Acid Reflux: How do you get relief?

Posted by ldholley505 @ldholley505, Jul 12, 2020

Hi,

I'm 42 and have been suffering from health issues for over 20 years and have been told that I have fibromyalgia but the following have been progressively getting worse over the past years.

- constant burning in esophagus from acid reflux after eating or drinking anything along with belching and stomach discomfort.

- sharp pain in lower right back side and radiate into abdomen and armpit with bloating, gas and cramps.

- food gets stuck and hard to swallow.

- sore throat with enlarged lymph nodes and neck pain.

- have lost weight.

- fatigue even with enough sleep.

- teeth being greatly impacted by acid erosion causing staining to teeth and gum sensitivity.

- constant sour taste in mouth.

- headaches since a teenager.

- sensitivity to sun.

- nerve and joint pain for about 20 years.

- tailbone pain on and off for 8 years.

I’ve had the following tests and seen the following doctors.
- Gastroenterologist 3 times. Recent endoscopy and colonoscopy findings 3 weeks ago include Grade A Esophagitis was seen in esophagus, normal mucosa in antrum, incisura of stomach, stomach body, pylorus and cardia. Slightly blunted villi noted in duodenal bulb and second part of duodenum. 4 biopsies taken from 2nd portion and 2 from duodenum and results are normal. Colonoscopy normal.

- Neurologist 3 times and had nerve testing done with no findings.

- Allergy testing - no allergies to most common foods about 2 weeks ago.

- Celiac panel over a week ago - negative ( have cut out gluten for months now)

- H-pylori - year ago

- E-coli present about 8 years ago and took prescribed medication

- Hospitalized about a year and half ago for gallstones and elevated kidney

- Urinalysis - normal

- CBC - normal

- Lipid panel - normal

- Hepatic panel - normal

I’ve tried the following.

– diet changes: no acidic or spicy foods, cut out refined sugars, eliminated herbal teas, eating smaller and more frequent meals, elevating head at bedtime, no tight clothing, no bending down after meals, no eating too close to bedtime, no gluten and grains for months. Tried acid, low fodmap, inflammation and microbiome diets. Bone broth, kefir and yogurt.

– digestive enzymes, healthy gut powder, Atrantil, tumeric, multi vitamins, apple cider vinegar good strength probiotics, magnesium.

- lemon balm, nettles, cat's claw, marshmallow and slippery elm powders and aloe vera.

– omeprazole, famotidine and antacids.

Not sure what more I can do to get some relief.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

I also have hereditary hemochromatosis. You are the first person I have found to converse with who has it. My father was undiagnosed and was what killed him.

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Sorry for your troubles.. it’s hard not feeling well especially when there are really no answers. Have they checked autoimmune gastritis? Or your gallbladder? I wish you the best in finding the reasons!

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@julchilds

I use digestive enzymes whenever I eat. They help so much with reflux and digestion. They make it easy to eat. Try Enzymedica. Their product, Digest Gold, is the best!

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Thank you for your advice. I will look into it.

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@londonboy

Are your iron levels elevated? I’m assuming you probably have had ferritin tests. I have hereditary hemochromatosis found through a gene test and feel similar to you on many counts. Hope you can find some relief someday soon!

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Not sure if I have had ferritin tests. I will research. Thank you so much for sharing.

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@sophia07

Sorry for your troubles.. it’s hard not feeling well especially when there are really no answers. Have they checked autoimmune gastritis? Or your gallbladder? I wish you the best in finding the reasons!

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I can't remember being tested for autoimmune gastritis. Definitely going to look into it and gallbladder. Thank you so much for your advice.

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@Idholley505- Re the positive test for gluten sensitivity- was that now or before? Which test was it - biopsy?
Re test for autoimmune gastritis - if they took biopsies there it would show.
It will be very interesting to find out results of all tests.

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Your health issues sound similar to mine with Fibromyalgia and many other issues.
The muscles in my lower esophagus don't work properly due to nerve and muscle damage in lower right abdomen and pelvis.
A GI DR told me to drink chamomile tea when gets bad
Do believe it helps me.
I also have neuropathy for no reason. Have been told by a couple doctors if you have any nerve issues in your body, can hit other areas of body also.
Since Fibromyalgia is now known to be from central nervous system, maybe these are having some of your issues.
Don't know if this will help you any, but know I feel your frustration and pain. Took me many different specialist over years of trying to figure out what's going on with my body. An awesome dr that will listen and doesn't care if you go out of the normal western medicine for you to find help.
Have you tried acupuncture? Do believe that and massages are the two best things for fibro.
Take care of yourself, you know your own body and what type of pains, etc you deal with. Don't ever let anyone tell you what your going thru is not real.

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@suzanne2

I also have hereditary hemochromatosis. You are the first person I have found to converse with who has it. My father was undiagnosed and was what killed him.

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@londonboy and @suzanne2, you may also be interested in this discussion:
- Looking for advice..hemochromatosis https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/looking-for-advice-i-am-37-years-old-for-the-last-two-years/

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Perhaps I am missing something, but you said “turmeric” was part of your protocol. That is a strong acid producer. I didn’t see “ginger” listed, which Is an acid neutralizer. Perhaps others can comment

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@julchilds

I use digestive enzymes whenever I eat. They help so much with reflux and digestion. They make it easy to eat. Try Enzymedica. Their product, Digest Gold, is the best!

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Hi can you take enzymes while you are taking omeprazole i went down to 20 mg from 40mg and now starting to have some heart burn back but the reflux is now so much better.I have changed my whole way of eating and would rather not have to go back to 40mg would a digestive enzyme help with this.I will look up that product i do take a probiotic they are not the same?
Thank you for any info.

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