Mastic Gum to assist withdrawal of Lansoprazole

[Christineblue]

Hi everyone, posted lots of issues like many members and working through the advice given. I have Hashi with positive antibodies for hypo. Not on Levo meds, started this merrygoround on testing positive with H Pylori followed by antibiotics and PPI's finally tested negative for H Pylori but amongst all the tests, endoscopy and Lansoprazole I am trying to resolve my own issues, currently on iron tablets and Vit d, 1600iu daily after initial loading dose, doc prescribed 800iu, I went from level 14 to 65 on last blood test last month so take double the Vit D. I have tried to reduce Lansoprazole to 15mg daily, horrendous stomach pain after eating so went back to 30mg although 30mg didn't give me full relief, as an exercise I increased the Lansoprazole to 60mg per day, this has made me pain free now but don't want them long term.

Has anyone tried Mastic Gum for digestive issues, I am two months into a gluten free diet in the hope that it helps my thyroid antibodies and they come down when I have my next bloods done in Dec. My last TSH was 6.03 but FT3 and FT4 within range.

Thanks for any advice.

[shaws]

Your TSH is high and I think over-range. Although the 'wise men' who decided that TSH must reach 10 before diagnosing a patient is absolutely ridiculous. I think it is because they are ignorant of the disabling symptoms and to make it easy for themselves have chosen number 10 out of a hat.

When hypo and because everything slows down, particularly digestion etc. They are apt to prescribe Lansoprazole instead of being aware that it is 'low acid' which usually causes our symptoms as we don't have sufficient in our stomach. Many members take a few teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (with mother is best) mixed with juice or water during meals. Others take digestive enzymes or Betaine with pepsin tablets. All of these provide acid in stomach. The following link is just an explanation of 'mother'

hollandandbarrett.com/shop/...

scdlifestyle.com/2012/06/hy...

Mastic gum is known for its helpful properties but am not sure if it will actually replace stomach acid.

drhoffman.com/article/masti...

Are your FT3/FT4 towards the top of the range?

Did you have the blood test at the very earliest and fasting (you can drink water).

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[Christineblue in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws, I also have that ACV in water from time to time, I wasn't told about the blood test being very early when I had my first two even though I asked GP so on my last blood test it was 8.30 in the morning and fasting the results were TSH of 6.03 the previous ones were 5.5, 4.4 and 3.5. So clearly the numbers are getting higher. I posted my last bloods on here but don't know how to retrieve them to see the range. The antibodies had also gone up quite a lot, that's why trying gluten free in the hope of getting them lower and helping the thyroid. I think the FT3 and 4 were mid range.

[shaws in reply to Christineblue]

Click on your name and it will take you to your 'posts/replies' and you can copy paste what you want. 8.30 is fine for a blood test. Surgeries don't usually open before then.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Some people have had good success with slippery elm (no idea what that is, but it sounds intriguing)

But you need to get started on Levo probably.

The reason for h Pylori and low stomach acid is because you are either already hypo or heading that way

Good you are sorting vitamin D

What about B12, folate and ferritin

Gluten free diet should help too

[Christineblue in reply to SlowDragon]

I think I need B12 and maybe selenium, taking ferrous glutamite for iron. Is there some recommendations of what else I should take, I will look into slippery elm, doc won't prescribe Levo cos of the FT ranges. It's not easy this road is it.

Thanks for help.

[lisabax in reply to Christineblue]

Slippery elm is a herbal remedy and you can get it from a health shop. Completely safe as far as I know and I've found it enormously helpful in replacing omeprazole which was what I was on.

[Christineblue in reply to lisabax]

Oh thank you, everyone is so kind and I have lots of info to try and work through now.

[humanbean]

I would second Slow Dragon's suggestion of Slippery Elm. It helps to coat the gut to protect it from hyper-secretion of stomach acid following reduction or withdrawal of PPIs . It can be taken in a capsule form or the capsules can be opened and put into hot water to make a "tea". It can be bought as a loose powder too. I've never tried the tea idea, but the capsules have helped me in the past. I imagine you could try cutting down on the PPIs and take the slippery elm to help with the side effects, then reduce the slippery elm at your own speed as your gut adapts to functioning without the PPIs.

Another thing I've heard of that can help people, but I've never tried it myself, is marshmallow root. Some people take both slippery elm and marshmallow root together - I think Biocare do a combo of the two.

Please do your own research - I'm not medically trained.

[Christineblue in reply to humanbean]

Thank you slowdragon and human bean,

I will look into your suggestions and give them a go, it seems very hard to come off PPI's, I am not even sure why I was put on them in the first place as I didn't notice stomach issues at the time I presented to my GP with post nasal drip, unless the H Pylori did its worst as I wasn't tested for that for 8 months into PPIs so not sure, I wonder if you can get H Pylori back again. My own feeling is why are just symptoms bring treated with pills instead of finding the root cause of the problem and treat that. Do we think with a TSH of 6.03 it would be my Hypo that is causing the acid reflux pain and if I was treated with Levo that in itself would fix the acid issue.

It is all quite mind boggling isn't it.

Thanks for help.

[limasog]

Hi Christineblue, I took mastic gum to treat h pylori successfully. Unfortunately I didn’t treat it early enough and developed gastritis and had to have antibiotics and PPIs. I finished the antibiotic treatment a few days ago but still have 8 weeks on lansoprazole, which I hate, but will stick with it for the duration. I have also been taking oil of oregano, caprylic acid and high strength probiotics along with a large quantity of kefir daily. Make sure you get enough B12, iron, vit D and vit C. Aloe Vera gel is very good at soothing stomach and oesophagus issues. Digestive enzymes help but you need to continue to increase them until your symptoms disappear and continue to increase until you start to feel worse. Your dose should be what you’re on before you felt worse again.

[Christineblue in reply to limasog]

Hi, thank you for this info, I too had the antibiotic treatment for h pylori and have since tested negative. I seem to be getting some things right but not others, I get pain at top of tummy near spincture muscle, if I try to cut own the Lansoprazole I get more attacks of the pain. I don't know what is causing this so wondered if h pylori could come back. Because I have Hashimotos and heading to Hypothyroidism and low nutrients I don't know if the stomach issues are related to this.

I will look for the suggested supplements where would be good to buy them in the uk, want to get good organic gluten free options.

[limasog in reply to Christineblue]

You may want to google gastritis as when there are symptoms they're normally pain in the upper abdomen. I had an endoscopy with biopsies which identified negative h pylori but positive for gastritis (caused by the h pylori). The two lots of antibiotics and the the Lansoprazole are to treat the gastritis. As for supplements, you can get most good quality ones on Amazon.