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Acid Reflux: How do you get relief?
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.
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I had bad acid reflux that caused me to get Barrett's esophagus. A good book to read is the acid watcher diet. It's written by a MD. It tells you what foods are acidic and what's safe for acid reflux people.. Elevate the bed, stop eating 3hrs before bedtime, no smoking,drinking alcohol, SODA, caffeine, mint, no fried foods, no vinegar products, no pepper or salt, pink salt is ok, no Mexican,Italian foods, no OJ, try to stay away from processed foods and meats. No tomatoes. Baked fish, turkey,chicken are good, fresh broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower are also good. You can buy a low acid coffee on Amazon ( healthwise). Good luck! This is what works for me.
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1 ReactionI'm on pantropazole 1/2hr before supper. I only drink water and unsweetened gluten free regular almond milk, 1 carb per cup, almond milk is alkaline which is good.
Just remember that many meds have their origin in nature: It's just that they have been isolated, refined, purified and intensified.
"Usually" this is a good thing. But just like Newton's 3rd law of motion/physics may also apply to you in this instance: For every reaction there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Your body may be more reactive to certain chemicals or substances. For example: my father didn't react to the caffeine in coffee. I react tremendously.
Thus our understanding of individualized medicine is becoming more well known!
Hi When i take 40mg of omeprazole at one time i feel very tried and it makes me feel depressed with some stomach issues. When i do 20mg i feel a little better but have more heart burn.My GP say to keep taking meds and take maalox or mylanta for heartburn i feel like it's just like putting a band-aid on it.I feel like my doctor is not hearing me when i tell her my side effects.I am 67 and have never been on any meds.I have changed my whole life style since this has all started.I need to find out whats causing all of this and get my doctor to give me a referral to GI doctor which she feels i don't need.Thank-you
Realize that GP are just that: General, but they often see you as a whole picture and understands your history, attitude, and (life) goals. Specialists are great for their specialty(!) but may sometimes not see the whole picture. That is in part that you need a team approach. Think of the GP as the conductor and the GI or other specialist as a musician playing their instrument very well. You need both, yet at times one is emphasized more than the other but -- both are still needed. Work on your patient-doctor relationship starting with the GP.
But in the end, it is your life, you have to listen to and learn to enjoy the music because the music is always changing -- we're always aging.
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1 ReactionWhenever you have a doctor that will not give you a referral or doesn't want to give you a referal, chances are that doctor is capitated. The insurance incentivizes the doctor for not giving you much including referrals. I had a doctor not want to give my husband a flu shot or refer me to a pulmonologist. Run from that doctor!
I’m on 20mg every morning 30 minutes before i eat. I also drink 1/4 c aloe Vera if I get any heartburn
Yea, that does not sound like a very healthy patient-doctor relationship.
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1 ReactionSo very sorry to hear and that relief & answers aren’t coming,
It was advised by a dietician to get off everything ..maybe way too much and slowly introduce one thing at a time.
I have been scoped several times too and have ulcers . Some were bleeding & they cauterized . The small one remained and my GI said he wasn’t worried about gave me the “ relax and go out and have fun” get why he told me this but easier said then done.
I am now having rectal pain and burning in the throat. Lot of stress so maybe ulcers are bleeding or enlarged but scoping is expensive.
One article I read said it’s actually too little of acid body is trying to make more. But if that was the case why would he put me on gaviscon or PPI which I can’t take. GI I have been seeing for over 3 years has a 4 1/2 month wait for next apt.
In the mean time mediate, excersise, sitz baths trying what I can. Any other suggestions or thoughts?
Gaviscon or not?
Thank you all!
Have u had or found some relief