No reflux for first time in ten years? Entocort?? Or GF??

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 3:03 pm

Hi, I'm on Day 5 of entocort, taking 9mg every morning.

So far, i'm tolerating the medicine, my D has gotten better but I still have a sharp pain in my abdomen, no normans yet. I had an "accident" yesterday -- my first -- but I was luckily home.

ANYHOW, noticing some great side effects which are either coming from the entocort, or the fact that I've been GF/DF/SF for a few weeks now. One slip up on the gluten last week, but minor.

The side effects are:

1) No reflux, except for when I ate a bison burger the other day. I'm assuming for now I shouldn't eat bison (or maybe ground meat?). I have had bad nighttime/daytime (but mostly night) GERD since 2003. Been on zantac/prilosec/dexiant etc., off and on since then. The drugs probably contributed to my CC!

2) No itchy scalp? I've had what my derm diagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis for the longest time. I've had to wash my hair daily, usually with head & shoulders. I suppose it could be the new GF lifestyle, but it's probably more likely the steroid, right?

Wishing all a wonderful evening and hope you are feeling good.

Nancy

Post by **tex** » Sun Jun 30, 2013 6:11 pm

Hi Nancy,

It's the diet. Untreated gluten sensitivity tends to cause reflux, and you are correct that the PPIs probably were a factor in the development of your MC. You're very fortunate to be able to get away from them, because for most people, discontinuing them causes a rebound effect that results in worse GERD symptoms than they had originally, and as a result, many people effectively become addicted to them, not because they crave them, but because they can't stop using them without causing a major GERD flare.

Also, research shows that vitamin D helps to control GERD, if a sufficient dosage is used.

And untreated gluten sensitivity is notorious for cause eczema and various other skin issues. Unfortunately, most doctors seem to be totally oblivious to the connection with either of these issues.

You're making good progress. Thanks for the update.

Tex

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 5:50 am

Thank you for replying, Tex.

How frustrating that these doctors don't get the gluten connection, or that food sensitivities in general are REAL and can exacerbate one's health in so many ways?

I'm so grateful for your & everyone's help here in spelling it all out.

Nancy

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 3:59 pm

Welcome to the board!

I don't use meds for my CC, and not long after going GF my heartburn went away. It's now an accurate first responder when I eat something I shouldn't. I see that you may also be sensitive to corn. If you had a bun with your bison burger, there may have been a touch of corn in it, or you may be starting to react to other grains like rice. If you didn't have a bun, I dunno.

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 7:05 am

Hi Marliss! Thank you for your reply.

I have some Bombardiers in my family! Beautiful name.

How wonderful to hear that you are managing med-free. I hope to be able to do that at some point.

I did not have a bun with my burger, there was basically nothing on it. I was surprised by the heartburn reaction so quickly. I don't have the same reaction to beef. Maybe I'm just getting better at picking up on these cues.

Until I get enterolab back, I'm eating corn products, but I ate some boiled fresh corn that gave me horrid pain. I should have known better. I'm only eating super mushy veg for now until my inflammation recedes.

So far I'm GF DF SF peanutF, no walnuts, no raw veg, no nightshades, no fruit. Also no oats.

These are just things I think I have a problem with! I hope I'm not bonkers. I won't be able to send in my enterolab until Monday but it'll be worth the wait.

Nancy

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 8:57 am

Hi Nancy,
I've had seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp virtually my entire life. So does my mom, and her mom. I've used every shampoo and just learned to live with it. If I don't wash my hair daily, it's an oily mess and more hair seems to fall out at the root. I've been on prednisone since December and did notice improvement in my scalp symptoms and hairloss. Once I tapered to lower doses (under 10 mgs), the hairloss came back.

I do find it's important to wash with natural shampoos. I tested reactive to sodium benzoate on MRT, then realized most commercial shampoos include it.

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 9:04 am

When I switched to a low carb, no grain paleo diet my heartburn went away. I had been taking prilosec daily and was able to stop it with no problem, no apparent rebound effect. This was years before I found this site. When I found this forum a little over a year ago and had the Enterolab tests done I was able to refine my diet and that has helped immensely. I also eat low histamine. The value of the Enterolab test for me has not only been to show me all the things I was reacting to but to motivate me to stay with the program. I have little temptation to add things back in. I enjoy not living my life in the bathroom.

Jean

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:52 pm

Hi Zizzle,
Darn about the SD coming back when the steroids are lowered... I suppose it's more likely my SD is reduced by the steroids, but only time will tell. It's literally unbelievable how non itchy I was after skipping a shampoo. Thank you for the shampoo insight, it always seemed like nothing was getting that goo off of my scalp and I did have to wash daily. It's nice to get a little break from that.

Sincerely,
Nancy

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:55 pm

Hi Jean,

How awesome that grain free cured your heartburn. I've been on PPIs for years. Since I had the D I went off them, not sure why but I felt the downward motion might be helping the reflux!

I've been off them for a few weeks and feeling better than I did while on two acid reducers. It's amazing. When I heal more and. Gain a little weight, I too am looking forward to going grain free.

Thank you for your reply.

Nancy

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Wed Jul 03, 2013 4:57 pm

Nancy,

I belive that being low carb along with being grain free were important in getting rid of the reflux.

Jean

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 11:40 am

That's great to know Jean, thank you for sharing. So are you paleo? If there is a post somewhere that talks about how/what you're eating for the most part, I would love to read it. I'm feeling a little lost. If not, don't worry about it.

Happy 4th.
Nancy

JFR · Post by **JFR** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:41 pm

Nancy,

I am entirely paleo. I eat pork, lamb and haddock, kale, swiss chard and bok choy, macadamia nut butter and almond butter, pork and lamb broth, and blueberries. That's pretty much it right now. Some people can't eat nut butters and others wouldn't be able to eat blueberries. The mainstay of my diet is meat and veggies. It's simple and repetitive but it works for me.

Jean

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 9:04 pm

Thank you for the diet description, Jean. Glad you can eat some nut butters. I think I too could do repetitive, especially if it means fewer symptoms.

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:09 pm

Hey, Nancy, if you have Bombardiers in your family and they hail (at some point) from Kansas, then we are related.

JeanIrene · Post by **JeanIrene** » Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:22 am

Nancy, I also follow a diet similar to Jean's. paleo for the most part, pork, poultry, steamed veggies sautéed in coconut oil or olive oil, nuts, seeds (mostly butters). Fruits mostly low carb (berries) in smoothies. No grains, starches, sugars, nightshades. Make my own almond, flax and coconut milk because of gums, etc. in purchased products. I am fortunate in that I didn't have to take any pharmaceuticals. After about six weeks of this I felt very close to normal except for several times when I tried something I shouldn't have or eaten something by accident in a restaurant.

It must seem really daunting for newcomers to think about such a limited diet, but I really don't miss a lot of the foods I thought I would, and the weird thing is that food tastes better to me now than it did before.

I know you will get it all worked out! It sure is worth the effort.

Jean