Antacid abuse? When is it too much?

@ray666 I don’t think it’s your imagination you have a little more spring in your step. You just might be getting more out of the food you eat by allowing the acid in your stomach to digest the food and providing more nutrients!
@tarmansbks you might find this article of interest as well.

Instead of trying to type it all out, I found another great site that explains the process! You’re going to love me or hate me with all my researching, huh. ☺️
https://www.positivemed.com/2015/09/13/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-take-tums/
As a PS. I wanted to add that my husband religiously took baby aspirin for the past 15 years as directed. Almost 2 years ago, he developed severe pain in his stomach and a weird tightening. A visit to a gastro doctor and a scope later, and he found he had an ulcer from the aspirin. It’s taken him the past 2 years to heal that ulcer. It’s gone but he also found out that all the tums he was taking did nothing to stop the acid from refluxing into his esophagus from a small hiatal hernia. He is pre-Barrett’s Esophagus, a precursor to esophageal cancer. So keep an eye on that, my friend.

Good morning, Lori (@loribmt)

Something is definitely different! This morning begin Day Four of zero OTC gastrointestinal medication. Yesterday, and especially yesterday evening, I enjoyed more wakefulness than I've experienced in––what? years? Yes, years! Even my partner noticed: "You seem really wide-awake again this evening," she said. It was true; for longer than I care to remember I'd make it until about 8:30 or 9:00 and I'd be ready to go to bed. These past three evenings, however, I was still alert and reading (pretty "thick" reading material, too) at 10:30 or 11:00 with no wish to turn off the light. So, as I say, something is different.

For any reading this who care to know, here's what I take each day in the way of prescription and OTC medications, and supplements: 1 Losartan, 50 mg, for hypertension (long since under control), 2 Diclofenac Sodium, 75 mg (1 before breakfast, 1 before bed, for arthritis pain), 1 Amlodipine, 5 mg (also for hypertension), 1 Magnesium Oxide, 500 mg; 1 Vitamin D3, 50 mcg; 1 multivitamin (for Men 50+); 1 aspirin, 81 mg.

You see––no more OTC tummy stuff! And, in light of what you've said, Lori, about your husband's experience with baby aspirin, I'm going to quit taking it, too. Even my primary said that the jury's out on baby aspirin, and if I'd like to quit taking it, do so.

Lori, and all who may be reading these posts: Merry Thursday!

Ray (@ray666)

Well, Ray, this is all really encouraging, huh?! Not sure of the mechanism for these improvements but it’s a real eye opener for you! There’s a pun in there somewhere. ☺️ Not putting anything into your body that doesn’t need to be there is a step in the right direction. Are you experiencing any heartburn after stopping the OTC antacids?

Any issues with ‘things moving along’ without the milk of mag? A suggestion for you, which helped me get through all of my chemo and transplant issues with not ONE intentional issue…a cup of yougart daily mixed with ground flax seed. I mixed in a tablespoon (sometimes more) of ground flax daily but you need to work up to that level. Start with a teaspoon if you’re new to ground flax. My doctors were all impressed that I managed to avoid issues most patients go through.

As far as stopping the baby aspirin, do that only under the direction of your doctor…which you are.
I wish you continued success on your progress! It’s pretty cool how quickly you’ve felt a change! You’re really not on much medication at all so keep up the good work!

Hi, Lori (@loribmt)

This will have to be another of my infamous short replies. I really should get some work done––although replying to forum posts is much more fun (Shh!)

No, I'm not experiencing any heartburn, not so far. And things are not yet 'moving along’ as I'd like them to be, but if I remember correctly when some years ago the gastroenterologist put me on a strict magnesium-and-nothing-else regimen, it took a little while before those things began 'moving along' in a way that I considered normal. So, I'll be patient.

That's a coincidence, that you should suggest yogurt and ground flaxseed. I have both, and have for a long, long time, but curiously enough not together. Each morning I put a generous spoonful of ground flaxseed on my cereal, and with my lunch almost every day I have a cup of yogurt: plain, Greek, low-fat. Those two items have been a staple for years.

Aha! I see it's getting on to noontime. I'd better squeeze in a little work before it will be time for that midday yogurt!

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)

Not meaning to interrupt your actual work but I have one more little tidbit for you.
So, congrats on already using the flax. You can choose to put it in the yougart or not. It’s just important it’s in your diet as it’s a good source of healthy fiber and you already know the benefits of yougart.

But, in the meantime until ‘things move along” on their own with any predictability, i have a suggestion. Spending more than 2 months in a hospital, I had a lot of attention regarding my regularity! Nurses are obsessed with that. I’d tell my nurses who would ask daily, “Have you had a bm today? I’d tell them that yes, “I dropped some friends off at the pool”. Or, some days I could announce that they all joined hands and jumped in together instead of little groups. 😂😂. If they were in little groups and kept jumping in all through the day, I learned to have a dose or 1/2 of Metamucil daily to “get all the friends joining hands, singing kumbaya and making the leap into the pool” at one time. My nurses and doctors loved me. 😂😂. I swear, laughter is the best medicine.

Back to work for you… Lori.

Hi, Lori

You a welcome to "interrupt" my work any ol' time! I work at home. A question: How long did you find it necessary to use the Metamucil? I have some here, but I've tucked it away with those other OTC meds. But if a dose or half dose helped you, I'd be willing to try it too, if perhaps only until my below-decks plumbing is again working properly.

Ray

I’ve only had to use it sparingly. Just when a rhythm gets interrupted by travel or something like that. My plumbing is like clock work so missing the timing can mess things up! 😉
Going through chemo and then the challenges of a bone marrow transplant, I’d take only 1/2 of the little premeasured packets maybe once a week. It actually helped with my nausea by cutting down on the urges to use the bathroom when there were smaller movements during the day. TMI but it is what it is. Or was. LOL

However, my husband uses it daily as directed by his gastroenterologist and I remember my dad using it daily. Metamucil is an excellent source of fiber. It’s not a laxative at all. But it does help keep things cohesive. And that in turn helps with the natural peristaltic movement of our intestinal tract. It also has had a big affect on my husband’s cholesterol count. He’s off statins now!!

Hi, Lori

I'd love to get my plumbing back to operating like clockwork. Not so far, at least not since my last chug of Milk of Magnesia (ten days ago?). But, as I mentioned yesterday, I'm willing to be patient.

I say "patient," but today I did return to using a little Metamucil. Metamucil had always been kind to me, I figure a little bit of encouragement isn't a bad thing.

Ray (@ray666)

A little bit of encouragement is always a good thing and it takes a little time to find a new rhythm.
Hope everything comes out all right. 😉 I’ve been dying to say that!

Good morning, Lori

It worked!!! (That's deserving of three exclamation points.) I think the Metamucil did it. I went strictly by the container's instructions: For regularity, one general teaspoon, 3x daily. I hate to keep experimenting on my body, but I think today I'll start cutting back on the 3x daily; today try 2x, and, if everything continues to seem A-okay, go to only 1x daily. After a while, I may be able to do as you do: a dose only when needed.

I had meant to say that I too have noticed how much nurses and others in the medical profession seem to enjoy talking about BMs! You had mentioned that in one of your earlier posts and it had me laughing out loud!

Happy Saturday, Lori!
Ray (ray666)