Gluten Free But Still Acid Reflux?

[Pal Mom]

My 6 year old daughter had a positive biopsy (showing damage, but minimally so far) and showing ulcerations along her esophagus. She has now been gluten free for 2-3 months. She has recently started complaining of leg cramps again and now has had two serious bouts of acid reflux. She has never complained about acid reflux symptoms before so the ulcerations were very surprising.

I was assuming the ulcerations were caused by acid reflux which was being caused by gluten.

Is it possible that you can be gluten free and still have acid reflux or am I missing some gluten in her food intake somewhere and that is what is causing her acid reflux? I'm so confused.

Can anyone help?

[YoloGx]

Its likely she is allergic or intolerant of some other foods she is eating/drinking/exposed to. You might do well going on an elimination diet. Have her eat very simple food at first. If she still has a problem, change the diet to where she does not have a problem. Avoid the common allergens. A cave man or paleo diet might help. In some cases salicylic acid can be the culprit, or simple allergies to milk, soy, corn, etc. etc. Sugar (and the like) is often a big no no. Try plain stevia instead as a sweetener. Cooked food is usually easier to digest than raw. Keep a food journal, note how she feels before and after eating, as well as the next day. If you can take her pulse, that is even better. Note it down in the journal. If it varies a lot, that is a huge clue. Just add one food at a time if possible. Good luck!

[WheatChef]

I second the paleo diet recommendation, carbohydrates are much more common culprits of acid reflux than gluten.

[rustycat]

I can get acid reflux from a combination of gluten-free grains and eggs. In fact, I'm having a bit right now due to a dinner that had gluten free pizza (with egg in the crust). It usually only happens when I have a significant amount, like a pizza.

I try not to eat grains every day, just every few days - that usually helps. Today, I had already had some grain based gluten free bakery items earlier, so it was all too much.

[tarnalberry]

Plenty of people with no gluten problems have acid reflux. Some physical things can cause it, and some dietary things. One of the biggest culprits, for many people, is dairy. Have you tried eliminating dairy or other foods?

[dilettantesteph]

My son continued to have acid reflux problems until we eliminated processed corn from his diet. He still does fine with corn on the cob. Also with corn that I sort and wash. I believe that he was having cc problems with the processed grains.

[quincy]

My son continued to have acid reflux problems until we eliminated processed corn from his diet. He still does fine with corn on the cob. Also with corn that I sort and wash. I believe that he was having cc problems with the processed grains.

Good posts. Before diagnosis, my first symptoms several years ago was acid reflux, especially from bread and oatmeal. After being on prescribed prilosec for several years, I was able to slowly ween myself off of it as I went gluten free and my symptoms began to subside. I then thought I could eat any gluten-free item and I would be fine. Wrong. I started eating gluten-free bread and after several weeks of having bread every day, I noticed that the reflux started up again. I take a tums regular strength. or my doctor recommended zantac 75 in the evening before dinner if I am feeling my stomach is too acidic.

[cap6]

I have been on prilosec for the past year. I have tried to wean off of it and am ok for a couple of days then it feels like pure acid is being poured down me. I eat almost all pure foods. I just figure that I will give it to my 1 year mark & try weaning again. Maybe it just takes time to heal everything?

[YoloGx]

Going off grains for a while might be a good idea for those having acid reflux. I think for those who tend to get allergies (not just celiac) its a good idea to rotate one's diet, especially if one eats grains. You can actually make a lot of breads/muffins etc. with ground up almonds or sunflower seeds (assuming you aren't allergic). Eggs help hold them together more easily, however if this is also a culprit, alternative things like flax seed and tapioca flour or xanthum gum etc. can be used instead.

I can't tolerate milk either--except for the 24 hour yogurt (i.e., home made yogurt cultured 24 hours to get rid of all the lactose).

Some also like my friend Graeme are casein intolerant so they can't tolerate milk at all -- or they can perhaps use goat milk instead (the casein molecules are different).

Emotions too perhaps may need to be addressed. Being under a lot of stress can aggravate one's allergies. Meditating, walking, swimming, doing art, playing or listening to music -- whatever, really helps. These activities actually release chemicals that soothe one's brain and one's belly... It helps too to practice being positive, especially important to a child in a household--though of course its important to most everyone.

Bea

[AndrewNYC]

My 6 year old daughter had a positive biopsy (showing damage, but minimally so far) and showing ulcerations along her esophagus. She has now been gluten free for 2-3 months. She has recently started complaining of leg cramps again and now has had two serious bouts of acid reflux. She has never complained about acid reflux symptoms before so the ulcerations were very surprising.

I was assuming the ulcerations were caused by acid reflux which was being caused by gluten.

Is it possible that you can be gluten free and still have acid reflux or am I missing some gluten in her food intake somewhere and that is what is causing her acid reflux? I'm so confused.

Can anyone help?

get rid of all processed foods. Only sure fire way to get rid of reflux. The body won't reflux on purely natural food items.

[quincy]

get rid of all processed foods. Only sure fire way to get rid of reflux. The body won't reflux on purely natural food items.

very true. the more "whole" unprocessed foods you eat the better.

I would do the research on Prilosec and other drugs of its class. they are not intended for long term use and can cause b12 deficiency and bacteria overgrowth over time.

To ween off correctly consult your doctor. I basically had the time release pellets in a capsule. I would open the capsule and start off by removing a few of the pellets each day. Each week I would do a bit more until I was at half the amount of pellets. Then I stayed on half a dose for a week. Slowly you can introduce an otc product like zantac 75 or something similar. Basically if you go cold turkey with that medicine you will get the rebound effect of more acid than you would normally produce and tear up your stomach and esophagus. so be careful just stopping cold turkey.

hope that helps. I am not a doctor so do the research. Most traditional doctors give that stuff out like candy and they don't monitor your use of it or advise you to stop or modify your diet... sad but true I have found.