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.

@wishingtobepain

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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Thank you. Massages definitely help. I will give acupuncture a try again.

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Probiotic and digestive enzymes are different, but they work together, so don’t worry about that. I’m sure it won’t interfere with medications also, because they are just enzymes, which we already have in our bodies. Enjoy digestive enzymes, such wonderful helpers.

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Sounds like you've had many specialist looking, and finding everything "pretty much" normal. At least nothing that they can pin point as the cause. May I offer two suggestions (part 2 in second post):

You could try what veterinarians do when they observe similar symptoms. They order a round of antibiotics which should knock our whatever is "growing" in your stomach. When finished, follow up with a good round of Probiotics. There are many out there. Personally I'd choose a multiple strained capsule or powder. Then continue with subsequent/occasional use of them -- think yogurt.

One of the side effect of antibiotics is it wreaks havoc on the intestinal flora. Which is why after a round of antibiotics, it is recommended that a round of probiotics (and prebiotics).

I know regular yogurt (without sugar & artificial sweeteners) helps my wife tremendously for many “women’s health. Her favorite way is yogurt with fresh/frozen fruit and some granola sprinkled on top.

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(Part 2)
IF your intestinal flora is normal & healthy (i.e. don't drink artificial sweeteners like aspartame or Nutri-Sweet), you may actually have LOW acid production. Sounds odd, but when you eat your body releases acid to help digest the food. But some people don't produce enough acid at the right time to digest the food "sitting” in their stomach. Their body produces acid too slowly or can't stop producing the acid because their body still has something in their stomach -- so more acid production at the wrong time.

I have found, especially when I have lots of oily food (i.e. order of French fries) that my stomach feels “glumpy”. When this occurs, I reach for some vinegar. Drink some plain water (to wet my mouth/throat). Mix 1/8 cup vinegar with 1/4 cup water and drink it. If after 10 minutes I don’t feel better, I’ll repeat once more. That almost always takes care of it. I know my trigger.

The vinegar (i.e. additional acid) It helps digest the food and clean out my stomach. With an empty stomach, my body doesn’t need/want to produce anymore acid. The Acid Reflux is gone.

Additional thought: If you are eating between meals, you may want to stop. It may be triggering your body to continue to produce acid to digest what’s in your stomach, which is over producing acid for such a small amount of food.

Bottom line: if you can figure out the trigger of the acid generation or ill the timing, you can prevent/counteract the acid production. Don’t just go for the bandaid approach of anti-acids.

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Hi @rambler I see you have been with us for quite some time, but this is the first time you are posting. Thanks so much for joining the conversation. You offered @ldholley505 some very good information to follow up with.

Have you suffered from prolonged Acid Reflux? Out of all of the options you mentioned, which one works the best for you?

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@amandaa

Hi @rambler I see you have been with us for quite some time, but this is the first time you are posting. Thanks so much for joining the conversation. You offered @ldholley505 some very good information to follow up with.

Have you suffered from prolonged Acid Reflux? Out of all of the options you mentioned, which one works the best for you?

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I don't know that I'd say I suffer from Acid Reflux, but do have occasional symptoms. Sometimes it's in response to what I eat (or not eating), other times it's a response to "general" health. The importance of the digestive tract flora is becoming more well know. My GI tract is compromised because of an appendicitis.

I also have experience with my father's many years of anti-acids not helping and several alternatives (under doctors guidance). There may be some family history, inheritance or predisposition. My personal attitude tend toward Hippocrates: "Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.” even though modern medicine is sooo much better then 5th century B.C medicine.

One aspect of health that is often overlooked is the emotional or "soft side" of a person's health. How's are you dealing with pressure? What's your attitude or disposition to life. As Zig Ziglar says: "You don't get ulcers from what you eat, you get them from what's eating you."

Short answer is in recognizing the cause and not just treating the symptom.

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Zig was a very smart man!

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@rambler

I don't know that I'd say I suffer from Acid Reflux, but do have occasional symptoms. Sometimes it's in response to what I eat (or not eating), other times it's a response to "general" health. The importance of the digestive tract flora is becoming more well know. My GI tract is compromised because of an appendicitis.

I also have experience with my father's many years of anti-acids not helping and several alternatives (under doctors guidance). There may be some family history, inheritance or predisposition. My personal attitude tend toward Hippocrates: "Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.” even though modern medicine is sooo much better then 5th century B.C medicine.

One aspect of health that is often overlooked is the emotional or "soft side" of a person's health. How's are you dealing with pressure? What's your attitude or disposition to life. As Zig Ziglar says: "You don't get ulcers from what you eat, you get them from what's eating you."

Short answer is in recognizing the cause and not just treating the symptom.

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Amen

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Looking for comments: recently developed symptoms of acid reflux, recent upper G.I. Revealed nothing significant. Changed diet to restrict foods that aggravate, revised breakfast to include 1 egg, whole grain slice, cup of oat meal w/ Small amt juice of Pom/cran, honey, ginger, cinnamon, Tblspn of Mg hydroxide. Seems to help. Started Pepcid ac before morning meal. Very light lunch in afternoon, nothing more, other than water

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@ldholley505

Thank you. Massages definitely help. I will give acupuncture a try again.

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Tell the acupuncture therapist what issues you are having.

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