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I was diagnosed with this earlier this year and was put on Lansaprazole. However, I'm trying to avoid having to use them and wondered whether anyone has any tricks or tips on how to manage this?
Diet - experiment with eliminating foods so keep a food diary. For example, tomatoes can be a culprit, as can berries.
Apple cider vinegar (with the 'mother' which is an enzyme), dilute with honey and water. Drink with your evening meal. You could take a digestive enzyme also. Other option is to take betaine pepsin immediately before your evening meal.
As far as I'm aware a gastroscopy procedure does not reveal whether there's excess acid or insufficient acid and yet we're always told that we need PPI's.
http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Hypochlorhydria_-_lack_of_stomach_acid_-_can_cause_lots_of_problems
Edit: raise your mattress rather than having an extra pillow.
https://chriskresser.com/category/gerd-heartburn/
As far as I'm aware a gastroscopy procedure does not reveal whether there's excess acid or insufficient acid and yet we're always told that we need PPI's.
That's how they diagnosed my HH. That was an unpleasant procedure. They took biopsies but returned with nothing, but but my doctor is keen on using Lansaprazole.
I'm trying apple cider vinegar at the moment, but experimenting with how to take it.
https://chriskresser.com/what-everybody-ought-to-know-but-doesnt-about-heartburn-gerd/
https://chriskresser.com/the-hidden-causes-of-heartburn-and-gerd/
https://chriskresser.com/how-your-antacid-drug-is-making-you-sick-part-a/
https://chriskresser.com/how-your-antacid-drug-is-making-you-sick-part-b/
https://chriskresser.com/get-rid-of-heartburn-and-gerd-forever-in-three-simple-steps/
Treat the symptoms, not the cause seems to be the NHS motto with this!
I've had the same procedure as you and refused PPIs which caused my GP to throw his toys out of the pram. My action plan has been to work out what's causing this and to eliminate. Have reduced coffee, don't go too long without eating, drastically reduced fruit intake and excluded strawberries, boo. It's a work in progress but am seeing results. Don't think it will clear completely but am having a darn good try.
Does your ACV contain the 'mother' ?
What's "the mother"?
This is what I use from the West Country, I prefer a glass bottle. The 'mother' resembles something unpleasant floating in the bottle but it's an enzyme.
http://ostlerscidermill.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/
From Ebay:
EDIT: I take one teaspoon.
Cool, thanks. I'll look at getting some.
I take one of these enzymes with my porridge then one with my evening meal:
https://www.healthmonthly.co.uk/now_foods_super_enzymes
Worth reading about Barrett's:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gastroesophageal-reflux-disease/Pages/Complications.aspx
Don't go 'cold turkey', wean yourself off very slowly.
I was on Lansoprazole for 20 years, finally got off them 12 months ago, stopped eating crap and drinking alcohol. Eat smaller meals, when your eating put your knife and fork down while you chew your food, just common sense stuff really.
I keep it under control with the odd spoonful of Gaviscon and antacid tabs.
The other thing is don't bend over to pick stuff up, squat down ass to grass.
Don't go 'cold turkey', wean yourself off very slowly.
I've been reducing for a while now: I went down to 6 days a week, then 4, etc. I don't have any at the moment, so I'm not taking them at all. I do notice the difference, but I think that's because I've got back into old habits (large portions etc).
Treat the symptoms, not the cause seems to be the NHS motto with this!
CG - When you say 'the NHS', I suspect you mean 'the few clinicians I've encountered'.
It's clearly well known and documented the factors that influence reflux..namely (but not limited to) smoking, being obese, alcohol, stress, and spicy foods.
I think it's also fair to say that the vast majority of patients that I/we/'the NHS' confront and make suggestions about drastically changing these factors really struggle.
It 'should' be easy - eat the right food, eat less, smoke less, change to a less stressful job.
However, at the end of teh day, I think you'll find the fact PPIs are so popular (i.e highly prescribed) isn't the fact that it's a big NHS and pharma scam, but more the fact that if teh answer to symptoms comes in a pill, and a pill is easier to swallow, then joe public choose the easy option....
Heck..if I could learn to play the guitar by taking a pill I seriously would... as it stands, I've not the strong desire or motivation to pick up a guitar and learn to play.
It's the same for people's health.
You have a keen interest in your health - not always with views or 'idols' I'd agree with, but I applaud your interest none the less.
You're a minority though.
If the answer can come in a pill or procedure (i'e someone else's responsibility) then unfortunately that proves popular...
The NHS and modern medicine isn't a scam. Modern society and the views and beliefs held by it are...
DrP
DrP - to be honest I was rather shocked that the GP didn't ask any questions regarding dietary and lifestyle matters. Nor did those involved in the gastroscopy procedure. My comments that being hypothyroid and middle-aged meant I produced less stomach acid was ignored.
This I guess is the crux of the matter ... it was presumed that I wanted a quick fix and didn't care what meds (and any possible side effects) I took.
Totally get what you're saying and can not imagine how frustrating it must be for you to see people showing such little interest. But really the NHS has encouraged this way of thinking for Joe Public and the country is paying the price for it now. It's never too late though to change our way of thinking and, as I've said before, we must start educating people from school age that good health is paramount and we must face up to personal responsibility.
There has to be a sea of change, we can not continue with so many being prescribed PPI's, anti-depressants, statins etc etc. The health industry, and the food industry, need a big shake-up as well as transparency.
Having a 'keen interest' in my health was forced upon me due to my belief that I'd been misdiagnosed, a belief that was proved correct. Being obsessive about riding my bike meant that I took control of my health and it's been an interesting, fascinating and sometimes frustrating process. I feel sad that you've said I'm in a minority though, there's so much to learn and the interweb is a never-ending source of information from research papers to blogs.
Did you watch the two-part BBC programme entitled "The doctor who gave up drugs" ? That was certainly an eye-opener!
Gotta ask - who are my idols? 🙂
That's how they diagnosed my HH. That was an unpleasant procedure. They took biopsies but returned with nothing, but but my doctor is keen on using Lansaprazole.
Same story here. Was diagnosed with a small sliding HH back in 2012 after suffering chest pain for a couple of years which was attributed to acid reflux. I've had further tests done including 24 hour Ph monitoring (twice) which came back negative, 3 endoscopies which only showed gastritis and no acid erosion, ergo the pain isn't being caused by any acid reflux. Still have no idea why I'm in pain (with the pain appearing to emanate from the location of the hernia) and I've hit a complete dead end with the NHS.
Treat the symptoms, not the cause seems to be the NHS motto with this!
Pretty much what I've experienced in the 7 years this has been going on. I don't take any for more PPI any more. Why should I if all the tests have come back negative for acid reflux? But my GP wants me to stay on them. Why?
It's clearly well known and documented the factors that influence reflux..namely (but not limited to) smoking, being obese, alcohol, stress, and spicy foods.
I don't smoke, I'm towards the underweight spectrum on the BMI index, I don't drink much, not particularly stressed (apart from 24 hour pain) and I'm not a huge spicy food fan. It took 3 years of pressuring my GP to actually get the tests done for acid reflux. I was just fobbed off with pills and continue to be fobbed off regarding the hernia, with all the research papers I've taken to my GP showing the hernia alone can cause pain being dismissed at all levels. Will be going to see a private doctor once I get some cash together. NHS not worth the price of entry in my experience.
devash - why not try what I've suggested above.
It's never too late though to change our way of thinking and, as I've said before, we must start educating people from school age that good health is paramount and we must face up to personal responsibility.
100% agree... I can see why the 'system' is getting tired and sometimes assumes that the easy option is what people want, tbh.
Not right, but it's a struggling system..
There has to be a sea of change, we can not continue with so many being prescribed PPI's, anti-depressants, statins etc etc. The health industry, and the food industry, need a big shake-up as well as transparency.
Also agree - I try to practice as holistically as I can - deprescribing, appropriate management of frailty etc
It's important to highlight there's no incentive for NHS doctors to prescibe specific meds, but if you are looking to improve outcomes and the only option is to use medication, your hand is kind of tied...
DrP
(oh, idols, that Myhill lass, McKendrick etc 😉 )
devash - why not try what I've suggested above.
Tried all the alt-remedies over the years, some of which I still use now and which stop the acid reflux, but I still get a lot of pain which doesn't seem to be caused by acid.
devash - could it be vitamin B12 deficiency?