Feel free to discuss any topic of general interest, so long as nothing you post here is likely to be interpreted as insulting, and/or inflammatory, nor clearly designed to provoke any individual or group. Please be considerate of others feelings, and they will be considerate of yours.
This GERD is making me crazy!! It has continued to get worse over the last day or so. I've eliminated all dairy, gluten and soy. Will this fix the GERD over time? I can't take a deep breathe without pain in the side of my neck or if I bend over to pick something up it's terrible. I've swung from D to not going now for two days. *sigh* But then, on a diet of rice and bananas I probably shouldn't be too surprised. What should I add in to make myself go? Maybe a small amount of vegetables? It's like walking a tightrope....
Also, what kinds of supplements should I be taking to stay healthy since I'm not getting what I need from my diet right now? I have a liquid vitamin that claims to be allergen free---free of gluten, dairy, etc. It doesn't say anything about soy, but the ingredients don't list soy either. Do I just believe them? The brand is Natural Vitality and they are the Organic Life Vitamins. Anyone heard of it? I know I need more Vitamin D as Tex mentioned there is a connection with GERD and low vitamin D levels. I had been taking 4000ius a day in capsule form, but maybe I should be doing an under the tongue spray to be sure I am absorbing it?
I've read a little about mast cells here and there on this site and wondering if there is a link to more reading on that. Or just at least an explanation? This is the first I've ever heard of that. I have an itchy rash on my legs and the little bits I've read have had to do with histamines and mast cells and I'm wondering if there's a connection there?
I have a follow-up appointment today with the gastro doc that diagnosed me. I'm not holding my breath that he'll give me any vital information. I'm sure he'll want to prescribe drugs which I would like to avoid if I can. Since I swing so easily between the D and C I'm afraid to take any kind of meds for fear it will put me in the opposing condition.
Are you taking a magnesium supplement? Most people are short on magnesium. Magnesium lowers BP, helps prevent restless leg syndrome, leg and foot cramps, etc., and if you take too much of it, it's a laxative. I take 400 mg daily, because of a restricted diet.
Here are a few references to get you started on understanding mast cell issues:
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Melanie
I have a client who is being treated for GERD right now and the first thing the Doc said was to raise the head of your bed 6 inches. Cut out "acid" foods ( tomatoes, citrus...etc.) and she must take Pepcid every day for about 6 months ( to give healing time).
As for supplements, I take extra D, B-12, Fish oil, and I also drink a "green drink" which is equal to about 5 servings of veggies. I seem to tolerate it well.
Good luck
Leah
I used to take Magnesium to help with C. I would use it as needed if I got backed up. It's good to know that it won't make the MC worse! Fish oil is another I would take to help if I was constipated. Maybe if I just stayed on these things I wouldn't have issues. But when I'm having D, I'm scared to take anything that will make it worse.
Taking Pepcid won't hurt me? I'm always so very leery of drugs.... But taking it while I heal is maybe a good idea. I cannot function like this! A girl needs to breathe without pain!
Thanks for the advice! And the links. I will read up on that :)
Pepcid is probably the most potent H2 blocker available. Please be aware that while it will help to control histamine problems, caused by mast cell issues, there is a risk that it can trigger a conventional MC reaction. It can also interfere with digestion, (since it prevents the stomach from producing normal amounts of gastric acid needed for proper digestion), so the best advice is: try it, and if it helps, continue to use it - if it makes things worse, stop using it.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Melanie
i had gerd as bad as yours, i could not bend over to put socks on without regurgitating, and i was up 4 and 5 times a night with it.
for me; the list below were the things that worked the best (and had it under control in about 4 weeks)
5000iu of Vit D per day
calcium carbonate (i got a compound powder from the pharmacy and had it with pureed apple)
magnesium and potassium supplement (this is a powder i have as a drink, and i drink coconut milk that has magnesium)
dont drink too much water near meals
dont have coffee with food (at least 20 minute gap between them)
sleep on left side
raise the bed head (mine is raised about 2 inches)
as far as supplements....focus on the ones that you need based on your symptoms and that will give best benefit, ie Vit D is helpful on so many levels not just for the Gerd
I was chronic 12 months ago, now i get mild occurances of Gerd if I am tired and eat late, or I eat chocolate, or if i drink too much near eating. (about once a week, once a fortnight)
I can now sleep on my right side with no pain or discomfort.
hope you figure out your answers soon
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Thanks for the advice and precautions. I did break down and try a Pepcid--I was suffering so badly! It didn't seem to do anything yesterday. I don't know how long it's supposed to take to work though. I had a visit with both my Gastro doc and my naturopath yesterday. Boy---did that leave my head spinning! The gastro doc also suspects gluten---which kinda surprised me. He thinks I'm too young to have gotten MC through drugs and thought my story lines up with a possible gluten allergy. However, he wants me to reintroduce it to my diet for 6 weeks and then do an endoscopy for a biopsy to be sure. Ummmm....not so sure about that! My Naturopath was appalled that he would even consider having me take something for 6 weeks when it's a suspected food allergy. She recommends a genetic test to test for celiac. Anyone know how accurate those are? I, of course, gave her the information on the tests from Entrolab and she's hopefully going to check it out.
But she gave me a supplement from Metagenics called Ultra Inflam X360 Plus that's supposed to help with inflammatory bowel diseases. It better work considering how spendy it was! She also gave me something called Esdifan which is a mineral supplement that supposedly stops diarrhea naturally and I have to say, I seem to be reacting to something (not sure if it's the pepcid from yesterday or adding in red meat--had beef stew last night for dinner) but today I had several (4 or 5) BMs and at first they were normal, but later in the day became D. I took one of those supplements and I haven't had another episode. I hope it's not a fluke and that they really work!
The GERD seems to be much better today though, so I am thankful for that. It's still there, but MUCH more bearable. I sure hope it goes away with healing my colon. Again, thanks for all the advice as I try and get this all figured out.
Hi Melanie,
I am a GERD sufferer big time. It's horribly painful. I had a couple of better days and was almost ready to report here, but last night was abysmal. I was so miserable.
And I am now dreadfully constipated. I am taking magnesium but it's not helping. I am about ready to swallow a bomb.
There are 2 much lighter antacids, which are also H2 antihistamines, so will also work with mast cell issues. These are Ranitidine and Famotidine. You should take an H1 antihistamine both for mast cell problems and to help the GERD. Examples of these are benadryl, allegra, claritin.
I am taking both, and as I said, yesterday I was ready to report some improvement, but then last night set me back.
Today has also been miserable, but I am hoping to get some improvement tomorrow.
You are lucky that your doctors listen to you. Many of us don't have that sort of luck.
Hi Melanie. Quick note: I thought beef stew ( home made) was a great thing to eat also... until I did. I don't know if yours has tomatoes in it, but mine did and i had an awful reaction! Today, I made a beef, mushroom, rice soup . It was delicious and I feel good :)
Keep us posted. Hope you feel better soon.
Leah
Lesley, I am SO sorry you are suffering so badly! My GERD has mostly gone away now. I have no clue why, but I am grateful. I hope you find relief soon. It can be hard to stay positive when you're miserable. I wonder if being constipated has something to do with it. Mine seems to be worse when I haven't gone. Yesterday it starting improving as I went several times. Maybe once you eliminate it will improve?
I didn't know that claritin would help for GERD, either, so thanks for that. I take it once in a while for a rash on my legs that itches.
I do feel lucky that I have docs that really seem to want to get to the bottom of this rather than just cover up my symptoms with drugs. My GI doc particularly surprised me. I find it challenging to have two doctors and then try and balance out their opinions. I tend to use the medical doctors for a diagnosis since my insurance will pay for that. Then I take what I find to my naturopath for her opinion. I like that their philosophy is "First, do no harm". I suppose that's why she didn't like the idea of me eating gluten for six weeks if there's a chance I'm allergic to it.
Leah, I was afraid of tomatoes, so I didn't put any in the stew. It just had cubed sirloin roast beef, potatoes, carrots, onion and beef broth. Maybe it was the red meat. I read somewhere that red meat is hard on your digestive system. Maybe I introduced that too soon? Or, it could have been the Pepcid.
I am trying to make a grocery list and avoiding all ingredients with potential gluten in them. I read that citric acid can be made from wheat. Anyone have any problems with citric acid? It's in everything!
Most citric acid in this country, (unless labeled otherwise), is made from corn. Unfortunately, though, most of us have problems with citric acid, regardless of the source, including citrus fruit.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
