Vit D and Gerd

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:40 am

based on tex's post a week or so ago regarding Vit D can assist with GERD symptoms i thought i would share an update

Baseline (pre Vit D increase);
the Gerd symptoms were present most of the time, i was having the potassium powder 6 - 10 times in a 24 hour period, having to get up 2 - 3 times a night to have the powder. Using magnesium spray for the aches in my legs.
I was only having about 1000iu of Vit D

Vit D sources
I use a liquid D3 that i put drops on my tongue and then have a drink of water, each drop has 333iu
diet wise for the past week i have been having salmon almost every night for dinner (as it has about 300 - 500iu)
I have 3 eggs for breakfast and my GF/SF/DF spread (butter replacement) has VIt D

The Results
the days that the Vit D intake is up around the 5000iu, the GERD symptoms are very much reduced, i only have to use the potassium powder 1 - 2 times those days

the days that the Vit D intake is low (around the 2000iu) the symptoms are alot more intense and I am having to take the potassium powder 3 - 5 times a day and using the magnesium spray

I have gone from having to get up 2 -3 times a night to take the postassium drink, to only being woken with symptoms the nights where the Vit D intake was lower that day.

during the period of this 'experiment' there were no other changes
other than the increase in salmon, the eating plan was the same as it has been for the past couple of months, there was no changes to my other supplements etc,

not sure if the medical profession would class these results as a success, (and as most would know, i dont give a stuff what big pharma and narrow minded GI specialists think)
so my summary of this experiment is
there is no right way or wrong way there is your way and
if something works - then bloody well stick to it!

dgshelton · Post by **dgshelton** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:30 am

Gabes - Thaks for sharing that with us. I'm going to pass this information on to my daughter who suffers from GERD. I believe she is also gluten intolerant, but that's a whole other discussion to which she refuses to listen.

Thanks again!

Hugs

Post by **tex** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 7:43 am

Gabes,

Awesome! With that much improvement in such a short amount of time, I would say that your results are a smashing success. GERD is a very tough syndrome to deal with, and from your description, you're obviously making excellent headway toward controlling it. As far as I can tell, most people with GERD who go the medical treatment route, and take a PPI, rarely see a complete resolution of symptoms - the drugs help, but they don't usually relieve the symptoms 100%, and some people don't see enough improvement to be much help. Treating it the way you are doing, will hopefully eventually lead to a complete resolution of symptoms, as your lower esophageal sphincter continues to strengthen.

Thanks for the update, and I hope your symptoms completely disappear, as time goes on.

Tex

P. S. Incidentally, my niece, (the one who follows a GF diet, because she's gluten-sensitive), recently married a really nice bloke from Australia. He's in kind of an unusual business - he hauls supplies by boat, to offshore drilling rigs, here in the Gulf of Mexico. Anyway, he's planning to take his new wife back to Australia in a week or so, to show her where he grew up, etc. I've forgotten exactly where he grew up, but I believe it's Wollongong.

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 9:47 am

Nice going, Gabes!

I bet your body will put the additional Vitamin D to use in all sorts of helpful ways - since you saw quick results with the GERD, I'm hopeful you'll see some nice additional benefits down the road.

WTG!!!

L,
S

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 1:45 pm

Tex
when i saw my new GI specialist last week she said that the PPI's will not help the regurgitation, it will only help to reduce the heartburn pain. (in otherwords, mask it)

I have been trying to find Vit D that is not in the gel caps/vege caps to make it easier to have the minimum of 5000iu, no luck so i will stick with reminders on my work calendar that pop up during the day to nag me to take more

How exciting for your neice to be heading down under, with the USD / AUD status, i thought americans would be avoiding travel down under due to the costs.
Woollongong (the gong) is about 2 hours drive south of sydney. where i went to school is about 4 hours drive away. There are some beautiful beaches in that area. I hope you didnt scare her by mentioning the angry kangaroos.

Thanks for the encouragement Denise and Sara.

I have been in borderline flare for the past couple of months and this is one of about 5 symptoms that was getting me down and testing my acceptance of MC being in my life.

In a couple of weeks i am having upper and lower scopes to check the various valves and see if there is a problem

Post by **tex** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:14 pm

It sounds as though your new GI specialist is much better informed on PPIs than most of the GI docs over here. Good for her.

Maybe he still has a stash of Australian dollars hidden away somewhere over there, (or maybe he hasn't been paying attention to what's been happening to exchange rates).

Nope, I didn't say a word about unruly kangaroos. I might have let a few comments slip out about all the snakes and spiders, though.

Tex

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:35 pm

Gabes,

Here in the States Carlson's brand has liquid Vitamin D in 3 strengths - 1 drop = 1000, 2000, or 4000IU. My drops are 2000IU per (and when I see how tiny the drop is, I know you're right to avoid the capsules, which must be full of filler oils as well as whatever is in the capsule itself).

I don't know how easy it is to mail-order that brand where you are - they are reputable but there may be less expensive brands out there by now that are formulated in a similar manner.

Best of luck! And stay warm in winter, while we all gently roast away...

Love,
Sara

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:04 pm

Sara
thanks for that, i will definately investigate. if there is no fix for the valve then the GERD could be a permanent

if a product (Supplement or drug) has not be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) then it is 'illegal' per say to buy from overseas, it gets captured at customs and you are fined.

New Products available in the USA, generally take 2 years or so to be approved here. Mindful that not all products get distributed here as the aussie labelling laws are quite strict, and a few manufacturers/distributers dont bother to try and meet labelling requirements

All going well his end, i think Joe is due to come to Oz in September for his house hunting trip, i will see if he has some space in his luggage to sneak me some stocks.

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:08 pm

Gabes, luckily these drops come in a teensy bottle! So there may still be room for important items, like lipsticks ;)

L,
S

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Thu Aug 04, 2011 3:12 pm

ohhh i havent mentioned that on the board, there is a new product released out here this winter - 100% lanolin lip balm, and lipsticks!
it is super dooper awesome.

it is also really good for my fingers, the skin near my nails, i have had a few of these at bleeding level and the lanonlin fixed it in a week.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 4:25 pm

Tex
the GI specialist was 'ok'

on the positive side, she was quite throrough and doesnt rely on medications to solve issues

on the 'i am not surprised side' - she doesnt think i have MC, as I am not a female over 55 and because i have D & C.
I asked 'what about the pathology report? she replied, "If MC was there 19 months ago if I am having C then it must have gone"

realisitically I dont care what she thinks MC wise, i am not reliant on her writing a script for meds for the MC,
I know that the diet and supplement management i am doing minimises symptoms

Given the very practical wisdom and support within this family, thankfully i am not reliant on doctors to help me manage and tame the cheeky MC monkey.

the main reason for the visit was because I am having issues with the regurgitation, pelvic floor, hemorrhoids which need investigation and treatment.

Post by **tex** » Fri Aug 05, 2011 9:35 pm

Gabes,

Well, that's a bit disappointing, but as you say, not surprising. If you ever need to convince her that you still have MC, there are research references available that verify that MC can present with either D, C, D & C, or no GI clinical symptoms at all. I should have them bookmarked, so if you ever need them, just let me know, and I'll look them up.

In the meantime, as you say, if she'll take care of those other issues, that's probably all that you might need from her, in the near future, so she should do just fine.

Tex

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 5:49 am

Gabes,

Interesting connection with vitamin D and GERD. I used to have bad problems with GERD but they have resolved. I have no idea if it was simply diet or a combination with vitamin D supplements. As Sara pointed out, the extra D is helping in so many ways.

Sorry to hear about your flare and that you have to have another scope. While they are in there don't forget to insist on mast cell biopsy/tryptase stain. You never know if this could be the source of lingering problems.

Great news on the lip balm and lipstick. It's the little things that make us happy.

Mary Beth

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:00 am

Hi Gabes, that is great news that you are finding some relief by using vitamin d. Another great result with vitamin D. It seems the more we here aout it and the more people notice the benefits it really does seem like something we all need address in our diets.

I hope you continue to improve

Joe

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sat Aug 06, 2011 2:47 pm

Mary-Beth

requesting mast cell biopsy/stains was a definate.

As i have had to give up a beachside holiday to do the scope (and fork out the money) i want to make sure i get my monies worth!!

and yes the lanolin lip balm was an awesome find, all the people at my local pharmacy know about my GF/DF/SF/YF lifestyle and they pointed the product out to me when they first got it in.