Future for Chronic sufferer?

[karie]

After 8 months of tests, meds, bland diet ,
They have now suggested Aciphex for heat and Elavil for pain in the abdominal area?
We are thinking a Ct or Mri could be a helpful test ?
I am not one who enjoys medication or the way my CNS reacts.
What about a Natural Doctor?
I so enjoy the hospital and my specialists But still overwhelmed and hungry .
Share your experience or what road has helped
Have you found no relief with tums before meals and liguids as well?
thanks

[needabreak]

Hi karie!  I don't know if I'll be alot of help, but it sounds as if you are really suffering with stomach pain...I think that you mentioned you are on Aciphex now???  Previously, I read that you were on Nexium, is that right?  I am taking Prevacid for my reflux and after 3 weeks, am starting to notice some improvement.  But, I'm not sure (I'd have to check if you'd like me to.  My daughter is a nurse and would like to help too.) about the Aciphex and Nexium, but one of the side effects of Prevacid is stomach pain.  I don't have it all the time, but usually after I eat (mainly in the evening) I do experience stomach pain/discomfort.  If you are interested in natural products, as I am also, I would encourage you to try DGL (licorice), aloe vera juice (very healing for your insides), and/or ginger(root)capsules (for a calm stomach), which can be found in any Kmart, Walmart, or most drug stores.  Look in the vitamin and herbal remedy sections.  The ginger I am very familiar with, as myself and my 17 yr. old daughter use it on occasion and it works really well for us.  She has a very sensitive stomach and sometimes alot of stomach pain/diarrhea.  As for Tums/Rolaids, they don't do anything for me at this point.  Let me know how these things work for you if you decide to try it.   I just bought the DGL last weekend at a VitaminWorld store in the mall...doesn't taste that bad, but I like licorice.  Hope it works!  Best to you,  needabreak

[needabreak]

Sorry,...one more thing I just thought of.  Did you ever try taking acidophilus?  The lady in the natural foods store told me that I should be taking this if I am on a med like Prevacid.  I've taken it in the past for stomach ailments and it works good, too.  I don't take it everyday because I forget, but it can't hurt you, so...

[karie]

Thanks so much,
At this time I have not picked up the new medications suggested: Aciphex and Elavil for pain.
Would prefer not to go through this again.
So how can we have healthy tummies ? huh
I just miss eating. Did you have any tests?
Do you have discomfort without meals and heat in the stomach ? Thanks

[needabreak]

You asked about stomach discomfort without meals...Yes, sometimes I do, but "try" to ignore it and not worry because I think it is a side effect of my medication(Prevacid).  As for the ginger, aloe vera juice (find it at a GNC), and acidophilus, these are not meds, just natural products that have helped myself and several others I know in the past.  The acidophilus is very beneficial...you need the "good" bacteria in your system.  Before I knew I had reflux, I would be getting ocassional stomach pain/discomfort and would take this for several days or until the pain went away and would be fine again.  It did help.  Did you say you have had tests and they haven't found a reason for your pain?  I read so many posts that I can't remember who said what.  I feel so bad for you that you can't eat...fortunately, I am able to eat, but it doesn't always agree with me.  As of yesterday, I think I'm having a relapse of the reflux symptoms (chest discomfort, stomach ache, coughing, throat irritation) and am a little disappointed about that.  I tryed the DGL three times now, but don't notice a difference.  I wonder if it is too soon, or if it doesn't agree with me.  And, no, I haven't had any tests yet, but plan to see my doctor again in a couple of weeks.  I might suggest it because I don't know if he will.   Keep me posted.

[feelbetter]

I am so sorry to hear that the DGL is not helping you. After 3 years, I feel so good to be pain free. I wonder if the brand has anything to do with it? I take 2 in the am and 2 in the evening before dinner. If I feel an attack, I take 2 right then and the pain always goes away. Maybe our reflux is so different that DGL helps some people but not everyone. I have also been on a healthy diet for almost 3 years too except for the coffee which I only gave up a few months ago. If I can continue to stay off of acid blockers like prilosec, I will be so happy. I also drink a little aloe vera juice (when I remember!) Maybe if you stay with it you will find some relief. I still at times can feel the acid, especially at night but at least am no longer doubling over in pain. I hope your symptoms improve soon. Take care.

[karie]

Up at 4 am with gnawing pain, Eat cream of wheat and heartburn for 3 hours, sore throat Raw pain, I sure miss eating and having pain free days, I pray for a healthy tummy. I need to either find a ND and or try the Aciphex. With my heart , I always have such trouble on these drugs.
And again why too much acid? Or why pain every day constant.
Is there a Natural book to show side effects to DGL ?
You take it like tums. Which have done nothing again today.

[needabreak]

Thanks for writing.  Regarding the DGL, I bought mine from a "Vitamin World" store and it's their brand.  I noticed it has aspartame in it...is that bad??  Good news IS, I like the taste and think it is helping somewhat now.  I take one or two before my biggest meal of the day and one before bed...am I doing it wrong?  I, too, would like to be off the Prevacid and be able to manage things with the DGL and other natural products.  What do you mean exactly when you say you feel an attack coming on?  I want to be sure I'm not missing something...usually, when I feel like the symptoms are coming back, it's the irritating sensation in my chest/throat, more coughing and belching, and a general "crummy" feeling all over.   Is that when I should take the DGL right away?   (I'm getting some bad eye strain from being on this computer so much lately..but that's another forum.)    I really appreciate your friendship and concern.  God bless you.   needabreak

[feelbetter]

When I say an "attack", for me that means severe pain right in the center exactly below my breastbone. It is almost unbearable at times. With my reflux, I never really experienced acid in my throat although those kinds of symptoms did start as well after I stopped taking the prilosec. I was not aware that you had to wean yourself off of acid blockers but too late now. My attacks can occur at any time, especially if I miss a meal. One of my worst ones happened on a field trip with my daughter where lunch was delayed until after 2 pm. Despite downing several tums I suffered the whole day. The DGL that I take is in a base of fructose although there is a kind with no sweetener at all but I did not try it. The directions on my DGL say to chew 2 tablets 20 minutes before each meal. I usually only chew 2 in the am and then 2 before dinner. I still eat smaller meals and avoid things like pizza unless a small slice early in the day. I cannot believe it but I have not had pain now in about 5 weeks. I am fearful that one day it will stop working and then I'll be back where I started but hopefully it is a long term solution. Just last night I felt pain starting up but within minutes of chewing the DGL, I was fine. The DGL is supposed to support the lining of your stomach and intestinal tract. I guess it must coat the stomach somehow so that any acid does not give you pain. I hope that you find relief soon too. Take Care!

[karie]

I too have the gnawing pain if a small meal is missed. You take Prilosec and DGL ? How did the tums work with the Prilosec and your G.I. doctor said the DGL is ok ?
With all the pain, What tests did you endure ?
Does your ins. cover Prilosec? Ours suggests Aciphex instead ?
However many drug companies give samples of Nexium and Aciphex to the doctors to distribute.
Have they explained if your have too much acid why ? I was told acid and a digestive disorder, All started and never stopped, Now do acid reducers end it if no healing is required? I must get some DGL as well. Thanks Much

[feelbetter]

Hi. No, I do not take prilosec or any other acid blockers. Even when I did take prilo., I still had very bad pain. My ins. only covered that kind of med for a year so I don't take it any more partly due to that and partly because acid blockers used over a long period of time are not healthy. Besides, I still had attacks anyway, just not as frequent. The DGL has given me almost complete relief. If I feel any pain brewing, I chew 2 of them and it almost immediately goes away. I can sometimes feel acid in the evening if I eat a "no no" food but that is it. I had an endoscopy done a couple of years ago and was told that the spincter (I think that is what its called) did not fully close and that is why I had the pain. I did read my chart while waiting for a test once (I have rectal bleeding too, lucky me) and all it said was Gastritis. When I told my doc how long the attacks sometimes last, he sent me for a gallbladder ultrasound which revealed nothing (& now I owe $210.!) I knew it was not that but thought I'd have it checked anyway. You see, I did not believe I had reflux because I only had the pain, usually before eating. I did not believe that reflux was REALLY my problem until I found this forum and found that symptoms can be different for everyone. Until I stopped the prilo, I never felt acid but now I do. I guess it is not good to suddenly stop acid blockers (I did not know this) and ACID is a side effect of stopping them! Go figure! My doctor said NOT to take the DGL because it could raise my blood pressure but I did my own research and unlike regular whole licorice, DGL does not raise blood pressure because the element of the licorice that raises blood pressure has been removed, that's why it is called "deglycrrhizinated" licorice. If you want more info, see and older (I think around March 13 or earlier) CONCERNED LADY post. She goes into greater detail about DGL and other natural remedies. Apparently she and her husband have found great relief from DGL. Now I still do take Tums occasionally but not like candy and now they actually work on the extra acid whereas before I could take several tums and my pain would just last for hours no matter what I did. As long as the DGL has no hidden side effects (Which I have not found any) I am going to keep using it. I hope in a year from now I can still say that I am pain free. The man at the healthfood store was 75 and he said he had reflux too but beat it using DGL. He said he hears many success stories about the DGL. I also drink a little Aloe Vera juice but I don't always remember. I am hoping that is helping me to heal as well. I certainly do not consider myself "cured" but I feel that I am managing this thing now. I refuse to let this problem keep interfering in my life. I had 2 days of my vacation ruined last year because I was in such pain (I had been faithfully taking prilo for about 2 years). This year, I hope the DGL will prevent that. By the way, when I was on the prilosec, I was able to get samples for free from the doctor. Once Nexium came out, he had no more samples of prilosec though.If any one reading this lacks good insurance, don't hesitate to ask your doc for samples because many times they end up throwing them away. I am not telling anyone here not to use acid blockers if they are working for you, I am just sharing my story for those who still have no relief or if you don't want to continue with the acid blockers. Take care!

[karie]

I will visit the store today about DGL. I too was told not to try due to b/p , What about Ibergast ? Have you read on this natural remedy ?
Have you met with a Natural Doctor before ?
Have you ever had a urine, saliva , and comprehensive stool test to see what is occuring as well ?
Thanks for the information and sharing...........

[feelbetter]

Hi. I just did a google search and everything that I read said that DGL does not raise blood pressure, only "regular" licorice can do that. I even looked at sites that were not selling anything and they said DGL would not raise blood pressure. I sure hope that is the truth! Anyway, as far as my blood in stool problem, I have had several exams, 2 sigmoidoscopys and a colonoscopy. Everything looked totally healthy. I went to my GYN and she thinks that I may have endometriosis of the bowel. My bleeding always occurs near or during my period. I have to go back in May and might have to have surgery too see for sure. I am on a BC pill for the bloating and to see if my other symptoms are helped. My gastro Doc never even suggested endo as a possibility. He was going to send me to a rectal/colon surgeon. My stomach pain and the bleeding are not related although both occur mainly near or during my period. There was another post here where the girl's GERD was the worst in the week before her period and she has had surgery so she knows that she does have endo. She was wondering if the GERD was from the endo! So many possibilities but seemingly no real answers! Thanks for the concern and I hope you find relief soon. I don't know anything about the other natural remedy you mentioned. I did have a phone conversation with a natural doc once who had me try aloe vera juice and charcoal. I was still on prilosec at the time and those 2 things did not make me feel any better. He didn't mention DGL at the time but this was almost 2 years ago. Maybe they hadn't made DGL yet, I don't know. I may call him and see what he thinks about it. I'll let you know. I have to get back to laundry and such. :-) Take care!