How I cured my gastritis

I see that it is sold on amazon uk

I don't know much about peptest beside one can read on the internet. I have not done it.

I am in need of translation.  What does this mean?  Does it mean that GERD patients are more likely to have a higher level of salivary pepsin?  I have always felt my saliva was thick or strange.  That sounds odd, but ever since childhood, whe I would eat or drink certain foods, my saliva would change.  I wonder if this has anything to do with that.  Is there some kind of fix for this problem?  

I'm not up to speed with a "fix"..yet...sorry....I do suspect its an indication of an immune response..probably beneficial....this is a "long shot".....did your mother have any digestive issue? my reasoning...when we are born..especially via vaginal vs C...we are blessed with mom's intestinal flora..but of course it evolves thereafter...but microbia's can be selfish and stick around, build a fifedom...scientists have learned by implanting different beneficial flora, they are quckly morphed into the native colony. Claudio

Very interesting!!  Her digestive system is great.  I think my grandfather may have had issues, because he wouldn't eat onions or garlic.  Thought it was a preference until I started having trouble with them myself.  So do you know a lot about these intestinal flora implants?  I'm interested in that and would certainly be willing to try it.

Was a long shot...trying to connect dots that didn't connect.

Unfortunatelty these implants were done by research scientists. the C section born children "may or may not have mom's flora"...so those wtihout , build and evolve their flora thru internal and external exposures

perhaps in some unknown way your flora was influenced by your grandfather....and that too is a huge long shot...but?...Question....could I contract HP from my wife? (before irradication) "if so" what else? and could it or anything else from her influence my flora?

claudio

So, yes, HP is contagious, so probably other bacteria are as well.  That makes a lot of sense.  Too bad we don't know enough about this to make us sufferers contract some good bacteria to wipe out the bad ones.

That would be a J Saulk "type" ..but he'd be run over by the FDA...and big pharma....

Scientific articles state 30% of the worlds population is HP infected...almost 10% do not have symptoms...they hypothesize...their immune systems keep in "check"....well we need to know the immune formula....could well be your "good bacteria" idea....

If wife gave it to me...I could re infect her ....musical chairs?...wonder why our medical pro's don't warn us about "preventions"??

Wife's sister will be visiting in December...her husband had HP therapy...twice...was finally irradicated....but if his wife gave it to him,

he may yet get reinfected no? He stopped his habit of eating out....for fear of re infection resulting in Mild Gastritis and duodenalitis..Of course will button my lips...he is as happy as puppy.

Hit 87F today..think yours was about 99F?...very unusual for us guys....had to cover my garden vegetables with mosquito cloth....hope the greens won't "bolt" (go to seed)....and also surrounded my young apple trees with electric fencing....deer barrier...hope.....

Claudio

tj,

what's missing here is:

1. what type of test was done for HP positive or negative results?

2. A PPI solo is not recommended for HP treatment

requires a combo of specific antibiotics. with a PPI.

3. With the exception of a biopsy, you cannot be on any PPI

or antibiotic when taking either the serum, fecal, or UBt (urea breath test). a 6 to 12 week period off either PPI or antibiotics

before a test can be of value. Some GI's are more demanding

and may not do a endoscopy and biopsy.

I suspect you have Gastritis..probably HP caused..so you need to resolve this together....Ines is an expert...or I consider her

one of the better ones..and if you follow her advice...you'll do very well...she is gonna chew you out about a few of your "snacks"...

...Claudio

Thanks and blood test for pos result then 6 weeks later neg result after taking stool test. For the HP treatment I did have addition antibiotics in addition to PPI

TJ....the standard protocol for HP tripple therapy calls for 2 antibiotics and one ppi...the ppi is to be continued for another period of time subject to dr.advice from 3 to 6 months......some GI's differ in scheduled retake of HP and when to ween the PPI if at all.

.

The negative vs positive HP outcomes have causes...in my experience its been different labs...and different testing methods....I've suggested if you do UBT...and a retest...do the UBT..99% will be the same lab but as always off the PPI and "any" antibitocs for the period GI specifies....

In the meantime, as ines may not be able to repond quickly......get your self some DGL and Slippery Elm...take either 15 to 20 minutes pre meals or snacks...DGL 750mg...(I prefer the lozenges for either (150 to 300mg of Slippery Elm...neither of these are "cures" although DGL has a 40% efficacy in erradicating HP in some "small studies" but not recommeded as a treatment...either will protect the stomach lining while food is being processed by the HCL, Bile, Pepsin etc...once digested...be certain..then water in excess of 6.5PH...preferable is 9+ but may not be necessary.....not a bit of food 4 hours pre bedtime...one dgl pre bedtime and lie on your left side..if you can. Give it a try... Hope you feel better quickly... Claudio

Thank You

TJ. a science based abstract:..translated from Japanese:

Anti-Helicobacter pylori flavonoids from licorice extract.

Fukai T1, Marumo A, Kaitou K, Kanda T, Terada S, Nomura T.

Abstract

Licorice is the most used crude drug in Kampo medicines (traditional Chinese medicines modified in Japan). The extract of the medicinal plant is also used as the basis of anti-ulcer medicines for treatment of peptic ulcer. Among the chemical constituents of the plant, glabridin and glabrene (components of Glycyrrhiza glabra), licochalcone A (G. inflata), licoricidin and licoisoflavone B (G. uralensis) exhibited inhibitory activity against the growth of Helicobacter pylori in vitro. These flavonoids also showed anti-H. pylori activity against a clarithromycin (CLAR) and amoxicillin (AMOX)-resistant strain. We also investigated the methanol extract of G. uralensis. From the extract, three new isoflavonoids (3-arylcoumarin, pterocarpan, and isoflavan) with a pyran ring, gancaonols A[bond]C, were isolated together with 15 known flavonoids. Among these compounds, vestitol, licoricone, 1-methoxyphaseollidin and gancaonol C exhibited anti-H. pylori activity against the CLAR and AMOX-resistant strain as well as four CLAR (AMOX)-sensitive strains. Glycyrin, formononetin, isolicoflavonol, glyasperin D, 6,8-diprenylorobol, gancaonin I, dihydrolicoisoflavone A, and gancaonol B possessed weaker anti-H. pylori activity. These compounds may be useful chemopreventive agents for peptic ulcer or gastric cancer in H. pylori-infected individuals.

Claudio

Thanks Claudio I will check this out as well

Hi Tj,

It does go away! I was in pain for 9 months and I am fine now, lowering slowly the dose of my PPI. The only things you can do is to avoid anything irritating, take your medication and be patient. PPI lower your stomach acid which is irritating to your stomach lining. They helped me a lot to recover, more than all the natural supplements.

It is good that you don't have h. pylori anymore.

About your diet, I explained what worked for me at the beginning of this post. I would recommend that you avoid fat as much as you can for a while, especially peanut butter. Fat delays digestion, your stomach must deal with food for a longer time and is more likely to get irritated. For some reason I get a strong reaction with peanut butter, and from what I heard it is not uncommon, almond butter seem to be better tolerated (once you feel better, for now as little fat as possible is better).  Honey is too acidic, ph level 4, it is better to eat foods with ph level 5 at least. If you really need some sugar, try maple syrup but no sugar is best for now. Turkey bacon might be too fatty, check the fat content. It is best to stay below 5 grams of fat per meal. Also I suspect it containes some spices. Natural/organic roasted turkey/chicken slices would be better on your bread. Yoghourt is too acidic, probably around 4 or less, and the casein in milk stimulates excessive production of stomach acid. It is best to avoid all dairy for now. I suspects the gluten free chips have a lot of salt, salt is corrosive, it is best to eat low salt for now.

I hope you feel better soon.

Thank You so much...what else can I eat in terms of snacks then and what are the best veggies/fruits to eat having a hard time figuring acidic levels...lastly the PPI tend to mess w/ my mood, some headache, lightheaded/dizzy, fatigued, however stomach starts to feel just a little better. Longest I've taken the PPI was 7days, then I get tired of them still experience the above symtoms (I'm assuming withdrawal) and stomach goes back to hurting. I'm suppose to take them for 4wks. So I basically need to take the PPI (how long were you on them, I know they are not good for long periods) and be patient, do you believe one's environment helps, relax and stress free as possible...lastly I consult w/ GI this week did you get endoscopy (is it helpful/accurate) or will they pretty much make me complete a full PPI treatment 1st

To figure out the ph level of foods type into google "foods ph level for canning list", you should find a list of ph levels. You can also look into the free sample of the book "Dropping acid" on amazon.

If you don't feel good with your PPI, there are other PPI you can try, ask your doctor. It is important to take it consistently. I tried many things and what worked best was dexilant 60 mg for two months non stop (after one month the pain disappeared, but taking it for another month is good so the stomach lining strenghtens), than I took dexilant 30 mg for one month, and now I am going to decrease to 15 mg for one month. I follow the diet I explain at the beginning of this post very strictly and it is very important. In the past I tried the medication with a less strict diet and it did not work.

For snacks you can eat fresh raw coconut water, papaya, melon, watermelon, bananas, fresh soft bread without the crust (avoid high-fibers or dark brown, don't toast it to avoid mechanical irritation) with organic/natural roasted chicken/turkey slices, smoothie with soft silken tofu and bananas, fresh juice with romaine hearts/carrots/fennel/celery, oatmeal with bananas ... when you feel better you can add a little bit of nuts, but no peanuts, and maple syrup.

Thank You so much! 

Sorry to interrupt. Did you mean the real maple syrup without the added sugar.

Yes Irene, the 100% pure maple syrup. I have three different ones: the classic Amber, the dark one (stronger flavor), and one flavored with vanilla beans and fresh chamomile flowers.

Hi Ines,

How are you going with the Dexilant taper down? Hope you are still doing great

Last month I went for endoscopy and the result was clear. No esophagitis/ulcer/gastritis. No hernia. My throat was also clear.

But the symptoms remain. I still have the bloating, sometimes the burning in esophagus and throat. 

My GI said that my condition is called functional heartburn where the nerves are very sensitive even with normal reflux.

Aside from nexium 40 mg, I've been  put on amitriptyline (anti depressant) 30 mg to calm down the nerves. And plus my very strict diet. All these and I've never felt symptoms free.

Since everything's clear, I'd been determined to taper down nexium. Especially that I'm suspecting nexium might have been contributing to my bloating symptom.

However, my GI said that I probably have to stay with nexium for the rest of my life as it's not a good idea to stimulate the nerves and the reflux might come back if I stop nexium.

I'm really scared Ines. I don't want to be on med for the rest of my life! My mood has been very low since that.

2 weeks ago I tried to reduce nexium from 40 mg to 30 mg - split between 10 mg before breakfast and 20 mg before dinner. 

After 12 days I didn't see much difference, so I reduced again from 30 mg to 20 mg - split between 10 mg before breakfast and 10 mg before dinner.

The 1st day I actually felt better but then the 2nd day after dinner I felt my chest and throat were burning. 

The symptoms now have been up and down. Now it's the 6th day and I've been feeling bloated.

I can't tell whether it's because of the acid rebound, the real reflux, or it's just my hypersensitivity.

I'm not sure if this doesn't change after a month, should I continue with the taper down?

The prospect of staying with this nexium forever really stresses me out.

Would you mind to give me some advice? Thanks you. 

Vicky888

I don't have any real suggestions but can relate to how you feel because the doctor told me I had to be on PPI (ompreazole) for the rest of my life because of acid reflux being damaging to the lungs..... I have already been diagnosis with a lung disease.

That was last year I. August.

I took them for 5 months and the symptoms did not really go away, but at the time I had not gone on low acid diet and used any of the suggestions here.

Now, after being off for 8 months, I am back on them for less than a month.

I do believe with time we can come off, but it has to be slow. I would think that every change that is made we should say there for a month. What happens is we get in a hurry. Even me, after being on less than a month. I stopped myself and took the ompreazole this morning.

Keep posting your adventure. 

It helps and is encouraging.

Don't give up your belief in your body's ability to be balanced

Hi Vicky,

It is great that your results are clear!!

Do you feel good with the Nexium, no pain in the stomach or anything?

How you long have you been feeling good?

I waited to feel good for one full month with the dexilant before starting to lower the dose.

I completely stopped dexilant maybe ?one week ago? and I am fine. I did it very very slowly, In August I was taking 60 mg/day, in September I took 30 mg/day for the whole month, in october I took 30 mg every other day for most of the month (I was feeling good so I started forgetting to take it sometimes). A few days ago, I stopped completely. Every time I lowered the dose, I felt some more acid in the following days/weeks, then it calms down. It takes a while for your body to regularize itself when you lower the dose (I read somewhere that it can take a month or so), that is normal. I am still very careful with my diet. I feel that dairy make my stomach produce a little more acid, that more acidic fruits (like pear, apples and grapes) are slightly irritating, so I eat those only occasionally, I still completely avoid spices, garlic, onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, citrus. I eat early, preferably at 6 pm, at most 8 pm. I noticed that the days I am 100% strict with the diet I have no symptoms at all, other days I have a little bit of symptoms, just enough to remind me to be careful, not enough to be annoying. The symptoms don't last, maybe one hour or two after eating, and they are very mild.

The last doctor I saw gave me the same diagnosis as yours (but I think he was wrong because I was clearly in pain and he did no tests), and the previous one gave me another (mild gastritis and esophagitis after endoscopy). This is all very confusing but I am like you, I prefer to avoid medication if possible. I think it is worth it to try to get off Nexium if that is what you want. You can always take it again later if it does not work to be without it. My last doctor wanted me to find the lowest level of medication at which I feel comfortable but I think I can manage without it at all by being very careful with my diet.

Hi Vicky,

It is great that your results are clear!!

Do you feel good with the Nexium, no pain in the stomach or anything?

How you long have you been feeling good?

I waited to feel good for one full month with the dexilant before starting to lower the dose.

I completely stopped dexilant maybe ?one week ago? and I am fine. I did it very very slowly, In August I was taking 60 mg/day, in September I took 30 mg/day for the whole month, in october I took 30 mg every other day for most of the month (I was feeling good so I started forgetting to take it sometimes). A few days ago, I stopped completely. Every time I lowered the dose, I felt some more acid in the following days/weeks, then it calms down. It takes a while for your body to regularize itself when you lower the dose (I read somewhere that it can take a month or so), that is normal. I am still very careful with my diet. I feel that dairy make my stomach produce a little more acid, that more acidic fruits (like pear, apples and grapes) are slightly irritating, so I eat those only occasionally, I still completely avoid spices, garlic, onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, citrus. I eat early, preferably at 6 pm, at most 8 pm. I noticed that the days I am 100% strict with the diet I have no symptoms at all, other days I have a little bit of symptoms, just enough to remind me to be careful, not enough to be annoying. The symptoms don't last, maybe one hour or two after eating, and they are very mild.

The last doctor I saw gave me the same diagnosis as yours (but I think he was wrong because I was clearly in pain and he did no tests), and the previous one gave me another (mild gastritis and esophagitis after endoscopy). This is all very confusing but I am like you, I prefer to avoid medication if possible. I think it is worth it to try to get off Nexium if that is what you want. You can always take it again later if it does not work to be without it. My last doctor wanted me to find the lowest level of medication at which I feel comfortable but I think I can manage without it at all by being very careful with my diet.

Hi Vicky,

It is great that your results are clear!!

Do you feel good with the Nexium, no pain in the stomach or anything?

How you long have you been feeling good?

I waited to feel good for one full month with the dexilant before starting to lower the dose.

I completely stopped dexilant maybe ?one week ago? and I am fine. I did it very very slowly, In August I was taking 60 mg/day, in September I took 30 mg/day for the whole month, in october I took 30 mg every other day for most of the month (I was feeling good so I started forgetting to take it sometimes). A few days ago, I stopped completely. Every time I lowered the dose, I felt some more acid in the following days/weeks, then it calms down. It takes a while for your body to regularize itself when you lower the dose (I read somewhere that it can take a month or so), that is normal. I am still very careful with my diet. I feel that dairy make my stomach produce a little more acid, that more acidic fruits (like pear, apples and grapes) are slightly irritating, so I eat those only occasionally, I still completely avoid spices, garlic, onion, bell peppers, tomatoes, citrus. I eat early, preferably at 6 pm, at most 8 pm. I noticed that the days I am 100% strict with the diet I have no symptoms at all, other days I have a little bit of symptoms, just enough to remind me to be careful, not enough to be annoying. The symptoms don't last, maybe one hour or two after eating, and they are very mild.

The last doctor I saw gave me the same diagnosis as yours (but I think he was wrong because I was clearly in pain and he did no tests), and the previous one gave me another (mild gastritis and esophagitis after endoscopy). This is all very confusing but I am like you, I prefer to avoid medication if possible. I think it is worth it to try to get off Nexium if that is what you want. You can always take it again later if it does not work to be without it. My last doctor wanted me to find the lowest level of medication at which I feel comfortable but I think I can manage without it at all by being very careful with my diet.

 

Thank you ines n dreaming

The thing is that i've never felt good at all with nexium. I always feel bloated and sometimes i could feel that my throat is burning cold. The same symptoms even when i was on 40mg nexium and my endoscopy was clear. My doc said that's because i'm hypersensitive. But i suspect that nexium migt have contributed to the bloating symptom.

It's very confusing because bloating is also a symptom of reflux!

Now i've been on 20mg nexium for aweek, on day 2 i suddenly had severe burning on my throat & chest, i assume it was acid rebound. But now until day 7, the severe burning has gone, but i don't feel any better either- more bloated. I'm not sure whether it's the rebound, the hypersensitivity or the real reflux (meaning the taper down has failed 20mg too low for me?).

i'm planning to wait until end of nov to see whether i get better.

but if not? What should i do?

i've lost alot of weight and i don't know how to restrict my diet even more.... Maybe i should avoid oatmeal and bread at all and just eat rice?

thank you again ines and dreaming.... I feel like none can understand my situation here, i'm glad at least i have you both to talk to.

Hello Vicky. Interesting you should say about the hypersensitivity as I have had gastritis recurring for around 11 years, and a Dr I have been getting help from reckons that I too must be hypersensitive as I have cut many things from my diet and tend to react very easily.

It's a difficult one for sure, and the 2 things you mention I would have to avoid - ie oatmeal and bread. I stopped bread long ago as I have problems with both the wheat in it and the yeast (and possibly other ingredients). I can tolerate some oatmeal as long as I don't have it every day, but I think rice is a much better choice - white rice I think is easier to digest than brown rice.

So that you don't lose too much weight, have you tried to eat such things as potatoes, squash, and sweet potatoes? At one time I had cut my carbs drastically, but I find I can tolerate all of these, and with the rice, it might help you to gain a little weight.

Hi Vicky,

Where is the bloating located? Is it in your bowels? If it is the case you might have too much bacterial activity in your bowels. It can be avoided by reducing some kind of complex sugars that the bacteria happily feed on. Check the fodmap diet and the book "fast track diet" by Norman Robillard. Avoid gluten(wheat, rye,..), cabbage, bean, lentils. Oatmeal should be ok. Rice is excellent but it is good to keep a varied diet because of the level of arsenic in rice (choose white rice and wash it three times before cooking).

Thanks mermaid, ines.

i think my bloating is located in the stomach as i belch a lot. The belching might be the one that cause the reflux.

i'm thinking to eliminate bread. I eat 2 slices of white bread in a day, each as morning and afternoon snack with some boiled pumpkin & chicken breast. Maybe i just change the bread to white rice.

it's just crazy, now i'm wondering whether i have sibo! 

 

Vicky,

Are you bowels moving?

Do you pass gas?

Bloating sound like gas needs to pass.

Plus, with nexium or any PPI, they block hydrochloride acid which we need to digest our food.

The bloating can be from inadequate food digestion. I don't know this for sure but just thinking outside the box.

Dreaming, mermaid, Ines,

Hmm.. not sure why my previous comment is still being moderated. Don't remember whether I posted any link or anything...

I think my bloating is located in the stomach coz I feel relieve after I belch (I belch a lot). Sometimes I pass gass thru bowel as well, but not so much. I think the stomach gas is the one pressuring my les so the acid comes up to the esophagus....

How the gas is in the stomach, I'm not too sure. But my doc said with gerd, people tned to swallow more air - hence bloating is a symptom of gerd. And since my endoscopy was clear, but the bloating persists, I wonder whether there's something else causing the bloating. Nexium side effect? Like dreaming said, ppi can cause indigestion. Or 4 months with ppi cause me to have sibo?

It all started 6 weeks after my appendectomy where I was given strong antibiotics plus the stress as at that time my baby was just 4 month old.A pear and a scoop of choc ice cream set a very severe heartburn on me

If you did not have that problem before, it might regularize itself slowly after you stop the medication. If you still want to try to stop, don't do it too fast. A few months ago I tried to stop all at once and I hurt my stomach very much with the rebound.

Ines, Relu,

Problem is I have developed esophageal hypersensitivity after burned by acid too long before I decided to surrender to ppi

Now, I'm really confused. The doc said I have to continue taking ppi (until don't know when), otherwise the rebound and reflux will cause my esophagus to be more sensitive.

Meanwhile, I notice that my reflux is mostly caused by gas in the stomach. So if I belch, I could feel that my throat & chest burning.

Where does the gas come from? Like dreaming and Relu said, it could be from indigestion caused by low acid (nexium).

I'm also afraid I have/will havebacteria overgrowth if I stay too long with nexium.

So now, my plan I think is to reduce nexium slowly, maybe by 2.5 mg?

Another problem, I can't differentiate between real acid reflux, hypersenstivity or acid rebound. 

Please help if you have any advice, I'll appreciate it very much. 

Thank you.

Vicky,

I am in the midst of the same dilema.

We have similar situations.

For me the acid accumulates in my esopagus and when I belch, the muscus comes up, I feel reflux and the burning.

Somehow we have to heal the esopagus and elimnate the gas.

Something I used made me pass the gas from below, but I cant remember what it was. That's why I am journaling what I do now.

Part of the gas issue may be from the wrong bacteria already, so a probiotic consistent treatment may help.

With all our great minda and protocol for coming off of PPI can be discovered. We just have to continue to chat.

My acid rolls right up the right side of my throat. I can feel it.

This just started this year.

Whatever, I have been doing hasn't worked, but I am just hearing some of the things being used on this forum.

What are you using to heal your throat and stomach lining?

 

Dreaming,

the probiotics, I'm a bit scared to try as there are pros and cons about them. I'm afraid the probiotics might end up in small intestine and triggers sibo (bacteria overgrowth) especially when we're on ppi.

Vicky,

I never heard that probiotic could cause small bowel overgrowth.....

Is this of the bad bacteria or good bacteria over growth.

Doesn't dairy cause inflammation?

Have you noticed anything from the dairy.

Kefir is what you use. right?

Slowly you began. Right.

Thanks for sharing with me.

I am thinking now which is the best approach. I do know that rushing is not the best approach.

I have to do something to replenish my digestive good bacteria flora.

I do know that.

I wish it was an easy way to link back to what you did. Let me look. It's probably easy

Vicky,

I saw your post and am doing every thing you did or are doing except #2 and #3

Are you taking PPI's now?

Vicky,

nonsense...I don't know of any scientific study illustrating SIBO from probiotics.......but a ton of studies bacteria enters the small intestine from the colon.

I think you may have enzymes confused with probiotics? There is a huge enviornmental difference between the stomach, small intestine, and colon.

Take kefir and yogurts...they are probiotics, then do a serious study of prebiotics...will take less than 30 minutes.... Claudio

Vicky,

My previous e mail “should have” stated “what your heard” was nonsense…not your thoughts.

First: keeping stuff simple…excluding yeasts/fungals…there are two kinds of bacteria

Good……..and .......bad

Probiotics are ….the good ones

1.Regarding your fears of probiotics/ppi/sibo…I’ve extracted from a 2007 major Scientifice study…the following:

“Results of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth testing in irritable bowel syndrome patients…

Conclusions: sibo, was present in half of this large cohort of IBS patients, based on the results of

GBT,””” Chronic PPI use was not associated with sibo.”””

Could not find a more recent study using HBT vs GBT. But sibo’s are colon bacteria…

that belongs in the colon not the small intestine. Ca,,,yeast infection may be the major player in sibo..it is difficult

To diagnose because Ca is common in the digestive system in the healthy…..its only when it’s population is greater than the good bacteria.

2. What has been found in some studies, that with low HCL, bacteria’s and enzymes can

get into the small intestine …the stomach enzymes like pepsin require a very low ph to activate…the small intestine gets plenty of bile that is super alkaline…thus these are dead upon arrival.

Some bacteria’s too can be disabled by the small intenstine acids/enzymes…but not all.

Maltodrextrin as an example can disable our anti bacteria defenses against the salmonella toxin.

I hope this clarifies PPI/Bacteria/Probiotics.

Claudio

dreaming,

i'm still with ppi. i was 40mg/day for 4 months and now i reduced to 30mg for 2 weeks and reduced again to 20mg. I've been on 20mg/day for almost 2 weeks. Last week I had severe burning for a couple days which i assume was acid rebound. my dosage is always split between before breakfast and dinner e.g 20mg = 10mg before breakfast, 10mg before dinner.

Since i can't differentiate between hypersensitivity, real reflux or rebound, then i keep eating exactly the same thing, same amount EVERY DAY! it sucks, i know

i'm thinking to reduce my morning dosage to 7.5 mg if my symptoms stays the same...maybe next week.

meanwhile i've been taking carafate (similar to dgl licorice) 4x/day.

i notice that high fiber food, bread (even white bread), dairy (even lactose free) cause me bloating. it makes me worried whether i have sibo.

i remember shortly after my antibiotics finished, i ate a persimmon and i ahd stomach pain(not reflux) for 1/2hr or so...then 2 days later i ate a pear and ice cream and had a full blown severe reflux.

have you got any probs eating these?

claudio,

thanks for commenting 

i tried yogurts but it's too acidic for me and it hurt my esophagus. kefir, i haven't tried. is it acidic?

i'm now very careful in trying something new.

i spent my 1st 6 months trying to cure myself with natural treatments, trying many thing e.g. ginger, iberogast etc but the reflux got worse and worse, and i finally surrendered to ppi.

last month my endoscopy result came back clear, but i still feel the burning pain in my upper chest and throat. my doc said i have developed esopagheal hypersensitivity, which i suspect is the result of my trial and error with the natural treatments. now i'm very very careful in trying something new. leant the lesson in a very hard way! 

as for probiotics, i read some articles challenging the probitoics theory, saying that how can we make sure that the probiotics will arrive safely alivr and intact into our colon. the stomach acid will kill them. or even worse if they stay in small intestine (sibo). some articles say that sibo is not caused by bad bacteria, it's the same bacteria in our colon but the bacteria manages to reach the small intestine.

this is a copy from chriskresser website "Probiotics are actually a mixed bag with SIBO because SIBO often involves an overgrowth of D-lactate-producing probiotic species, and that causes a buildup of D-lactate in the gut, and a lot of the symptoms associated with SIBO are caused by that.  So, you want to avoid in many cases taking any probiotics that have D-lactate-forming species like Lactobacillus acidophilus, which is, of course, one of the most common probiotics that people take"

i'm not saying that probiotics is bad, just explaining why i'm actually confused   

 

Claudio, thank you so much for explaining a lot...

Please pardon me for some stupid questions.... 

what are hbt, gbt, ca that you referred to? 

I'm praying hard that I don't have sibo/yeast infection with my more than 4 months of ppi use! I do notice that if I eat a slice of white bread, I will feel bloated.

Some articles that I read are making me worried, saying that people that use ppi (especially more than a year) have more bacteria in their colon, that's why it's linked to sibo. I think those articles are newer than 2007......

 

GBT glucose breath test

HBT Hydrogen breath test

Prudent questions

these are SIBO diagnostic s

What of anything does not irritate your throat?

both natural and drugs can cause havoc..and you are prudent by treading cautious and slow.

My tablet is giving me fits..will get back to you later ..please continue yiur prudence..claudio

Ca...is Candida Albicans.

I do not use any web MD's nor alternative (CAM) websites

Thus no crissk nor A Weil....I use only varous countries national institutes of health, Science Daily/Science Direct/and some sites that require crednetials.

These sites have science backing, abstracts are peer reviewed, and are evaluated "world wide" by thousands of Scientists...

The 2007 study (not an article) has been cited by many medical institutional journals. Why? the GBT for SIBO is now competitive with HBT...and within different ethnic's...one has more efficacy than the other. The results of the study are yet valid in 2014....there are 3 risk factors for sibo...one is colon bacteria leaking into the small bowel.

Good gut flora is essetial for "good health"..

PRO BIOTICS...pro is "good"...Lactobicillus is PRO...the stretch of D lacto (latic acid) in the colon...was extracted from colon cancer patient studies?? has little meaning....again...for upteen thousands of years...acidophillus has been proven beneficial by observations, and more importantly scientific studies thruout the world.

I would not browse any "web" site for medical issues other than the ones I've mentioned and/or any peer reviewed science based.......unless one is medically savy, the others will lead to confusion and probably trouble..

Claudio

Thank you Claudio!

All my problems started after my appendectomy where i had been given strong antibotics. 6 weeks after the surgery, just after i finished the antibiotics, i suddenly had severe reflux heartburn after having a pear and a scoop of choc ice cream.

I suspect that the antibiotics might have caused bacterial imbalance on me, causing indigestion and bloating, which triggered the reflux.

havr you had any information or knowledge regarding how to treat dysbiosis?

from what i read from amny websites, taking probiotics only won't help.

if i have too many bad bacteria, there will be no place left for good bacteria to inhibit in my body. Therefore, removing the bad bacteria is the 1st step before taking probiotics (to get the good ones)

some articles say it'll require antibiotics. Some say there are natural antibiotics but they don't want to elaborate more (commercial wise).

Do you know anything about this? 

Thanks claudio!

You are correct on all counts.

I have no first hand experience with sibo but with digestive bacterias and fungals/yeast "in general"

sibo is usually implicated with IBS...a symptom indicator diagnostic.

Your appendix...condition before surgery? i.e perforated? or?

The first step is to determine type of infection...before thebreath tests "symptoms" help to choose type of breath test..."to confirm"

I know the drugs of choice for both..bacterias and yeast and treatment.

I've recently learned the "herbal antibiotics" that are most commonly used.

Based on your "almost immediate" symptoms after antibiotics leads usually to clostridium difficle....reason....hosptial setting, strong antibiotic, and type of surgery. The complication might be your appendix...must rule out any connection.

So, if you'l be as specific as you can re your post surgery symptoms and current ones...will help along with your pre surgery appendix status.

For CDifficle...am looking for "mucus" it is a prime immune response. Claudio

Hi Vicky,

while my post is in limbo....let me know if any post operative labs were done.ultratound? thanks, claudio

thanks claudio!

my tests were:

- gastric motility (gastroparesis test) -> negative

- endoscopy (while on ppi) with biopsies from stomach, duodenum, esophagus -> all clear

- throat swap (for yeast/thrush) -> negative

- helicobacter blood test -> negative

i asked my doc whether i should go for ph impedance test, but he said it's not necessary as the treatments (with ppi and amitriptyline) would be the same whatever the result is.

The problem is although my results came back clear, i'm still in pain (bloating and cold burning throat/upper chest)

i went to see an ent doc when i was experiencing the cold burning throat and the ent did a scope and said nothing found/all clear. So based on that i believe i have developed some visceral hypersensitivity at least in the throat.

but the bloating i'm not sure. and the bloating and belching is the trigger of reflux. it's part of the hypersensitivity or indigestion from nexium or sibo or candida/dysbiosis.... i dont know...

i'm ordering a glucose test kit to check for sibo.

and i'm thinking to go for a candida test. but since my doc is againts me doing anymore testing (he believes i'm just sensitive and therefore at this point should just stay on ppi until dont know when) then i have to work on my own.

do you know what test should i go for candida test? some say blood prick test is accurate, some say stool test is the most accurate... confusing!

besides bloating/belching and burning throat/chest, i so far dont have any other symptoms e.g no diarrhea, no loose stool, no thrush

thanks claudio!  thank God for this forum. i'm learning so much from you, ines and the others!

dreaming, the other day i mentioned to you that i'm going to lower my ppi by 2.5-5mg , but i just went to see my doc and he said dosage below 10mg wont work on an adult like us. 10mg is already the dosage for infants, so 7.5mg would be the same as just taking nothing!

he wont prescribe me the 10mg granules! ~ i was thinking to split the granules into quarters or halves!

in that case i have no choice except to lower down from 20mg to 10mg!

down by 50%! i'm so scared!

Hi Vicky,

To answer some of your unanswered questions: and then to get some of your thoughts:

Commercial white bread: = Grains, oils, sugars or sugar substitutes, salt, yeast, preservatives and dyes.

Disbiosis: dysbacteriosis..bacteria imbalance/overgrowth.

Most often refered to small bowel bacterial overgrowth from colon bacteria.

I've only one direct experience with Clostridium Difficle, several with "Undignosed dysbacterosis" most within so called IBS, and a few with Gastritis with unknown cause, and one with known cause (antibiotics).

With the exception of Cdifficle , and without medical diagnostics, remissions may or may not have been sibo but merely Dysbacterosis..or disbiosis

Your Dr. suggesting sensitivity without visual inflammation/s and reflux may be considered NERD?

Meaning your throat burns when swallowing “yogurt” as an example? And yet upper endoscopy was

“clear”? no signs of lesions nor gastritis etc?.

Your take of possible antibiotic implication for your sudden heartburn is “maybe sibo”

Lap surgery must have been “complicated” /6 weeks of post surgery antibiotics?

Since the appendix sits on the bottom of your ascending colon, its neighbor is the

“IIiocecal valve…..with an infected appendix, possibly perforated or ?? any chance

a nudge from the lap pushed some stuff thru the valve?

In recent months, was a blood panel taken? If so…any abnormals?

In summary, current symptoms, throat sensitivity, heartburn/reflux/bloating

Possible causes of throat sensitivity……………...…”reflux”

Possible causes of heartburn/reflux/bloating maybe.” sibo.”

Let me know your thoughts…

Claudio

My posts are all still being moderated.

my appendix was gangrenous not yet perforated but almosy so the surgeon had to put me on strong antibiotics via IV for 2 days i was in hospital and another 2 weeks oral antibotics

thanks vicky,

sorry aout the moderations.........they are unwelcomed..I have had several and now one pending much like you.... all eventually post

I've a few thoughts...if the surgeon suspected any thing escaping from the procedure like an eppendicolith, a follow ct scan and ultra sound would have been done.

I'm somewhat familiar with the 3 iv antibiotics, usualy only two oral's post iv. If one of your oral meds was either flagyl or vanco, I'd rule out my first "overgrowth yeast infection" and probably any overgrowth.

Can I guess that after your intake of ice cream was within an hour of previous food intake?

I connect appendicitis with low stomach acid...may not be so in your case.

Since your so keen on "detail" perhaps you can describe the timing of food and consequences on that specific day.

With a clear upper and yet throat pain, your dr's "sensitivity" is understood. Most foods would produce some form of throat discomfort, and some quite irritating like yogurt.

I will try and eloborate some as to why "sensitivity and yet dr didn't mentione any inflammatiion...if if

Re weening Nexium...merely keep some common 7.1 PH or more water available...water should do 2 things..remove any irritating reflux matter from your throat and dilute stomach concentrated acids.rebound hcl will add "maybe"one cup...so one or two cups of water to be on the safe side...

Claudio

Hi Vicky,

I agree with your dr. but the test most promising

is 14 C-D Xylos..abstract from Isreal.

thanks for test details/results.

other than Nexium are you taking "anything

else"?

how long were you on

how long were you on amitriptline...and during

any throat changes?

what were your post surgery "oral" antibiotics?

reason.some can cause yeast and a few target

yeast. claudio

Vicky,

didn't know your "down under in AU"...home of one of my favorite research neuro's....."Mary Reid"..this has been my field of study in the past 3 years..."MND"..motor neuron disease

"MND" coined by a Brit in AU, Steven Shackel...So I have some knowledge of motor neurons but little about sensory neurons.

Your clock is same as Beijing...have activity in Shanghai and in Qinhuangdao (north of Beijing)...so will try and time my next posts accordinly.

Claudio

Sorry for the late reply Claudio...

Lots of things have been going on lately....

I have reduced my nexium from 40, 30, 20, and now 10mg. I think I feel better, so maybe the nexium contributes to my bloating/indigestion, but then I had flu last week and my stomach started bloating again

I just reduced my endep (amitriptyline) from 30mg to 25 mg coz I think even after a month I still feel a bit dizzy.... but I don't know whether it contributes to my bloating coming back as well But the bloating came first before I reduced the dosage.

I'm a bit upset coz I just found out that amitriptyline is not an "easy" drug to get off from (my doc said you could just quit it anytime!), but after some research I found out that people have withdrawal problems getting off this drug.

I've been with endep since late june this year starting 2.5 mg and gradually stepping up until last month 30mg which since last week I reduced it back to 25 mg.

I will continue the chat later...

works coming....