Has anyone ever had a test to measure the levels of your stomach acid. I wondered if this was something you could get done privately.
I'm at a loss, I've tried apple cider vinegar, hcl betaine upto 4500mg per meal and nothing worked. I've been off the Ppi now for 2 months and realise it could be the bounce back but at the moment nothing works and I'm still bloated, full of wind with a stomach that's constantly complaining very loudly.
Anybody else have problems coming off ppi s and combating stomach problems.
Thanks
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paulnelson197
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Hi Shaws, you've given me loads of advice in the past thanks, I've now weened myself off PPI over 3 week period, that was about 2 months ago. I've tried the home test and it indicated low stomach acid. Unfortunately the apple cider vinegar didn't work as the belching has never subsided, the hcl betaine didn't work I got up to 6 tablets at 4500mg per dose before meals. That didn't work either, I'm still belching constantly which is bringing acid back up, still bloated and still issues with going the loo.
I'm now thinking have I actually got high stomach acid because the symptoms are pretty much the same as low stomach acid. What ever I do doesn't seem to work.
Wondering if anyone else in the community had problems with coming off the ppi and stomach acid.
Took me four years to get things back to normal after coming off PPIs. And, I've only managed to do it with the help of turmeric. The PPIs caused constipation - something I'd never had before in all my years of hypo. Turmeric has sorted that out. I take half a teaspoon in honey every night.
I have no idea what my acid level is, but I don't think it's low anymore.
Seems different things work for different people but I will certainly give the turmeric a go, I'll try anything at this point. Thank you any advice is really appreciated.
Well, you could, but it depends on what form it's in. You can get it in capsules, but I take the ground powered turmeric. Taking a spoonful of powder is most disagreeable, and the taste is frankly awful! I just add honey to make it into a paste which is more easily swallowed and disguises the taste. Have you never used turmeric in cooking? It's extremely pungent.
Hi greygoose, the turmeric did wonders. I took a teaspoon about 8pm and another just before going to bed. Result: settled stomach throughout the night.
I normally take Linden digestive enzymes, bought cheaply from ebay at £5 for 90. They are normally oblong. Last time they were round and actually increased reflux. I thought it was due to my shoveling the food in & only stopped taking them after a few days when I vomited in the night.
Bought Holland & Barrett MultiDigestive Enzyme 90 Tablets. These helped but even after 3 weeks I was still having gerd/reflux problems. It was only after trying the turmeric (last night) that my stomach has finally settled, so had a uneventful, deep, long sleep.
Tumeric, curcumin benefits: healthline.com/nutrition/tu... - 'A substance in black pepper called piperine can increase the bioavailability of curcumin by 2,000% '
Turmeric everyday for now on. Will also try the bitters at some stage as they are supposed to trigger your own digestive enzymes.
PS stomach still feels settled now after eating quite a lot and without taking any more turmeric or the H & B MultiDigestive Enzyme tablets :-).
Well, that's great! But, that's rather a lot of turmeric. I wouldn't continue on a dose that high, if I were you. Could give you the serious trots! About 1/2 a teaspoon a day is the recommended dose.
Wouldn't black pepper irritate your stomach? Perhaps to get the optimum benefit from turmeric, curcumin with the boosting properties of black pepper (piperine) is to take a supplement.
Last few days been taking a teaspoon of turmeric, place on tongue and drink water to wash it down, whenever stomach hurts or I'm burping. Seems I need it less and less as the days go by. If I'm going to have a big meal I take it just before and try to remember to take before I go to bed even if stomachs OK. There is a laxative effect but not too much, suppose can differ person to person.
I have been taking it occasionally with honey and it certainly does something, I've since tried the bitters and they don't work for me either. I'm going gluten free for a couple of weeks and if that doesn't have any effect I'll have to add dairy free 😕 hopefully something works. Glad to here it's working for you, I keep forgetting to take mine.
I think it's improved but not massively, we're only half through the second week though. My stomach is like an orchastra sometimes 🙄 most of the time in fact.
Were they the FSC ones with those strengths you were trying?
Also, how often were you taking the Turmeric. I took a teaspoon every time I felt any stomach pain or/and when I was belching, about 5 teaspoons a day.
I think I've been checked for everything stomach wise, the hcl tablet is 648mg I tend to forget to take them alot off the time. Memory is shocking, I'm going to try the extra turmeric as well. I wonder if there's a suitable tablet that is as effective.
Place Betaine Hydrochloride & Pepsin next to where you have your meal then you won't forget.
Have you tried more turmeric? Has it been helpful?
Have you any back problems as a documentary stated that the nerve in the spine can cause stomach problems if being impinged innerbody.com/anatomy/nervo...
No back problems as yet, I tried the scd diet for 5 days and it had no effect whatsoever. Cut everything out bar homemade chicken soup, bananas and meatballs. I've just started the digestive enzymes and hcl again but I'm beginning to accept it'll never change.
Hi Paul, I usually bought from ebay via same seller, same brand, but the last time when I did I experienced stomach pain and reflux every time I took them. I thought it was because I was overeating, but after 5 days I vomited in bed and finally stopped them. Stomach still not right. Tumeric soothes the pain whenever I take it.
Generally, to make turmeric bioavailable you need to take it with some fat and black pepper (or chilli/cayenne). so you could mix it in food (it's curry) or put it in a drink like hot chocolate with a bit of cayenne. It is a bitter component of curry, so you are unlikely to want to eat it on its own. If you are on Facebook, there is a good Turmeric User Group (run by Aussie Doug English) with support (including info on interactions with meds) and recipe.
OK, it's an ingredient in most curries. I've been using for perhaps 20 years. Definitely works better with fat and pepper, but cayenne might suit you better, or just take it more often without pepper.
I haven't tried gluten free for any significant amount of time yet, but i was tested negative for celiac and I haven't been given the hashimoto's label by anyone from the medical profession.
I went to see someone in endocrinology today and was discussing stomach acid, he advised completely against HCL betaine as its not proven and he described stomach acid as having a different function than food digestion. I don't think the medical profession are geared up for this kind of thing.
I'm completely at a loss at the moment, I think because I expected to be miraculously cured fairly quickly but as yet nothing has had any positive effect, quite the opposite in fact.
Because there's no easy test for low stomach acid, current conventional medics don't seem to acknowledge it even exists! ......as you seem to have discovered
So your previous results show extremely low folate, and low vitamin D
What supplements are you taking?
Have you retested since?
Vast numbers on here with Hashimoto's find absolutely strictly gluten free diet is essential, regardless of negative coeliac blood tests
UK conventional medics only call it autoimmune thyroid disease not Hashimoto's and completely ignore antibodies or autoimmune aspect (probably because they don't understand it)
No good at all seeing a run of the mill endocrinologist, most are Diabetes specialists
Thyroid Uk has list of recommended thyroid specialists
I've been taking a number of supplements for a month now, vitamin D mouth spray, magnesium, K2(MK7), Selenium and vitamin B.
I did discuss the link with gut function with him and he was a nice guy but Endocrinology, gastro and GP are all drawing a blank.
I'm a bit tired of feeling bloated and never feeling fully awake with a brain fog that never clears, its funny how you and your body gets used to feeling rotten.
I think it's often more than gluten. Wheat free. They use glyphosphate as a dessicating/drying agent prior to harvesting much of the wheat supply. I think some may be reacting to traces of pesticides.
Just a side note. Endos are as clueless about diabetes as they are about thyroid. It's the same one-size-fits-all nonsense. I could fill a book with misinformation I've been given by endos about T1 diabetes.
Seems like it's the NHS all over, I keep repeatedly being told don't over stress your own research, nicely make a suggestion. If you do your own research they won't listen...
I hear you, Paul. We'd be sicker without researching. Doctors don't listen period. Yea, be nice--ha! I noticed the suggestion below about digestive bitters. With stomach woes, raw veggies could be too hard to digest. I've taken liquid digestive bitters that help. Bitters also aid the liver. Brand I used is Urban Moonshine Herbal Apothecary. Organic. I'm in the US, so don't know if you can get it but any digestive bitter tonic should work.
Thats something I need to try, thanks. When I was taking betaine HCL my liver was aching and sore as if I'd been overdoing it alcohol wise, wish I could stop belching thats the annoying thing and the acid reflux that follows.
Hope you find something that helps. Belching & discomfort are awful, not to mention reflux, the worst. Hmm, your liver was aching. Sure it was your liver & not your gallbladder?
Realized after I wrote that betaine's also supposed to help the gall bladder. For some reason, you had a bad reaction & were taking a high dose to have gotten no relief. All I know is that too much betaine causes burning. You If you find out it's your gall bladder, a supplement TUDCA is reported to work wonders. The suggestion to try gluten & dairy free is a good one. Eggs are also a common food people are sensitive to, It's usually the egg white since it's a protein. Gluten's in so many things. Know how frustrating it is. Sorry.
Interesting stuff thanks, I will try the glutton free and dairy free, but I have tried it before for 2 weeks and it did nothing. This was probably not long enough and when I was on the ppi.
Yea, it can take months to feel a difference. Gluten can be in toothpaste, soap, salad dressing, vitamin supplements. It's always in processed foods & goes under different names on food labels. There are people who can't handle any grains. Do you have constipation &/or diarrhea?
Doctors would probably say you have IBS. To me, that's more of a description than a diagnosis because it doesn't pinpoint the cause, not than doctors seem interested in ever finding a cause. Google SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. It's diagnosed with a breath test. You seem to have SIBO symptoms. You know, getting to the root of the problem is like peeling an onion. And, also makes your eyes tear Check out Dr. Michael Ruscio's site drruscio.com/. He's the best I've found for gut issues. I like that his articles are thoroughly researched & science based. His approach is reasonable. Lots of info on probiotics, too. Sign up at his site to get the latest. Dr. R has frequent interviews with those at the forefront of gut health.
The only reaction to the NHS is: smile sweetly and ignore them, most of the time. That way you might get the tests done that you need so you can go on and do your own research.
Paul, I have only just read about this recently but seems to have helped when I have tried it.
2 things
1) chew your food extremely well. I have read some people saying 100 chews per mouthful. But that maybe a bit high in the extreme. It apparently helps produce more digestive enzymes to help digest the food. It was also said to eat without external distractions and in a relaxed setting.
2) Eat or drink bitter tasting foods or drinks before or during a meal. This could include grapefuit or grapefruit juice (beware contradictions with other drugs).
Things like chicory or sorrel are also classed as bitter.
It apparently gets the digestive juices flowing.
Neither cost anything of note other than time, but might be worth trying.
Thank you I will certainly give them a try, I take it the chicory and sorrel are the drink because you can also get the seeds. Grapefruit will be easy to get as well.
Chicory is found in the salad section. Sorrel is also sometimes found in a salad mix unless you grow your own. There may be lots of other options as well, potentially even bitter aperitif type drinks? But I haven't tried them
You can get chicory in the veg section of supermarket. Sorrel is harder, but you can buy seeds and grow your own. It's often considered a heritage plant like Good King Henry and Fat Hen. Sauerkraut juice is also good, but expensive (Loving Foods do it direct or via Amazon). You used to be able to get Swedish Bitters in H&B
That's the one I've ordered online Swedish bitters, it's a good job I ordered a load of bisodol or I'd seriously consider going back on the ppi. No I'm definitely not doing that PPI's are banned 🙄
It seems everyone is different and things work differently, there is no recognised help or cure. I've tried apple cider vinegar and betaine hcl of which neither worked for me but they've obviously worked for most people. Hopefully I'll discover something soon
I was told to take 1tbsp of bicarb in about 100ml of water, then down it. Time how long it takes you to belch (don't bother timing beyond 3 mins). If you have low stomach acid, you'll hardly belch at all.
I tried that for a week and was consistently around 4 minutes, this started me down the low stomach acid path but the usual fixs of ACV and hcl betaine haven't worked for me. I ditched the ppi over a 3 week period, that was just over 2 months ago and I think I'm still suffering the backlash of that.
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