Hi All,
A lot of people seem to think that if the tummy doesn't feel right, or we are having acid reflux, for example, we have too much stomach acid. The fact of the matter is, though, we may actually have too LITTLE stomach acid. Believe it or not, the symptoms are the same. The only way to tell for sure, is to experiment, and see if additional acid helps, or if it makes the situation worse.
To check this out, during my last reaction, (which lasted for 5 weeks, incidentally, because I "knew" that everything I was eating was safe--obviously, it was not), I tried taking a Betaine Hydrohloride tablet with each meal on some days. During my reaction, I was having almost constant stomach distress, and the pain was worse following each meal, especially if I ate a substantial amount of meat, (which I usually do).
Sure enough, if I took a 600 mg betaine hydrochloride tablet during a meal, I felt better afterwards, than I did if I skipped the tablet. This seemed to be very consistent. I didn't try more that one tablet, though now I wish I had. The next time I have a reaction, I plan to try other doses.
After I found the problem, I was ok within a couple of days, so I stopped taking the tablets. It appears to me, that in my case at least, I don't produce enugh hydrochloric acid during active MC reactions, and when that happens, supplementation helps digestion, which obviously makes me feel a lot better. The betaine hydrochloride didn't stop the reaction, (since I was still eating the offending item), but it definitely helped me to feel better by reducing stomach pain, in the meantime.
Love,
Wayne
Are We Producing Too Much, or Too Little, Acid
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Are We Producing Too Much, or Too Little, Acid
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 Wayne
Wayne,
I agree, especially for me, having pernicious anemia, I know I have too little stomach acid - actually, during my upper endoscope, they found that I have "autoimmune atrophic gastritis" - which is a fancy way of saying too little stomach acid. Anyhoo, that seems to go along with pernicious anemia, especially if it is not discovered and treatment started right away. Just my two cents worth !
Love,
Carla
I agree, especially for me, having pernicious anemia, I know I have too little stomach acid - actually, during my upper endoscope, they found that I have "autoimmune atrophic gastritis" - which is a fancy way of saying too little stomach acid. Anyhoo, that seems to go along with pernicious anemia, especially if it is not discovered and treatment started right away. Just my two cents worth !
Love,
Carla
LC - dx'd 2004 - Celiac -biopsy dx'd 2004 - pernicious anemia... ;)
Hi Carla,
Thanks for the insight. It's interesting that they would call it "autoimmune atrophic gastritis". That implies that it's due to an autoimmune problem, (at least in your case). Now I wonder if it's a seperate autoimmune issue, or if it's specificially connected with pernicious anemia, or if it could even be a common side effect for MC. So many of us with MC, seem to have GERD, or some sort of acid, or acid reflux issues, that some sort of connection seems likely.
Love,
Wayne
Thanks for the insight. It's interesting that they would call it "autoimmune atrophic gastritis". That implies that it's due to an autoimmune problem, (at least in your case). Now I wonder if it's a seperate autoimmune issue, or if it's specificially connected with pernicious anemia, or if it could even be a common side effect for MC. So many of us with MC, seem to have GERD, or some sort of acid, or acid reflux issues, that some sort of connection seems likely.
Love,
Wayne
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 Wayne
Hi !
Well, from what I understand, the gastritis is a direct result of the pernicious anemia ~ or maybe it is the other way around ~ I will look it up again and try to post a link, but from what I do remember, the gastritis is the "end stage" of pernicious anemia. Off to look it up !
Love,
Carla
Okay, here is the link : http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1799.htm
Interesting reading !
Well, from what I understand, the gastritis is a direct result of the pernicious anemia ~ or maybe it is the other way around ~ I will look it up again and try to post a link, but from what I do remember, the gastritis is the "end stage" of pernicious anemia. Off to look it up !
Love,
Carla
Okay, here is the link : http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic1799.htm
Interesting reading !
LC - dx'd 2004 - Celiac -biopsy dx'd 2004 - pernicious anemia... ;)