Low stomach acid

I have not done any testing, but I have noticed that I get heartburn now and I never had it before lyme. My tummy is sensitive to foods that it was never sensitive to before. I have no idea if it is the lyme bugs or not.

I've not had any 'official' testing done, but because of the digestion issues I was having, it was suggested that I try using digestive enzymes. I did and it helped tremendously! After using them for several years though, I felt like I needed more than what I was getting from them, so I trialed using apple cider vinegar. It made a lot of difference for me as it not only acts as a digestive aid, but it helps to detox my body! You do have to use one that has the "mother" still in it though, like Braggs.

Can you tell me what is the output that you receive from the Heidelberg test? How did it benefit you?

I did a simple HCl challenge -
You can purchase hydrochloric acid (HCl) at most health food stores/pharmacies. You take one capsule with each meal, increasing by 1 capsule each day until you start feeling typical acid reflux symptoms, then you titrate back down in reverse - 1 fewer capsule with each meal each day.

If you immediately have a reaction or can't make it past a couple of capsules per meal, your acid production is adequate. If not, there's your answer. The HCl helps trigger your pancreas to create the bile and help the process produce digestive acids.

The HCl can also act as a powerful bacterial and parasite zapper. So, go slowly and detox carefully. The first time I did this challenge was 5-6 yrs ago and I titrated up to 9 capsules per meal--my GI function was so poor. It did help parts of my digestion but didn't solve all my issues at the time (little did I know I likely had bart in the gut). More recently, I did a 2nd challenge about a yr ago and started with 4 capsules, overconfidently. I was knocked out for nearly a wk with a debilitating migraine and nausea. I stopped taking it, then tried it again the following week and started with 1 capsule. BAM - headache again. So I called the manufacturer to see if maybe there was an issue with the product. They were great and informed me that the headache was a common reaction and could be die off from bacteria or parasites.

And, I deduced that those of us with low acid production are obviously prone to all kinds of tom foolery going on without acid to keep things under control. I just posted a long yammering post about this but I'm certain a lot of this low acid/bacterial and parasite invasion is responsible for the IBS/SIBO/chron's diagnoses people are getting that include acid reflux, which is a common symptom of LOW acid as well as high acid production. And what are they typically prescribed? Acid blockers.

-p

trader758 said...
You can add thyroid disease as a cause of low stomach acid also. Which can be cause by Lyme and co infections. Took me months to figure it out, as my docs were clueless. My slowed motility has pretty much fixed itself with NDT supplmentation, though I still have digestive troubles, mainly pain. My docs should have been paying me to educate them the last 2 yrs!

If only we could all get paid for the education we end up giving so many docs!!! We wouldn't have to have another job!

I've been on betaine w/pepsin just about a year. I'm hoping that as some of these infections and parasites are cleared my body will be able to produce adequate levels of stomach acid again. And obviously working on leaky gut issues and optimal thyroid health. All of these these things are linked.

Thyroid T3 is very related to digestion. If your low, you WILL have a slow gut.

D-limonine is worth mentioning again, since it helps tremendously with digestion, ends GERD, helps leaky gut, kills H-pylori + candida.

Magnessium glycinate before bed help digests and regularity in the AM.

Those three things fixed all my gut problems. Other stuff helped (I tried everything), but this did the job.

I will second the D-Limonene usage. I was getting heartburn after eating and I did one pill every other night for a total of only 2 pills.

Heartburn gone! I love that stuff and keep it on hand.

I should have added to my post that I did try baking soda for many times and it was a quick relief option. However the d-limonene seems to be a more permanent option. It is suggested to only take one pill every other day and only do this for about 20 days. I only had to take it twice.

I ate HOT jalapeno slices yesterday and not a problem at all!!

PeteZa-

Great! Your one more case of GERD -be -gone.

I am slowly brainwashing people into trying it.LOL

-----------------------------------------------

Others -

Yes people, this works wonders for many. It does what many other suppliments do combined.

***Jarrow brand comes in 1000mg gell caps, is $10 for 60 count from vitacost. Its the best brand for the money.

I did 1000mg before night for around a month (I had night gerd real bad) then played be ear- tapered every other day for a nother month or so. Didnt use it fmuch for a few years after that- didnt need to other than one week a year or so.

I take it every other day again for liver/gall bladder/ detox - better than the herbs that do this..

End your suffering. Been there, done that, its gone.

(No , I did not get paid to say this)

Post Edited (astroman) : 11/17/2016 11:42:50 AM (GMT-7)

Belching and gas can be Candida - that could be why your GERD "erupted" too. D-L helps with that, but obviously need more in full blown candida cases.

You are hypo with those free's- DESPITE the "evil" TSH. Your living on mid range T4 with not much T3 at all. Muscle cramps, and digestion problems might be your "normal" with those low ranges. Need more thyroid med, and some form of T3 if you continue to convert low amounts of T4 to t3. Your only on T4 med right?. Thats what it looks like.

**ask for "free T4" test too next time** not total

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Funny: I mentioned D-limonene on the GERD forum last year to help some people, and they locked the post!

They dont believe much in natural medicine over there after reading that forum. Wow. Not the best mod at that time over there.

I ran into "Rx only" thinkers on a diabetic forum once too (different forum completely), as I was in diabetic range with lyme for a few years - fixed it though. Hard to believe there are RX only thinkers on some forums in this day and age. They need a reality check, big time!!

Post Edited (astroman) : 11/17/2016 12:47:15 PM (GMT-7)

thank you by the way, forgot to say that

also is the free t4 index not the same as free t4?