Been having lots of problems recently...
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Hey there, for around 3 months now I've been having problems with indigestion (burning feeling in my tummy after shortly after eating), heartburn and occasionally waking up in the middle of the night with acid in my throat.
I've been taking gaviscon to ease my discomfort and then I went to the doctors and I was put on omeprazole, but I had to come off that after a week because it gave me severe, painful constipation (and then I was given movicol to relieve me of that). I am now taking ranitidine twice a day which is working fine.
However, for the past month, maybe even longer I haven't had a normal bowel movement, even when I was off the meds for heartburn etc. They have been really loose, foul smelling and more frequent than before. I also have pains right before I need to go. I tried to explian these symptoms to my doctor but he just gave me the ranitidine for the heartburn/indigestion.
I'm not sure if my problem with indigedstion and acid are linked to my bowel movements? I'm getting concerned and feel like maybe I should ask the doctor to look into this problem too? Does this sound like it could be IBS?
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mish93547 louise65183
Posted
please remember that I am not medically qualified. Anything I suggest is because I have investigated or experimented with. Firstly, the Gaviscon and Ranitidine suppress the manufacture of stomach acid and is a short term benefit only. I think there is a misunderstanding among doctors about acidity/heartburn/reflux. You really don't want to suppress stomach acid making, BUT in the interim perhaps stay on the Ranitidine until the underlying problem is dealt with satisfactorily. One thing you can try: first thing in the morning and an hour before bed, drink some apple cider vinegar /or lemon juice in a glass of water. This will help to neutralise acid in your stomach and give relief especially at night. Apparently the acid you are experiencing is acid the bad bugs (por pathogens as they are called) create when they feed on the undigested /rotting food in your stomach.!
The important thing therefore is to improve your digestion (perhaps with a supplement, see below) and feed the good bacteria in your tummy with good food and the aid of a probiotic. My suggestion is that you change your diet to steamed vegetables to begin with and cut out all processed food, sugar, all grains, and even starchy vegetables like potatoes and rice, alcohol tea and coffee and even dairy, to begin with. Find a good probiotic from your health food store, one that has many strains of good bacteria and in terms of dose take as indicated on the bottle.
Eat small portions of your lovely vegies throughout the day, but at night make sure there is a 2 hour gap between eating and going to sleep. Drink water throughout the day to help your kidneys flush out toxins, but only drink between meals, not with meals. See how you go during week one of the diet changeover. This is key: Tuning in to your body and what it's doing ie watch out for symptoms returning as you progress through the diet incorporating more and more different foods.
Every now and then I have a little setback and so I reflect on what I had eaten and especially how much I ate in the last 24 hours and also whether I got cross, upset or worried about something! Stress and worry are really bad for one and when the gut is already upset, one must be ultra careful. If all goes well with the vegies, add a small portion of meat or fish (no bigger than the palm of your hand) to your meal.As time goes on, add a little bit of fruit as a snack. The best diet for us sufferers is I think, is the Paleo diet. You can also try taking a capsule of Betaine Hydrochloride with every meal which will help with digestion. Make your mealtimes happy and tranquil, create a nice environment in which to eat and remember to chew well! Surround yourself with people and things that give you fulfilment and make you happy and try and eliminate the negative which also includes negative thoughts...one has to retrain one's brain to think positively.
The thinking these days is that disease starts in the gut and doctors' thinking is slowly changing in terms of diet and lifestyle. By all means chat to your doctor about this and if he isn't receptive perhaps look for a practitioner who is open to a different view on this. good luck
Loppylugs louise65183
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gallee louise65183
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gallee louise65183
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