Gluten Problem Or Acid Reflux?

[cevans]

Hi, I'm brand new here and have to say I hope somebody can identify with me! I'm 53 and only now discovered that I have an acid reflux problem! I have had chronic stomach issues all my life. As a newlywed, I would have to sit up in bed to burp in order not to throw up. I just thought it was the way I was.

Two years ago I started a gluten free diet (or nearly) and that helped with the severe constipation and nausea. Then about a year ago, I started drinking Kroger decaffeinated coffee and that seemed to cause stomach aches. Also, I take a little Ambien at night and I'm wondering if that is causing me to fall asleep with an upset stomach, making the acid reflux worse.

I had a scope test and two swollen nodules and am on a month's worth of Omeprazole before another scope test.

Has anyone else been confused between gluten and acid reflux?

I would be thrilled to know I'm not just plain dumb!

[beebs]

One of my main symptoms of eating gluten was severe acid reflux.

[Lady Eowyn]

Hi there

When I used to eat gluten and now if I eat dairy when I bend over acid runs back.

Not good. If I stay away from them I'm fine.

[BabsV]

The doctors misdiagnosed me with GERD problems versus Celiac. Took months and lots of different medicines (none of which worked) before they thought outside that box. If I get glutened I get the worst reflux symptoms and they last for about 24-36 hours.

You mentioned coffee sets it off. Do other drinks with caffeine do the same? Caffeine can cause problems for those who have reflux...along with acidic foods, etc.

[Cara in Boston]

I took meds for GERD for over a year (sometimes 2X a day) and the symptoms would still come and go . . . could not figure out a trigger food and the meds didn't really seem to help. Was told I would be taking them for life. When my son was diagnosed with Celiac, I got tested and had a positive blood test. I stopped eating gluten then stopped taking the GERD meds a week later. I have had ZERO GERD symptoms since then (except when I accidently ate gluten) It has been over a year.

You could have GERD for sure, but it may be caused by gluten . . . I wish my doctor had thought to find the cause rather then just treat the symptoms.

Cara

[Pauliewog]

My whole search into what was wrong with me started with this "bubbling" I felt in my stomach. The doctor thought acid reflux but I never had that burning, something is moving up, feeling. To make a long story short, I tested negative for Celiac but after becoming VERY sick after two gluten challenges the doc and I settled on "gluten sensitive." The bubbling improved off gluten but is not gone. I happened to see an article on a new book called The Acid Reflux Solution (Dr. Jorge Rodriguez). I decided to order it. I only tried a couple of days of eating how the book described and I already felt much better. The bubbling was basically gone. The problem is, when I gave up gluten I thought, "at least I can still have my coffee and chocolate!" I am having a HARD time stopping those. However, now that I am more aware I do notice an acidic feeling after coffee. I am going to try it faithfully soon and see how I feel. I found the book easy to read. I am new to all this so there might be other books out there.

[birdie22]

Heartburn is one of my main symptoms. It hasn't fully resolved yet but clearly flares when glutened.

[mommida]

There is a link between Celaic and Eosinophilic Esophagitus. EoE has many of the same gi symptoms as Celiac, but add GERD like chest pain and vomitting. Diagnoses between child-adult is a difference in the total count of eosinophils found during an endoscopy with biopsy.

[Chad Sines]

I agree. Dairy and gluten set me on fire. Not 100% gone when I am good but that could be because I tend to cheat like an idiot.