How to get off PPIs and onto apple cider vinegar?

[Blue_Bee]

I’ve been on protein pump inhibitors for years. As part of an effort to heal my gut and improve absorption (I have Coeliac and Hashimoto’s) I want to get off the PPI and onto ACV. currently am on 20-40mg a day depending on any reflux issues. Note, when I asked my Gastroentologist about low acid vs acid reflux, he said it was a myth. He seems to know his stuff... ?

[Blue_Bee]

Do I taper off the PPI and THEN start the apple cider vinegar (ACV)? Or, start taking the ACI while I’m tapering off the PPI?

[Clutter in reply to Blue_Bee]

Blue_Bee,

You need to wean of PPI over several months and see how you do without the PPI for a few weeks/months. You may not need ACV. Don't go from suppressing acid to immediately adding acid or you will make yourself ill.

[Blue_Bee in reply to Clutter]

Great! Thank you Clutter. One step at a time then. I’ll start with weaning off the PPIs. Oooh I just wish I had a magic wand!!! Patience then and slowly does it

[Nanaedake]

I would be interested to know how gastroenterologists diagnose high stomach acid. What test demonstrates exactly what PH the stomach acid is in a human? Where is the evidence and proof of your condition? What was the PH in your stomach and what is it now? If he knows his stuff he should be able to show you the evidence shouldn't he?? Western medicine is supposed to be evidence based.

[Blue_Bee in reply to Nanaedake]

Nanaedake

I think western medicine is pretty good, so I’m sorry you won’t get a whole lot of doctor-bashing from me. That said, the more you know about medicine, the more you know how much is unknown generally, and by the doctors themselves. That’s the nature of science, constantly expanding, revised knowledge. And yes, there are some lousy doctors out there who have devastating affects on our lives. Many of us here live to tell the tale I was put on PPIs after being put on Fozamax (unnecessarily it turns out) which gave me almost instant acid reflux... and there began my health descent; well that’s my layperson’s theory. Now I need to get off the PPIs — well that’s the latest experiment I want to try. I’m not a doctor, but I’m willing to try something that might help. And you know doctors DON’T know stuff (but they do know a lot!!) and they are not God (but they are very knowledgeable humans in their specialist areas) and the best doctors know this. Disclaimer: my daughter is a doctor, a trainee surgeon. She has been studying and training for over a decade now. I understand the rage (and feel it myself sometimes) at poor doctoring. There are many good doctors out there; the best of them are open to collaborating with their patients. I’m really grateful for western medicine and the random good luck I had to be born in an era and place where I get to live past my 30s.

[Nanaedake in reply to Blue_Bee]

I hope you get off the PPI's without a problem. Maybe your doctor is right and there isn't such a thing as low stomach acid, it would be useful to know. I hope you get off the PPI's smoothly.

[Blue_Bee in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks for your kind thoughts Nanaedake. Anyway, it seems step one is to get off the PPIs and NOT to be 1) assuming I have low acic and 2) not to be adding ACV at the same time as coming off the PPI. It can take many months to come off apparently and this will be my 2nd attempt. Wishing you well.

[Nanaedake in reply to Blue_Bee]

I'm glad I refused to take them but I didn't know it was so difficult to get off them. Second time lucky then, keeping my fingers crossed for you. If you're not dairy intolerant I've found natural full fat yogurt is good for calming the gut. Just my experience, not a recommendation.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low stomach acid seems to been even more commonly misunderstood than thyroid and that's saying something

[Blue_Bee]

Hooley dooley ain’t that the truth!

[BadHare]

Look up Chris Kresser’s & download his free e-book on treating GERD. I posted a link re one of his articles on PPI use on the Healthy Eating forum earlier today. I’m on my phone so can’t post the link just now, sorry!

kresserinstitute.com/eight-...

What we should be doing instead

And there you have it: eight more evidence-based reasons to avoid PPIs. We can clearly see that a functional approach to treating these conditions would significantly improve patient outcomes. So to conclude, here are my recommendations for treating GERD without PPIs:

Switch the patient to a nutrient-dense, Paleo-type diet: many patients find that heartburn resolves simply from eliminating highly refined carbohydrates from their diet.

Test and treat SIBO: intra-abdominal pressure from SIBO is thought to be a major cause of lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction, which allows stomach contents to reflux back into the esophagus. Treating SIBO can relieve this pressure and often significantly reduces the frequency and severity of heartburn.

Look for nutrient deficiencies: iodine and choline, for example, are involved in the production and secretion of gastric acid.

Replace stomach acid to improve digestion: as I have explained in my previous articles, most patients with GERD have too little stomach acid, not too much.

Have your patient experiment with a low-carb diet: carbohydrate malabsorption can cause significant bloating, which exerts pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter to cause reflux. Some patients may find relief with a low-carb diet.

I found kefir helped improve my digestion a lot. chriskresser.com/kefir-the-...

[Blue_Bee in reply to BadHare]

No worries, I’m just onto Chris Knesset now thanks to Radd. Lots of reading to do! Thanks BadHare. BBx

[Nanaedake in reply to BadHare]

Very interesting read on Chris Kressers webpage. It ties in with the recent research posted about fructans. I think it was diogenes or one of the admins who posted it.

newscientist.com/article/21...

[BadHare in reply to Nanaedake]

I found his suggestion on how to test for wheat or gluten sensitivity good, & much of his advice is sound. I drink kefir every day thanks to reading about it on his website. Hope you don't mind me reposting the NS article on Healthy eating?

[Nanaedake in reply to BadHare]

Well, it wasn't my original post, I think you'll find it in the research section on this forum.

[BadHare in reply to Nanaedake]

Just being polite, & thanks for reposting as I’d missed it.

[soppysokes]

It's a very personal thing I think so can only I would reduce down to say 20-20 per day rather than the 20-40 for a week or so then try say 20-20, 10-20 then 10-10 and reduce very slowly over a couple of months with the aim of just 10 very other day till none if you do not get problems enroute. Too quick stoppage can cause worse rebound reflux in some people.