I just started injections for low B12 (caused by pernicious anemia, as confirmed by antibody testing and an endoscopy) around 3 weeks ago now. While I still feel tired I can already tell that some of my symptoms are improving: I have more energy and I am also having less indigestion. But weirdly, I'm having a new symptom that I never had before: horrible heartburn and acid reflux! I've never had these problems before in my life, even though I have had a lot of abdominal cramping and diarrhea (both of which are beginning to resolve now that i'm getting injections). maybe it's unrelated to the injections, but i wondered if anyone else has had this experience and if it goes away?
thanks so much
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Merlotponty
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This is very timely for me! I did have problems with reflux previously (after my second pregnancy) and it was quite bad, but then it seemed to become a PMT thing only with me. This was whilst my other B12 deficiency symptoms were worsening. I’m on dose 5 of 6 loading doses and I’ve definitely had the reversing out thing, with symptoms coming and going in the opposite order to which they came!
My reflux has now come back with a vengeance and I’m not sure if it was always an earlier symptom of B12 deficiency (and therefore this is reversing out), is related to the cause of my B12 deficiency in the first place, or is a side effect from the many extra supplements I’m also now taking. And I’m only allowing myself gaviscon occasionally at night time only because of the absorption problems antacids cause. 😭
Acid reflux can be very unpleasant especially during the night.
I found avoiding things like butter, cheese ect and fatty foods helped. A friend suggested I tried something called slippery elm which helps to protect the gut also good for the bowel.
I mix it in a little warm water where it goes to a sort of jelly consistency. It's not too unpleasent in taste but you need to drink it straight away.
acid reflux can be the result of both too much and too little stomach acidity.
I suffer occassionally - eggs seem to be a particular trigger for me - and immediately reach for something slightly acidic. It may be placebo but the relief for me is almost instantaneous.
I have bad acid reflux, a while ago I saw something on YouTube saying that it's caused by too little acid in your stomach, so you need to replenish it, by drinking water with apple cider vinegar in it.
There was an interesting reply on a post on Thyroid UK very recently re Silent Reflux. However, it might be worth a quick read more generally re reflux.
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