Acupuncture for undiagnosed/silent reflux?

[Janouska]

Hi Has anyone tried acupuncture for daily gastric symptoms?

Sorry this is long message so no need to read it all unless want to!

I was put on PPIs by cardiologist who thought my pressure in chest could reflux. A gastro endoscopy was negative but I was told it could be silent reflux and to try PPIs again. I thought my head felt clearer but was still getting sensation in chest and developed belching and regurgitation I had not had before. So I came off PPI 12 weeks ago.

The regurgitation of clear liquid has diminished but it feels as though food not going down properly.

I am having daily problems, pressure feeling in throat and belching after every meal, bloating , lower abdominal cramps especially at night . bowel variable and unpredictable. Blocked nose/post nasal drip is back.

Am pretty fed up with it. Dr has now given me Famotidine 40g twice a day but see they are also antacids and I’m not convinced I have high acid. If anything I feel it could be low acid.

I am looking to pay to see someone but not sure who- ENT or Gastro.

As it may be anxiety linked ( I have developing eye problem and depression living alone and not getting out much - vicious circle since this reflux problem) I wondered whether anyone has tried acupuncture? Especially as I do not have clear diagnosis.

I’m sorry about long ramble but would welcome any advice ( I’ve done the usual since last September- raised bed, gaviscon advance, silicogel, came off hrt for few days, cut out foods, don’t eat after 6).

thank you

[Jaby86]

Hello, sorry to hear about your issues. I too also had reflux and Lpr which I believe were linked to anxiety and also poor eating habits (not eating enough and exercising too much) I tried the following things and I have been symptom free for a few months now but as always everyone is different and different things work for different peopleAcupuncture

Chewable licorice tablets

Slippery elm supplements

Marshmallow root supplements

Breathing exercises

Meditation

Eating more mindfully

Snacking between meals

Removing triggers which for me were onions, tomatoes spicy food and chocolate although thankfully I can now eat these things in moderation.

Anxiety has a lot to answer for for health problems so addressing the root cause is key.

Hope things improve for you.

[Janouska in reply to Jaby86]

thank you so much for listing all the helpful things. I will try acupuncture and marshmallow as the two things not tried. Thanks again

[Pollyander]

No sorry. Had the endoscopy several, ended up having surgery for repair 3 times none successful have 10cm hiatus hernia have to live with it. On meds I just try to get on the best I can. Hope you get yours sorted surgery works quite well I was just unfortunate.

[Janouska in reply to Pollyander]

I am so sorry for what you have been through. Life is such a lottery. I wish you the best possible. It is kind of you to post

[wholesome]

I'm going through the same thing as you, I believe it's low acid problem. It's coming up into my sinus and ears, and the throat. The anxiety can either be from the stomach issue as my anxiety only happens when my stomach acts up.

I'm going to go get a PH TEST done to see if it's a high or low acid problem. Meds don't usually work.

I just started the cabbage juice protocol to see if that helps. It's only been 2 days and so far it seems to be helping, but really need a week or 2 to tell.

I take zinc l-carnosine it's suppose to mend the gut.

I think the issue is there's not enough acid in the stomach which is causing the spincture not to close, causing silent reflux.

I

[Janouska in reply to wholesome]

thank you wholesome. How do you get a ph test done? I am in UK so will have to find private consultant who will approve it. I don’t want to wait another year. I’ve had series of health issues since made redundant in 2019 and want to return to some sort of normal life in my remaining years! Incidentally I had 24 hour bad stomach this week. I wonder whether it was the few spoons of sauerkraut I’d had for 2 days😀Please keep us posted on your progress.

[wholesome in reply to Janouska]

I'm first going to try a walk-in clinic regular GP, if they refuse to put in the paper work then I will go to a natural path doctor I know he will do it. I want a straight answer on my acid level in the stomach, that way I know how to treat it. From what I have studied. the anxiety is coming on when the stomach pushes up on the sphincter at the top and is not closing properly and could be pressing on the vagus nerve. There are youtube videos that helps to relax the area. Easy to do massages in the solar plexus area to bring down the stomach. Magnesium spray oil helps also relaxing the area. Many body builders have hernia's and tightness in the solar plexus which helps relax the sympathetic nervous system.

Stay with easy digestion foods, like banana's avocado's, tuna. Stay away from junk and sugar, I even had to give up coffee right now it's so bad.

Best thing to start is Betaine HCL tablets, you take them before a meal, start at 3 then each day go up 1 pill until you feel a warmth in the stomach, they really work and helps.

Second is get ZINC L CARNOSINE, that means the inside of the gut imflamation and starts healing it.

Go watch Dr Berg's video's on YouTube under gastris, uclers, and acid reflux, it might help explain more to you. We are differently affected by this.

For the throat issue try some ZINC lozenges, or licorce root tablets, both sooth the throat when Acid is up there.

I brush my teeth so many times a day with baking soda to stop the acid in the mouth.

I'm on day 3 of cabbage juice mixed with celery, and I have to say it's improving daily.

Keep you posted on that, they say it heals the stomach issues in a matter of 10 days to a couple of weeks. Simple to do just drink 2 glasses of 6 ounce, 1 first thing in the morning and 1 at night before bed.

[Janouska in reply to wholesome]

wow you are trying so hard. I agree - you need to know whether your acid level normal so that you know what you are dealing with. I did not find PPIs helpful and am doing better generally by bland eating. I’ve given up all the things meant to - except my morning one cup coffee. That said I had glass of wine last week and was ok. That’s one reason I am not convinced it is high acid and luckily I do not get stomach pains or burning, some abdominal cramps and belching and coughing when eat. But I think I have heightened awareness now. I did feel well the day after 24 hour diarrhoea last week 😂- literally deflated to my normal body shape and no cramping. I had had a small spoon of sauerkraut so maybe that was too much for my unhappy gut microbiome at the moment. I’ll stick to my kefir for now! Good luck. Thank you for taking the trouble to share your learning. Take care

[zendo]

Acupuncture can help. In the UK there is (or was) a very well-known acupuncture specialist, Nora Franglen. She may not be practicing any more, but maybe you can find someone who has worked with her.

Life-style changes are essential. Changes to your diet are in many cases the most effective course. Try not to get hooked on PPI, because it is difficult to break away from them when taken for an over extended length of time.