Stomach acid and PPI's

[Dewy9698]

Hi

I've, like everyone else with PA, have intrinsic auto antibodies, I've also gastric reflux, a hiatus hernia and chronic gastritis/duodenitis (had more than one gastroscopy done which showed it).

I'm being treated with Lanzoprasole, on the orders of my gastroenterologist, for excess stomach acid, but my understanding, is that if you lack intrinsic factor, your stomach produces less acid.

So, I'm confused because the lanzoprasole is decreasing stomach acid even more. I get stomach ache when I take them and stomach ache when I dont! So 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Seth12345]

This topic confuses me profoundly as well. I saw a gastroenterologist and had an endoscopy done and it was noted that I also had some mild gastritis. However if you would ask me I would tell you that my stomach was on fire every day for months. The gastroenterologist recommendation was to take Prilosec which is a PPI. I tried that garbage and it made me feel even worse. That seems to be the go-to play of most doctors.

I seem to have noticed that after I have injections the pain in my stomach seems to go down. My neurologist seems to think that some of the pain might be caused by small fiber neuropathy and less of the actual stomach lining. I would also recommend taking a probiotic as that seems to help. It certainly won't hurt anything.

[Dewy9698 in reply to Seth12345]

I didnt even think of small fibre neuropathy, but then again I'm not under a neurologist, even though I have constant tingling in my feet, that never goes away regardless of my injections.

[Dewy9698 in reply to Seth12345]

I've tried probiotic before, but no change. Thanks though.

[Seth12345 in reply to Dewy9698]

Have you tried l-glutamate? You can read about that. It's really helpful for leaky gut. I used it and it seemed to help me.

[Dewy9698 in reply to Seth12345]

Hi

No, I havent, I'll look into it though.

Thanks 😊

[Nackapan]

Yes too little stomach acid gives the same effects.

Sounds wrong if not helping you.

I didnt get on with them but my daughter has had great relief using probiotics daily. Also had hot water with fresh lemon in. I have vinegar with meals.

[Dewy9698 in reply to Nackapan]

Ok, thanks, I'll give it a go. 😊

[Xena2202]

Chronic gastritis should mean low stomach acid, not sure why they’d give you that. The way I deal with it is by taking hcl/pepsin capsules with food to replace some of the acid. Seems to help with bloating and overall digestion for me. the bloating can be pretty bad if I don’t take it!

[Dewy9698 in reply to Xena2202]

Hi, thanks for that. I think they're convinced that I produce too much stomach acid and as i have gastric reflux and a hiatus hernia that's why they're prescribing me a ppi. I think a talk with my Dr is in order. Take care 😊

[Bonjourtristesse in reply to Dewy9698]

Hi Dewy I read Norman Robillard’s the fast tract diet for ibs which talks a lot about acid reflux and digestion issues. Not sure whether it’s relevant to you but think it could be worth a shot. He thinks that acid reflux is caused by excess carbs and/or low stomach acid and/or sibo. He’s a doctor who cured his own acid reflux, I recommend it to anyone who has acid reflux or digestive issues.

[Dewy9698 in reply to Bonjourtristesse]

Thanks very much for that. I'll have a look into it. 😊

[fbirder]

If you have PA then you have gastritis. But it's autoimmune gastritis, not erosive gastritis.

Here is a paper about gastrointestinal symptoms in people with autoimmune gastritis - journals.lww.com/md-journal...

About half of those with AG have such symptoms. Many are those you would expect from sombody with normal levels of acid production, not the hypochlorhydria you get with AG.

Among the upper GI symptoms reported, a quarter was represented by GERD, alone or associated to dyspepsia. Despite the impaired acid secretion occurring in AG due to atrophy of the oxyntic mucosa, it is possible that nonacidic refluxes might develop and play as determinants of heartburn perception, as recently observed.[24] In fact, in a recent paper, Tenca et al[13] demonstrated that 24% of AG patients present gastroesophageal reflux at pH-impedence monitoring, irrespective of the presence of symptoms, confirming that reflux can occur in AG patients. In another study by Miceli et al,[11] it has been reported that 24% of AG patients complained of heartburn and 12% of acid regurgitation. In addition, we recently describe a case of Barrett’s esophagus in a patient affected by pernicious anemia, supporting that GERD and its related complications may originate even in a hypochlorhydric patient.[

[Dewy9698 in reply to fbirder]

Thanks very much. 😊 I seem to think that most Drs think PA is just a blood disorder and forget that it can actually have an impact on your stomach.

[fbirder in reply to Dewy9698]

Well, it's really the other way around. PA doesn't have an impact on the stomach, but autoimmune inflammation of the stomach causes PA.

[Dewy9698 in reply to fbirder]

True 😊

[Pasjc]

I know how you feel the more I read the more co fused I get I too have not enough acid ....... what next

[Chickens44]

I have just started taking Betaine HCL, I am also trying L glutamate (or is it glutamine?), a probiotic, vitamin C, and diamine oxidase. Hoping at least one of these will help my low stomach acid, and relieve the bloating and malabsorption. It is all a minefield, knowing what to try. As the GPs are all a bit lost when you overload them with too much research.