Betaine HCl improved my bowels and body temp

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:36 pm

I've been on Entocort (again) since last August and finally got Normans in October when I gave up coffee. I've been taking Betaine HCl with pepsin off and on for several years to *add* some stomach acid but had greatly reduced it and even stopped it a while to see what would happen. Lo and behold, my temp dropped from 98.6 to 97.8 and less; fluffy poos and some D returned, even while on Entocort. One of the reasons I was off the Bet HCl was b/c the GI doc said I must take omeprazole for 2 years - the exact opposite of what works for me. Of course that made me sick, not better, so I had to stop it. I tried stopping the Bet HCl twice and both times got diarrhea and a lower body temp.

Long story short, Bet HCl is a blessing to me and keeps me normal (with low-dose Entocort, so far). I have to wonder if taking more Bet HCl would get me off Entocort! I'd been taking one Bet HCl a day lately and only with the biggest protein meal a day but that just wasn't enough. Now I've been taking it with any meal that isn't mainly salad. (The bottle says to not take it with meals that are only salad and/or fruit and I don't buck that advice.)

Has anyone else tried this protocol? It sure makes me feel so much better and it might help some others here who are also struggling. You may feel like you too much acid but you may not have enough, in actuality.

Marcia

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 7:22 am

Just bumping....Has no one ever tried Betaine HCl for reflux? I really feel the difference when I take it regularly. It's not a prescription drug, which is why no doctors prescribe it. No profits in it for the pharmaceutical companies.

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:22 am

Marcia,
I've never tried Bet HCl - in fact I had to look it up to see exactly what it is. It has plant enzymes which are like my digestive enzymes. Other ingredients are different. I'm really glad it helps you. Did you get low stomach acid from taking PPI's as I did. At least I presume I did - haha - No doctor has ever commented on the subject.

Love, Shirley

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 10:36 am

Shirley, I did get too low stomach acid after taking them for *months* on doctor's orders. This was terrible.

I had a lot inexplicable troubles over the years, i.e. low body temp, occasional low serum protein, weak nails, hair thinning, a small, sliding hiatal hernia, burning anus during BMs, and the biggie, MC. Constant research came up with low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) as a possible cause of a bunch of those issues.

Hypochlorhydria used to be taught in medical school until PPIs were invented. All of a sudden, reflux and PPIs like Prilosec became the big thing and everyone wanted to lower stomach acid even more. PPIs don't help non-acid reflux either; they only reduce true high acid. But as we age, we lose acid so it's illogical to me to take PPIs when we age.

The thinking is that low acid relaxes the esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to get into the esophagus. So, I'm doing the reverse of common practice; I'm adding a bit of acid instead of trying to reduce it. I can't tolerate PPIs; after 5 weeks they make me VERY ill; when I stop them, I'm much better. It stands to reason they remove most of my acid and nothing digests; I really feel like I was gonna die while on PPIs! (Any kind)

Post by **tex** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:17 am

I took Betaine HCL for a while when I was recovering, and I think it helped, but I finally quit using it because I almost always forgot to take it before each meal.

I probably ought to try using it again, because I think my digestion is slowing down these days. I didn't realize that it's associated with body temp. My body temp is always a half to one degree low, but I figure that's probably due to my thyroid problems.

Tex

desertrat · Post by **desertrat** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:40 am

Marcia,

Interesting. Do you mind telling me what the mg amount you take? Thanks!

Mandy

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:50 am

tex wrote:I took Betaine HCL for a while when I was recovering, and I think it helped, but I finally quit using it because I almost always forgot to take it before each meal. Tex

That's OK, Tex. I often remember to take it mid-meal or even at the end.

tex wrote: I probably ought to try using it again, because I think my digestion is slowing down these days. I didn't realize that it's associated with body temp. My body temp is always a half to one degree low, but I figure that's probably due to my thyroid problems. Tex

I don't know if that's the absolute truth, Tex, but I keep pretty good records and the Bret Hcl works that way for me. When I restart the Bet HCl after being off it for while, I feel less nauseous and my body temp goes up from 97.5 ish to 98.4 ish. That regimen plus purified water from Walmart with minerals added does the trick for me. It evens gets rid of leg and foot cramps. Now to get of the Entocort; maybe more Bet HCl!

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:52 am

See all those typos? I feel weak today. I've been off Entocort for 3 days in order to do the saliva cortisol tests tomorrow. I can hardly function lately without Entocort in me. Ugh!

mzh · Post by **mzh** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:39 pm

desertrat wrote:Marcia,

Interesting. Do you mind telling me what the mg amount you take? Thanks!

Mandy

Mandy, I take one pill per meal if it has protein or dairy in it. The usual dose in pills of this is nature is 600 to 650 Mg. Some people take 2 or 3 or more a meal. There's a way to tell what you need but I'll have to dig up that info. In the meantime, here's a good explanation of low acid issues. It talks about why PPIs aren't so great. I don't know who Al Sears MD is but he's posted a piece that's a really good summary of hypochlorhydria issues. (Google hypochlorhydria for lost more on it.)

http://www.alsearsmd.com/when-is-acid-a-good-thing/

Here's another interesting piece on it all too and it explains how to home test if you need Bet HCl. http://www.ei-resource.org/myblog/Low-S ... thods.html

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:41 pm

Marcia wrote:The thinking is that low acid relaxes the esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to get into the esophagus. So, I'm doing the reverse of common practice; I'm adding a bit of acid instead of trying to reduce it. I can't tolerate PPIs; after 5 weeks they make me VERY ill; when I stop them, I'm much better. It stands to reason they remove most of my acid and nothing digests;

What I don't understand is why HC2 blockers (antacids), such as Zantac, Pepcid AD, etc. are used to help resolve diarrhea problems in persons with mast cell problems. How can they help if they reduce stomach acid, and stomach acid helps digestion?

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:59 pm

Gloria,

H2 blockers work by attaching to H2 mast cell targets, (mostly located in the intestines), and thereby making them unavailable for their normal functon. When mast cells degranulate and release histamine, or when foods that contain histamine are eaten, the histamine cannot find any free receptors available for attachment, if the H2 blockers beat the histamine to the receptors.

If the histamine can't attach to any H2 receptors, it can't complete the reaction, and therefore no inflammation can be generated,(at least not as a result of histamine in the system), thus preventing pain and D. (IOW, this action by the H2 blockers effectively neutralizes the effects of the histamine, by tying up all the receptors). True, it may interfere with digestion to some extent, but if mast cells are the primary problem, then the net result is beneficial.

H1 antihistamines are not effective in the intestines, because the receptors there are mostly type H2, (thus requiring an H2 antihistamine to bind with the receptors).

Tex