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Can the LES repair itself?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Jaybird13
Jaybird13

It’s known that a weak or improperly functioning Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) is often the root cause of Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease.  If one were to identify and remove triggers and make the necessary lifestyle changes,  then eventually get off PPI medications, will the LES eventually heal itself back to normal function again? Anyone have any legitimate knowledge around this? Thanks!

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • ben_74049
    ben_74049 Jaybird13

    Posted

    Hi Jaybird,

    As far as we all know, no this isn't possibe. This is why they offer the surgical procedure to correct the LES and strengthening it with a fundoplication. Would be great if it could repair itself as I would have never had to go through this op!

    We can all dream!

    • Jaybird13
      Jaybird13 ben_74049

      Posted

      Hi Ben. Thanks for your response.  I’ve been told by my doctor that often times, the LES stays in a relaxed position due to food allergies/intolerances and removing those triggers might provide an environment where the LES will begin to fully close again.  But with so many people with GERD, I figured I’d ask on here as well.  Just has a blood test done for food allergies and intolerance and have to wait 3-4 weeks for results.  If the tests show a positive for anything, I plan on removing those food items from my diet and see what happens.  Time will tell.  
  • Jonathan57679
    Jonathan57679 Jaybird13

    Posted

    I say "YES".  The human body is designed to heal itself.  If given the proper tools and the assault is stopped.  We assault our bodies while we are young and continue until we get really sick, then start looking into nutrition and proper exercise.  The assault often begins as children eating cake and ice cream, candy, french fries, milk shakes etc.  If a person went to a fast food place and ate a chicken sandwich french fries and a soda pop 3 time a day, they actually are getting no usable nutrition, aside from some protein.  Yet many people eat similar  diets every day, and then when they are 30 or 40 wonder why they got an illness.

    Fortunately, the body tends to heal itself when proper nutrition is supplied.  90% of vitamins and mineral come from vegetables and fruit.  So, these must be eaten in large quantities to get proper nutrition.  Juicing organic vegetables and fruit is best.  But, you can also use a high speed blender.  I would recommend drinking this juice 4 times a day.  Also, separate your meals by a minimum of 3 hours.  That allows the body to assimilate the food and then return blood glucose and insulin levels to normal.  If you have acid reflux, likely you are eating often to 'put out the fire'.  That will actually bring on type 2 diabetes.  While you are increasing your nutrition levels you can strengthen you lower esophageal sphincter by exercising it.  See my post on this forum:

    https://patient.info/forums/discuss/how-i-cured-my-acid-reflux-naturally--402930?page=37&utm_source=forum,sendgrid&utm_campaign=comment-notification,Patient.info&utm_medium=email,email#3270823

    • Tiss_85183
      Tiss_85183 Jonathan57679

      Posted

      Hi, 

      Ive clicked on your last link and found what you said about training your LES really interesting. I definitely think it’s worth a try - is there a reason why you drink orange carbonated water and could it just be lemonade or sparkling water? 

      Also I hope you don’t mind me asking, but are you medically trained? I just wonder as your answer to my question a few weeks ago (re chest pains following Linx surgery) really made sense to me and would explain why I am suddenly getting awful chest pains when eating anything solid one year after surgery. Unfortunately, when I tried to talk to my consultant about your suggestions  he was very dismissive and has just increased my daily dosage of Saldinafal for a trial period and then given me the option of stretching the Linx device in one month. (Hence increasing my chances of GERD symptoms returning.) 

      Anyway thank you for your post and link to previous post - I will definitely give it a go and I’m glad to hear it has worked for you. 

    • Jonathan57679
      Jonathan57679 Tiss_85183

      Posted

      Hi Tiss:  The carbonated water can be plain, seltzer or flavored.  No I am not medically trained.  I am just a person who does not take no foe an answer.  After I had overcome my acid reflux problem using the carbonated water treatment, I asked my doctor if she wanted to know how I did it.  She said, "not really, it may work for you but everyone is different."  From then on I realized that doctors make their money from prescriptions and surgery, they would not pass along free advise to a patient, even if it meant less suffering.

      Fortunately, the internet is full of published medical studies, and that helps me educate myself.  That and a lot of meditation and study of the human body and how things work.

      I'm not sure if you should try the carbonated water treatment, I don't think it would help at this point.  Unless you want to practice burping to loosen thing up.

      I hope your feeling better soon.

    • Jonathan57679
      Jonathan57679 Jaybird13

      Posted

      If you try the carbonated water treatment, let me know if it helps or not.  We have some good success stories so it is definitely worth a try.
    • Tiss_85183
      Tiss_85183 Jonathan57679

      Posted

      Hi 

      Yes I’m definitely going to give it a go - like you said I think conventional drs are quite blinkered and just want to go down medication/surgery route, which as we know can then lead to other problems.  By the way, are there any particular guided meditations that you use or just general meditating?  I definitely find that when I am having esophageal spasm, if I can take myself off and lay down,  it helps to listen to a general pain relief on ‘insight timer’, eases the stress a bit! 

      Thanks again for all your suggestions. 

    • Jonathan57679
      Jonathan57679 Tiss_85183

      Posted

      When I say meditation I am referring to deep personal thinking about a subject.  But, there is definitely a mind / stomach connection.  Stress can lead to digestive problems.  I remember someone saying that the floor of the New York stock exchange is littered with empty rolls of antacids.  Also, I have heard of doctors using antidepressants to help some people reduce their stomach problems.  I personally would not recommend that because the anti depressants also have side effects.  It pays to keep healing as natural as possible.
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