Stomach acid

[lifegems]

Hello all.. I’m hoping I can get some clarity from you guys .. I’m really confused about stomach acid and atrophic gastritis and pernicious anaemia.. I have both and understand from posts I’ve read on here that stomach acid is low/missing but I’ve just read the below .. is it down to higher stomach acid or not Enough ?

A doctor will typically prescribe antibiotics to treat cases where bacteria is causing atrophic gastritis. In some cases, they may also prescribe medication to reduce the production of stomach acids while the stomach heals.

[wedgewood]

Atrophic Gastritis can be caused by Helicobacter Pylori bacteria . In this case it can be cured by certain antibiotics . In order to help the stomach heal, a medication which will lower the stomach acid of the patient will be given for a short time . This has nothing to do with the autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis that Pernicious Anaemia patients have as a result of the action of Intrinsic Factor antibodies . There is no cure for it . Pernicious Anaemia patients have low or no stomach acid ( Hypochlorhydria/ Achlorhydria. ) Treatment for P.A. and a good diet will help the condition .

[lifegems in reply to wedgewood]

Thanks for the reply .. I don’t have the H pylori or so I’ve been told so I assume it’s auto immune .. I find it very difficult to get a straight answer if I’m honest and that’s after 3 endoscopies ! But I’m assuming it’s low acid even though I’ve been prescribed antacids in the past .. I just wish I didn’t have stomach pain most of the time .. it’s bearable but I would like to be rid of it

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to lifegems]

unfortunately the symptoms of low stomach acidity are the same as those of high stomach acidity, eg acid reflux. This is because the production of the hormone gastrin which tells your stomach to produce gastric juices needs a certain level of acidity to switch it off - which just doesn't happen in patients with low stomach acidity. Most of us find that taking some fruit juice or vinegar ie something acidic helps. The NHS doesn't offer treatment for low stomach acidity specifically. It doesn't test forn low stomach acidity either though there is an easy self test involving baking soda for low acidity

[lifegems in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks so much .. I’ll look it up

[fbirder in reply to lifegems]

Have a look at your endoscopy reports.

Autoimmune gastric atrophy is usually restricted to the two upper parts of the stomach, the fundus and corpus, and absent from the lower part, the antrum. intechopen.com/books/gastri...

Biopsy samples may be reported as showing signs of intestinal metaplasia (intestinal cells growing where stomach cells should be).

Those are the two signs of an autoimmune gastritis.

You could also ask for a gastrin test.

When you eat you produce gastrin. This does several things, including stimulating the production of stomach acid. This lowers the stomach pH which tells the body to stop making gastrin. If you can't make stomach acid (which is one effect of autoimmune gastritis) then the production of gastric isn't switched off and your blood levels rise.

[lifegems in reply to fbirder]

Thanks so much .. I have metaplasia according to my results but not sure where z when you say blood levels rise what do you mean ?

[fbirder in reply to lifegems]

If you have autoimmune gastritis then your blood levels of gastrin will be high, because you don't make enough stomach acid.

So a high level of gastrin is a good sign of low stomach acid.

[lifegems in reply to fbirder]

thank you 😀

[wedgewood in reply to lifegems]

I had stomach pain also when first diagnosed with P.A. I realised that low stomach acid was enabling harmful bacteria to thrive in the stomach , causing pain similar to IBS . I took a water -based probiotic called Symprove , which solved the problem in a few weeks . Now I’m on the correct regularity of B12 injections ( weekly for me ) the problem has not returned , and I do not need to take any probiotics . An acid drink with meals is helpful . P.A. patients with severe lack of stomach acid often take Betaine Hydrochloric acid with pepsin capsules . ( Amazon) It can be tricky to find the correct dosage . Taken with protein meals . Best to consult a nutritionist about dosage . Or look up instructions by googling . Also look up diet for Hypochlorhydria/Achlorhydria.

[lifegems in reply to wedgewood]

Thanks so much ! Have heard of symprove so will try that