Can someone help? I suffer from acid reflux and IBS for many years

I have a very bland diet but I do tend to eat the same foods every day and if only I could continue, I think I could sort my stomach out. The trouble is when I start to feel better, I start cheating.

I would read Ines's discussion on how I cured gastritis as her diet is very good and is working for her. I do find that if I eat easy-to-digest food, then my energy leves improve.

All the best, Emma.

other tests plus blood test results...didn't suspect you had two upper GI's.

I've read your reply to me a few times to be certain I have adequate comprehension.

I don't have all the answers nor does anyone...there is a saying...I got from Steven Shackel a Brit living Down Under (Au)....YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING OR NOT TO BELIEVE ANYTHING BOTH WAYS SAVES US FROM SERIOUS THINKING.

No one can take control of your health...not your doctor nor any one....but You Can. And

I suspect your on this road presently....and your "quite capable"... That's good stuff.

This may be long winded........sorry..

Before all else...the two med's you are taking do not address IBS?

The Zole or PPI is targeting excessive acid.

The other is targeting gastroprasis (an aid to get food from your stomach into your duodenum or small bowel...also to prevent vomiting..less so for migraine

and not for a "spastic colon (IBS)"...there are other meds for this conditon 2 mentioned below).

If you were "animic"......you can wager it was due to mal absorption of needed stuff..and you'd win this wager hands down.

The major problem with Zoles (PPI's) is they prevent absorption of IRON....big time.... plus MAGNESIUM AND VITAMIN B 12.

gallee sugested you ween the PPI...100% correct and its usually done by slowly reducing dosage, alternating dosage time... 

To replace the acid reducton part of the PPI...take 250 to 300mg of Bismuth in the evening pre bedtime..one day following your start of the ween process...

This can continue thru out your trial to help your resolve your many problems.

Your lucky to the extent your only 34...you have an excellent chance of recovery...as we grow older, becomes more difficult...less patient

OK, to make an attempt to answer your questions:

what enzymes and what to eat.

I presume the "stomach bacteria" was "hpylori" or ??

Because your stomach is "burning" I will "guess" you have GASTRITIS...ines has some excellent

info..please check her out..."how I cured my Gastritis"

As you know Gastritis is "inflammation of the stomach lining"...

Food: your saliva has good digestive enzymes when all is working...pepsin is the major player..

eat slow...get those natural enzymes to work.

Supplementation

Slippery Elm...take the lozenges if you can...150mg...take two initially pre meal time...

PepzinGI....take during your meal (zinc, carnosine) in the US I see two major suppliers...Doctor's best and Source Naturals

                   Probably many others....supposedly the Doctor's best formula is "patented.

DGL...........take 750 mg...either chews or capsules between meals or when you feel discomfort.

Others.......Enzymes are plenty...HCi, apple cider vinegar...dr's suggest Pancreatin...supplements even more...these are

                   the players....mastic gum (for hpylori) Mullin (mucus production to protect the stomach mucosa and lining

                  of both the small and large bowel...manuka honey..to sooth the throat...Glutamine (Oncologists provide this

                  via IV for cancer patients that experience severe stomach problems due to specific Chemo....can he purchased

                  in powder form...suggest no more than 2 to 3gm x 2 daily...this is the most abundent amino our bodies produce

                  but compromised systmes lack adequacy...Bromolain/Quercetin...and nattokinase for inflammation...

Basic vitamins "if tollerated":  C, E, D3 with K2 only, A (small), multi B

Basic supplements                :  Milk Thistle 500mg once daily, pre bedtime

                                             : Zinc Gluconate (25mg max)...free copper can build up in your system due to the

                                               mal absorption of needed "binders" that attach and purge. Small amount only...50mg

                                               is pretty much standard...those who have excess use 100 to 150mg.

I probably have missed some...will review later and "add or amend".

Food:  Our University of Maryland suggests...small meals...nothing raw..except Papaya. so, All must be cooked..including fruits...I agree.

All kinds of vegetables..leafy may be the best but squash, beets, carrots etc...are excellent. They also recommend putting everything thru a blender...I agree at least for 2 to 4 weeks...difficult but...

Keep a diary...jot down immediately anything that gives you trouble. When you delete one, add one and when you add, add only one at a time so you can immediately determine the negative.

Eat low-fiber forms of high-fiber foods, such as well-cooked fruits and vegetables rather than raw fruits and vegetables.

Choose mostly low-fat foods, but if you can tolerate them, add small servings

Avoid fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as oranges and broccoli, that may cause bezoars.

If liquids are easier for you to ingest, try soups and pureed foods.

Drink sips of  water throughout each meal. (I would suggest pure pomegranate juice mixed 50 50 with filtered water..4 to 6 oz max main meal only)

Try gentle exercise after you eat, such as going for a walk.  

The Chinese protocol is to do a 2 day fast water only......then fruit juices...then soups...then  cooked foods with limited fat and oils.

They also exclude all Milk products except yogurts provided they are tolerated..otherwise acidophilus/probiotics...and use

intermittant very small amounts of fermented foods. They also use rice soup...merely over cook rice in water until its really mushy and yet with plenty of liquid...gradually adding easy digestable protein...usually from soy(putting the hard beans thru

a grinder like a coffee grinder turning it to powder.) they too gradually add well cooked and diced vegetabels.

..in lieu of walking they do slow movement exercises...taiji *tai chee)...with

deep breathing exercises.  

Recovery is not fast...improvements can be experienced quite quickly...and this is where so many patients go South".. assuming

all is well. Much like that of eating a meal before the previous meal has been completely digested and sent on its way down the tubes...

Can cause severe bloating resulting it big time stomach pain. And some patients merely get bored with their "baby food" and dig into

their favorites...and bingo...back to the beginning..sometimes "worse".

In summary,  I would want to know if my "assumptions" are correct and if not..please explain....you said your blood work was normal

but did it include TSH?...Who diagnosed IBS? and do you have access to the stuff suggested? (I don't know what country where you reside).

regarding Buscopan with Merbentyl (for the treatment of spastic coloni.e IBS) These could be of some benefit should the above suggested

doesn't work ..if infact you do have IBS? (I only question this because of your dr's prescribed meds)..like gallee suggested

you could have some blockage in the pyloric valve area thus the bloating...not IBS...if you experience some mucus in your BM's you may have CD...from

an overgrowth of yeast?..again..not IBS...if your reluctant to explain...and its "legal" with this forum's management, you can e mail me with my

full name...and I'm a yahoo type.

Hope your doing better....would sure like to hear from you that things are improving...its the very best kind of  news.

Claudio