Try the Koufman Low Acid (and low fat) Diet Part 1 of 2

Seagull, I agree that there are many gaps in the Koufman diet and book, but if those gaps were filled, I don't know if you would be helped more. I really have no clue why this diet might help Lpr but not typical gerd. You have done a lot to try to help yourself, but I believe this disease is often more complex than we can fathom. Jesse has described various dietary strategies and how much time it continues to take him. You could look into more naturalistic strategies, which will probably be expensive and time consuming to trial. Your acupuncture or other alternative medicines may be helpful. And ppis are still a choice. Nexium has made a lot of my hair fall out, not a healthy sign, but I'm still taking it until my stomach feels better.

seagull,

sometimes its best not to over analyze things and keep it simple. You should try the induction for a month... if it doesn't work you try something else.


Her book explains things pretty well in my opinion, (but i have science background).
You just need to read it a few times.

Simply put PPI would handle the acid from the stomach. The diet handles acid from the food. Pepsin is the main damaging agent in LPR but its only active with in PH below 5. Thus you can have pepsin on your throat, its only doing damage say when you drink a pepsi. Doesn't matter if you reflux (assuming your on PPI) since acid is neutralized in the gut.

I am obviously oversimplifying, but that's how it works..


sunbeam:

http://chriskresser.com/the-hidden-causes-of-heartburn-and-gerd

i think if you are belching alot (could be a sign of IAP gas), this method might be helpful.


-Jesse

Hey Jesse,

That's a really good explanation, as I was confused as well. How has the diet been working for you and how long did it take you to see results?

I think Cheerios and oatmeal would be better choices in cereal.  Manufacturers have discovered ways of making whole grains using lots of chemicals, and including just a little whole wheat flour in order to call it whole grain.  Look for fewer ingredients of the label.

I went back to see my Gastro doc last week. I hadn't talked to him since i had my endoscopy back in October last year. I talked to him about the fact that my throat still has some burning even though I had tried 3 different PPI's. And we discussed how I didn't seem to have any particular trigger foods. We also discussed the fact that I have no burning at night and how it starts mid-day. He told me that the medications I tried are very good meds and that I am not your typical GERD/LPR patient. That he has seen men who weigh 250 pounds, drive a truck for a living, they smoke and eat bad, and will use one of the PPI's and would find relief. After looking at all the facts and how my throat seems to be my biggest issue......and the fact that my endoscopy was normal..that I only had little reflux and slight gastritis....and because I take 1 xanax per day at bedtime......he came to the conclusion that my issues are stress related. He asked a few more questions regarding how i handle stress. He is very confident that it's stress causing my problems and suggested that I stop taking a xanax at bedtime and maybe start taking something like Zoloft. I do know that my throat started having problems when I was under some stress back last May. He also referred me to an ENT so that we will have covered all bases.

I also took with me, a copy of the Koufman diet that I had been on. This is when our conversation got very interesting. My Gastroenterologist is listed in the top 100 doctors in the US as one of the best in his field. He actually worked with Dr. Koufman some years ago. He knew doctor Koufman when he was still a man...which blew my mind. I had no idea! He told me that Dr. Koufman was a VERY smart man but he became so obsessed with GERD/LPR that he related every stomach/throat issue with LPR. My doctor said that Dr. Koufman has caused many people to fear they are going to get cancer. He said that 1% of people get LPR. That I am in the 99% percent who do not. He made clear to me that the fact that Dr. Koufman was a man but now lives as a woman has absolutely nothing to do with his opinion of her as a doctor. He said what DOES concern him is what she is doing,.... causing so many people to fear they are going to get cancer.

I still have a little burning but it's not as bad now that I'm not dwelling on it all the time. And I am back to eating whatever I want to eat. Nothing that I eat seems to make it any worse. I was very relieved when he told me that I do not have GERD or LPR. And that I don't have any life threatening disease. I'm just trying to work on my stress level.

Faith, I have an appointment to see an ENT doctor. My doctor did the endoscopy and didn't see anything abnormal. But he did refer me to an ENT. I'm sure he will do the scope up the nose and I'm dreading that! But I know i need to have it done.

Thanks so much Faith! I appreciate you telling me that! Makes me feel much better! I didn't mind the endoscopy or colonoscopy because I was out and knew nothing! Glad to know this won't be painful!

I decided that today I would try again to reduce my PPI. I've been on 40 mg Nexium (down from 80 mg last fall). Today I took 40 mg Prilosec. I am feeling just fine. I think last time I tried to cut back, I only took 20 mg Prilosec and felt yucky the first day. Since then I learned (HERE!) that Nexium may be twice as strong as Prilosec. So here we go, this is what I want. Maybe I will still need some level of a PPI, but less would always be better.

No, not really. The meds affect my BM's more than the food I eat. I've been eating a lot of fruits, veggies and whole grains for a long time. Less fat is the main change for me.

I am sorry, KaylaJane. My ENT didn't go through my nose at all. He said singers have better control, so he often can go straight in.

I'm glad you are going to give this diet another try. I think you did improve a little in the two week phase. This is so much better than constantly searching for triggers that don't exist (for me).  Progress is slow, but better than no progress or getting worse.

Outdoorsgirl - you may not have any issues with the test - It seems some people don't have any problems with it. I don't know why I do - my nose was deadened every time but it still hurt. I hope you have an easy time of it. One good thing - it doesn't last long. I think it is the best way to check the back of the throat and vocal cord area - so let us know what happens and how the test went for you. I'll be curious to see if you get thru without any problems - I hope so.

Outdoorsgirl,

I have a deviated septum and have a choking phobia due to the psychological damage of LPR, and I made it through the laryngoscopy just fine! More than fine actually, I wasn't even uncomfortable. If it makes you feel better, ask your ENT to use the pediatric scope.


Take care =)