Seriously bad acid stomach and heartburn,... - Endometriosis UK

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Seriously bad acid stomach and heartburn, help!

Starry profile image
16 Replies

Has anyone developed a severe case of acid indigestion heartburn / reflux / GERD following their surgery ? What did you try and how well did it work?

I think mine may have developed as a result of vomiting on picolax before the op, followed by vomiting with viral meningitis after the op, plus antibiotics while they diagnosede for 3 days plus stress and anxiety since.

Eating most anything sets it off, It's really bad at at night I can't sleep flat ( and an angle triggers my coxxyx nerve pain and wound sites) and I've now got a permanent pain in my breastplate.

I was turning the corner but this has really laid me low again.

It's been 9 weeks now and it just feels like one thing after another. Feeling utterly depressed with it all.

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Starry profile image
Starry
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16 Replies

I was diagnosed with reflux eosphagus as well. About 20 years ago. Before I had even heard of endometriosis or was diagnosed with it. My stomach also does not flow properly. (I had tests in hospital) I've tried all the over counter chemist medications. Various doctors have prescribed lansoprazole 30mg. I can not eat and my digestive system becomes ulcerative. When I have a really bad flare up.

I tried gluten and dairy free diets. I cut out caffeine and fizzy drinks. This worked for 15 years. I drank organic carrot juice to calm the ulcerative flare ups. It soothed my throat. I juiced my own carrots and added ginger and honey to the juice.

That was until my partner found a organic (mother) Apple cider and lemon mixture.

In a pint of filtered water add one tea spoon of the organic (mother) Apple cider vinegar and two teaspoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice. stir together then drink.

Do not gulp its down. as you add more air to cause problems. sip it. I find that with in 10 mins to 30 mins everything settles down.

The acid in the cider vinegar and the lemon neutralizes the stomach acid and calms everything down naturally. It gets rid of the heart burn as well.

If you give it a try let me know how you get on. I hope you feel better soon.

The cider vinegar lemon mixture also works with the annoying cough you get.

First thing in the morning I take a tablet mixture of ginger 500mg, turmeric 500mg , papain 5mg and bromelain 46.7mg.

This is for digestive health and it seems to keep my digestive area calm.

Starry profile image
Starry in reply to

Thanks ive been prescribed lansaprazole and got desperate enough to take one today.

X I'm trying ginger and honey with soy youghurt

How does cider vinegar acid neutralise stomach acid though. It was white wine vinegar and lemon broccoli pasta that triggered the flare so I'm a bit nervous.

Did you ever try probiotics?

in reply to Starry

Yes, I have natural yoghurt with probiotics in it when I do not have a flare-up. But I believe dairy causes inflammation in the body so You're told to avoid it on an endometriosis diet. Same as gluten, sugar and soy products.

Dairy, soy and gluten contain estrogen which is the hormone in our bodies that feeds the endometriosis. These products either produce or mimic the estrogen and cause reactions of inflammation in our bodies because we have endometriosis.

Lemons and apple cider vinegar, are alkaline-forming, although they taste sour. lemons and cider vinegar contain citric acid when mixed with water they also help neutralize acidity in the stomach. Lemons also contain potassium which also neutralizes stomach acids.

White wine and red wine vinegar are probably increasing the amount of acid. It's the wine that causes the excess acid. If you make the sauce yourself. try Using Apple ( mother) cider vinegar instead, see if it makes a difference. You would not have to stop eating what you like then.

Starry profile image
Starry in reply to

Hi, many thanks for the explanation, I will definitely look into it as I really don't want to get stuck on lansaprazole.

Is mother the brand name?

Yes I'm on the Endo diet pretty much already, except I do eat organic soya, because science has moved on since it was published 10 years ago and the latest scentific research says soya is net slightly positive for endo ( it was 50-50 when it was first written) . of course some Endo sufferers may still be intolerant of it like any protein but I'm fine on it and allergic to nuts so have to get my protein somewhere.

Fabbird profile image
Fabbird in reply to Starry

Hi, I've taken a drug just like lansaprozole to help my stomach after a bad reaction to NSAIDS. Having looked into it, I felt it was a good thing to take for a month. It's quite widely prescribed and usually has few side effects. It stops your stomach producing so much acidity, allowing the inflammation to heal. Once things are back to normal, it's easy to stop. I don't think you need to get stuck on it. I found it gave my stomach the rest it needed and haven't had the problem again.

I've read that taking anything that tries to counter acidity (rather than stop it at source) can create a problem over time. What seems to happen is that the stomach simply produces more acidity to counter whatever it is we take that is alkaline. So then you really are stuck taking the remedy. I thinks that's why drugs like lansaprazole are now prescribed instead.

I hope you feel better soon.

Starry profile image
Starry in reply to Fabbird

Thanks Fabbird I was worried because I read online you get an even worse flare up when you stop them and pharmacist warned me. How long did you use them for?

chriskresser.com/pills-or-p...

Fabbird profile image
Fabbird in reply to Starry

I used them for a month and had no difficulty stopping. By then I think my stomach had recovered.

If you go on YouTube and type in Apple cider vinegar and acid reflux / gerd and heartburn, there are many videos that explains things much better than I can.

Starry profile image
Starry in reply to

Thanks zonazer it was a good explanation you gave xx I will definitely Google it.

Just look for organic Apple cider vinegar with mother. It's the purest cider vinegar you can buy. I buy a 5 litre bottle on Amazon for about £12. It lasts for ages. If you Google organic apple cider vinegar with mother it will explain more than I can.

Soybeans contain isoflavones, which are chemically similar to estrogens. Soy contains phytoestrogens called isoflavones that may mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in your body.

Endometriosis feeds off oestrogen.

Starry profile image
Starry in reply to

Yes that was the old original case made against it but study results were conflicting at the time with evidence about 50-50.

More recent clinical research has now established there are only a limited number of receptors for oestrogens and phytoestrogens to latch onto. So the recent finding is that phyto-oestrogens, which are actually very weak, will occupy some of the receptors and prevent the much stronger oestradiol from attaching (the oestrogen driver of endo and oestrogen cancers).

Because of this the latest clinical opinion now is leaning toward soya as having protective effects against endo due to this.

Earlier large scale positive studies also exist from Japan where tofu and soya is am enstsblished traditional diet component and where a significantly lower incidence of Endo is recorded. These were not mentioned in the Endo Diet. which (understandably also focused on questionable US manufacturing issues, which aren't an issue in the UK . I've eaten soya for 30 years and had only 1 nodule. If soya was an Endo driver I'd have been riddled, but I do stick to quality brand organic products

Here are some links.

empowher.com/endometriosis/...

academic.oup.com/jnci/artic...

cancerresearchuk.org/about-...

in reply to Starry

You have to do what's best for your body. We all react differently. Only you know what your body can tolerate. The endo diet is only a guideline. Somewhere to start.

My body does not respond well to soy products they make me very ill. I use coconut amino instead of soy sauce. It tastes the same with out the digestive problems.

Xxx

Starry profile image
Starry in reply to

Of course. It can still cause intolerances like any protein and is still a common allergen just like gluten nuts and dairy. It's only the Endo specific oestrogenic concern that's been disproved.

Stellauk profile image
Stellauk

Unmanaged acid reflux can damage your teeth as the acid will erode your teeth enamel. You need to let your dentist know this and maybe get some high fluoride toothpaste by prescription such as duraphat 5000.

Hope this is just a phase that will pass soon.

Starry profile image
Starry

Went and saw a GP today as struggling so much. She was lovely and spent ages with me even though she was already running late.

My whole abdomen was tender on examination so she took me seriously , I'd been worried about being dismissed for complaining about nothing after the receptionist tried to fob me off with a nurse.

Interestingly she says sometimes the CO2 pressure from the surgery ( which was prolonged in my case) can put pressure on the stomach and so weaken the oesophagus flap along, which along with the ibuprofen could be causing the issue. She also was quite concerned about it possibly being caused by Helicobacter pylori infection given the sudden onset.

I have to give a stool sample and if it's positive it's more antibiotics. As it stands she definitely wants me on 30 lansaprole for 2 weeks then 15 for 2 weeks and I've to go back in three or four weeks to check my abdomen. If it turns out to be H pylori it's more antibiotics

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

healthline.com/health/diges...

Here's the Quick, Way to See if You Have Low Stomach Acid

Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4-6 ounces of cold water first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything.

Drink the baking soda solution.

Time how long it takes you to belch. Time up to five minutes.

healthyfoodteam.com/burp-wi...

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