GERD: digestive enzymes/previcid?

[dooy]

I was recently dx'd with GERD (man, this is a painful, yucky thing!) and now having problems with my stomach not emptying and feeling bloated. I was rx'd previcid and am wondering if I should also start digestive enzymes? If so, how do I take them? How long after the previcid? Right before meals? My diet has been crap until now but this pain and uncomfortability is enough to make me change anything! I'm eating smaller meals, no coffee/tea/chocolate/tomatoes and trying to keep track of foods that make the symptoms worse.

I'm starting EVCO to help the constipation, going back to the Calm in the evenings.

I'm also Vit D deficient (just stopped 50,000IU of D2 2x per week and started 5,000 IU of D3 drops per day), iron deficient (been taking a slow release iron supp) and my thyroid is bad but doctor won't treat it yet. TSH 2.4, FT3 is off the range low and FT4 is at the bottom of the range. Neg. for antibodies. Not testing for adrenals but I sense they are shot, too and I've started an adrenal support supplement.

My mom died in Aug, we've moved 5 times in 6 years for DH's work and I'm perimenopausal on bioidentical hormones. Insomnia is still a problem even with ambien 10mg only (5-6 hours sleep). Just started lexapro after fighting the doctor for too long.

Bought the Diet Cure but have not started yet.

I need a health overhaul. I don't even remember my original question?

[Buffy45]

Wow, just wow!!! Sorry, I can't answer on the digestive enzymes, but there is a thread in the main lobby about this that I wanted to direct you to. Also, just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about all the problems, troubles and grief you are going through, how overwhelmed you must feel right now.
I take lexapro, it really works well for me. Hopefully, that will help you to feel better so that you can take care of all the other issues you are dealing with. The Diet Cure should help as well.
Good luck to you on your journey towards better health and peace of mind.

[Ricardolowcarbo]

With Gerd diet is Number 1. Caffiene is the number 1 culprit. chocolate. tomato sauce. etc. Stess also effects Gerd. The lexapro should help with that.

Has your doctor given you a diet? I don't know if digestive enzymes will help that much. Not eating 2 to 3 hours before bed. Giving up certain foods and dealing with the stress in your life will help the most. Also and abdomanal fat will make things worse.

May sound silly. but if your clothes fit tight around the waist that will affect your Gerd. It squeezes you like a tube of toothpaste. thus, the reflux. I have had Gerd for years and have tried digestive enzymes.

Losing weight, dealing with stress and diet has helped me more than anything.

It is different for everyone. Don't underestimate stress. Also don't be afraid to take meds. Gerd can do more damage than anything. If left over years the acid could lead to a pre cancerous condition called barretts esophagus.

The good news is that there are a lot of things you can do to get rid of it.

[dooy]

Thank you so much Buffy and Ricardo!

I have started searching around and found what you said to be very helpful. I really appreciate it!

[Jewels]

So sorry for your health. I also have GERD, Gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying) hiatal hernia and Barrett's. This is an excellent site for you. Patient Education - Conditions

I take Prilosec twice a day and I still have problems. Stress is a major factor for me but diet is so important too.

Eat very small meals during the day.

Foods To Avoid On The Acid Reflux Diet

Tomatoes and sauces (really do a number one me)

Foods high in fats

smoking

Chocolate, peppermint

Caffeine

citrus fruits/juices

Cruciferous vegetables: onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, brussels sprouts.

Milk

Carbonated soft drinks


Don't eat 3 hours before bedtime.

Eat small meals more often. (I eat 7x a day)

Sleeping on the left side has been shown to drastically reduce nighttime reflux episodes in patients.

Elevating the head of the bed is also effective

[Demokat]

Hi dooy,

I also had GERD until I was diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance. I gave up all wheat products and grains, in addition to sugar, and it went away. I used to blame the tomato sauce instead of the pasta and bread in Italian restaurants. Have you been tested for food allergies?

Kathy

[eixty]

Hi, I have a question if anyone could answer? Is it all Cruciferous vegetables or just the ones listed to avoid when one has GERD? Thanks.

[dooy]

Hi all! Thanks so much for your responses. I did have an endoscopy/colonoscopy and while it is GERD, it is not the more serious Barretts esophagus. I also had a clean colonoscopy - - I've had polps with the first 2. I was also tested for Celiac but negative. I'm so thankful for that!

Since I last posted, I have seriously restructured my eating habits and have taken the advice here - - no chocolate, caffeine, tomatoes, peppermint, cauliflower (which I loved!) and all the other listed irritants. Last night, we had our Christmas party for work and I had a few bites of chocolate and boy, within an hour I was uncomfortable so while pure vanity didn't help me stay on plan, PAIN sure will!!

The gastro doctor took me off iron (not sure what to do about my low ferretin levels but seeing my Pdoc 1/8/09) and reading the Diet Cure (VERY confused by all the supplements) but at least started taking a multi and fish oils and an adrenal support until I finish the book.

I'm also trying to keep a food diary. I've lost a few pounds and am finally under 150lbs so eating the smaller meals is helping. MUCH harder to stay low carb with this GERD though b/c I have no gallblader so the higher fat kills me.

Omeprazole was also rx'd 2 time per day and will start that Tuesday.

I really DO appreciate all the help here and all the other threads!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

[dooy]

Originally Posted by Demokat

Hi dooy,

I also had GERD until I was diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance. I gave up all wheat products and grains, in addition to sugar, and it went away. I used to blame the tomato sauce instead of the pasta and bread in Italian restaurants. Have you been tested for food allergies?

Kathy

They tested for Celiac, is that the same thing? I DO think I'm reacting to dairy and am trying to write down what I eat and assess. I cough A LOT with this whole GERD thing and I think dairy makes it worse. My face is also rashy around my nose and upper lip like a roseacea which I've never had before...lots of mucus too. OK TMI!

[dooy]

Originally Posted by eixty

Hi, I have a question if anyone could answer? Is it all Cruciferous vegetables or just the ones listed to avoid when one has GERD? Thanks.

Not sure but I think it is more of an individual thing. I'll report back when I have some more data in my food diary.

[eixty]

Originally Posted by dooy

Not sure but I think it is more of an individual thing. I'll report back when I have some more data in my food diary.

Thanks

[fawn]

yes you need digestive enzymes. I'm sorry for all of your stress and yes, you're probably right on with the adrenals. It looks like you need to see a good endocrinologist right away.....

You know, as we age, we also lose hydrochloric acid which wreaks havoc......Most dr's will prescribe an acid reducer further complicating problems. Betaine HCL might be another answer for you.

[dooy]

Fawn,
Thanks so much for your response! I will get the probiotics. Also started a B12 sublingual, upped the D3 to 8,000 iu per day and have added a FitFood whey protein shake that is loaded with amino acids.

The holidays have been really tough to get through with these new diet restrictions (I have not been low carb), change in sleep patterns (we've had out of town guests) and stress. Missing my mom, too.

I have an appt. with my P-doc on 1/8/09. I DO NOT want to be on these meds. I feel numb and still have tightness in my chest (can't tell if it's anxiety or the GERD - it's definitely not my heart), brain fog...wired/tired. I really DO need a specialist. My P-doc says my thyroid is not the primary source of the problem - - that it is affected by my overall health issues (vit D deficiency, low iron, hormone imbalance, etc). I still haven't done the 4x cortisol test...I think she may be correct but I just don't know???

There seems to be too many things going on at once. I know a big part of this is all the wacky starvation/binge cycles I've inflicted on myself over the years. Bad nutrition, no exercise...So I'm starting there since that IS something I can do step by step.

I'm not giving up. I have been reading the Diet Cure and Adrenal Fatigue, by James Wilson. I'm getting back to the food journal and I've been walking some over this holiday just to MOVE. I'm totally off coffee which is a huge thing for me. Next thing to totally go is the sugar. Starting low carb again, too and gonna try to stick to whole foods (been reading the organic thread) and just going to see what I can and can't handle.

Sorry for the long ramble. Thanks again to all of you for being here!

[beachguy]

dooy,

A few things to try:

1. Water, water, water. Dehydration causes all kinds of problems.

2. L-tyrosine for energy. Check in your Diet Cure Book

3. Sleep - 5-HTP, l-tryptophan, GABA, or melotonin. Check your Diet Cure book.

[fawn]

Take gentle care dooy. You're likely in some major adrenal fatigue. In combination with the hormone imbalances which can cause chest pain/tightness.....get to the doc for sure though as I am only telling you that this can be a symptom of the endocrine disorder......We don't want this to turn to chronic fatigue.

Rich also brings up a good point. Are you hydrated?

[lisabinil]

Low Vitamin D levels can cause chest tightening or pain-it can affect the heart. Hopefully upping your Vit D might help here as you posted.

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by fawn

yes you need digestive enzymes. I'm sorry for all of your stress and yes, you're probably right on with the adrenals. It looks like you need to see a good endocrinologist right away.....

You know, as we age, we also lose hydrochloric acid which wreaks havoc......Most dr's will prescribe an acid reducer further complicating problems. Betaine HCL might be another answer for you.

Also you could try aloe vera juice. My allergist recommended that I take 4 oz. 2-3 times per day after I had a terrible reaction to prevacid. It does help, but then I'm not all that bad off with it. They think GERD is causing a lot of asthma even in people who don't have much symptoms of it.

I do well with all 3 - aloe vera, digestive enzymes (also very good with pain relief and reducing inflammation), and Betaine HCL.

There's a whole logic stream about the acid reducers that doesn't really make a lot of sense. Low acid levels allow H. Pilori (bacteria at the root cause of most ulcers) to flourish; we need a pH of about 2 to properly digest our food and break out the nutirents in it so reducing acid in the stomach is eliminating a lot of nutrients we need; acid levels low enough trigger the esophagous valve closure that keeps it out of the esophagous. Given all of this, does it really make sense to raise the pH?

[fawn]

and this can contribute to stomach cnacer.......the H-Pylori that is......

Make sure your aloe doesn't have sodium benzoate as it is a preservative and disrupts gut flora also.

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by fawn

and this can contribute to stomach cnacer.......the H-Pylori that is......

Make sure your aloe doesn't have sodium benzoate as it is a preservative and disrupts gut flora also.

Yes, thanks for that warning.

[dooy]

Originally Posted by beachguy

dooy,

A few things to try:
1. Water, water, water. Dehydration causes all kinds of problems.
2. L-tyrosine for energy. Check in your Diet Cure Book
3. Sleep - 5-HTP, l-tryptophan, GABA, or melotonin. Check your Diet Cure book.

Thanks Rich! Right now, the doctor has me on ambien for sleep (I'm getting about 6 hours now) so I don't want to take any herbals until I get some answers on some of the other issues but my hope is that as I stabilize with sleep and get the digestive/vit. deficiencies under some control, I will wean off ambien and onto these.

Originally Posted by fawn

Take gentle care dooy. You're likely in some major adrenal fatigue. In combination with the hormone imbalances which can cause chest pain/tightness.....get to the doc for sure though as I am only telling you that this can be a symptom of the endocrine disorder......We don't want this to turn to chronic fatigue.

Rich also brings up a good point. Are you hydrated?

Thanks Fawn. I am recognizing the role of chronic stress and how it can incapacitate our bodies. I'm at about 48oz of water. I need to work on this one. I stopped all coffee and tea but am not drinking nearly enough water.

Originally Posted by lisabinil

Low Vitamin D levels can cause chest tightening or pain-it can affect the heart. Hopefully upping your Vit D might help here as you posted.

I'm hoping the 8,000 will make a difference. I started taking a calcium supplement with it hoping it will increase absorption. I'm using the D3 drops, pharmaceutical grade.

Originally Posted by Tesaje

Also you could try aloe vera juice. My allergist recommended that I take 4 oz. 2-3 times per day after I had a terrible reaction to prevacid. It does help, but then I'm not all that bad off with it. They think GERD is causing a lot of asthma even in people who don't have much symptoms of it.

I do well with all 3 - aloe vera, digestive enzymes (also very good with pain relief and reducing inflammation), and Betaine HCL.

There's a whole logic stream about the acid reducers that doesn't really make a lot of sense. Low acid levels allow H. Pilori (bacteria at the root cause of most ulcers) to flourish; we need a pH of about 2 to properly digest our food and break out the nutirents in it so reducing acid in the stomach is eliminating a lot of nutrients we need; acid levels low enough trigger the esophagous valve closure that keeps it out of the esophagous. Given all of this, does it really make sense to raise the pH?

I totally get what you're saying and had major confusion around this issue of pH balance. I just feel like it's more about writing scripts. Fawn also suggested the Betaine HCL which I am going to try.

Funny you should mention asthma b/c I cough all the time now and when I breathe really deep, I cough.

Tomorrow I go to my doctor (actually a nurse practitioner) and will find get a more complete picture on my endoscopy results. I was pretty out of it that day.
I am making a list of what I need to talk to her about tonight and really appreciate all of your input. I'll let you know what we come up with!

[mattie jo]

Originally Posted by dooy

I was recently dx'd with GERD (man, this is a painful, yucky thing!) and now having problems with my stomach not emptying and feeling bloated. I was rx'd previcid and am wondering if I should also start digestive enzymes? If so, how do I take them? How long after the previcid? Right before meals? My diet has been crap until now but this pain and uncomfortability is enough to make me change anything! I'm eating smaller meals, no coffee/tea/chocolate/tomatoes and trying to keep track of foods that make the symptoms worse.

I'm starting EVCO to help the constipation, going back to the Calm in the evenings.

I'm also Vit D deficient (just stopped 50,000IU of D2 2x per week and started 5,000 IU of D3 drops per day), iron deficient (been taking a slow release iron supp) and my thyroid is bad but doctor won't treat it yet. TSH 2.4, FT3 is off the range low and FT4 is at the bottom of the range. Neg. for antibodies. Not testing for adrenals but I sense they are shot, too and I've started an adrenal support supplement.

My mom died in Aug, we've moved 5 times in 6 years for DH's work and I'm perimenopausal on bioidentical hormones. Insomnia is still a problem even with ambien 10mg only (5-6 hours sleep). Just started lexapro after fighting the doctor for too long.

Bought the Diet Cure but have not started yet.

I need a health overhaul. I don't even remember my original question?

I used to have GERD, and it caused Asthma. My herbalist suggested I go on the Atkins type diet, and then he gave me DGL and both went away. Now if I try to eat bread I get upset, but digestive enzymes help me there. Also I found that I can not take aspirin at all as it causes problems, but DGL seems to help there, so now I can take one when needed, although I still get a somewhat stomach upset. same with other pain killers.

[fawn]

You know Dooy, depending on where you are, don't push the water in winter....especially with GERD. We don't want to "water down" your HCL you know? So don't push water, just make sure you're hydrated.