Silent reflux from low stomach acid?
Posted , 6 users are following.
I had an endoscopy 3 weeks ago because I sometimes have trouble swallowing. Turned out I had quite some constriction and my esophagus was inflamed. I never have any heartburn issues, so I think that I have had silent reflux / LPR for some time. I do often get congested, sinus headaches and itchy coughs (which may be from LPR) and in the last years I woke up choking on saliva a few times. Biopsy came back good, so I don't have Barrett's yet, but doc was concerned and wanted to put me on Omeprazole.
I've read so many bad things about the long term effects of PPIs and I had some problems with Omeprazole 4 years ago (for gastritis), so we agreed on an H2 blocker instead. He told me to take 20mg Pepcid twice a day, change my diet and have a follow-up endoscopy in 6 months.
I've been on Pepcid now for a week and have been following a low acid diet for the last 2 weeks. I now feel like I have a lump in my throat all the time, a lot of mucus, tight feeling chest and throat. These are things I normally don't have.
I've been reading about Hypochlorhydria / low stomach acid and learned that it can give you the same GERD-type symptoms as too much acid. It looks like I have a lot of symptoms associated with low stomach aci: diarrhea or constipation most of the time, bloating, feeling full often, rectal itching, dry skin, feeling fatigued. If I have dinner at 7 or 8pm I often still feel full the next morning. For years I've thought that I'm very slow at digesting food, but never thought of it furtner. I can only eat small meals and get cramps if I eat more. I also found out last year that I have gallstones. They are not bothering me, but I read that this can be caused by stomach acid deficiency.
I have been a vegetarian for about 15 years, but still ate fish until about 1 to 2 years ago. I have also been drinking more almond milk instead of real milk over the last years. I think that my lower protein intake has caused my stomach to create less acid and that these antacids are making it worse.
Does any of this make sense? Anyone here have experience with LPR and low stomach acid?
1 like, 2 replies
kevin87783 art0
Posted
I wish GP's, I'm UK based, just have a set of tests to put is through that would narrow down the exact cause of the illness instead of just prescribing a PPI and thats it. Thats been my experience as a new sufferer. I went to see the GP said I had a persistant sore throat and sore chest and without any other hostory or exam I was given PPI meds. There I now read about this condition the more I realise its a possible life changing event yet my GP treat me as though it was nothing of consequence. Ive learned more from here and elsewhere. Good luck with your query there are some very knowledgable people around here.
Barretts art0
Posted
Hypochlorhydria is actually quite rare. Some so called "health" journals suggest it as a cause for reflux but to promote selling unnecessary digestive enzymes.
PPIs are powerful drugs but, when used correctly, are not as dangerous as some scare mongering journals would have you believe. They have been saving lives of millions all over the world for the lat 30 years.
At high dose over a long period they can induce hypochlorhydria so it may be necessary to supplement some essential minerals.
When you visit the doctor with acid reflux, the first test the doctor will do is prescribe PPIs for a few weeks. That's standard practice. It could be your oesophagitis (or whatever) clears up and you need no more treatment. If you return, he may move on to other tests. He is not going to send you for expensive, time consuming tests unnecessarily.