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low stomach acid???

One year ago I was tested positive for H Pylori and treated with antibiotic.6 months ago tested again and test was negative,but stomach and duodenum is still inflammed.Treatment with Prilosec or Prevacid doesn't help much.I have stomach uncomfort every day and I fell sick in my stomach.I have feeling that food is sitting in the stomach for a long time and there is nothing to digest the food.Once I tried vinegar and I felt better in a second,but because of stomach inflammation it irritates the lining.Could I have low acid instead of too much acid?What is the treatment for diagnose of it?My doctor told me there is nothing else he can do for me.He says that I have dispepsia,but the problem is that I'm very skinny and can't eat much because of stomach discomfort.
Any sugestions????
Thanks

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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Low stomach acid was started.
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Just found this web site today and was pleased to read bilette's mention of the Heidelberg test.  An orthomolecular doctor gave me this several years ago and thought that his machine was broken as it didn't register any results.  After he tried again he realized that I produce, at best, only minimal amounts of gastric juices.  Since then I have taken one capsule of Betaine HCL with pepsin, with each meal, and have had no digestive problems since.  This may not be the answer for everyone but it's worth looking into.
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Avatar universal
Low stomach acid, whether due to acid blockers, or other reasons, causes many nutrients to not be digested, and to not be absorbed.

Taking vinegar (or "betaine hydrochloride", which becomes HCl/Hydrochloric acid,) with meals can help, BUT...

If someone has an ulcer, then the person needs to heal the ulcer FIRST, before they take vinegar or other acids during meals.

Gastric reflux means stomach materials go backwards up into the esophagus. This material can be ACIDIC, or it can be ALKALINE!

Even if a person hardly is producing any stomach acid at all, if any of the tiny amount of stomach acid should go backwards up into the esophagus, this tiny amount of stomach acid will burn & damage the esophagus.

If a person has no stomach acid at all (due to acid blockers, etc.), any bile in their stomach, could "reflux", and cause esophageal damage!

So, reflux is harmful to the esophagus, whether it is acidic, or alkaline reflux.

I think that one (of several) methods to stop reflux, is to HEAL THE STOMACH. A healthy stomach is less likely to "reflux".

I'll post "Some GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS (without acid blockers)", as the next message, in case these tips might help some people. These "tips" help to heal the stomach, which seems to lessen & sometimes stop gastric reflux! The tips also help to heal the esophagus, too.

I posted a "thread" over at the Peripheral Neuropathy forum, at http://www.braintalk.org about getting off acid blockers, so that Vitamin B-12 can again be absorbed. Check it out.

Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com
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Avatar universal
Some GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS (without acid blockers):

GER=Gastro-Esophageal Reflux. (Gastro=stomach. Esophagus=food tube.)

LPR= Laryngeal-Pharyngeal Reflux. (Larynx=voice box, containing the 2 vocal cords. Pharynx=throat, above the larynx. The larynx is above the trachea/windpipe.)

Reflux=acidic or alkaline stomach material that backs up into the esophagus (food tube), causing any of these problems: VCD/Vocal Cord Dysfunction/Laryngospasm attacks, cough, voice problems, asthma, globus (feeling of lump in throat), constant need to clear throat, worsening of sinus condition, sore throat, pre-cancerous conditions of throat &/or esophagus, etc.

SOME GER/LPR CONTROL THINGS WE DO, that we learned from the excellent book: STOMACH AILMENTS AND DIGESTIVE DISTURBANCES, by Michael T. Murray, N.D. See page 9, References, in my website: http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com   and, also see GER/LPR info on page 5, and on LINKS page.

PLEASE READ THIS GREAT BOOK. It may possibly be bought on-line, from Michael T. Murray
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Avatar universal
Hi Bailette,
It's interesting your story. Good for you for finding such a great doc!  I'm wondering, Did you not ever have a 24 hr pH test done?
How is this other test done? the Heidelberg Test?  How does a person have reflux and heartburn if they don't have stomac acid?
I'm confused - I've been diagnosed with severe GERD and have wondered if the pills that stop acid production could be preventing me from absorbing important vits etc.  I've had many more annoying symtoms in the last year and since all this started.  Anxiety, heart palps, dizziness....I wonder how much could be related? My doc said that you don't need much stomac acid to digest food, but could I be becoming malnourished because of them, slowly over time?
I also wonder with a decrease of stomac acid if I'm at risk for other organisms to make me ill, like salmonella etc?
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Avatar universal
Could you post your doctors name ? What field is he in ?
That is wonderful that you are doing better and learned cause and effect to your stomach problems.
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Avatar universal
I, too, was diagnosed by a GI doctor having too much stomach acid, in addtion to a lifetime of Crohn's Disease problems.  It was suggested I begin taking Prevacid.  At the time, I was experiencing a multitude of problems including debilitating anxiety.  Medical doctors just kept giving me anti-depressant meds which for me, created much more anxiety due to a sensitivity to that kind of medicine.

With no where else to turn, I tried alternative medicine.  I was given numerous tests, including one (Heidelberg Test) to determine if I was manufacturing any stomach acid at all!  And, no, I wasn't.  So I was not absorbing any nutrients at all from my foods or vitamins - they were passing straight through my body.  

Since the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach behaves like any other sphincter or muscle, it stays in a relaxed state until something activates it... like stomach acid production during digestion.  The sphincter does not stay in a tightened state constantly.  Since I had no stomach acid, the sphincter remained in a relaxed state allowing undigested food, etc., to pass back up into the esophagus from the stomach causing reflux, heartburn, etc.

I was put on Hydrochloric Acid pills with pepsin (health food stores).  Almost immediately, my heartburn and reflux problem disappeared.  Not only that, my anxiety cleared since I was finally now absorbing proteins (amino acids) which feed the neurotransmitters of the brain.  Stool cultures before had shown all my nutrients were just passing straight through my body, undigested.

Most people when reach their 40's and 50's have greatly diminished stomach-acid production.  This is greatly due to the exposure to chemicals, etc., during our lives.  This is also party responsible for all the "old age" symptoms we are told to accept, such as thinning hair, lack of energy, etc.  Even some heart problems.

Taking antacid medication only eases the discomfort with temporary relief while doing nothing to improve overall health

This doctor also weaned me off of high-blood pressure beta-blockers which traditional medical doctors put me on 10 years earlier.  He felt the high blood pressure was, in my case, directly a result of my overall general "un"health.  I have now been off any hypertension meds for over a year wtih perfect blood pressure readings.  I owe this doctor my life.

However, I am still struggling with the gastro problems and will continue to work on those.  These are more related to Crohn's and possibly gallbladder...

It's always something!

.


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Avatar universal
I too am too thin and having trouble eating.
Your doctor gave you a NUD Non-ulcer dysepsia diagnosis ?
What tests did you have?
I did not find any relief with many meds too .
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Avatar universal
Hi,thank you so much for your responding.I am on a bland diet,that's why I can't gain any weight.I am very skinny person and I need some weight gain,but I can't eat almost anything and it's always in small quantities.I am taking Prevacid(30mg) for 2 months and before I was taking Prilosec,it does help a little,but is causing stomach cramps.I also tried some prescription blockers with no effect.
Once again,thank you so much for your sugestions,I am going to try anything and the problem is that I am living in VT and this is the best gastroenterologist that everyone knows,it's also very hard to get a referal to see another GI and if you do they want to go all over again with the tests...I will try to look for a good GI until I found one.
Thank you so much!!!
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Avatar universal
I think like jen here I was positive for h.pylori last year too and i still feel sick too.gastritis can take a while before you feel any better.did you ried an h2 blocker like prescription pepcid or zantac that seem to work for me.good luck and keep us posted
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Avatar universal
One more thing that you should know. Having Gastritis for a long time will cause hypochlorhydria as well. I honestly think you need to treat your gastritis first. It has taken me a long time to get to where I'm out. I was treated for HP LAST August and still have chronic gastritis, but it has definitely improved by cutting out a LOT of things. Bland diet, no alcohol or coffee, smoking, and just eating small light meals that are very easy to digest. Again, it can take months to years. Find a VERY good GI and like I said, switch if you have to and it sounds as though you do.
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Avatar universal
I could have wrote your post. I too was treated for H-Pylori last year and ever since, have gone down the tubes as far as my stomach and I've never had digestive problems in my life. Non of the PPI's help me in any way either. The stomach inflammation is called "Gastritis". Gastritis will produce the symptoms you describe, especially if you are eating things that are VERY hard to digest. Like beef. You will have your symptoms as well if you are taking a HIGH MG of PPI. If so, you may be decreasing the acid TOO much. How much are you taking? If I were you, I would definitely be going to another gastroenterologist soon and tell him/her what you think the problem is, "Hypochlorhydria", especially if your current doctor said that he can't help you any longer. See another and keep going until one helps. Also, gastritis takes a LONG time to heal. You need to give the PPI ample amount of time to work. Weeks and months. How long were you taking them? Here's something that may be worth reading.

http://www.drdebe.com/REVLWHCL.htm

-Jenn
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