Acid Reflux And Ppi's

[flowerqueen]

Hi everyone,

 

I was diagnosed Celiac disease about 2 & 1/2 years ago, but even before that had bad problems with acid reflux. I have been taking a PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitor) for about 5 years, maybe longer.  However, recently, it stopped helping my problem.  I wake in the night with burning acid in my throat and mouth. I have been having problems with my throat since late October 2013 and have seen 4 doctors, (5 appointments), it seems my throat has blisters caused by the reflux.  In short, I had my PPI increased, but this didn't help, so I asked if I could change PPI to one I had had pre-celiac.  Doctor changed the tablet and increased dosage to 40mg.  My stomach felt like a ball of fire, as did my throat and after 3 days, decided I couldn't tolerate it (I realised afterwards the new tablet contained lactose - I'm dairy intolerant).

 

I have read a lot recently on-line about PPIs actually making the problem worse, and a lot of people with acid reflux actually have low acid, not the other way round.  I am keen to find out other sufferers experiences as well as needing to go back to my doctor.  This morning I woke with fire in my throat and my tongue also seems burned; it is so painful.   I considered taking Apple Cider Vinegar but have read you shouldn't take it if you have high blood pressure and taking diuretics.

 

Can anyone help please? 

 

[GottaSki]

My son had GERD that was misdiagnosed as Asthma because he was aspirating acid into his lungs each night causing chronic cough.  They finally diagnosed GERD, but then trialed every PPI available for several years and none helped. 

 

When I was finally diagnosed with Celiac, we finally found that his "gerd" was a symptom of Celiac for him.  I researched the "low acid" rather than high acid issue and found that folks with this issue can improve by supplementing with HCl rather than treating with drugs to prevent acid.

 

We used Betaine HCl for his first year or two gluten-free...he improved very slowly, but did improve.  He rarely wakes with his "smoker's cough" and when he does he goes back to supplementing with HCl.

 

It is suggested that you start with one tablet about an hour after each meal.  If you have a strong acid reflux while trialing this method...too little stomach acid may not be the issue.

 

Often a combo of digestive enzymes before meal and HCl after meal can be even more helpful...if you decide to try this, I would trial HCl first to keep your experiments clean.

[bartfull]

But you also need to WEAN yourself off the PPI. If you go cold turkey you will get LOTS worse. (I don't have GERD, but I have a friend who does.)

[w8in4dave]

I have GERD but I am not sure what PPI is. I take pills for it and it seems to help me. Heck I was taking two pills a day for it I am down to 1 a day, if I forget to take the 1 pill it will come back and bite me! Seems going Gluten free, and Corn free has helped mine alot. 

[flowerqueen]

  On 3/5/2014 at 10:22 PM, w8in4dave said:

I have GERD but I am not sure what PPI is. I take pills for it and it seems to help me. Heck I was taking two pills a day for it I am down to 1 a day, if I forget to take the 1 pill it will come back and bite me! Seems going Gluten free, and Corn free has helped mine alot. 

Hi w8in4Dave,

 PPI is a proton pump inhibitor which you take each morning on an empty stomach, which is supposed to suppress acid.  Unfortunately, it has stopped working.  There a number of theories as to why that should be.  To begin with, after going gluten free it helped, but sadly this is no longer the case for me.

[flowerqueen]

  On 3/5/2014 at 9:20 PM, bartfull said:

But you also need to WEAN yourself off the PPI. If you go cold turkey you will get LOTS worse. (I don't have GERD, but I have a friend who does.)

Hi Barftull,

 

I had already stopped taking my PPI when I realised that I shouldn't go 'cold turkey', perhaps this is what has happened.  It is too late now, and I'm not keen to go back on them as I've heard of people having so many problems with them.  I wonder if I should just sit tight and see if things improve.  I am taking a non-dairy/no gluten/no wheat probiotic at the moment, to see if that will balance the flora in my stomach.

[flowerqueen]

  On 3/5/2014 at 9:16 PM, GottaSki said:

My son had GERD that was misdiagnosed as Asthma because he was aspirating acid into his lungs each night causing chronic cough.  They finally diagnosed GERD, but then trialed every PPI available for several years and none helped. 

 

When I was finally diagnosed with Celiac, we finally found that his "gerd" was a symptom of Celiac for him.  I researched the "low acid" rather than high acid issue and found that folks with this issue can improve by supplementing with HCl rather than treating with drugs to prevent acid.

 

We used Betaine HCl for his first year or two gluten-free...he improved very slowly, but did improve.  He rarely wakes with his "smoker's cough" and when he does he goes back to supplementing with HCl.

 

It is suggested that you start with one tablet about an hour after each meal.  If you have a strong acid reflux while trialing this method...too little stomach acid may not be the issue.

 

Often a combo of digestive enzymes before meal and HCl after meal can be even more helpful...if you decide to try this, I would trial HCl first to keep your experiments clean.

Hi Lisa,

That sounds awful, I hope it didn't do any damage to his lungs.  

 

I am already taking a probiotic (almost a week since I started a new course). Is HCL the hydrochloric acid tablet I've been hearing about? i will have to check to see if I can obtain it in UK. 

During the course of my first endoscopy I was told I had a hiatus hernia, so I'm thinking this could be the cause of the reflux although recently I have been taking Baclofen for severe muscle spasms in my upper back and it seems to have relaxed my stomach/intestinal muscles as well, and am waiting to see a consultant at the hospital, so hopefully, they will prescribe something different to what my doctor at the surgery has prescribed.

[bartfull]

I saw this article about how to get off PPI's. Maybe it'll help, even though you've already quit. As a matter of fact, they say if you go off them suddenly and then go back on them you could have even worse problems!

 

Open Original Shared Link

[powerofpositivethinking]

hi flowerqueen,

 

I was diagnosed with GERD and a medium sized hiatal hernia during my endo.  When I went gluten-free my reflux got a lot better.  

 

I did read a fantastic book called Why Stomach Acid is Good for You and would definitely recommend it!!  This book had a lot of good reasons to stay away from PPIs and more natural remedies to help digestion.

 

Open Original Shared Link

[GottaSki]

  On 3/6/2014 at 12:37 AM, flowerqueen said:

Hi Lisa,

That sounds awful, I hope it didn't do any damage to his lungs.  

 

I am already taking a probiotic (almost a week since I started a new course). Is HCL the hydrochloric acid tablet I've been hearing about? i will have to check to see if I can obtain it in UK. 

During the course of my first endoscopy I was told I had a hiatus hernia, so I'm thinking this could be the cause of the reflux although recently I have been taking Baclofen for severe muscle spasms in my upper back and it seems to have relaxed my stomach/intestinal muscles as well, and am waiting to see a consultant at the hospital, so hopefully, they will prescribe something different to what my doctor at the surgery has prescribed.

 

His lungs are not perfect...but are much improved.  Thanks.

 

Yes, HCl is Hydrochloric Acid.

 

Good luck to you

[luvs2eat]

I was on Protonix for several years... and then I lost 20 lbs. and my GERD disappeared. Dunno if that applies, but it was a game changer for me!

[Ninja]

I definitely second GottaSki's recommendation. PPI's did not work for my GERD, either. I just recently started taking Betaine HCL and digestive enzymes (Digest Spectrum by enzymedica) with meals. I've noticed a significant difference thus far! 

 

Best wishes,

Ninja

[w8in4dave]

  On 3/6/2014 at 12:17 AM, flowerqueen said:

Hi w8in4Dave,

 PPI is a proton pump inhibitor which you take each morning on an empty stomach, which is supposed to suppress acid.  Unfortunately, it has stopped working.  There a number of theories as to why that should be.  To begin with, after going gluten free it helped, but sadly this is no longer the case for me.

TY  

[flowerqueen]

  On 3/6/2014 at 1:18 AM, GottaSki said:

His lungs are not perfect...but are much improved.  Thanks.

 

Yes, HCl is Hydrochloric Acid.

 

Good luck to you

Pleased he's made progress though. 

Thanks. I need it

[flowerqueen]

  On 3/6/2014 at 1:56 AM, luvs2eat said:

I was on Protonix for several years... and then I lost 20 lbs. and my GERD disappeared. Dunno if that applies, but it was a game changer for me!

I've lost weight as I have not been eating fatty or sweet things, as they seem to make the reflux worse. I think the medicine I take for severe back spasm in upper back could be responsible as they are a muscle relaxant, and it's relaxing muscles I don't need relaxing as well as the ones i do.

[flowerqueen]

  On 3/6/2014 at 3:14 AM, Ninja said:

I definitely second GottaSki's recommendation. PPI's did not work for my GERD, either. I just recently started taking Betaine HCL and digestive enzymes (Digest Spectrum by enzymedica) with meals. I've noticed a significant difference thus far! 

 

Best wishes,

Ninja

Yes, I think I need to try some of these.  I know it sounds silly, but the name of them puts me off.  It sounds like something that would make your acidity worse.  . I understand though, that the older you get the less acid you have naturally present in your stomach.

[flowerqueen]

  On 3/6/2014 at 12:52 AM, powerofpositivethinking said:

hi flowerqueen,

 

I was diagnosed with GERD and a medium sized hiatal hernia during my endo.  When I went gluten-free my reflux got a lot better.  

 

I did read a fantastic book called Why Stomach Acid is Good for You and would definitely recommend it!!  This book had a lot of good reasons to stay away from PPIs and more natural remedies to help digestion.

 

Open Original Shared Link

Thanks! I will definitely have a look at that. Sounds interesting.

[mopsiecat]

  On 3/5/2014 at 8:38 PM, flowerqueen said:

Hi everyone,

 

I was diagnosed Celiac disease about 2 & 1/2 years ago, but even before that had bad problems with acid reflux. I have been taking a PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitor) for about 5 years, maybe longer.  However, recently, it stopped helping my problem.  I wake in the night with burning acid in my throat and mouth. I have been having problems with my throat since late October 2013 and have seen 4 doctors, (5 appointments), it seems my throat has blisters caused by the reflux.  In short, I had my PPI increased, but this didn't help, so I asked if I could change PPI to one I had had pre-celiac.  Doctor changed the tablet and increased dosage to 40mg.  My stomach felt like a ball of fire, as did my throat and after 3 days, decided I couldn't tolerate it (I realised afterwards the new tablet contained lactose - I'm dairy intolerant).

 

I have read a lot recently on-line about PPIs actually making the problem worse, and a lot of people with acid reflux actually have low acid, not the other way round.  I am keen to find out other sufferers experiences as well as needing to go back to my doctor.  This morning I woke with fire in my throat and my tongue also seems burned; it is so painful.   I considered taking Apple Cider Vinegar but have read you shouldn't take it if you have high blood pressure and taking diuretics.

 

Can anyone help please?

I have hiatus hernia, maybe different than what you have, but anyway I weaned myself off the PPIs, watched my diet closely, used gaviscon for a while but don't find that helps much. Now I use baking soda with excellent results. At the first sign I discomfort I take 1/2 teaspoon baking soda I a glass of water and that takes care of the symptoms fast. I do rally watch what I eat though and sleep elevated on a wedge. Hope this helps.

[flowerqueen]

  On 3/7/2014 at 10:42 PM, mopsiecat said:

I have hiatus hernia, maybe different than what you have, but anyway I weaned myself off the PPIs, watched my diet closely, used gaviscon for a while but don't find that helps much. Now I use baking soda with excellent results. At the first sign I discomfort I take 1/2 teaspoon baking soda I a glass of water and that takes care of the symptoms fast. I do rally watch what I eat though and sleep elevated on a wedge. Hope this helps.

Yes,  thanks.  I also find liquid gaviscon type mixture of little use too.  I've resorted to using baking soda too in the last few days.  I got my husband to elevate our bed at the top.  He put it on blocks of wood, which have gradually got higher, to try and help.  

[flowerqueen]

Thanks for all your replies.  Does anyone take Baclofen, and if so, has it made their acid reflux worse?  I may also post this as a separate thread if that's allowed?

[GottaSki]

  On 3/7/2014 at 11:33 PM, flowerqueen said:

Thanks for all your replies.  Does anyone take Baclofen, and if so, has it made their acid reflux worse?  I may also post this as a separate thread if that's allowed?

 

of course it is allowed...it is actually a good idea when asking something specific....post away!

 

Happy Friday

[Ninja]

  On 3/7/2014 at 12:45 AM, flowerqueen said:

Yes, I think I need to try some of these.  I know it sounds silly, but the name of them puts me off.  It sounds like something that would make your acidity worse.  . I understand though, that the older you get the less acid you have naturally present in your stomach.

I totally understand! I was hesitant to try the Betaine HCL myself out of fear that it would make the pain and symptoms worse. Thankfully that has not been the case! I started off taking just one tablet even though the bottle said to take two; eventually I worked up to two, which has been helpful for me. Keep us posted!

[dilettantesteph]

My son has GERD as a glutening symptom.  Several medications didn't help.  A careful gluten-free diet did.  I hope that you find the right answer for you.

[flowerqueen]

Thanks! I will.

[flowerqueen]

I will have a look into it. As I've heard some good reports since researching the HCL. Thanks