Non-ulcer Dyspepsia and Slippery Elm

Hi Barretts! Thank you for your response. How was your experience using PPIs and slippery elm? I find my PPI isn't offering much of a benefit but I have no choice to use them until my next diagnostic test (barium x-ray). I have only been able to tolerate liquid alkaline diet consisting mainly of smoothies. Wondering how was your experience

I've never actually used slippery elm though I was on PPIs for 15 years, increasing to 80mg omeprazole daily, prior to having reflux reduction, fundoplication, surgery.

Regarding your choice of following an alkaline diet, actually the acidity or alkalinity of the food we consume makes as much difference as pouring a kettle of hot water into the ocean.

Pour stomach acid (concentrated hydrochloric acid) on your skin and it will cause permanent scarring; pour lemon juice on your hand and it feels wet. Pour lemon juice on an abrasion and it hurts but it didn't cuase the abrasion nor will it make it worse.

Read the "Myths and Misconceptions" page of DownWithAcid org uk

Hi

I was wondering why you are getting a barium xray and not a endoscope . My dr wants to do both a scope and barium xray. I opted out of a barium due to a lot of radiation I have had.

Wondered if they are a good tool in diagnosing digestive issues ?

Keep me informed after you have one and the findings .

Thx Robin

Hi Robin! I apologize for the late reply. Hope my response will still be of good use for you. I had a gastroscopy, barium x-ray, ultrasound, 3 biospies, and blood work done to attempt to figure out what is going on with my disgestive system. All my results came back perfect or normal. My doctor requested to get a barium x-ray done to assess the motility and functioning of my digestive tract. Personally, I thought this was a good diagnostic test as the doctor is able to watch on video how the digestive tract processes, moves, and functions once the barium solution illuminates the lining of the GI tract. I am unsure if there are other diagnostic tests that are similar to the barium x-ray test with regard to assessing motility and functional issues with the GI tract. 

If you're intestered, I also have another discussion forum posted that mentions my experience with functional/non-ulcer dyspepsia. Here's the link: https://patient.info/forums/discuss/non-ulcer-dyspepia-482359

Hope these help! Best wishes to you

Hi Robin! I was feeling quite anxious as well about my gastroscopy. So anxious that I watched videos and read articles about the procedure! However, my overall experience was way better than I thought! On the day of my gastroscopy, the nursing staff informed me that a short-acting anesthesia (propofol) during the procedure. I did not have the spray. At first I was quite anxious but once the anesthesia took effect I passed out. I woke up feeling like I took a nice deep nap and I felt quite enthusiastic surprisingly! I had some mild soreness in my throat which made me cough a several times for 2 hours after the procedure. Other than that, it was a better experience than I thought it would be. Such a good experience (because of the anesthesia) that I even kept saying after the gastroscopy that I would do it again! haha

Thx for your breakdown ... I thought that drug was for general sedation like an operation. I was told they give you something to make you sleepy you can still be aware if they ask you to swallow you will follow through and you don't recall if they asked you. Maybe they use that drug will ask ?

Isn't that the drug they used for a throat procedure on that comedian that passed last year. I don't think we can use people's name?

I have already searched on line

So would you say the barium swallow is well worth it or not really . They didn't find any issues with you when you had this.

So are you still suffering from nausea. It has been 13 months of feeling lousy worse back 9 months ago was restricted to bed due to severe nausea , lightheadedness and ideally laying very still taking gravol was my only saviour. Trying to get back into some sort of life again . Baby steps !

Robin

Hi Robin,

The anesthesia used was a general anesthesia but it was short-acting general anesthesia (effects lasted about 30 minutes to 1 hour). I was completely knocked out for the majority of the procedure. The only thing I remember was the meeting each of the staff, the GI specialist asking me questions, and the nurse telling me about the mouthguard. At that moment, I felt super sleepy, told the nurse I'm going to pass out now, and I was knocked out lol I woke up feeling like I had a nice nap and as if nothing ever happened.

As for the barium x-ray, if your GP and specialists are still trying to figure out a cause for your symptoms I think it would not hurt to go through the procedure. To me, I was driven to figure out what was going on with my body and why I was experiencing these symptoms. Although I had all these procedures done with ALL normal results, they did give me some closure. I had always assumed I had ulcers, a weak lower esophageal sphincter, delayed stomach emptying, low levels of HCL in my stomach,  and possible visible inflammation on my stomach walls. However, I had none of those! Going through with all these diagnostic tests will help narrow down what exactly is going on, in addition to you providing thorough information and updates to your GP about your progress. 

I don't suffer from nausea as often as before. I believe my change in diet, sticking to strict portion sizes at meals, peppermint gum, and Nexium has helped significantly. I have eliminated all my trigger foods from my diet (no meats, no citrus, no sauces, no gluten, no sour foods, no spicy foods, no processed foods, no gas-producing foods, no high fat foods, etc.) I found an alkaline vegan diet has helped with keeping my stomach settled. 

Oh no, I am sorry to hear you are experiencing those unpleasant symptoms It feels like a tiring, frustrating, constant horrible experience everyday but you're working towards taking care of yourself, focusing on you, and trying to figure out how you can help your body. Yes exactly, baby steps and over time they will take you a long way. Just always make sure to take care of yourself mentally and emotionally. Mental wellbeing is as important as physical wellbeing. You can do this! Let me know if you have anymore questions. I'm happy to be of some support

Hi rhox

I truly appreciate your feedback to me. I am the same where I have tried so many things to solve my condition . I generally have been turned inside out. Like I mentioned I will get a scope in a few months.

The big reason I am not sure about the barium swallow is I have a lot of radiation in a short time. My GP says I should pick and choose what X-rays to do for awhile. I have to get a nuclear stress test done that has more then moderate radiation. Since it is for the heart it takes precidence over the stomach.

How long did you have your nausea... I do like the closure like yourself that is why I will do the scope. What did your GI tell you what they felt the nausea was caused by.

I have changed my diet too and follow the same a vegan gluten free alkaline way of eating.

This really helps chatting since my family and friends I think wonder can I still be experiencing something especially when most times they find nothing. Telling me to stop focusing on things .... so hard to do.

Redoing my cholesterol this Friday hope the numbers go down since omitting foods in the last 3 months. Wish me luck

Are you in the UK they might test differently then here in Canada.

Robin

Hi Robin! 

I had my nausea for about 5 months where I would get nauseous and/or abdominal pain 30min to 1 hour after every single meal. My GI told me I had non-ulcer dypepsia and had my Nexium increased to twice daily. So far my diet change, Nexium, and naturopathic medicine have been making drastic improvements. 

I am so glad to be of some help to you as I can relate to you about how others cannot understand the experience you are going through. No one can understand how the symptoms feel and affect your life unless they themselves have explicitly lived it everyday. 

Good luck! Please do update me on your progress. I wish you positive progress and mental strength! 

I am actually in Canada as well

Thanks for your understanding like I said before unless one goes through this you can not sympathize .... I recall after 5 months thinking by 6 months it would end UGH!

I am it sure I have what you have, was there a test

Ooops hit reply while spell correcting...I don't think I have non-ulcer dyspepsia ? Never had pain or cramps just a lot of severe nausea and feeling light headed.

How did your dr diagnose this through the endoscope or barium swallow?

I did take a PPI (not Nexium) same family for months. I thought that they might be causing me a cough so my dr told me to go off them. I have only a little cough but still nausea off and on !

I don't think you ever mentioned if you had lightheadedness?

Well it's great to chat knowing I am not alone on this crazy journey.

Do you or did you take probiotics during your worse ?

I did with aloe vera juice no difference!

Are you in the east or west ... I am in the west it takes a long time to see or get things done with a GI here.

Chow

Robin

If you can think of any test I might get while I wait for my endoscope let me know...probably had it but you never know .

Ooops hit reply while spell correcting...I don't think I have non-ulcer dyspepsia ? Never had pain or cramps just a lot of severe nausea and feeling light headed.

How did your dr diagnose this through the endoscope or barium swallow?

I did take a PPI (not Nexium) same family for months. I thought that they might be causing me a cough so my dr told me to go off them. I have only a little cough but still nausea off and on !

I don't think you ever mentioned if you had lightheadedness?

Well it's great to chat knowing I am not alone on this crazy journey.

Do you or did you take probiotics during your worse ?

I did with aloe vera juice no difference!

Are you in the east or west ... I am in the west it takes a long time to see or get things done with a GI here.

Chow

Robin

If you can think of any test I might get while I wait for my endoscope let me know...probably had it but you never know .