GERD Chronic Reflux

[NYReflux]

I am a 32-year-old male diagnosed with Acid-reflux and reflux related asthma in June 2004.  The medicine I take for Asthma is Advair (250/50) once every 12 hours and Aciphex 20mg for my reflux.   I cannot get my reflux under control.  In addition to refluxing in my lungs, I experience tightness in my throat right around my Adam’s apple and sometimes reflux in my ears.  Advair helps me to breath, but it also aggregates my reflux.  I have been relatively healthy up until now.  Since I was 19 years old, I have worked out in the gym three times a week.  I am 5’10” and 150lbs.  I have made the dietary changes, removing dairy, garlic, tomatoes, read meat, wheat and all spicy foods.  I have tried a 48 hour fasting cleanse.   Eating smaller meals does not seem to help.  I sleep in the propped up position all night long, which has been a challenge, but I am doing it.  I also wear loose clothing.  I am so frustrated because after following all the guidelines and taking all the medicine I can not get relief.  I am scared of the long-term effects of acid reflux.  In addition, I feel uncomfortable taking any medicine for as long as I have.  Is there anything you can recommend that would help me?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Long term acid reflux can lead to what's known as Barrett's esophagus - which is a risk factor for esophageal cancer.

You can consider a 24-hr pH study to quantify the degree of reflux.  If medications like Aciphex are not helping, an upper endoscopy or upper GI series can be done to determine if there has been any damage to the upper GI tract, or if Barrett's esophagus is developing.

Surgical options (i.e. a Nissen fundoplication) can be considered if conservative measures are not working.  A referral to a GI specialist, or surgeon, can be considered for further discussion.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com

[JackieG]

There is a surgical intervention for GERD that you may want to discuss with your gastroenterologist. It is called Nissen Fundoplication, and can be done laparoscopically these days, which lessens pain and recovery time, and precludes the need for the 9 inch incision from your sternum to your navel that open nissen fundoplication involves.

It usually takes a while for GERD to lead to Barrett's Esophagus, if at all, and from there to Dysplasia or esophageal cancer, which are even less common maladies. You should have time to work with your Primary Care Physician and Gastroenterologist to explore your options thoroughly before committing to surgery.

Good luck,
Chicken Soup

[astros18]

I can certainly relate to your misery. Fasting was a good idea. What kind of a fast was it? Acid reflux does not disappear overnite and many medicines do not work and sometimes cause more problems. You need to find the cause of your acid reflux. Systemic yeast is often a problem for reflux sufferers. I would suggest you start with your colon by doing a good colon detox. Drink lots of pure water and make sure your bowels move frequently. I would also suggest a good yeast fungal detox, Garden of Life Fungal Defense is excellent and it only takes 2 weeks. Digestive food enzymes are essential for those of us who are reflux sufferers. You must have acid and enzymes to digest your food. Chiropractic is also a good idea. You may have an entrapped nerve leading to your digestive tract.Start with one thing at a time. You must be patient and let your body heal naturally. Check out your local herb shop or GNC for help. Good luck.

[JackieG]

Please be very careful about entrusting a clerk at GNC that is paid $7/hour with your health, as suggested above.  The "detox" and GI cleansing remedies some recommend have been around for a while as part of "alternative medicine".  You can generally read more about them on Quackwatch.com.

[ckg]

I would consider switching therapies, if I were your physician.  I think you should definately consider this option.

Have you tried any other PPI therapies?  I'd try Nexium -- 2x/day if necessary to alleviate the symptoms.  It should take no more than 5 days to reach maximum efficacy with any PPI therapy.

Partial fundoplication could also be an option -- but usually insurance companies never like to pay for this procedure.  

[astros18]

Well, if I was taking a bunch of medication that wasn't working I think I'd go for a harmless detox. Tell Dr. Dan Colbert he's a quack since he's helped so many with his "Toxic Relief" books. Just because traditional medicine doesn't recognize detoxification as valid doesn't mean it isn't. As soon as doctors and pharmaceutical companies start curing people with their drugs then maybe I'll sing a different song. I have been in the same boat as everyone on this forum with gastro problems, so I speak from experience. I never suggested you take your health into a store clerks hands, your health should be in your hands making an informed decision about everything you do. I suggest to everyone what has worked for me. Whether you decide to try it is up to you, but name calling isn't necessary. I am far from being a quack as you suggested, just someone who doesn't suffer from acid reflux anymore.

[ckg]

Hey astros18,

first and foremost, i'd like to say that as a practioner that i'm more than willing to learn about any type of medicine that is willing to cure any patient that might have an ailment.  one of the problems (that maybe you can help me with) - is that it's very hard to find conclusive, peer-reviewed scientific studies that support the use of alternative therapies.  additionally, the FDA no longer regulates the labels that are placed on "supplement" products - thus allowing supplement companies to print whatever they'd like without the support of any body of peer-reviewed scientific evidence.  that said, i can clearly say that in some cases alternative medicines are truly the best form of therapy.  if there is anything that i've learned in my years of practice - it's that there isn't a therapy that works for everyone and for everything.  any clinical trial that's published has a percentage of people that are cured by placebo ... this is a powerful mechanism and a true testament to the healing power of the body itself.

that said ...

specifically in terms of GERD ... refluxation is usually caused by a weakness in the lower esophogael sphincter that relaxes allowing acid from the stomach to push into the esophogus.  when patients are given a ppi therapy -- they are still refluxing, but with the therapy they are not damaging their esophogus (which, as you know, can lead to many diseases including adenocarcinoma) as the pH in the stomach is neutralized (additionally, the symptoms are relieved). when patients do not receive adequate relief from ppi therapy -- a procedure such as a nassin fundoplication could help.  sometimes not even that works.  sometimes reflux can be caused by stress, anxiety, and/or depression.  it's a very gray area -- but i can say that of all of the patients that i've treated, that there are very few who have not benefitted from ppi therapy, h.pylori eradication with ppi maintenance therapy, or ppi + h2 blocker therapy.

[JackieG]

Thank you for your thoughtful response, and for moving the discussion back in to the 21st century.

Best regards,
Chicken Soup

[NYReflux]

Thank you all very much for you time and thoughtful responses, I do appreciate your help.  My father passed away almost two years ago from bladder cancer.  It was a very traumatic experience for me.  He suffered a great deal and I helped my mom in taking care of him.  I took two months off from work because, I had Plantar Fasciitis and she needed help with taking care of my father.  It was during that time around May 2003 I started to develop a cough.  I first noticed I would cough when I spoke to my mother on the phone then it seemed to progress to coughing in the morning to coughing after meals and bowel movements.  I experienced bouts of constipation were I felt bloated and a little nauseous after bowel movements.  At times, I would experience anxiety while trying having a bowel movement and I would not be able to bear down and push my stool out.  I would experience a sensation of having to move my bowels, then when sitting I would feel the sensation of losing my grip on the stool.   Since that time my gastro doctor put me on a high fiber diet including benefiber three times a day.  It helps a great deal.  I occasional have difficulty with the constipation I described but I think it has gotten much better.  I work with a physiologist twice a week that has helped me thought a great deal of stress I have experienced in these past years.  I have known myself to be a sensitive individual with a sensitive body.  I know I also have a great deal of anxiety I deal with on a day-to-day basis.  I have a tendency to over focus on my ailments and it will make the symptoms worse.  At times alternative therapy has helped when it came to insomnia.  I was addicted to prescription sleeping pills and sedatives for over five years and I was able to stop several months ago.   I now will use valerian to sleep and breathing exercises to relax.   This morning I tried Nexium and it seems to work better.  I have to add that the 1st response from Chicken Soup seems to ease some of my anxiety.    I had a gastric empting test in Jan 2005, conclusion, and a very slight delay in empting.  An endoscopy around that time that concluded, gastritis, esophagitis, Duodenitis.  I had an incomplete colonoscopy because I experienced an intestinal spasm, which caused a lot of pain.  They did find one pre-cancerous polyp in the rectum.  I am going to get a full colonoscopy in September so they can check the right side of the large intestine.  I tried the 24-hour monitoring device but I was unsuccessful.  The tube that they use to insert in the nose caused me to gag and dry heave so they had to removed it within minutes of pulling it in.  The doctor did not think it was a good idea to use the other device that they attach during an endoscopy due to how sensitive I was.  To answer the question about the fast, it was a juice fast recommended my Dr. Andrew Weil.   Thank you all again.

[versute]

Are you my long-lost twin?  You sound exactly like me.  I'm 31/m whos been working out since I was 16.  I got up to 175 and muscular.  In June I was hit with reflux, bad-woke up gagging one morning from the reflux.  Since June I've had just about every test you can have.  Still no solid conclusion.  Now I have a constant gnawing pain in my upper center abdomen, below sternum.  Doctor told me today that since the tests don't show anything, to just come back in 3 months.  I'm concerned that something is wrong and to wait is just letting it get worse.

Historically, I would workout and do heavy deadlifts, 420lbs+.  Felt great emotionally, but I think something eventually "broke".  In the recent year, I would do them and it would feel like something was coming up into my throat.  After lifting, the water I drank would go down very slowly, like something was blocking it.  The doctors I've been to haven't even acted like they heard what I said about this, and I'm thinking I need a sports medicine doctor?

I'm now down to 130lbs and struggling to maintain that.  I haven't been able to workout because of this.  I'm just praying that I have to let it run it's course and I'll be back to my healthy ways.  

Don't eat right before going to bed, as I did!

[NYReflux]

I really feel for you.  Losing the weight and the work out is so frustrated and it freaked me out.  In addition to changing my gastro doctor and switching to Nexium, I have found a good source on-line that I found for alternative health, Dr Andrew Weil.  Since you were into lifting what sounds like heavy weights you should inquire with you doctor about a Hiatal hernia.  It is a difficult hernia to diagnose, but it may be worth your time to check it out.  

[versute]

Thanks, I have suspected a hiatal hernia since the beginning, as I have many of the symptoms/complaints related, but it seems like my Upper GI didn't show anything in June, so I don't have one.  These doctors act like these tests are bulletproof in diagnosing, and conversely, ruling out, diseases and conditions.  Also, my condition seems to have changed since June, mutated if you will.  I didn't have pancreatitis back in June, but now I do, or "mildly elevated" enzyme levels.  Like since nothing is standing out, only watching and waiting will do for these doctors.

Good luck in your treatment

[astros18]

Lifting heavy weights can definitely cause a hernia. They are very common, however more so in women than men. Dr Weil is an outstanding doctor. Dr. Dan Colbert and Dr. Richard Schultz are also outstanding. I encourage you both to start taking digestive food enzymes. They can be taken with meds. Versute, are they sure it is your pancreas and not your spleen? I had what I thought to be pancreas pains, but it ended up being my spleen. I now take a spleen activator by Nature's Sunshine. It also supports the pancreas. I wish both of you the best, and NYReflux, I hope you will continue your natural health journey. It is definitely worthwhile, despite the comments in previous posts.

[Wally1470]

I always thought that something "snapped" because of weight lifting.  I can actually feel the pulling in my upper stomach area when doing heavy bench or dead lifting and once actually had a very weird sensation after straining to do the last set of crunches (as if the muscles were too tense).  I don't do that type any more.  I told my doctor and he discounted it having any effect but my "attacks" are located in this same area.  I really don't have any heart burn, except if I eat too late.  I also feel a tightening if I lean over from the waist for an extended period of time, like at a computer table or if I sit in chair and twist my torso or lean towards the right.  I can feel the spasming begin and if I get up or sit straight it usually goes away.  Anyone with any ideas. because medication has not helped (I'm off it for now).

[Mikek1969]

I have acid reflux for years now.  It got worse over time.  Acid reflux is also hatia hernia for most people which is the stomache being pushed up to the upper part of the chest.  I was told I had acute hernia but I wasn't educated much about it.  I was on medication but I stopped figuring I had it control.  Over the years it got bad and I couldn't figure out.

Now according to my contstant research and trying the ideas the ideas.  Here is what I learned.
Acid reflux can be caused or at least made worse if your spine is the muscles are out of place.  Best thing to do is get your spine checked out by your doctor or a chiropracter.  YOu can do yoga exercises to straighten or at least relax the spine muscles.

Now here's something I never thought about but I always hear about.
You must take appropriate amount of calcium in your diet.  Calcium is known to increase your PH level in your stomache and blood.  
PH in foods can cause the stomache acids to increase or decrease.
Here is what NOT TO EAT.  NO BREADS, NO RICE, NO DAIRY unless it's yogurt with active bacteria.  NO MEATS. NO SEAFOOD. BASCICALLY LIVE FOODS.
Here is the foods you should eat until your PH is back to normal.  
Fruits in moderation, vegetables, olive oil for fat and almonds that has been soaked for 24 hours.  You want to basically eat at least 80% alkazing foods and 20% acid forming foods when you're back to normal.  I suggest you get a book on PH diet.  I truly believe eating raw foods in the way to go but something like cabbage can give you gas.  So this is what I did I fermented it.    
All I did was soak them in water and salt and let it ferment for about 2 days then remove the water and let it ferment longer.  You can eat spiced korean cabbage which is basically the same thing.  
Now you should get some active live bacteria culture from yogurt, I find the more sour it is the more bacteria.  Consume 2 teaspoon a day.  President Choice organic yogurt is great for that.  Some people can be allergic.  Also you can consume Miso or soy bean paste, basically the same thing.  It has friendly bacteria.

Also at night you can get a teaspoon of baking soda with water if you don't like the taste get some blackstrap or fancy molasses and add a teaspoon.  This is best before you go to sleep because it's suppose to be taken on an empty stomache it helps to nutrual ize the stomache gas.

Molasses also seems to work for me but honey makes me worse even the organic honey.  I started taking coral calcium and it is helping.  I notice when when I urinate my urine seems more acidic.  I see a lot of bubbles.

Definetely no spicies except salt, not the salt with sugar.  Get sea salt or salt without sugar.  Also you can jump up and down on your hells that seem to help a  little, gravity helping pushing the stomache down a little.  

Juice fasting can help but shouldn't be done unsupervised if you plan to do it longer than 5 days.  A few days juice fasting is not going to work because your body and especially your stomache is extremely acidic!  It will take probably weeks.  It is known people can juice fast up to 40 days but DO NOT it on your own.

People with acidic reflux usually grind their teeth at night.  To check if you do get a sports mouth guard a cheap one.  Follow instructions and wear it over night.  In the morning check if there's any impression in the mouth guard.  If you do grind your teeth your acid reflux can eventually can get worse because it stress on your facial, neck and shoulder muscle which can affect your eyes too.

Stress is also a known factor so I suggest you take yoga or learn to meditate.  I find this helps a lot with the proper diet don't forget about the coral calcium with vitamin D (you don't need vitmain d if you get a lot of sunlight between 8 am and 3 pm.  Vitamin D is need to allow the calcium to be absorbed.  Did you know if you don't get enough calcium from foods your body will pull out calcium from your bones.  Apparently you will die if you don't have sufficent calcium in your body.  Calcium is know to raise the level of PH level of the stomache, otherwise I guess your stomache will explode!  MEATS and CARBONATED drinks especially soda will lower your PH levels.  This is why soda is very poisionous to the body.  Soda also eat the lining of the stomache.  If you don't believe me google about coca cola posioning!

Fiber is known to increase gas in the stomache so you can eat low fiber vegetables.  Celery is low in fiber.  Cabbage causes gas but if it's fermented it's not.  Basically it's best go to a juice and juice vegetables and consume some of it.   More than likely your body is dying for nutrients.

Heavy lifting can make acid reflux worse because of the pressure to spine.  In fact I remember having hard stools when I was a teen when I started working at a place where I lifted heavy objects.  Spine and back exercises are very important.


All this I found on the internet.  You can google and see for yourself but it's going to take a long time.  It took me many hours.  Everything that I read and verifyed on other sites then I tried it.

Please email if you have any questions or you would like to try what I am doing now.  I am NOT on medications for it.

I am sure the suggest will help good luck :)

[Sbeanmm]

I recently, 3 weeks ago, was diagnosed with acid reflux as well as h. plori (a bacteria).  While I was on antibiotic for the past 2 weeks I was fine acid reflux wise.  I finished my antibiotics last thursday and started working out again this week.  After my first work out I couldn't sleep without sitting up, my saliva was really thick, and I was constantly burping and refluxing the water I drink.  I feel I cant let this affect my working out.  I have gained weight not lost weight and I would like to get my weight down.  Does anyone else have problems with drinking alot of water after working out and having it relux?

[Mikek1969]

What do you do for workouts?  I suggest you buy a exercise belt for the spine (back brace).  Weight lighter use them.  I suggest you get your spine checked out.  Sounds like me when I started to weight lift my acid got much worse.  Go to a Chiropractic and get your spine checked out.  He/she will probably xray your spine.  if it's just the mucles around the spine they will adjust.  
Most imporant is doing back exercises.  You need to try them and find out which ones make you better.  The ones I do does help but just like the spinal adjustments it takes time.  
Here is a few you can try out.  Raise your arms pointing to the ceiling and keeping your back straight bend back.  Do it as much as possible without actually falling over.  I did it today and I could hear a pop sound.  I read that's the gas pocket that was relased.  Also I can hear some noise afterwards doing them.  Another one lie on your stomache, hands on the side and push up.  Your neck should point as close as possible to the ceiling.
Last one is very important I got this from men's health magazine.  Get on all fours.  Hands and knees on the floor.  Keep your back straight and use your arms to move your upper body forward.  Your knees is kept at the position at all times.  Your upper body will be lower than your back.  This builds muscles in the back.  This is exetremely important especially if you are building muscles.    

Ok that is the first step now I suggest for prevention of getting parasites thriving in your body get some LIVE ACTIVE yogurt.  There is a good chance of reinfestion so this is way of protecting your body to fight them off.  You can also get miso or soy bean paste. It is very salty so use it in a salad.  Best not to use it in a soup because heat kills bacteria.
Parasites thrive in a body that consumes a lot of sugar.  So keep fruits to a minium and eat a lot of vegetables.  Raw almonds soaked in water for 10 hours are good sources of protein.  Never eat raw meats or fish.
Stay away from breads, anything with yeast really.  I only eat brown rice.  No spices.  Sucks because  I love hot foods.

You can eat foods that parasites hates.  I have read garlic is one.  Make sure you chew it well or you can get the garlic pills.  Carrot juice is another I have read and pumpkin seeds.  Make sure you chew them well.  Or you can get antiparasite pills.  I got mine at a website which I started to take.  I believe I have an infestion of parasite and made it worse with my back.

Just to let you know unless you buy meat without antibotics you can get resistance to antibotics.  So either buy organic meats or start eating almonds or soy products.  Soy can give you gas becareful.  Careful eating a lot of meat or  fish because it can lead to colon cancer.   You may also want to take calcium supplement if you don't get enough from natural sources.  Lack of calcium can make you sick so if you do plan on drinking milk get the organic kind.  I just take coral calcium now and I do the spinal exercises and I started feeling better.

Anyways I hope you try the back exercises.

Good luck

[astros18]

What a breath of fresh air to see a post from someone who has taken the time to be proactive about their health. A chiropractor saved my life and I advocate that to everyone I meet. You can also put some chlorophyll in your drinking water to help balance ph. It has a nice spearminty flavor for those who have a hard time drinking water. I hope you continue in good health. It is very hard for some to actually take the time and let their bodies heal naturally. Most want what they think is the easy way, popping a pill that makes it better when in reality that pill is merely a bandaid.

[Mikek1969]

Ok I have more information through research and testing them out myself.  very important to keep a food diary and write down how you felt that time of day.
Foods like breads, pastas, even rice is acidic to your stomache.  This is because they are high in carbs.  Fruits can be bad also because they are high in sugars.  
So what should you eat?  Vegetables, proteins (lean cuts of meats, seafood etc), and fats.  If you have acid reflux you should eat 80% of vegetables and the rest of proteins and fat.  Almonds are good.  Fish is a good source.  Orangic meat is another one in small moderation.  By the way corn is also consider a grain so you can't consume corn.  Make sure you don't buy salad dressing make your own.  Flax seed and olive oil is ok for the diet.  Maybe a splash of vinegar.  Avoid peppers or any spicies they cause gas.  If you're overweight you will lose weight and if you have allergies they will almost disappear.  Watch it with the carrots they are in carbs also.  But you do need them.
last of all sorry to mention it again but it's important get  a spinal adjustment and you should do back exercises.  Chances are you have parasite infection too.  They are hard to detect so I suggest you get some antiparasite supplements.  Pumpkin seeds, carrots and garlic are know to fight most of them, which is known to prevent reinfection.

I'll keep posted anything new I have learned and tested out.

[Mikek1969]

Ok I have discovered something that is very important.  I bought a brita water filter long time ago.  When I drink from it I get more acid in my stomache.  I tested this by drinking bottled water then the plain city water then filtered water.  I don't know if the carbon or the lack of quality.  Try changing the water you drink.     I tried Aquafine water.  Try it for a day and see if water is affecting your health.  I advise everyone to stay from Brita water filters,  their filters are not so great lately.

[NYReflux]

This is really great feedback everyone.  I'm so happy we can all help each other.  I would love to keep each other posted as to what helped.  As far as water supplies.  I found a great source.  Google Fantastic Voyage the book, authors:  Ray Kuraweil & Terry Grossman M.D.  They have a direct link to a recommended water filter that has a high PH.  Check it out and let me know what you think.  I recently posted another question on this site (Chronic Constipation or Motility disorder? And is GERD/Reflux just a symptom?) and I would be really interested to hear some feedback.  In the meantime I am trying the Yeast detox, along with the digest gold and acid soothe.  I also found a product called DGL that works really well.   As far as raw food diets,  I found a cleanse that incorporates the raw food diet by Richard Anderson called "Cleanse & Purify Thyself".   I read the book and bought the 7 day cleanse to try.  Hope this helps more people out.  Best of luck!

[Mikek1969]

OK this is what I learned today and I will repeat again somethings I have mentioned.  Grains can cause gas especially if you have GERD, acid reflux etc.  Best is to advoid all grains,rice, soy products, sugar and moderate amount of fruits.  Almonds I read has a chemcial that is also in almonds which can make your reflux worse.
NO caffine, no chocolate, no spicies and no large meal.   Never eat then exercise right away.  Unless you're eating fruits or vegetables you should wait at least 2 to 4 hours.  Best to exercise in the morning after you eat a fruit for some carbs.  Don't drink water before exercise.  Better to hydrate yourself before you start working out.  Parasites can cause reflux, you can get a test done but it's not 100%.   Best way is to buy parasite herbs,  There is one I got I'm using.  From the sites I have read it takes 30 days.
If you have allergies it can make it worse so try to keep your allergic symptoms at minimum.
Another reason is your spine.  If the muscle is stiff or dislocated it can cause digestive problems.  Too much vegetables that are known to cause gas is another reason.  Cabbage and broccoli are the ones I know of.  Better to eat less gas producing vegetables like celery, lettuce, cukes etc until your body gets used to it.  Becareful taking large amounts of vitamins.  Vitamin C in large does can cause cause, skin irritations etc.
I suggest you start a diary.  Write everything you eat and how you feel.  Make sure you write down the time.  You can figure out which foods cause bloating and which ones don't.  If it's really bad you can cut all foods but one and start adding foods to your diet til you find something you react to.
Remember you should eat at least 60% of vegetables and fruits.  Use olive oil for salad dressing.  I know calcium carbonate and magesium (most foods contain this) with vitamin D (if you stay outside you can absorb vitamin D from the sun).
Food rotation is good also it prevents you from getting allergic to a particular food.  I was in a lot of pain with bloating, here I was eating too much cabbage and taking vitamin C.
My diet consist of low gas producing vegetables, moderate amounts of fruits and protein.  Mainly fish and some chicken.  I stay away from dairy products because it makes my stomache bloat.  

Anyways good luck and if you have any questions don't be afraid to ask.  Lately I have been doing a lot of research, testing it then make a decision.

[Mikek1969]

I forgot NYerflux for your anxiety stress I have some special music that helps you relax. http://www.transparentcorp.com/products/bss/ to get exact info.  If you want some of the music tell me I'll email to you.

[NYReflux]

Thanks Mike.  I'll check the site out.  Do you have any thoughts on my new question?  Here it is:   I switched my Acid Reflux medicine from Acifex to Nexium two weeks ago and it is working great relieving me of my acid reflux related Asthma. My problem now on Nexium is chronic constipation concerning incomplete bowel movements, painful trapped gas and bloating that will trigger some reflux symptoms. I have suffered with constipation for the last two years, recently a high fiber diet has helped along with benefiber or Pysillium husk three times a day. Even now with the high fiber therapy, these last two weeks I have experienced more intense constipation symptoms. I start with the sensation to move my bowels then that sensation will lessen when I sit on the toilet. Ultimately I pass a very small amount of stool. I feels as if I lost my grip while trying to go and my stool moves the opposite way. Then I get very bloated and I feel reflux symptoms. At times when I am able to move my bowels my stool is thin and kinky, looking like the shape of my small intestines. I am so frustrated. I've had a gastric empting study around Jan 05' and it showed that there was a very slight delay. At that time I wasn't taking any PPI's. Do these drugs slow digestion? Could my GERD be a symptom of an underlying intestinal motility disorder? Is it possible that Nexium has slowed my digestion exaggerating my constipation symptoms or motility disorder? I am getting my full colonoscopy done at the end of September. Could a colonoscopy determine an intestinal motility disorder? What would you recommend in the meantime to get my bowels moving better?

[Mikek1969]

Pysillium and any other fiber products produces gas.  Are you eating fiberous foods too?  Have you tried an enema?  I know most guys cringe of the word enema but it helps prevents strain from a bowel movement.  I read it's not wise to do an enema more than a few times a week for longer than two weeks.  I read clonics is better which is the same thing but it has more water.
If you're going to do an enema.  Make sure it's filtered water and the water is warm.  Make sure you rinse it with tap water (clorine disenfects the enema equipment).  Soap and water to clean the insert whole and the outer parts.  Make sure to hang it dry right after use then put it away.  
Pysillium is great but which brand does it contain sugar?  Also did you have your back checked out?  Do you have allergies?  If you do it can cause it also.  Even when the symptoms aren't that bad.  I believe mine is allergies and the spine.   Allergies for sure.   You may want to get that ruled out especially if you sneeze, running nose etc way too often even in the summer time.  Are you going to try stop taking the asthma med?  Sounds like it's making it worse.  I suggest you try the no grain diet.  No wheat products, no soy no rice etc.  Basically you would eat low gas foods.  Cabbage and brocolli is known to produce gas.  Also you could do a 7 day fast.  You can drink all the fresh juice you want from a juicer.  Celergy and carrrot is recommended and you can drink up to a few gallons a day.   It is recommended not to do a juice fast longer than anywhere from 3 to 7 days but I have no problems doing 7.  Half an hour of mild exercise everyday but nothing more than that.  You can do up to 40 day juice fast but not alone if you have someone supervise you.  There are centres out there that provide that service.  Where you stay there like a hotel.  Juice fast cleans out your bowels.  It is suppose to remove mucoid plaque but I don't know if 40 days is long enough but you will feel better.  I would do a fast before the option of surgery under supervision.  I'll do some research on the meds.  Mean time I'm trying to upload some of that music I have offered.  
Anyone can download them when I'm done.  All I ask nobody make money of it.  Personal use only due to liciencing or you can buy it.

[Mikek1969]

You may want to try Quercetin.  More info at http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,10053,00.html.
I started drinking green tea again which is basically the samething.  It helps with my asthma, allergies and reduce my acid reflux.  You're suppose to take it right after you meals.  If you have allergies this will definetely help.  It is known to speed up healing effect.  Sources of this is apples with the skin and onions but you can get the capsule form.  Suggest is 500 mg 3 times a day.  
If tea doesn't bother you stomache I would suggest trying it first.
Sounds like your acid reflux med relieves the symptoms in the short term but later on makes it worse.  I'm not a medical doctor so I wouldn't tell you to stop taking it but if it's the same or worse taking it I definetely wouldn't.

[Mosey_NY]

I fixed my digestive problems, acid reflux, gas, bloating - all of it with SCDiet. (Diet mostly for bowel disorders) I think the home-made yogurt helped the most.  The relief was immediate.  I cheated on the diet too and I still got better.  No doctors, no pills, only cost was 25 bucks for a yogurt maker.  Well worth it.  I can eat anything now and I used to react to every food under the sun.

Link to info on the SCDiet:
http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info/Search/search.htm

[Mikek1969]

Sounds like you had parasites.  Yogurt far as I know kills certain bacteria.  Care to share what the yogurt does?  I have tried present's choice organic yogurt.  It has a lot of bacteria in it, I can tell by the sour tasting and the way it digests.  What the exact receipe and I am assuming you ferment it for 24 hours.  I have tried fermented cabbage.

[NYReflux]

Why Stomach Acid is Good For You,  BY Johnathan V. Wright. It's a book. I AM MEDICINE FREE FOR THREE DAYS.   HCI with Pepsin.  Please anyone who is interested in using HCI talk to you DR.  You know my story and this has been the thing that helped me.  You can see how to help yourself on Page 124.  In addition to the diet, this book is so helpful in reguards to stomach acid.  Give me feedback.  I wish all the best of luck in treatment.

[Mikek1969]

I have tried psyllium today.  My first day and already I feel a big difference!  According what I have read there are good and bad bacteria in the colon.  When the bad bacteria over populate or if there's isn't enough good bacteria there is bloating.  Most people will find eating grains, sugars, etc causes bloating.  The cause is bacteria and/or parasites.  Bacteria thrives in a colon that is impacted with a lot of carbs/muquoid plaque attached to the colon.
Psyllium is a high fiber seed, best to buy the ones in the capsules.  You can make your own fermented cabbage http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2003/09/18/cultured_cabbage_juice_make_the_best_lactobacteria.htm
This seems to work better than yogurt or the capsule forms.  It's easy to make and probably cheaper and better.  If you don't like the taste you can add freshly juiced carrots or raw honey.  Start off with a small dosage and continue to add more as the week goes by.  There may be some bloating at first but I find I pass gas to relieve it.  Make sure you drink at least 8 oz of water.  You can use this for long periods safely.

It is true digestive enzymes help but it's only fixing part of the problem.  I am pretty sure your colon is very filthy and taking psyllium will ensure you solve the root of the problem.

Please make sure you don't drink soda it's pure poision and don't use any artifical sweetners.

[tummytrble]

I am a 23 year old singer who has been on Prevacid for 1 year for Acid Reflux. I've struggled with stomach problems since I was a child and no doctor could pinpoint the problem. I've tried Nexium, Aciphex, Zelnorm - not feeling any better. Last year, I went to an ENT and without testing me he said I had acid reflux. The Prevacid does help me with regular bowel movements and less stomach aches, however I've never had problems with heartburn or typical acid reflux symptoms. I mostly have stomach aches in the lower part of my stomach, gas and bloating, as well as sinus problems and phlegm in my throat (which irritates my vocal chords). I don't ever taste acid or feel pain in my upper stomach or throat. I've decided to seek a second opinion, and see an allergist to test for allergies (particularly food allergies) because I feel that could be the problem - more than acid reflux. What is your opinion? Is it possible that I could be experiencing food allergies instead of acid reflux?

Thanks for any help or advice.

[Mosey_NY]

The yogurt that is recommended on SCDiet is made at home from whole milk or half & half, fermented 24 hours - it gives the biggest probiotic punch while eliminating all of the lactose.  

The SCDiet is great, so far I have encouranged 5 people to try it for various reasons (stomach trouble, UC, IBD, yeast infections, and chronic pain syndroms (syndromes)) & it worked on all them.  It was designed by a microbiologist who dedicated her life to the study of the bacteria in the gut; she was the worlds expert(now passed away).

I believe my problems began because I was given antibiotics every time I sneezed while growing up.  From what I have read, they say if you dont replace the good bacteria after taking antibiotics you set yourself up for digestion & bowel disorders.  

The theory behind the SCD is what you dont fully digest, feeds the bad bacteria in the gut (sugars, certain starches, indigestable fibers).  The diet limits the type of starches and sugars to types that are fully digested - you can have honey but no sugar, fruit and veggies, but no potato or grains.  Fiber supplements are a no no too because they feed the bad bacteria.  And after a year or more, you can return to eating normal foods.

Most people feel great relief after a week on this diet.  It is not a magic pill or supplement type thing but rather a way to take back your health through eating well and feeding the body what it needs.