Belching after stopping long term PPI use

[trents]

After slowly tapering off on my long term (about 18 years) PPI therapy over about two months I am now off of them completely and encouraged by the measure of success I am experiencing. I have also made some lifestyle changes such as cutting back on tomatoes, chocolate and citrus and trying to remain upright in posture after meals. I still have some days or times during days when I have heartburn but it seems to be steadily improving. I'm using gluten-free tums PRN to alleviate discomfort at those times when I experience heartburn.

But one thing I've noticed that is different than when I was taking the PPI is I am belching more. They're just little, shallow belches. Is this part of the adjustment process as the microbiota composition is changing in response to a lower gut PH?

Edited August 4, 2020 by trents

[Posterboy]

6 hours ago, trents said:

After slowly tapering off on my long term (about 18 years) PPI therapy over about two months I am now off of them completely and encouraged by the measure of success I am experiencing. I have also made some lifestyle changes such as cutting back on tomatoes, chocolate and citrus and trying to remain upright in posture after meals. I still have some days or times during days when I have heartburn but it seems to be steadily improving. I'm using gluten-free tums PRN to alleviate discomfort at those times when I experience heartburn.

But one thing I've noticed that is different than when I was taking the PPI is I am belching more. They're just little, shallow belches. Is this part of the adjustment process as the microbiota composition is changing in response to a lower gut PH?

Trents,

I think it is a sign you are healing....be aware acid reflux symptom's might  hang on for another 2 or 3 months until your stomach acid levels finally recovery to full strength.

A little burp....means a little strength....

See if drinking water....causes you to burp/belch more....

Sodas (Carbonated) drinks will make the belching come more forcefully.

Water drives the process and you might find....if you drink more water....you might even belch more.

https://www.mdedge.com/familymedicine/article/29604/gastroenterology/ppi-withdrawal-triggers-acid-hypersecretion

It is a sign of hypersecretion from stopping the PPIs finally.

Try the baking soda test for stomach acid......it will tell you whether your stomach acid is getting stronger or not....

the faster you burp.....the stronger your stomach acid is...

See this jockers article that explains  how to do the baking soda test to test your stomach acid levels.

The baking soda test instructions are near the bottom of the article....plus how to take BetaineHCL (powdered stomach acid) to stoke up your stomach acid.

https://drjockers.com/5-ways-test-stomach-acid-levels/

Again when (if you decide) to try and take some BetaineHCL.....water is key.

Always take it (BetHCL) with food and and a couple glasses of water.

Burping two hours after a meal....is a sign of strong stomach acid.

Your trigger foods where causing you to try and produce stomach acid when your stomach pumps had been triggered to turn off by the PPIs....

Trents here is a nice article on "Problems Associated with Deprescribing of Proton Pump Inhibitors" aka PPIs.

Here is the full citation https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6862638/

If you just have time to read an abstract just click on the PMID link a the top right of the full citation and it will take you to the abstract.

I hope this is helpful but it is not medical advise.

Posterboy,

[trents]

Lots of info there. I will read it by and by.

Yes, just realized that every time I drink a few sips of water I produce a little belch. One thing that seems to help is eating a few gluten-free crackers. It must soak up the HCL.

Thanks PB.

Edited August 5, 2020 by trents

[trents]

The 5 ways to test stomach acid levels link is really helpful. Thanks. I used to bet regular CBC's and CMP's done as part of my medical benefits when I was working. Some of those parameters, particularly iron, serum protein and I think chloride were chronically low, and that was before both my Celiac diagnosis and starting PPI for GERD. Iron levels responded nicely to iron supplementation after diagnosis but serum protein levels remained out of spec low until more recently when they have moved up into the low end of normal and this seemed to coincide with an endoscopy that showed my villi had healed. So, historically at least, there are some lab values that have suggested my stomach acid was low but this seems to be contradictory to he fact that I was also experiencing GERD. And all this is a bit muddied by having Celiac Disease. What's causing what?