Have You Had These Symptoms?

[midnightlullaby]

Hi there! I'm new to this forum and looking forward to learning more about celiac disease. I've been wheat free for years on and off because I noticed that I felt sick a tired after I ate wheat. Now I am gluten free, to the extent that I know, for about 6 months or so. It turns out gluten sensitivity runs in my family, so it makes sense now that i am sensitive to gluten. About 8 months ago I was rushed to the hospital because i felt like i was choking. Later, it turns out i was diagnosed with gerd (gastroesophogeal reflux disease). I am only in my early twenties and it is more common for people in their later years. It's been so bad that i have gotten rushed to the doctor many times and have thought of moving back home. I have to take acid reducers everyday along with a some vitamins I have researched help this condition. I'm at ends, not quite sure what to do. Does anyone else have experience with this? Perhaps some advice?

Thanks!

[midnightlullaby]

Hi there! I'm reposting this message from another forum, now finding this one. I'm new to this site and looking forward to learning more about celiac disease. I've been wheat free for years on and off because I noticed that I felt sick a tired after I ate wheat. Now I am gluten free, to the extent that I know, for about 6 months or so. It turns out gluten sensitivity runs in my family, so it makes sense now that i am sensitive to gluten. About 8 months ago I was rushed to the hospital because i felt like i was choking. Later, it turns out i was diagnosed with gerd (gastroesophogeal reflux disease). I am only in my early twenties and it is more common for people in their later years. It's been so bad that i have gotten rushed to the doctor many times and have thought of moving back home. I have to take acid reducers everyday along with a some vitamins I have researched help this condition. My mother is hypothyroid and I was wondering if this could be the problem because the pain is in my throat region and I have had some o the underlying syptoms. Howvere, I got a tsh (thyroid stimulating hormone) test and it was negative. I'm at ends, not quite sure what to do. Does anyone else have experience with this? Perhaps some advice?

Thanks!

[dclark519]

Hi, I was diagnosed 2 years ago with gerd, esophagitis, and hernia. My new Dr. suspects celiac , one test came back pos. the other neg. After keeping a food diary for 3 weeks of gluten-free I know I have gluten sensitivity, maybe not celiac. I've been on prilosec for 2 years which I found out has 8 additives derived of wheat and art. coloring. Have been feeling great for 3 weeks now and arthritis pain is totally gone. if i could quit coffee and cigs. I'm sure heartburn would go away too. You should sleep with a wedge too. It helped me alot. Good luck! (I'm 35)

[Guest TESTinME]

I feel your pain! I have frequent burping and occassionally burp up stomach acid.

A couple of suggustions:

1. How is your diet? Are you avoiding, caffiene, chocolate, pepperment or other triggers for GERD? Try not to eat 2-3 hours before bed.

2. You may want to visit a naturpathic doctors. Regular doctors treat the symptom, while naturopathic's look for the cause. A lot of naturopathic's believe that GERD can be caused by TOO LITTLE acid not too much. If you have too little acid, the food will ferment in your stomach producing a gas which has nowhere to go but up. It will bring what little stomach acid you have with it. Naturopathic's can run a test on how much acid you actually have in your stomach. Interesting article:

Open Original Shared Link Digestive theory of aging part 1 & 2.

You need stomach acid & pepsin to digest/breakdown protein, by blocking acid your digestion can suffer. Also, stomach acid is a barrier against bad bacteria.

other interesting links:

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

3. DGL licorice may help. It can be found in any health food store.

4. Find ways to reduce stress/anxiety (IE working out, massage, etc).

[seeking-wholeness]

midnightlullaby,

I second TESTinME's excellent suggestions! The only thing I can think of to add is to examine your diet for foods that you "just know" sit around in your stomach for a long time. Eliminate them for a while, and see what happens to your GERD. (Foods that give me trouble include red meat, pepper seeds and skins, and raw onions.)

You might also want to research the Blood Type Diet, which has done wonderful things for me. It sounded extremely hokey to me at first, but after I read the books it made a lot of sense. You could probably find Eat Right 4 Your Type and Live Right 4 Your Type at your local library, if you are interested.

I hope you manage to gain control over your GERD in short order!

[Guest TESTinME]

Agreed, Eat Right for Your Blood Type is a good book. I'm type O, typical meat eater who should avoid wheat!

Sarah, I liked your signature so much I copied it. Hope you don't mind.

[Guest LisaB]

It is so funny that peppermint is supposed to be avoided for GERD, because my Aunt has it and we thought she might be helped by Peppogest that we take for our intestinal relief and it is the only thing that works for her. Peppogest is peppermint oil in coated capsules that get the oil into the intestines instead of disolving in the stomach....great stuff, soothing and helps keep the bacteria, etc. under control.

Lisa

[seeking-wholeness]

Lisa, I wonder if they are referring to the after-dinner candies one gets at places like Pizza Hut rather than the herb itself. My guess is that the candies would be much more troublesome (especially since they are typically consumed after a meal that consists almost solely of gluten plus dairy!), though I have read that peppermint oil can be rather irritating to some people.

Kyle, I'm not offended--I copied the idea from a few other folks, myself! I'm a Type A, and I assure you that there are times when I envy you carnivores! By the way, have you seen the newer book, Live Right 4 Your Type? It has updated food lists (which are NOT expected to change any further, except to include previously untested foods) and a lot of new information on the specifics of how blood type influences various aspects of human physiology. It's a fascinating read!

I hope you both, and midnightlullaby too, are doing well!

[midnightlullaby]

THANK YOU all so much for the replies. testinme, i have printed out thoe articles and am reading through them slowly. thanks for those, they're very helpful!! I have taken DGL. I practically lived on that and aloe gel for a while because I read studie that they repair the lining of the esophagus and stomach and I was worried I had damaged mine. I'm wary of taking large doses of enzymes, I've heard protease, the enzyme that breaks down protein, can be irritating on the stomach -- have you heard anything about this? thanks again.

[glutenfreemama23]

I recently read about low stomach acid, which sounds like my situation, and surprised me because I spent so much of my life trying to find an acid reducer that works. An article I read stated a simple way to test if you have low stomach acid. Eat a beet (cooked). If your urine turns pink or red it is an indication (according to article I read) that you have low stomach acid. I eat beets frequently and it turns my urine red. I read that eating fermented foods helps to remedy this situation. I have not tried that yet, and am a little hesitant to put acidic foods into my system, but I will try it eventually. My husband has a lot of intestinal issues. We have been eating a half teaspoon of Raw Manuka Honey a day and it has improved both of our symptoms dramatically.