Heartburn

[FatThumbs]

Hi All.

I've read some contradictory things on this subject, maybe you can help clear things up.

I have PA, also Psoriatic Arthritis for whatever that is worth. I have suffered from heartburn for a long time, I have to take a pill everyday for it or I am in big trouble.

So, I've read that heartburn can be a result of the PA, and also that the pills(lansoprazole etc) can exacerbate the symptoms of the b12 deficiency. Is that right? How am I supposed to treat the heartburn?

[charks]

Have you tried cutting out gluten and dairy? It sorted out my heartburn/acid reflux.

[FatThumbs in reply to charks]

No, but i should probably give it a go at some point!

[charks in reply to FatThumbs]

I think it is worth trying as it is an 'easy' option and if it works it will do so very quickly - within a week. I do miss gluten and dairy but I don't miss the awful heartburn I used to have. And some dairy free substitutes such as oak milk and Plant cream are very good. Unfortunately no gluten free bread is worth buying unless you are going to toast or fry it.

[Jillymo]

Hi,

My Dr prescribed Gavistgon to start off with now like you I am on Lansoprazole. I found avoiding hard fats such as cheese ect in the evenings helped. If suffering with heartburn / reflux I found a little baking soda in water or apple cider vinigar helped.

Try taking note of what you have eaten that might have trigged the heartburn.

Have you seen a gastrologist to see why your getting acid reflux ? If not it mide be prudent to request a referral especially as you have PA.

[FatThumbs in reply to Jillymo]

I'll bring this up next time i speak to my GP!

[wedgewood]

If you have low / no stomach acid Hypochlorhydria / Achlorhydria ( this happens if you have Pernicious Anaemia ) your oesophageal sphincter does not close as tightly as it would if you had a good supply of strong stomach acid , so it leaks . This weak acid ( it does not feel weak when it stings ! ) give you pain , which is called “heartburn” . The pill that you are taking is designed to cancel out the stomach acid . Lansoprazole etc , know as Proton Pump Inhibitors

As a result of not having a good supply of stomach acid , the absorption of vitamin b12 is especially compromised. Also other vitamins and mineral can also be affected .

I had reflux when I first had P.A. I treated it with a probiotic called Symprove . This provides the gut with good bacteria . There are other probiotic medications . Bad stomach bacteria flourishes in a low acid situation.

Also diluted organic apple cider vinegar taken with meals helps the situation . Or any other acidic drink eg lime juice . In severe cases , Betaine Hydrochloric acid with pepsin capsules will help . ( obtainable from Amazon )

Eat smaller meals more often , and chew thoroughly .This gives the enzymes in the saliva a chance to start the breaking down process . Be relaxed at meal times, and enjoy them .

My reflux disappeared in less than 3 months , and has never returned . I self inject B12 . Adequate stomach acid ensures that the oesophageal sphincter closes tightly , so there is no reflux , no “heartburn” .

P.P.I.s are the biggest money spinner for the pharmaceutical industry .

Autoimmune conditions seldom come alone . So you have P.A. and Psoriatic Arthritis . There are over 100 autoimmune conditions !

Best wishes .

[FatThumbs in reply to wedgewood]

Thanks for the in depth reply, that was very useful. I'll certainly take a look at those probiotics!

[Narwhal10 in reply to wedgewood]

Yes -P.P.I.s are a big money spinner for the pharmaceutical industry. But then there’s ALL the antidepressants, downers, uppers, brain controlling ones. A huge amount of research on over-diagnosis and incorrect diagnosis of ADHD (another possible misdiagnosis for PA/B12D) Asperger’s, Autism and up to a whooping 90 %.

FatThumbs has Psoriatic Arthritis and stomach problems. Lots of children have allergies, intolerances and parents can be far too exhausted to cook proper meals. Their brains may not be getting the nutrients they require.

Let food be your medicine and if you can’t break it down and/or absorb it - let us find another way. Until we work out why.

[ReallyWondering in reply to wedgewood]

I totally agree. I also have PA and AAG and had terrible heartburn for 6 months. I was prescribed PPIs but they did not work, so after months of using them I weaned myself off. I was then told to take gaviscon, another antacid. While this helped temporarily, I still had it every day. I was also on a GERD diet. So after reading posts about low acid, I decided to try something else. I went off the gerd diet and took apple cider vinegar gummies every time I started getting heartburn. This was helping, then I tried eating dried mango, which is acidic. This has been working the best. It’s been getting rid of my heartburn every time. So apparently I have low acid, the opposite of what my doctors were treating!! Btw I’m also on probiotics, but have been the whole time

[OldmanD]

I take Lanzoprozol for some years . . . . . Cant really do without it as I had a hiatus hernia not helping matters. . . . . . . Yes it does use up a bit of B12 but i dont believe it "runs away with it". . . . . . There are many other things that use up B12 not all artificial as lansoprozal that is the nature of life. . . . .. . Thats my experience. . . . . . Got diagnosed either 3 or 4 years ago and SI about 3 months later. . . . . I just use as much B12 as I need. . . . . Took a long time to accept that every day and every week will never be the same and that is the nature of us, . . . . . .

[FatThumbs]

How do you know how much b12 you need? I am yet to start self injecting, but was considering injecting myself at least every week. I may be wrong but i believe i have read that you cant really have too much b12.

[wedgewood in reply to FatThumbs]

Inject at whatever regularity you require to keep symptoms at bay . Yes that’s right , you cannot overdose on Vitamin B12.,

[Orchard33]

Do whatever you can to relax your digestive tract and support it. I gave up a PPI after more years than I care to remember and researched alternatives that did no harm, as indicated by replies above. It's not easy but in the end PPIs stop working anyway and were harmful to me.

[nitaslenz108]

The PPI medication taken for heartburn does interfere with B12 absorption in the gut. If you are injecting the B12 you should be OK. I am not clear about how the PPI medication might effect absorption of the folic acid taken by mouth though.

[Mrsyng188]

Hi, I too have Psoriatic Arthritis, Pernicious anaemia and after a camera exam was told I have chronic atrophic gastritis. My nurse practitioner was very knowledgeable and said if I am on B12 injections, then Omeprazole cannot do any further damage, my indegestion is better controlled now. I have found posture, leaning forward can cause painful symptoms and now avoid citrus fruit, including pineapple and pomegranate. My dose is 20mg morning and evening and if it happens take 2 additional tablets. I have stopped eating dozens of gaviscon tablets each day. I hope this offers some help and reassurance.

[Skieblue]

Yes, I have read that PPI’s are actually cancer causing, look for the medical name if your PPI on the carcinogenic list