Some Possible Helps for Acid Reflux

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Gentille57,
IBS = Irritable Bowel Syndrome which is a diagnosis that is given to folks with lower digestive issues as opposed to upper digestive after you have had tests (specifically a colonscopy) to rule out anything else.

Peoiple who have IBS tend to have either IBS-C which means they deal with chronic constipation or IBS-D which is the opposite problem having diarrhea and then some folks have IBS-A which means they alternate between both C and D.

Bile reflux is when you reflux bile instead of acid. There is a special test called an impedance test to determine if you are refluxing bile instead of acid.

Have you had an upper endoscopy to see if you have any erosive esophgitis from the acid reflux? what about the Bravo test? I was surprised when I had my first scope that the doctor said I had EE - I didn't really have lots of burning or liquid burps with my indigestion just the awful center chest pains and pain in my left upper gut (my term for the area above my waist under my left breast), indescribable belching and like you the onset of the feeling of an awful head cold with a runny nose and postnasal drip etc. My Bravo test definitley showed that I had GERD and acid reflux and my GI said that I would need to be on PPI's for life - not something I want to have to do. So far I've been on a 40mg twice a day of first Protonix and now Nexium for the last 3 years. I try to do all the "right" things i.e. follow a GERD diet, have my bed elevated, lost 52 pounRAB, don't eat too soon before going to bed, but there are still times that I wind up in total agony from my GERD. And then it seems to upset my lower GI tract and my IBS kicks in. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to eat! And this is from someone who loves to cook and eat out etc.

The best to all of you - it is nice to meet you all and hear similar experiences. doesn't cure you but somehow is comforting to know you are not alone in this vicious cycle of GER and IBS. I guess the old saying "misery loves company" is very true. Thank goodness for message boarRAB!;)
 
Apple cider vinegar, supposedly, turns alkaline in your stomach--the only vinegar like that. So does unpasteurized honey. I wouldn't mix it with fruit juice as fruit juice is high on the scale of acid inside the body. I got this chart from a health food store that sells a certain brand of green drinks. You can find similar ones on the web....I have found it very helpful. ORGANIC black coffee is supposedly okay--it's the non-organic mixed with milk/cream and sugar that will produce more acid in your body. Herbal teas are also okay--regular can bother people. keep in mind that all of these things will not bother some people while other things that most find irritating may in fact not bother some! IT's trial and error for most!
 
Hi,
I hope this reply is not too long winded for you, but to give you some background. I grew up with Bushmen (learned a lot from them on survival) and have some medical training and as a result started researching stuff and healing myself (not much loved by doctors). I once had acid reflux so bad that sometimes at night, acid would shoot up into my throat suffocating me. I started doing research and healed myself within 5 to 6 weeks. It may or may not work for everybody but here it is. Buy pure untreated, unheated honey from a health shop. If it is the absolute natural untampered with product and it will be opaque (not clear). Take 5ml (one teaspoon) three times a day before meals and minimize your intake of refined starches (white bread). As far as excess mucus is concerned have yourself tested for lactose intolerance. This is not thurab sucking because it worked for myself and some people I recommended it to. If it works for you, thank the wisdom of the ancient, now extinct Bushmen tribes.
 
Hello JakeV,
You are a very interesting person and I believe in natural things to heal our bodies--God put everything here to help us--it's man that has messed it up. I always buy honey that way and you've reminded me of something my Mom use to do. She was into healthy ways of fixing things and most of them worked. I will try your honey thing. I remeraber a remedy that my grandparents told my Mom for bad coughs. Honey, lemon and whiskey--my Mom and Dad didn't drink but we always had that around. When my son was little--he loved it so much that he use to fake coughing so that he could have the homemade cough syrup;) I'm Lactose Intolerant since I was a baby. Hope you don't mind that I cut-in but "thank you" to you and the Bushmen tribes:) precious49 God Bless You and Yours Today and EveryDay:angel:
 
Hello JakeV and apriljudy,
Jake--Garlic would be better--I'll try that--I really don't like the taste of whiskey but my son did--I'm a wine person and I do like tequila,honeyand lemon. Thanks

judy,
You are so cute. Yes a little alcohol does take the edge off. I seldom drink (but often get coughs--just like my son):D--not really-- but what you said made me laugh. Thanks

precious49 God Bless You and Yours Today and EveryDay
 
I have the same issues, was rushed into emergency when i arrived last year, my BP was sky high, my chest felt slightly painful and i had pressure in my throat. I was diagnosed with PVC's which is an irregular heart beat, but not a bad rhythm, after my 4-5 trip to emergency, same nuraber of ECG's, an echo, My hubby and I finally looked up all the symptoms on the net, I had an esophageal spasm as I ate a sandwich that night, and we discovered gerRAB! My next trip to emerg, i again insisted my throat felt funny, told about the spasm, and the dr finally agreed that it could be gerRAB, soa barrium swallow was done and voila! GERRAB! UGH!!! I still get that feeling in my chest/throat, feels like air pressure pushing from the inside up, but no burning.....but i can feel chest pain, and my heart beating irregularly, once the gas and/or BM is released, Heartbeat goes back to normal, not irregular and all is right in my world!
 
Thanks to you both for responding. I think some of my chest tenderness is from the massages I have been giving my clients lately. I am a licensed massage therapist. My neck gets real sore and well as my back, arms and chest muscles from giving massages. But I really think some of it gets sore when I have the burning going on on my sternum area. ugh! It just gets sore. I need to schedule more massages for me as well as watch my posture.
 
Gentille,
The problem you have is somewhat like what I have with some bowel movements. The problem that I have is sometimes when I have to have a bowel movement (or have bad gas), my heart rate starts to rise and I start to get pain and nurabness in my left arm and some esophageal pain/spasms (The problem usually is at noght while I am sleeping). I know the problem sounRAB like it is heart related but I have had stress tests, EKG, ultrasound and cardiac cath and they all came up clean. I also had a colonoscopy which came up clean. It seems to be worse when I eat high fatty fooRAB or other fooRAB like caffeine, chocolate or spicy fooRAB. My gastro doctor says that he believes that my intestinal system is spasming. Once I have a bowel movement or get rid of the gas, everything goes back to normal within 10 mintues to an hour. It seems that taking probiotics and Magnesium supplements has helped me alot. I used to get the attacks 2-3 times a week. Now I get them about once a month. Let me know if any of this sounRAB like what happens to you.
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I learned years ago with my bladder disease to be very proactive about your own health, educating yourself, etc. Most docs answer your questions over their shoulder as they're heading for the door, if you know what I mean. You're the one that has to go home and live with a condition while they go on to their next patient. At least that has been my unfortunate experience with many doctors.
Ok, I must have IBS-C, I have bad constipation. Just an aside--have you ever tried drinking warm or slightly hot water in the morning or sitting on heat? (like one of those heat up rice bags for your neck, etc) Heat can be stimulating to the bowels. I didn't know there was a test for acid vs bile reflux. I am going to ask about that at my next appt. right now they are testing me for gall stones and celiac disease.
I have had four endoscopies over the years. I am finally starting to show some irritation from the GERD, which I find miraculous considering how severe and long lasting some of my bouts with reflux have been over the years. And of course I have hiatal hernia which was found ages ago. What is the BRAVO test?
I understand about the sinuses; when reflux gets bad up my nose the resulting "head cold" can be one of the most miserable aspects of this disease.
Say you have bile reflux--what does that mean?
thanks again
gentille57
 
Hi Bob!
Thanks for sharing. I have yet to meet someone who experiences acid reflux with bowels movements. Two colonoscopies over the years showed the same report: a "tortuously twisted colon." both times they had to stop and start the scope, inching it forward because my intestines spasmed so much. I was told by a dr when I was 11 that when my bowels move, it creates spasms that make the acid come up. I have thought all this time that he was dead on, despite what a myriad of other doctors have told me over the years. It is weird what sometimes helps my reflux--moving around, exercise, sometimes swallowing, sometimes pressing my tongue to the roof of my mouth/sucking on something--points to a muscular issue in my opinion although at times yeast killers have helped. Sometimes weight can aggravate reflux, but I am very thin so it's not that. I am stymied. All I know is that sitting still and laying down, even with my bed raised, can greatly aggravate my reflux.

I wrestle with severe chronic constipation. When my bowels are stimulated to go, it's like they over react, go into spasm, and voila! tight chest, knotted and burning stomach, up the acid comes. Not sure how else to describe what happens. Sometimes anti inflammatories like nordic naturals jr 3-6-9, and country life ultra omega fish oil caps help. It seems like calming spasms calms the reflux, but I can't take anti spasmodics like bentyl and levbid because they constipate me even worse. Then I need even more stimulation to go, and the whole viscious cycle starts all over again. I do not have chron's, etc; I've only been diagnosed with spastic colitis.

Hope that helps and answers your question, feel free to ask any more or to share what you suffer with. I am desperate for answers. I am even looking into the possbility of sjogren's syndrome, because of chronic dry eye, dry nose, and even dry stools.
gentille57
 
I had two great days in a row without mucus or reflux. Then I did something stupid and had a small mocha late afternoon yesterday and a small portion of spagetti last night. Today I am paying for it. The mucus back! I have a sore area in the sternum and my chest is tender. It felt tight like anxiety was kicking in. Ugh! I hate that panic and anxiety. Is this all hooked together or something. This bland diet is gonna be tough. But I see what happens if I go off of it. At least right now.
 
Try taking protonix. This is a presciption drug more powerful than over the counters.
 
I have a question...does alfredo sauce cause reflux to act up or the mucus to go crazy? I made the mistake of having salad with Italian oil dressing and some alfredo with white sauce. It is a few hours later and my mucus production is OUT OF CONTROL!! Eeh gaRAB! Learning this special diet is driving me crazy. Any thoughts? Thanks!
 
Hi binkyholder,

Without sounding alarmist I would recommend that you see a specialist because by manipulating nerve enRAB you can kill pain (symptoms) but not the cause. Pain radiating from between the shoulder blade to the front under the ribs can have a lot of causes, even gall bladder or liver problems. So instead of having people guess the reasons rather have yourself tested for the possible causes. Prevention is better than cure. God bless.

JakeV
 
TEdwarRAB83, please let me know if you would like suggested sources of apple cider vinegar.
 
Hi Judy! Ya I don't think that Prilosec works for everyone. Sometimes I really think the side effects are worse than what is actually going on. I just can't handle it. I have the mucus and I found it odd that the nurse at the Endoscopy place said she had never heard of mucus being a symptom of acid reflux. Isn't that crazy?
 
My sister experienced very bad acid reflux and was on meRAB until she started drinking organic apple cider vinegar. The weak acid in ACV helped her digestive issues since she was not secreting enough natural acid to break down her fooRAB. In addition, she started eating fooRAB with a higher alkaline level to help balance her pH. After two years of a rigid diet of organic unprocessed fooRAB and a daily dose of acv, she is off meRAB and very happy. No more pain.
 
I have mentioned this before. Take one tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar in 8oz of water first thing in the morning, then the same dosage 30 minutes before your evening meal. ACV is a weak acid and it helps digest strong aciRAB (processed food and meats) turning them into an alkaline ash. This helps your pH balance. It may seem too simple, but it has worked for several people in my family. Definitely worth a try, and better than taking prescription drugs.
 
RED60....

Sorry to go off topic, but you made a post last year about pain between your shoulder blades. Did you ever find out if it was a back problem, or was it from acid reflux?

I have pain between the shoulder blades at least a couple times a month and am thinking it is not acid related b/c I find relief from chiropractic and massage.

Thanks!
Deb
 
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