestines many months after the respiratory symptoms are resolved, so it's possible that the presence of the virus is a persistent trigger for MC. That raises a question about whether budesonide will work normally in this situation, because I'm aware of some patients who have used budesonide without success for months after having the virus. It's a complex situation, at this point. Considering the short time left, there are no guarantees.
Sorry that I couldn't be more helpful.
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.
Re: Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Back in late December I came down with a respiratory infection (after posting on this site that I was getting fewer bugs). I had a slight fever and temporarily lost my sense of smell. Maybe Covid?
I started having problems gut wise and Cholestyramine has helped but after reading Tex's post about the Covid virus hanging out in the gut for months I am wondering if that is what is causing the current inflammation problem. If this is the case I would be tempted to ride it out for a few months to see what happens, but I am going to move to another town in 4 months and also have to look for a part time job, so I am considering a low dose of Budesonide to keep the inflammation at bay. Just wondering about whether this is a wise move - I suspect my frustration with my situation is clouding my judgement (had 6 months symptom free, then out of the blue, without changing anything I start having problems). Any advice would be appreciated.
John R.
I started having problems gut wise and Cholestyramine has helped but after reading Tex's post about the Covid virus hanging out in the gut for months I am wondering if that is what is causing the current inflammation problem. If this is the case I would be tempted to ride it out for a few months to see what happens, but I am going to move to another town in 4 months and also have to look for a part time job, so I am considering a low dose of Budesonide to keep the inflammation at bay. Just wondering about whether this is a wise move - I suspect my frustration with my situation is clouding my judgement (had 6 months symptom free, then out of the blue, without changing anything I start having problems). Any advice would be appreciated.
John R.
Re: Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Sure, budesonide is good insurance if you want to suppress the symptoms for sure, but if it were me, I think I would wait until 2 or 3 weeks before the move to start the budesonide treatment, just in case you don't need it by then, and so that when you do start it (if you start it), the budesonide will be at maximum effectiveness as you start the move.
Tex
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.
Re: Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Thanks Tex,
And you are spot on as usual as it turns out my current symptoms may be a reaction rather than just stubborn inflammation.
Turns out I lied about nothing changing. I had started taking fish oil supplements a couple of weeks ago and even though the labeling said "gluten dairy soy and egg free" the ingredient list had "mixed tocopherols" as one of the ingredients. Not sure if the chronology works out because I neglected to log this addition into my food and poop log, but it is a likely suspect (along with BAM). I don't know why my brain keeps giving supplements a pass. Stupid brain!
Anyway, I have a doctor's appointment in 19 days and the CR-3 Buzide order I made to the company in India will take 30 days to show up, so looks like I am not pulling the trigger on Budesonide for a few weeks anyway. It will be nice to have Budesonide available though in case I can't shake this inflammation.
John R.
And you are spot on as usual as it turns out my current symptoms may be a reaction rather than just stubborn inflammation.
Turns out I lied about nothing changing. I had started taking fish oil supplements a couple of weeks ago and even though the labeling said "gluten dairy soy and egg free" the ingredient list had "mixed tocopherols" as one of the ingredients. Not sure if the chronology works out because I neglected to log this addition into my food and poop log, but it is a likely suspect (along with BAM). I don't know why my brain keeps giving supplements a pass. Stupid brain!
Anyway, I have a doctor's appointment in 19 days and the CR-3 Buzide order I made to the company in India will take 30 days to show up, so looks like I am not pulling the trigger on Budesonide for a few weeks anyway. It will be nice to have Budesonide available though in case I can't shake this inflammation.
John R.
Re: Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Another possible problem with fish oil is the fact that it's a lubricant, and depending on how much you're taking, and how responsive you might be to a lubricant right now, that might possibly be contributing to your diarrhea, especially when your MC is active. Some of us have to avoid fish oil for that reason.
Tex
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.
-
dianebarkeridaho
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2023 5:40 pm
Re: Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Hi. Can anyone tell me what “ CR-3 Buzide ” is? From India ?
Re: Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Buzide is the brand name(?) for Budesonide from "All Day Chemist".
John R.
John R.
Re: Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Well, I do think that my current problem is an immune reaction, my fatigue and weight loss came back as well as the watery stools. The symptoms have ebbed somewhat - it has been about three weeks since I ingested the mixed tocopherols.
Another trigger may be walnut sawdust. I scored a 2+ with walnuts (overall 42) on my last Enterolab results. A couple of months ago I found a dead walnut tree, so I cut some of it up and took it home. Recently I milled the logs and, although I wore a mask, I did get some walnut sawdust in my sinuses and throat (it is a very fine sawdust). I did a search and there seems to be many health issues with walnut sawdust. Walnut has a chemical called juglone which is toxic (walnut sawdust/shavings can kill horses, it is absorbed through their hooves). Walnut also has many chemicals that cause IgE reactions - sometimes severe.
Basically, I am wondering if:
A) If it is possible that the protein(s) in the nut of the walnut that cause a reaction could also be found in the wood itself?
B) Could something that causes an IgE reaction also cause an IgA reaction as well if it gets into your digestive system? Or maybe just a histamine reaction?
I'm mostly just writing down my thoughts, but if anyone has had an experience with walnut and/or sawdust I would like to hear about it.
John R.
Another trigger may be walnut sawdust. I scored a 2+ with walnuts (overall 42) on my last Enterolab results. A couple of months ago I found a dead walnut tree, so I cut some of it up and took it home. Recently I milled the logs and, although I wore a mask, I did get some walnut sawdust in my sinuses and throat (it is a very fine sawdust). I did a search and there seems to be many health issues with walnut sawdust. Walnut has a chemical called juglone which is toxic (walnut sawdust/shavings can kill horses, it is absorbed through their hooves). Walnut also has many chemicals that cause IgE reactions - sometimes severe.
Basically, I am wondering if:
A) If it is possible that the protein(s) in the nut of the walnut that cause a reaction could also be found in the wood itself?
B) Could something that causes an IgE reaction also cause an IgA reaction as well if it gets into your digestive system? Or maybe just a histamine reaction?
I'm mostly just writing down my thoughts, but if anyone has had an experience with walnut and/or sawdust I would like to hear about it.
John R.
Re: Pepto regimen and acid reflux
Thanks for sharing that information. I was unaware of those details about walnut, and I find them very interesting. Although I can't answer your first question, because it hasn't been medically studied with regard to MC, I wouldn't be surprised (after reading the details you provided) if fine walnut sawdust might, indeed, cause those of us who are sensitive to walnuts to react.
Regarding your second question, I'm not sure of the exact number, but approximately 80% of the immune system receptors are located in the digestive system. And I've seen published research (the source of which I don't recall at the moment) showing that certain antigens that normally produce IgE (upper respiratory system) reactions, can also trigger IgA reactions in the intestines, although I don't recall the details.
Tex
Regarding your second question, I'm not sure of the exact number, but approximately 80% of the immune system receptors are located in the digestive system. And I've seen published research (the source of which I don't recall at the moment) showing that certain antigens that normally produce IgE (upper respiratory system) reactions, can also trigger IgA reactions in the intestines, although I don't recall the details.
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.