Posted , 4 users are following.
Dear Friends,
I have posted on this site once before and am deeply appreciative for all the information I have been / am gleening from your wonderfully supportive/informative forum resource centre.
I have just received my peptest results. They show that I test positive for Pepsin. My post lunch reading was moderate at 94 ng/ml and my post dinner reading was low at <25 ng/ml. i don't completely feel i'm at the point where i need to throw myself off the roof just quite yet but am (i hope understandably) concerned.
my history briefly. i had no digestive problems short of once having a turn with heartburn on 13th february of this year. that was an isolated event. i did very shortly thereafter develop a sensation of pressure in the back left quadrant of my head. i now know that was caused as a result of foraminal stenosis in my neck. this is being effectively treated with physiotherapy i'm happy to report. before the physio commenced i was prescribed a round of nexium (20 mg) which i only took for four days (e.g., four tablets). having started on 9th april i stopped it on 13th april as it was doing nothing for the head pressure and i didn't quite frankly see the point. i then had, of course, the reflux backlash which has i believe resulted in this pepsin throttle. to be honest the only real symptom i am dealing with at the moment are silent burps/hic-ups that travel through the upper chest cavity on occasion; sometimes following meals; sometimes on their isolated own.
two questions if i might ...
1. does lpr automatically become a chronic disease (e.g., once you have it; do you have it forever?) forgive my ignorance - and please know that i have done a lot of reading on these forums but i still can't seem to find an answer to this question. i see in jpt's truly fantastic material that it takes between eight and 26 weeks for nexium to go out of your system. would it be false to hope that the pepsin would disappear in that time frame? does anyone know. if so, i would be most grateful for your advice.
off my own bat i have been following the induction diet in the dropping acid book such as is much referred to here. additionally i am now drinking and spraying my mouth with alkaline water - or at very least water that has been brought up to post 8.8 elimination scale with drops. (i find when i spray my mouth with such that it feels dry ... does anyone else have that result using alkaline spray?) i would also like to add that there is one member on this board who has been oh, so very kind and i have greatly benefited from her wisdom which i continue to follow even now.
2) i don't have great faith in my gp surgery. indeed during four recent appointments in either hospitals or health care centres i have been told by medical staff members to change my gp. i intend to do so, but only after i have started to get this particular adventure sorted. i will call the gp surgery first thing tomorrow with my pepsin results and ask for a ent consultancy vis a vis lpr. what i would like to do, however, is get a private consultancy in the interim so that i could go armed to such a meeting (whenever it may be forthcoming) with additional information. what i would like to now find is an otolalaryngologist who would - on a one off private basis - scope me (not an endoscopy obviously) in their office and let me know the immediate state of my lpr play. does any such expert exist in london? if anyone has any suggestions i would be hugely grateful.
well, that's two and a half questions really -- so obviously it's time for me to jump off the bandwagon. again, mucho thanks to all for your kind consideration in my regard. it is, i promise, keenly valued.
bless you. ng/ml.="" i="" don't="" completely="" feel="" i'm="" at="" the="" point="" where="" i="" need="" to="" throw="" myself="" off="" the="" roof="" just="" quite="" yet="" ="" but="" am="" (i="" hope="" understandably)="" concerned.="" my="" history="" briefly.="" i="" had="" no="" digestive="" problems="" short="" of="" once="" having="" a="" turn="" with="" heartburn="" on="" 13th="" february="" of="" this="" year.="" that="" was="" an="" isolated="" event.="" i="" did="" very="" shortly="" thereafter="" develop="" a="" sensation="" of="" pressure="" in="" the="" back="" left="" quadrant="" of="" my="" head.="" i="" now="" know="" that="" was="" caused="" as="" a="" result="" of="" foraminal="" stenosis="" in="" my="" neck.="" this="" is="" being="" effectively="" treated="" with="" physiotherapy="" i'm="" happy="" to="" report.="" before="" the="" physio="" commenced="" i="" was="" prescribed="" a="" round="" of="" nexium="" (20="" mg)="" which="" i="" only="" took="" for="" four="" days="" (e.g.,="" four="" tablets).="" having="" started="" on="" 9th="" april="" i="" stopped="" it="" on="" 13th="" april="" as="" it="" was="" doing="" nothing="" for="" the="" head="" pressure="" and="" i="" didn't="" quite="" frankly="" see="" the="" point.="" i="" then="" had,="" of="" course,="" the="" reflux="" backlash="" which="" has="" i="" believe="" resulted="" in="" this="" pepsin="" throttle.="" to="" be="" honest="" the="" only="" real="" symptom="" i="" am="" dealing="" with="" at="" the="" moment="" are="" silent="" burps/hic-ups="" that="" travel="" through="" the="" upper="" chest="" cavity="" on="" occasion;="" sometimes="" following="" meals;="" sometimes="" on="" their="" isolated="" own.="" ="" two="" questions="" if="" i="" might="" ...="" 1.="" does="" lpr="" automatically="" become="" a="" chronic="" disease="" (e.g.,="" once="" you="" have="" it;="" do="" you="" have="" it="" forever?)="" forgive="" my="" ignorance="" -="" and="" please="" know="" that="" i="" have="" done="" a="" lot="" of="" reading="" on="" these="" forums="" but="" i="" still="" can't="" seem="" to="" find="" an="" answer="" to="" this="" question.="" i="" see="" in="" jpt's="" truly="" fantastic="" material="" that="" it="" takes="" between="" eight="" and="" 26="" weeks="" for="" nexium="" to="" go="" out="" of="" your="" system.="" would="" it="" be="" false="" to="" hope="" that="" the="" pepsin="" would="" disappear="" in="" that="" time="" frame?="" does="" anyone="" know.="" if="" so,="" i="" would="" be="" most="" grateful="" for="" your="" advice.="" off="" my="" own="" bat="" i="" have="" been="" following="" the="" induction="" diet="" in="" the="" dropping="" acid="" book="" such="" as="" is="" much="" referred="" to="" here.="" additionally="" i="" am="" now="" drinking="" and="" spraying="" my="" mouth="" with="" alkaline="" water="" -="" or="" at="" very="" least="" water="" that="" has="" been="" brought="" up="" to="" post="" 8.8="" elimination="" scale="" with="" drops.="" (i="" find="" when="" i="" spray="" my="" mouth="" with="" such="" that="" it="" feels="" dry="" ...="" does="" anyone="" else="" have="" that="" result="" using="" alkaline="" spray?)="" i="" would="" also="" like="" to="" add="" that="" there="" is="" one="" member="" on="" this="" board="" who="" has="" been="" oh,="" so="" very="" kind="" and="" i="" have="" greatly="" benefited="" from="" her="" wisdom="" which="" i="" continue="" to="" follow="" even="" now.="" ="" ="" 2)="" i="" don't="" have="" great="" faith="" in="" my="" gp="" surgery.="" indeed="" during="" four="" recent="" appointments="" in="" either="" hospitals="" or="" health="" care="" centres="" i="" have="" been="" told="" by="" medical="" staff="" members="" to="" change="" my="" gp.="" i="" intend="" to="" do="" so,="" but="" only="" after="" i="" have="" started="" to="" get="" this="" particular="" adventure="" sorted.="" i="" will="" call="" the="" gp="" surgery="" first="" thing="" tomorrow="" with="" my="" pepsin="" results="" and="" ask="" for="" a="" ent="" consultancy="" vis="" a="" vis="" lpr.="" ="" what="" i="" would="" like="" to="" do,="" however,="" is="" get="" a="" private="" consultancy="" in="" the="" interim="" so="" that="" i="" could="" go="" armed="" to="" such="" a="" meeting="" (whenever="" it="" may="" be="" forthcoming)="" with="" additional="" information.="" what="" i="" would="" like="" to="" now="" find="" is="" an="" otolalaryngologist="" who="" would="" -="" on="" a="" one="" off="" private="" basis="" -="" scope="" me="" (not="" an="" endoscopy="" obviously)="" in="" their="" office="" and="" let="" me="" know="" the="" immediate="" state="" of="" my="" lpr="" play.="" does="" any="" such="" expert="" exist="" in="" london?="" ="" if="" anyone="" has="" any="" suggestions="" i="" would="" be="" hugely="" grateful.="" ="" well,="" that's="" two="" and="" a="" half="" questions="" really="" --="" so="" obviously="" it's="" time="" for="" me="" to="" jump="" off="" the="" bandwagon.="" again,="" mucho="" thanks="" to="" all="" for="" your="" kind="" consideration="" in="" my="" regard.="" it="" is,="" i="" promise,="" keenly="" valued.="" bless="">25 ng/ml. i don't completely feel i'm at the point where i need to throw myself off the roof just quite yet but am (i hope understandably) concerned.
my history briefly. i had no digestive problems short of once having a turn with heartburn on 13th february of this year. that was an isolated event. i did very shortly thereafter develop a sensation of pressure in the back left quadrant of my head. i now know that was caused as a result of foraminal stenosis in my neck. this is being effectively treated with physiotherapy i'm happy to report. before the physio commenced i was prescribed a round of nexium (20 mg) which i only took for four days (e.g., four tablets). having started on 9th april i stopped it on 13th april as it was doing nothing for the head pressure and i didn't quite frankly see the point. i then had, of course, the reflux backlash which has i believe resulted in this pepsin throttle. to be honest the only real symptom i am dealing with at the moment are silent burps/hic-ups that travel through the upper chest cavity on occasion; sometimes following meals; sometimes on their isolated own.
two questions if i might ...
1. does lpr automatically become a chronic disease (e.g., once you have it; do you have it forever?) forgive my ignorance - and please know that i have done a lot of reading on these forums but i still can't seem to find an answer to this question. i see in jpt's truly fantastic material that it takes between eight and 26 weeks for nexium to go out of your system. would it be false to hope that the pepsin would disappear in that time frame? does anyone know. if so, i would be most grateful for your advice.
off my own bat i have been following the induction diet in the dropping acid book such as is much referred to here. additionally i am now drinking and spraying my mouth with alkaline water - or at very least water that has been brought up to post 8.8 elimination scale with drops. (i find when i spray my mouth with such that it feels dry ... does anyone else have that result using alkaline spray?) i would also like to add that there is one member on this board who has been oh, so very kind and i have greatly benefited from her wisdom which i continue to follow even now.
2) i don't have great faith in my gp surgery. indeed during four recent appointments in either hospitals or health care centres i have been told by medical staff members to change my gp. i intend to do so, but only after i have started to get this particular adventure sorted. i will call the gp surgery first thing tomorrow with my pepsin results and ask for a ent consultancy vis a vis lpr. what i would like to do, however, is get a private consultancy in the interim so that i could go armed to such a meeting (whenever it may be forthcoming) with additional information. what i would like to now find is an otolalaryngologist who would - on a one off private basis - scope me (not an endoscopy obviously) in their office and let me know the immediate state of my lpr play. does any such expert exist in london? if anyone has any suggestions i would be hugely grateful.
well, that's two and a half questions really -- so obviously it's time for me to jump off the bandwagon. again, mucho thanks to all for your kind consideration in my regard. it is, i promise, keenly valued.
bless you. >
0 likes, 19 replies
suzeq1972 meunier58121
Posted
Just as a comparison, my peptest results were: morning (negative), after lunch (75ng), after evening meal (201ng).
In my humble opinion, I believe LPR is not chronic. I believe it takes a very long time to control it and cure it, but it is curable. I have heard of many people overcoming it just on this forum. That's not to say it can't come back if something upsets our digestive system in the future.
I too followed JPT's excellent information, and saw results within a few days with the alkaline water and drops. I didn't do very well with spraying the back of my throat, as I seemed to get a very tickly cough from it. I gargled with the alkaline drops (after every meal) and drank a 500 ml bottle of alkaline water everyday. Not sure how the gargling would work with any neck issues you have (as you have to tip your neck back) - so be careful with that!
I no longer suffer with the dry throat and mouth and the refulx is at a minimum these days, just the occasional light belch after eating. Now and again I get pain in my ears and nose which JPT says could be the pepsin attaching itself there. I am still to try the sinus rinse, which I will do if it becomes any worse.
I can't really comment on your second question I'm afraid as I have no experience in that area!
meunier58121
Posted
Thanks so for your kind advice/encouragement. It is greatly appreciated.
Just a question if I might: When gargling with the drops - do you put them in ordinary water and gargle that way .... Or do you gargle directly with the alkaline drops themselves explicitly. (Sorry if this sounds dreadfully simple - but it's always better to ask I think.) I don't think my neck's so far gone as to be distrubed by lifting up the palate and bounding a bit of liquid about. At least I hope not.
Again, huge thanks for this, Suzeq1972. There will, I know, be strength in our numbers. Bless you.
suzeq1972 meunier58121
Posted
You should mix 3 drop of the alkaline drops in an 8oz glass of water (I used filtered water).
Tickled meunier58121
Posted
suzeq1972 Tickled
Posted
I'm going to buy a cabbage tomorrow to test out this theory. I hope I get a bit of ear or nose pain so I can try it (I never thought I'd hear myself say that!)
Tickled meunier58121
Posted
I have been used to having this therapy since i was a child as my mother made us kids inhale this concoction whenever we were congested and remembered recently. I wonder if the steam released by the cabbage will equally apply to boiling any high alkaline foods such as broccolli and dandelion greens which I am now buying in bunches (Wholefoods when available). Perhaps I am keeping the unwanted symptoms at bay for consuming these as well as having the steam in the kitchen. I will experiment with inhaling the steam of other high alkaline foods too now and report what seems to work just as well. To concentrate the effect, drape a towel around the pan (Be careful) and happy breathing!
meunier58121
Posted
meunier58121
Posted
Tickled meunier58121
Posted
On over alkalising - I personally made some enquiries and googled for any opinions out there and it seems just as being over acidic, it is possible to be over alkalised. BUT since we all (I speak without taking a census on this matter) are over acidic to begin with, it may be a long time to go to the opposite end of the spectrum in following an alkalised diet. I am not any authority (over anything particularly and frequently will contradict myself) so suggest you study what is available on Google as I am still investigating this question myself.
meunier58121
Posted
My dear friend from this Forum who has been so kind to me with advice has written to me to say that (i) there is no cure for LPR (ii) short of surgery. This is what I feared .... That it was an immediate chronic condition.
I find myself feeling almost suicidal. I'm not going to do anything of course ... but I am genuinely depressed. Still, I feel it is better to be honest and share this information .... Facts, in this instance, are better than dreams (as Churchill said) especially when to prevaricate can have such a deadly cost on the wayside.
All best wishes.
meunier58121
Posted
Tickled meunier58121
Posted
I am a little confused. Why do you thnk your headaches are a result of acid reflux? I have not heard that association made before. I really sympathise with headache issues. I myself had trigeminal neuralgia a few years back and this was discovered when they sent me for an MRI scan. Happily that is also now a scene from the past which I hope never to see again.
Another comment I wanted to make was that I also tried ALL the proton pumps and came off them with no hugely significant side affects and this was after I'd taken them for significant periods. Yes I had adverse symptoms when taking them but none so bad coming off them. But I have to allow for each of our cases being differently symptomatic.
I do hope you start obtaining relief though wonder if you need to get an MRI of your head and neck. This by the way is now the outcome of the friend who I mentioned in an earlier post who also has a head (and neck) ache in the back portion of her head. She is now waiting for the appointment to come through so of course will feed any information that transpires.
meunier58121 Tickled
Posted
Tickled meunier58121
Posted
This was translated to me by the doc as my throat issues caused by acid (or bile ) reflux but the point he made was that it was reflux coming from the gastric area. Another thing to support this was my pH monometry showed evidence of reflux. There was no evidence of a hiatus hernia (though in the past there was!!!). Also had h Pylori which was eradicated.
Yup I've been busy over the years!!!
I am now wondering if in fact I have an allergic reaction going on in my throat as esonophilic esophagitis is a reaction to both gastric and airborn material which you can be habitually breathing in rather than pepsin or bile. I may ask my gastro doctor to have me tested for Pepsin - I am reluctant to pay for it myself as well as pay my insurance premiums!
At this moment in time, and it could be because of the late hour, I am tended to want to end by saying "Well whatever". Sometimes it is a hard struggle getting to the bottom of it even though I am fortunate enough to have private medical cover and good doctors. Why do I then feel that they are also on new territory (though gastric issues have been around for millenia (and way back then we did not have any pills good or bad!).
I think medical progress has stagnated in some ways (just doling out pills for vagely similar sounding symptoms). Though there is also true progress in certain significant areas. Thats why these forums and anecdotes are so good because you can begin to see a world where one size does not fit all, and the stories of both discomfort and reliefs are exchanged against which an insert to a medication cannot compete.
Oh Oh, getting emotional and philosophical about the issue now. Time to go to bed.
meunier58121
Posted
suzeq1972 meunier58121
Posted
I intend to continue with what I'm doing and slowly start introducing some foods back into my diet. I'll have the peptest and go back to my GP (or maybe look for a private consultant) if the peptest still shows high levels.
Join this discussion or start a new one?
New discussion Reply