Reflux?

[chrissy]

hi all, 2 of my celiac kids have reflux. we have been treating one for a few years, the other one we just discovered had reflux when they did her biospies for celiac. she had esiogagitis, but no symptoms. i was wondering if there is any connection between celiac and reflux? has anyone been able to go off of reflux meds once they were on the gluten free diet? my baby also had reflux, but her's was caused by a hiatal hernia.

christine

[minibabe]

I have an extrmely large hiatal hernia and I have acid reflux. I was on the max. dosage for prevcid for about 4 years. I started looking into natural medications and jsut tyring to get off of some of the medications. I now take an apple cider vinegar suppliement. I take it about 1/3 before eating. it have helped a tremendous amount and I am no longer on the medication. There really has not been any long term testing on the medication so that is why I wanted off of it. I believe that it comes in a powered form that you can mix with liquid (depending on the age of your childeren). The next time I go to the store I will check it out. Good Luck

Amanda NY

[Ursa Major]

I used to have terrible reflux, and I have a hiatal hernia as well, and ten year ago had an ulcer in the esophagus as a result. At the time I also had gall stones. After getting my gallbladder out, and cutting down on tomatoes and just drinking water (no juices) things were much better. And after going off gluten and everything else I am intolerant to, I haven't had any reflux or heartburn at all. I don't know what happened to that hiatal hernia, but it isn't bothering me any more.

[CD Barbie]

I used to have terrible reflux, and I have a hiatal hernia as well, and ten year ago had an ulcer in the esophagus as a result. At the time I also had gall stones. After getting my gallbladder out, and cutting down on tomatoes and just drinking water (no juices) things were much better. And after going off gluten and everything else I am intolerant to, I haven't had any reflux or heartburn at all. I don't know what happened to that hiatal hernia, but it isn't bothering me any more.

I had a question for the both of you: What were your other symptoms besides acid reflux? I have been diagnosed with Celiac for almost 3 years, and I believe my mother and my brother have it as well. They both suffer from severe acid reflux. They went to a doctor about Celiac and he claimed because their instestines weren't damaged, then they couldn't possibly have celiac. I think the disease is just attacking their esophagous (sp?) instead. I'm curious to know if you all presented with other symptoms...

[Ursa Major]

Well, I also had fibromyalgia (with brain fog, aching all over, but especially in my hands, feet, back and knees, a constant headache), alternating constipation and diarrhea, occasional severe stomach and bowel cramps, rashes, hives, mood swings, swollen ankles in the evening, swollen hands in the morning. I also have a lot of environmental allergies (tobacco smoke, fog, mold, birch, maple, several weeds, dogs, cats, other assorted furry animals, dust, dust mites and others) as well as the food intolerances.

[elonwy]

I had horrible reflux, and was told I had a hiatal hernia. That and insomnia were the first indications I had of celiac. I went on reflux meds and they did NOTHING. Once they got in there with a camera, they said no you don't, but you do have duodenal ulcers, keep taking the meds. Once I went gluten-free, I had no relfux AT ALL. I stopped taking the meds cause they made me feel wierd, and only have a return of relflux symptoms when I accidentally get glutened.

[slpinsd]

I had horrible reflux, and was told I had a hiatal hernia. That and insomnia were the first indications I had of celiac. I went on reflux meds and they did NOTHING. Once they got in there with a camera, they said no you don't, but you do have duodenal ulcers, keep taking the meds. Once I went gluten-free, I had no relfux AT ALL. I stopped taking the meds cause they made me feel wierd, and only have a return of relflux symptoms when I accidentally get glutened.

ditto. i have had reflux off and on for years. this last time, the meds weren't helping. it was more of a pressure/bubbling in my chest after eating that made me feel llike i couldn't breathe. felt like heart palpitations. after 5 days gluten-free, it went away. it seems to be coming back now a little (after 3 wks). i think i must have got glutened. according to Wheat Free, Worry Free(Korn), GERD is a symptom of celiac disease.

[debmidge]

Ditto, it's all connected to the celiac disease

[Guest cassidy]

I haven't been offically diagnosed with celiac, however my symptoms went away when I went gluten free and my mom has dh. I used to have pain when eating, bloating, gas, d, all the time. Now that I'm gluten free, I don't have those. I have had reflux my entire life. I had surgery for it 17 years ago. I felt great until last year when the reflux came back. I have only been gluten free for a month today, but this diet hasn't help with the reflux at all. I'm scheduled for a re-do surgery this Friday because the endoscopy showed that my first surgery had come undone. I was hoping being gluten-free would fix this because I'm not looking forward to the surgery. I'm only 28 and being on all these meds all my life doesn't seem healthy; I'd rather go through a hard month after surgery than take that stuff for the rest of my life.

[chrissy]

i asked the doc about whether or not my girls reflux could be related to the celiac. he indicated that it could and that we might be able to get them off the meds eventually. that will be like getting a raise---i pay out $100 dollars amonth for their prevacid.

cassidy---my baby had a fundoplication/hiatal hernia repair about 1 1/2 ago. she had really bad reflux---an ulcerated esophagus at 8 months old. she does not have celiac.

chrisitine

[codetalker]

I have an extrmely large hiatal hernia and I have acid reflux. I was on the max. dosage for prevcid for about 4 years. I started looking into natural medications and jsut tyring to get off of some of the medications. I now take an apple cider vinegar suppliement. I take it about 1/3 before eating. it have helped a tremendous amount and I am no longer on the medication. There really has not been any long term testing on the medication so that is why I wanted off of it. I believe that it comes in a powered form that you can mix with liquid (depending on the age of your childeren). The next time I go to the store I will check it out. Good Luck

Amanda NY

In regard to the apple cider vinegar supplement, is it simply vinegar or is it something more? For example, do you just take a spoonful of vinegar prior to eating?

[ianm]

I used to have severe reflux and heartburn but that is all gone now. Definitley a connect between the two and gluten.

[KayJay]

My baby has bad reflux so for her sake I hope now! But that being said I had bad reflux too and I just read the other day that wheat is very acidy so if you have reflux you should cut wheat out from your diet. Maybe that is why ours went away going gluten-free?

[mouse]

I had severe heartburn for many years and took medicine for it. Then about 2 years before my diagnosis of celiac disease I started having horrible acid reflux. So, they doubled my meds in the AM and PM. After I went gluten free both were gone. The only thing I get is severe heartburn when I get accidentally glutened and then I repond within 3 to 4 bites of the offending food (plus stomach cramps). Within minutes of stopping the food, the heartburn leaves me. Only the stomach cramps remain on and off over several days. I also have a hiatal hernia which really never gave me much problem until I lost all this weight. Now it is a big problem and I am suppose to make an appointment with a surgeon to discuss it. I am putting it off for now, but I suppose I will have to adventually face the prospect and just set up the appointment. UGH!

[Jnkmnky]

I would like to know about the surgery. Is it good? Do you think it was worth doing? I'm acutally having the honey and apple cider vinegar today since I read about it helping. .... Honestly... it's helping. I read that if the apple cider vinegar makes it worse, then you shouldn't use it, your acid is the wrong kind for the apple cider vinegar cure... I feel better I'm so confused. This GERD came out of nowhere! It's horrible. But to think that eating honey and acv will make the symptoms go away??? WHat do you guys think? Is this too good to be true? Please advise. I'm open to all avenues of relief, discussions

I know I didn't eat gluten. I DID take two asprin with some coke a cola last week and felt burny afterwards. I thought that I may have burned my stomach at that point, but a dr friend in NY just advised me that THAT wouldn't have caused severe , permanent gerd. Opinions? Could this be one of those stomach things that's resolved with antibiotics?????

[jerseyangel]

That's why earlier I said that a lot of people mistakenly take antacids for this. The problem--and it looks like this is true of you, too--is a lack of acid. When you take the vinegar, you are adding acid, which you lack. This enhances the digestion. The enzymes do the same thing-- If the vinegar helps, that clinches it.

Since I started using the enzymes with every meal, the reflux seems to be resolving. It takes several days to see a difference--I don't think antibiotics would be of any use--unless you had an ulcer. Is the pain worse in the morning, and gets better when you eat something? That could be an ulcer, I really don't know if the aspirin, one time, could cause one. Do you use aspirin regularly--that could cause at least irritation, if not an ulcer.

[Jnkmnky]

That's why earlier I said that a lot of people mistakenly take antacids for this. The problem--and it looks like this is true of you, too--is a lack of acid. When you take the vinegar, you are adding acid, which you lack. This enhances the digestion. The enzymes do the same thing-- If the vinegar helps, that clinches it.

Since I started using the enzymes with every meal, the reflux seems to be resolving. It takes several days to see a difference--I don't think antibiotics would be of any use--unless you had an ulcer. Is the pain worse in the morning, and gets better when you eat something? That could be an ulcer, I really don't know if the aspirin, one time, could cause one. Do you use aspirin regularly--that could cause at least irritation, if not an ulcer.

Jerseyangel.... Thankyou for responding. I'm absolutely pathetic when I lose control over my body. All I concentrate on is "how can I be a good mom when I feel so sick!" It pretty much ruins my effectiveness as a parent! I bought "Digest Gold" a plant based enzyme (it says) Is this what you meant? www.enzymedica.com I'm using your suggestion... I just don't know if I bought the right stuff. I haven't taken one of these yet. Is your reflux ... cured?

The pain is NOT worse in the morning. I actually feel great sleeping and when I first wake up. The bitterness is really bad in my mouth and throat when I first wake up, but Nothing hurts or feels bubbley. It's when I get moving around, have some plain gluten-free toast that it kicks in hard. Last night I had such severe chest pains I swore I was having a heart attack. Plus, it made my heart pound.. Like a panic attack, but minus the panic... since I knew what it really was. I'm also taking the pepcid prescription that the dr gave me. I took ONE yester day rather than two, and one this morning. I don't think it helped that's why I freaked out and starrted looking on line. I swear, the HONEY is what soothed the beast, then I went out and got the acv and felt pretty darn nice, then I started to feel a twinge of gases again so I took more honey and felt way better again....

This is an edit... I also feel less nauseous with the honey and acv. I was so sick before eating the honey.

[jerseyangel]

Jnk--I hear ya about the kids--I was sick pretty much the whole time my boys were growing up. I don't know how I got through many of the things I managed to do--I think it was the sheer force of "I have to do this for them" that got me through. I would and still will do anything for my 2 guys.

I'm glad you're giving the enzymes a try. You need to use them with every meal--I take one right after I start to eat. I used to use them all the time--then got out of the habit. Recently, when I began to have the reflux problem, I started them again. I don't think I'm 'cured' as much as the symptoms are greatly improved. I get that chest pressure and the heart beating--like I can hear it beating, and it can drive me crazy! I know that it is connected to the reflux--I can feel it. Also, the nausea--I get that connected with this sometimes, too. I would think the honey would be good for that. I'll be trying that myself!

[minibabe]

In regard to the apple cider vinegar supplement, is it simply vinegar or is it something more? For example, do you just take a spoonful of vinegar prior to eating?

I actually just purchased the pill form. I got it a GNC and it was not that expensive at all. I will take it about 1/2 hour before I eat. If you take the straight vinegar, it really burns and I do not recommend it. i believe that it was about 30 pills for $4.00. (not to bad).

Hope that helpes

Sorry it took me a while to get back, but I have been really busy with college I jsut went back for my 3rd smester.

Amanda NY

[key]

Thank you SO much to the person that listed apple cider vinegar as helping. IT was the only thing to relieve my symptoms. I had tried tagamet, rolaids. My heartburn came out of no where about two weeks ago and the past three nights I have had to sleep sitting up. The acv does help. Gross though, so I might try the pills, but I am also trying not to drink coffee or eat chocolate, because I think that is making mine worse.

I was wondering the same thing, If this could be H. Pylori and if I should be on antibiotics. I guess I should see the GI about it, I haven't yet.

I started taking the enzymes again and saw that they contain the Malt diastase and I am scared they may make me worse. Ever since I started taking them, my belly is really rumbly at night. THey of course say gluten-free on them, but what if they aren't.

Does anyone know about this?

Monica

[Karina]

I would call the company about the malt ingredient. I once took enzymes that were not gluten-free, but they were wheat free (duh--it said it right on the bottle ), and I got sooooo sick for days, because I kept popping more enzymes, thinking they would help!!!! When I called they explained the ingredient that contained gluten and it was a malt product......just check to be sure.

Do you mix the ACV in water or something?

[key]

Karina,

yeah, I am calling, but they specifically say gluten-free too! I just mix it in a small amount of water. I only took about a tsp., but I read you could take a Tablespoon. I just don't know if I could choke that down. I just basically throw into the back of my throat and swallow it fast. It works for me right away though. Very fast relief. I couldn't understand why I wouldn't get any response from all the otc stuff for heartburn. Guess that is why. I am also quitting coffee, but not my diet soda yet. We'll see about those later.

Monica

[bklyn]

KEY - read your post about apple cider vinegar - Doesn't vinegar make your stomach burn? I've been staying away from anything with vinegar because of my burning stomach and pain. Is is vinegar from the grocery store?

Thanks

[jerseyangel]

I have gotten relief with digestive enzymes. I use Whole Foods brand--they state gluten-free on the label, and do not contain malt diastase. Many times, it's not a good idea to take an antacid, the problem may ba a lack of acid. If vinegar seems to help, that would indicate a lack of acid. I would suggest enzymes, taken right as you start to eat a meal. If I get the pressure that builds up below my ribs and tends to move upwards, I use Phazyme. My GI told me to use it--I checked on it's gluten status--the softgels are gluten-free. The quick-disolve tablets are not.

I just realized I already responded to this thread--sorry for the repeat

[key]

Kathy,

Yeah, You would think it would make matters worse, but it is the only thing that would relieve the horrible burning in my throat. I tried like three other OTC meds and they made things even worse. It is very gross and hope that not having coffee will make all the burning go away.

I want to take the enzymes, but need to find a different brand i guess.

Monica