UNCONTROLLABLE BILE REFLUX!! PLEASE HELP!!

[JayFaith]

Hello.  I have recently been diagnosed with bile reflux.  I have SEVERE, CONSTANT burning in my stomach, abdomen, and chest area.  The bile is refluxing not only into my stomach but my esophagus.  It is so out of control that is has caused my esophagus to not open properly from the burning not being controlled.  And most of all it has caused tachycardia with my heart to the point that when the burning is at it's worst I get heartrates in the 180's.  It has been narrowed down that the bile reflux is causing my problems.  I have a constant fire raging in my stomach/chest/abdomen.  I was prescribed Questran and Welchol, both of which gave me severe heartburn and gas, which did not help because it just went from one type of burning to another.  The only thing that seems to even help a little is Carafate, but not that much.  The docs have told me that they don't know what other meds to try.  Can anyone who has had experience dealing with bile reflux please offer some suggestions as to how I can control this.  It has not been determined what the cause of the bile reflux is.  I have had many tests done (hida scan, mri with mrcp, blood work, egd) the only thing I haven't had done is a small bowel follow-thru, gastric emptying study, and a colonoscopy.  I am not sure what happened to my body.  Prior to having bile reflux I had acid reflux for over 20 years and after seeing a post that said "activia" yogurt cured my acid reflux I decided to try it and after the 14th day my body exploded with excess gas, rapid heartrate(198), and uncontrollable belching(up to 20 min at a time), and severe burning that has not let up for the past 2 1/2 months.  I don't want to leave this out because also during the 14 days that I ate activia I also went on a yeast/candida free diet and and sugar free diet and got 2 IV iron infusions for iron deficienty anemia.  Not sure if these things had anything to do with it but I was pretty much healthy before I embarked on this 14 day diet change.  Based on the testing apparently "activia" did cure my acid reflux because I no longer have acid reflux I now have alkaline/bile reflux.  I am currently typing this from the hospital.  During the last 2 1/2 months I have been hospitalized 8 times.  All docs are puzzled and can't seem to help me.  When I take any type of PPI, H2 blocker, or acid med even something as simple as tums or rolaids, the burning gets worse.  When I tell the docs that they don't believe me but I have found many articles and posts that say that when you have bile reflux these meds make it WORSE....how come the docs haven't read this info?  If anyone has any suggestions on how I can control this bile reflux thing please let me know.  I am very desperate and in misery.

Also, not sure why the bile reflux developed.  I did have abdominal surgery but that was to remove fibroids and they used the same scar as a previous c-section about 3 months prior to this happening.  I do have adhesions from the surgery but bowels flowing normally.  When I ate the "activia" yogurt I am lactose intolerant, I think, and could I have possibly caused an ulcer in my colon.  I read that ulcers there could cause bile reflux, but haven't had a colonoscopy yet.  

Right now I just really need a suggestion of what I can take to get out of this constant burning and pain and then I will continue my search for the cause.  

Please help if you can.

[crazybean]

Hi i was wondering how long it took for you to get cured when you started your diet changes? Also does Gaviscon make bile reflux worse? Thanks!

[nissi247]

Please Heather712 let me know if you were fine with the pregnancy. I currently have bile and acid  reflux and scared to get pregnant.

[Yani3434]

I had some similar problems after they removed my godbladder, thank God I starterd to take some natural medice from foreverlife. to help me with my digestive system. I take alovera juice in the morning, mineral, Ginko, and alfafa pills. this medicines had helped me the most. I stoped taking all the medicines that the doctor gave me. when I take the natural medicine everyday i do really god, but when I stop taking them I start suffering from pain, heartburn, and nausea.  I also get a lot of nausea and the only thing that I vomit is bile. this desseas is horrible. I remember when my mom bought me the medicenes it took me a lot of time to make up my mind about taking something different, but I remember that I pray to Jesus and I ask him to be with me and He answered my prayer because most of my siptoms are gone!! I hope that this sugestion can help you and I so sorry that you are going to all this pain.

[rubas]

plus one on your treatment, i stopped the ppis and after 3 months finally saw real recovery results, im not 100% healed, but my energy is coming back, no bile vomiting, no reflux except for some burning in the stomach sometimes and all thanks to delayed gastric emptying. I tooked ppis for a year so i supposed my acid levels will take their time in coming back to normal. I read in the why stomach acid is good for you book that acid is necesary for a correct comunication between the les and the pilorus so it makes sense the need of acid to stop bile.

[rosesnowy]

Have you had a 24hr Ph impedance test?with an implanted electrode(bravo capsule)this will tell you if you have bile reflux or acid reflux.It will also show the food,fluids and the way the acid is flowing.

[petep344]

My wife had a total gastrectomy becuae of stomach cancer that was covered up by ppi drugs .... nevertheless no somach no top or bottom valve and real problems with bitter bilerefulx ,,, she had also found refuge in toast .  she has  no problmes with sandwiches and pizza both have bread in the mix ...small meals of course.. she caslls it a neverending cocktail party  with out cocktails.. very intersting confirmation of my wife's discovery. thanks!