Acid reflux?

amberlink09 · Post by **amberlink09** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:37 pm

Does anyone else suffer from acid reflux problems? I don't know why but since Tuesday I have had AWFUL reflux/heartburn problems along with horrible stomach pain. I am on a PPI, which doesn't seem to be helping, and I've tried Maalox, tums, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, peppermint tea, fennel tea, and ginger tea. NOTHING has worked. I'm kind of at the end of my rope here, starting to wonder if maybe it's a stomach bug or something? It's never been this bad before, I will try anything at this point!

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 6:56 pm

Amber, I have had a lot of problems with acid reflux too. Sometimes it felt like water would bring it on. I've found that mine gets better when my gut is better but gets worse when my gut is acting up. I'm drinking kombucha tea, water kefir and some Braggs apple cider vinegar currently and things seem better (today).

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 8:45 pm

I suffer with Acid Reflux as well. Even with my Pepto regimen I still get it every now and then. Do you notice what you've eaten right before getting the heartburn? No chocolate, no caffeine, no tomatoes or sauce, no peppers. I get it sometimes after I eat fish. Must be a high-acidic food. I would look on line at what foods are considered high acidic. I've had to give up lemons and limes as well. I seem to do well with decaffeinated green tea. Also, since I've upped my meat intake, at first, I had more heartburn but that has subsided. Sorry the PPI's aren't helping...usually they do. Maybe you have low stomach acid? Have you tested that yet? I have also read that upping your Vitamin D can help as well. I'm getting ready to try that myself. I used to take Alka Seltzer which worked great for me but too scared to take it now. Have you tried Zantac?

Hope you can find something that works. I hate heartburn as I know it usually gives me D if it's persistent enough.

If you find something that works great for you, let us know!

Terri

Christine. · Post by **Christine.** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 9:29 pm

Strange that you mentioned vitamin D. I started taking 2000mg a day a few weeks ago and while reading your post I realized that I haven't needed a Zyrtec in about that same period of time....hmmmm

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 7:48 am

Might you have a sliding hiatal hernia? I get intermittent reflux and I've read that when the hiatal hernia moves it can bring it on. Naturally, I didn't hear a thing about it from any doctors. Sheesh. I might have read that here.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 7:20 pm

18 mths ago i had chornic GERD (couldnt put socks on without vomitting and was up 3 - 4 times a night)
i was diagnosed with Hiatus Hernia 15 months ago, i was prescribed a PPI, but based on some articles posted by tex I never took it instead, started using high doses of Vit D3 (2000 - 5000iu per day)
it worked for me, and quite a few others on the forum (do a search for GERD VITD3 and you will see quite a few discussions about it)

it seems the gerd is like a VitD3 radar for my body, if i start having mild symptoms i up the Vit D3 dosage and it goes away.

other hints for GERD:
- Elevate the bed head (i have 30cm high garden pavers covered in fleece fabric elevating mine)
- Sleep on the left side
- Depending if the GERD is because of high acid or low acid be cautious of how much water you drink close to meal times
- dont have a big meal of a night and stay upright for at least 2 hours after eating
- smaller size meals more often rather than 2 or 3 large meals
- I dont have coffee within 30 mins of eating

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:18 pm

I had no idea that Vitamin D could help GERD. I've got to take more D b/c of that hiatal hernia. My level stays at only 30 so what the heck....

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 8:28 pm

i have taken 1000 - 5000iu per day for over 12 months. My level is at 64, and has been stable at 64 for the past 3 months.

my new doctor was horrified at me taking the high doses for so long (they still believe that the max dose should be 600iu per day), to which i replied well my body must be using it cause i am not exceeding the range in my bloods!
next visit i took a print out the Dr Fine article about recommended Vit D3 dosage for various conditions....

I take the BioCeuticals 'sublingual' Vit D3. it comes in 300iu or 1000iu drops. each drop is the dose. As it is sublingual it is absorbed first pass and gets to the blood and the cells quicker.
other Vit D3 (liquid or tablets) has to go through the stomach, then through the kidney before it is absorbed.
you need VitD3 in your cells for other nutrients to be absorbed.

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:28 pm

I have a hiatus hernia as well. I saw it on my endoscopy results but doctor didn't talk to me about it at all. It was mild though. I'm sure that's why I still have some issues with acid reflux. I'm getting ready to up my dose to 4,000 units/day. I haven't been tested for Vitamin D since last February and doctor didn't want to test me for it 2 months ago because she said it was an expensive test. Jeez! I will get one again next February. Mine was 58 last February but I'm almost positive it's gone down since then. I had heard from this forum that taking more could help with acid reflux so I will see what happens.

Gabes...I really need to try that Vitamin D you mentioned. Mine is from Lanolin and is in capsule form. I think my health food store has a Sublinqual one. You seem extremely educated on this forum. I'm still kinda new but I've learned so much from you, Tex, Leah, Zizzle and a few more. Honestly, sometimes, you all go over my head, but I'll get there one day...lol! So glad that you are pretty much in remission. Can I ask how long it took you? You are another inspiration!

Terri

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:56 pm

Terri
if you read my posts in the member success stories you can read about my journey.

with a strict eating plan, and lifestyle changes the MC was in remission in under 2 years. i was very lucky, I didnt have chronic symptoms for too long before Dx, I found this forum the day i was Dx'd and followed the advice of those that had done the hard yards, I attained good MC management with diet, supplements and natural therapies (and alot of hard work!!!)
I have always favoured wholistic approach to health and my best friend is a naturopath.
8 years ago I had an acupuncturist and took supplements, I didnt have a family doctor and avoided any medication, including mild pain tablets! If I got sick, i went to my acpuncturist. The MC journey and subsequent health issues have been a big change for me. Now i am on first name basis with everyone at the pharmacy, doctor surgery and blood collection lab and in some cases know the names of their children!!!

i was avoiding gluten, lactose and yeast for quite a few years prior to Dx, so the diet changes were not so dramatic for me.
my focus for the past 2.75 years has not been to get better so i can reintroduce foods, it has been on long term wellness. I have done alot of research on inflammation, immune system etc. Effective digestion is the most important element of long term wellness. Listen to your body, it sends pretty clear messages and signals.
ie: issues with the skin around your fingernails, is telling you about your liver and kidney.

re the supplements, you get what you pay for type thing.
the bioceuticals sublingual VitD3, the bottle has 20mls, by my calcs is 20,000ul. 1 drop is 40ul which is 1000iu dose, that means the bottle has 500 doses so even at 5 drops a day, it will last you 100 days 2.5 months. it costs me about $35 so that is about 35 cents per day if i am taking 5000iu per day, 17 cents per day if i am taking lower dosage.

rather than look at the outlay cost for items, look at the per day or per meal cost.

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 7:18 am

You can order a vitamin D test inexpensively from this site ($70 for a one time test) https://www.grassrootshealth.net/proj-welcome/?pr=95284

amberlink09 · Post by **amberlink09** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:05 am

I have tried looking at my diet to see if anything is causing it but tomatoes and alcohol are the only thing that really trigger it. When it gets really bad like last week I can't get anything down. I was literally crying yesterday morning I was in so much pain, had no idea GERD could be so painful!

I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy done about 3 months ago, I might have to ask my doctor about the hiatal hernia, he didn't say anything about it though, he just said I had esophageal ulcers from the acid reflux, that's when I reluctantly decided to agree to go on a PPI. When my acid reflux problems first started I did a lot of research and found that most acid reflux issues are caused by low stomach acid, so I tried apple cider vinegar and betaine capsules, but they just worsened the problem, so I guess I do have too much acid? Yesterday I finally broke down and called my doctor and he gave me samples of an even stronger PPI. I am definitely going to try the Vitamin D because I really don't want to be on a PPI forever, I only wanted to give it the 30 days for my esophagus to get a chance to heal. Good to know there's a sublingual Vitamin D, I have to take B12 injections so I'm thinking maybe sublingual D will be more effective for me than the tablets as well.

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:38 am

Yikes....taking Betaine and apple cider vinegar will definitely aggravate or make ulcers worse. I'm sorry you were in so much pain. I won't even try the Betaine due to the fact that I have just a little gastritis. I'm sure it would irritate that. I would think that a short term dose of a good PPI like Nexium (don't know which one you are taking) would help heal the ulcers. So hope this stronger PPI will help you. I had to give up my OJ for a while but now drink the low acid one. Let us know if increasing the D3 works for you. Hope you feel better soon.

Terri

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:39 am

Thanks Deb!

@Gabes....will have to read about your journey. Thanks!

Terri

Post by **tex** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:36 pm

Amber wrote:I really don't want to be on a PPI forever, I only wanted to give it the 30 days for my esophagus to get a chance to heal.

I wish I knew of a simple way to resolve your issues, but unfortunately, for those of us with MC, nothing is ever as simple as it should be.

Please be aware that it only takes a couple of weeks for the body to develop a dependence on a PPI, and after that, withdrawal results in a rebound effect that causes symptoms worse than the original symptoms for most users. That makes it very difficult to wean off a PPI, once we start using them. Extended use of a PPI results in significant histological changes to parenteral cells in the stomach (dysplasia).

The only time in my life that I ever had any significant problems with acid reflux/GERD was a few months after abdominal surgery, a couple of years ago. A couple of days after the surgery, I choked on the respirator tube, while trying to eat, and coughed up both that tube and the NG tube that was still in place draining my stomach. The doctors insisted that the respirator tube would have to be reinserted, unless I was willing to take a PPI every day (supposedly to prevent me from choking on my own vomit). Since I had choked on the tubes, and reinserting them is definitely not fun, I caved in and opted for the PPI. I only took them for the few remaining days before I was discharged from the hospital.

About a month or two later, I began to have reflux problems during the night. (I would wake up with my mouth full of acid, and my throat on fire.) I resolved the problem by doing as Gabes advised in her first post in this thread — I stopped eating at least a few hours before bedtime, and I either slept on my back, or on my left side, because the reflux always occurred when I was lying on my right side (in that position, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is lower than the stomach, which allows stomach contents to flow into the esophagus, if the LES does not remain tightly clinched at all times). By following good guidelines, after a few months my LES regained it's strength, and the reflux/GERD problems faded away. I have no doubt, though, that the few days of taking a PPI while in the hospital weakened my LES, which created the problem in the first place.

That said, in your own situation, unless you can find a better way to quickly resolve the problem, it's probably better to take a PPI, than to severely burn your esophagus. Please be aware that the PPIs do not prevent reflux. All they do is to lower the acidity of the stomach contents so that the reflux is not as likely to burn the mucosa of your esophagus. While taking a PPI, you won't notice the reflux, because you won't be able to feel it. Unfortunately, though, the PPIs make the reflux problem worse, by weakening the LES. Research shows that the lower the pH in the stomach (IOW, the greater the acidity), the more tightly the LES clenches. As the stomach contents become less acid, the LES tends to relax it's clenching power, and since the LES is a muscle, over time, with lower physical demands, the muscle weakens, and becomes incapable of clinching as tightly as it originally did. PPIs present a paradox, because they cause the very symptoms that they are claimed to prevent.

http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0 ... X/fulltext

In fact, there is research to demonstrate that the use of a PPI actually causes GERD in healthy individuals:

Conclusions

PPI therapy for 8 weeks induces acid-related symptoms in healthy volunteers after withdrawal. This study indicates unrecognized aspects of PPI withdrawal and supports the hypothesis that RAHS has clinical implications.

http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0 ... 8/fulltext

Please keep us posted.

Tex