How I cured my acid reflux, naturally.

A couple of bricks under the bed to prop it up

When I was using a wedge I also founf that I would slide down or end up in a worse position.  The problem is that it inclines at the waist which only works when lying on ones back.  If you can not incline the whole bed then you can lift from under the matress but it is difficult to get the full 8 inches of incline needed.  You can put your foam incline under the matress and you can also put plywood over it to make the incline more gradual. 

These are not ideal but can give some releif until your esophageal sphincter becomes stronger using the carbonated water treatment.

John

The treatment involves drinking 8 to 10 oz of the carbonated water and then just sit and wait for the stomach to build up pressure.  Hold down the urge to burp.  Start with 5 minute sessions 4 or 5 times a day, every 3 days increase the time by 5 minutes if you can.  Until you are up to 20 minutes per session.  Some people, like me have an imperfect seal at the esophageal sphincter.  I have found that adding 4 or 5 teaspoons of oilive oil each day helps to coat the digestive tract and improves the LES seal.  It also helps lower cholesterol numbers.

Is the pantoprazole a capsule or tablet?

 

It's a tablet available in 40mg and 20mg doses in the market.

Ramya

If this drug is a prescription from your doctor, you could ask that omeprazole be substituted for the next refill.  omeprazole is in a capsule that can be opened and the tiny pills can be dispursed with lots of water.  Then you can slowly reduce the amount you take each week until after 3 months you will be down to 1/8 of a capsule.  Then you could likely stop.  There will be times of burning in between.  Use an antacid chewable tablet to deal with that.  Also, add 5 tablespoons of organic extra virgin olive oil per day, 1st in the morning, then 1 before each meal, then 1 before bed.  I like to chew sugarfree cinnimon gum after meals to help keep things down.  You may want to be checked for diabetes as there seems to be some connection with stomach issues.

Make sure to elevate the head of your bed by 8 inches.  Wedges can be difficult to stay on.  Also try to sleep on your left side most of the night.  Sleeping on the right side allows liquid to come out of the stomach.

And make sure you strengthen your esophageal sphincter be doing my carbonated water treatment 4 times a day.  And add lots of probiotic yogurt to your daily diet.  Reducing meats can help, use powdered whey protein to make a yogurt smoothie each morning.   Keep me updated to your progress.

John

One more thing.  Add a B complex capsule twice per day.

Hi Jonathan, why does organic olive oil - 1 tsp hurt my tum - weird.

Thanks John. When I switch over to omeprazole capsule do I need to be on full dosage for a while before i start reducing? How many week step would suggest me to follow with what % reduction for each step? 

My doctor suggested me to alternate 40 mg and then switch to 20 mg pantoprazole tablet before I wean off completely but reducing it more controlled way as you suggest would be better.

I am rightnow managing with a wedge as I have a platform bed and I dont know how strong the support can be if I raise it by 8 inch. 

Where did you get sugar free cinnomon gum? the closest i could get is trident cinnomon gum but its not sugar free. 

thanks for all your patience in replying to my posts. I stopped trusting doctors as they are not concentrating on solving the root of the problem rather than putting me on pills which are just masking my issue.

thanks

Ramya

 

Its because you have gastritis and your stomach is very sensitive to any acid.  Most quality extra virgin olive oils list their acidity.  Pick one with the lowest number.  .8 or lower.  If it still hurts, you can pass on this until your stomach heals.  You can substitute a natual vitamin E capsule 3 times a day.

My omeprazole is 40mg, but start with just 1/2.  If you get symtoms then try 3/4 to start.  Always take in the middle of dinner, that will keep night time protection at maximum.  It releases over 24 hours.  You can use an empty capsule as a measure and make marks with a felt pen.  Or you can make small circles on a paper that get smaller.  Pour and fill a circle then just pour in your mouth, wash down with 6 oz of water.  Reduce does each week and plan on taking 3 months.  If you go too fast you could get symptoms.  Then you could experience occasional burning for up to a year as your stomach heals. 

I'm not sure where you live, but I find dentyne fire sugarless gum at, costco, plaid pantry and walgreens.

Unfortunately, doctors make money on prescriptions and lose money helping to get off them.

Some beds are difficult to incline.  You may be able to put a long 72inch, 1inch thick board under your matress and incline it to 8 inches using the wedge.

John

Thanks Jonathan had no idea.  Am I right that it coats of esophagus and stomach; if when would be the best time to take a tsp.  I take it randomly once a day.  Thanks for this.

Gwen

Hi Jonathan, just asked you something and it has gone to be  moderated, frustrating.

I will try again. 

I am worried about PPI's, my specialist prescribed emozul but because so many people are against PPI's I decided on a prescription of Zantac 150 am and pm plus Mastic Gum.  I have read that you are 71% less likely to get cancer if you ARE on them and I know of someone on here who was on them for 22 years before his op.  I really am not sure if I am doing more harm than good staying off them.  I can go for weeks thinking it is so much better, then somthing sets me off.

What are your thoughts - many thanks for your feed-back, really appreciated.

Gwen

Hi Gwen:  Sorry to hear that your still having symptoms.  PPi drugs are great when a person first starts.  I thought I was cured when I started on nexium.  However, the weird gut pains and the thought that I was starving my body of nutrients was reason enough to get off.  Perhaps you know that I was diagnosed as diabetic last year.  I have no family history of diabetes and the ppi drug was my first suspect.  After getting off the ppi drugs I started looking for the missing piece of nutrition that could reverse my diabetes.  After trying many supplements I found that B vitamins and multi minerals made the most impact.  My readings now after 4 months on these are amazing.  My doctor says it is now under control.  So, this is why I am so against ppi drugs.  We are starving our bodies and its just a matter of time before something much worse happens.  

One thing for sure is that it is not good to let the stomach just burn.  It must be dealt with.  It was critical for me to discover how to strengthen my esophageal sphincter using the carbonated water treatment.  However I was also able to reduce my stress by retiring which was helpful.  There is definitely a mind stomach connection.  B vitamins and minerals help to reduce the stomach reaction to stress.  I would recommend them.  Getting enogh sleep can also reduce stress reaction.  These are my recommendations:

1. You must strengthen your LES, so do the carbonated water treatment.

2. Bed must be fully inclined 8 inches, not just a wedge.

3. Natural B vitamins, mineral and magnesium supplements.

4.Go vegitarian if you have to.  This will technically shut down acid production.

5. Have a yogurt smoothie each morning, add whey protein.

6. Add 5 tablespoons of low acid .8 or less, extra virgin olive oil, morning, before bed and before each meal.

7. If you burp a lot you may have bad bacteria buildup, you can kill it out with pepto bismol.  Two tablets 2 hours apart, total of 3 times.

8. constipation is a digestion killer, use a stool softener like miralax.

9. Some people just have to get the surgery to fix the defect.  I am hoping you don't.

keep me updated,we need to get you through this.

John

Thank you Jonathan.  No 6 worries me, that means 15 - 20 tablespoos of olive oil a day - surely not.  I take a tsp extra virgin but it does not give any figure on it of acid!!!

I do take full B complex and multi vit and have a smoothie in the morning, I eat an organic pro biotic yoghurt before bed and a glass of skimmed or almond milk to help me sleep (which I do badly).  Pepto bismol, I have tried and failed to get in the shops - looks like I need this on-line.  No probs with constipation.  Bed up by 6 inches by wooden bricks and also have 3 pillows.  I do take a liquid (can't take tab) combined calcium, mag, zinc and Vit D supp daily.  Cut red meat out a while ago.  Plenty of fish and chicken and never fried.

Can I ask why whey - I see it in my Health Shop but  only ever see "hunks" buying it - blokes that is with huge biceps.  How does this help digestion - I am interested - will I look like Popeye lol?

I don't eat processed and hardly any sugar and check labels on low fat to see if they are too high in it.  

Actually on re-reading on Pepto - I don't burp very often only after having a drink of water which I do have 3 pints of throughout the day.

Can I use Gaviscon (although this I find hurts if taken neat - but diluted is ok).  Another thing I use is Silicol Gell, but again it hurts neat but fine diluted in a little warm water

I do seem to cover it - not sure on the oil, don't fancy that much.

I have not, as yet, tried the water.  As I have mentioned before, I have a HH and this worries me in case I rupture it.

Thank you so much for this, I have saved it to refresh myself, please let me know about the whey - I am intrigued.  And also, I just don't understand 15-20 tablespoons of oil - that one sounds wrong.

Thank you for taking the time out for me, and  yes I need to get through this - it does not really impinge on my life so to speak, I can eat fine with no pain and don't have heartburn but I know I have LPR which is the worry.  Silent and deadly and what it is doing inside and insidiously.

Respect to you for this

Gwen

Hi Gwen:  It sounds like you are on track.  I messed up with the olive oil.  It is 5 tablespoons per day.  One in morning, 1 before each meal and one before bed.  Olive oil also lowers cholesterol. 

I added the protein powder because if you block stomach acid in any way you will not break down proteins and will end up deficient on it, which can lead to heart issues and muscle loss.  No, you will never build bulky muscles from it.  I wish it were that easy. 

John

Yes, the olive oil I do take for cholesterol but only a tsp.  I will increase it then; why before each meal, does it coat the tum?

I knew about not breaking down proteins due to lack of acid but no idea at all on the whey - whey hey as they say - I have been on another site for a few years and this has never come up.  I have been worried about taking the Zantac and reducing drastically stomach acid.  I will go and join the hunks and buy some.  Thank you kindly sir - you are so helpful.

Gwen

p.s.  How much do you take - I am not sure whether to follow the instructions when I buy it.  Thanx.

Yes, I think olive oil helps coat the stomach and protect it.  Average daily protein requirement for women is 46 grams per day.  I add my protein to my yogurt smoothie and pour it in three cups which I drink throughout the day.

Thank you.