Aloe Vera Juice, Healthwise Low Acid Coffee, PreLief Dietary Supplement

Good Morning everyone,

I must say that I am pleased to announce that my Super Sonic Major Acid Rebound from the Mega doses of Dexilant prescribed by first GI, has subsided.  Thank you to whomever it was that sent the link on acid rebound and its possiblity of lasting 4 - 8 weeks.  It was a good 6 weeks of hell for me.  Diagnosed with silent reflux, esophageaul inflammation and "possible pre-barrett's" by first GI in October.  (Also dealing with years of Hashmiotos thyroditis, irritable bowel syndrome, pre-cancers of skin) Of course, I totally flipped out since I didn't even know I had reflux.  FAST FORWARD:  I have a wonderful new GI who takes my calls whenever I need him.  He also questions initial paths so I am having another EGD on Friday.  I guess this makes sense since he will be following me from now on.  He also assures me that if initial findings were correct, I did not need to worry as much of the pre-barrett's turning into the Big "C" ---  very, very, very low and in his 28 years of practice not one of his Barrett's patients progressed to esopageaul cancer - Whew.  Hope and prayers always help.  He's a doc from NYU - I believe him.

Okay - my questions posed here at this time -  I did follow Dr. Kaufman's induction phase of the dropping acid diet.  Extreeeeeeeeeeeeeemely difficult, but I do believe it helped calm things down.  I am now into week three of the transition phase and slowly adding foods back (some possibly triggers, I am watching)  into my diet.  My GI also said I should start to slowly "liberalize" my diet, keep food diary, and watch for triggers.  He is not as rigid as Dr. Kaufmann's book states to be.  I understand there are different "schools of thought".  I have lost 15 pounds since October (which was needed but not this way) and cannot afford to lose much more weight -  5'1 - 118 lbs 52 year old (yeah the last part stinks to be old - LOL)!

Question 1 -  I know lots of Naturapaths, and Homeopathic docs suggest ALOE VERA INNER LEAVE juice a few times a day.  My GI said NO, NO, NO! -  Apparently too much can be toxic according to him.  Okay, so I stopped the aloe several weeks ago.  Can't say I really noticed any difference when I was on it anyway.  Thoughts????

Question 2 - Manuka Honey - I like it.  I use it in moderation with hot water drinks and it seems to have helped.  Another Naturapath said - too much sugar and never heard of it - don't use it - OY!  Now I'm really getting a headache - lol!

Question 3 - Low Acid Coffee(reg and decaf) Healthwise Low Acid Coffee Columbian Regular and Decaffeinated using Swiss Water Method - I just started back to 1 small cup of Joe a day, after meds (zantac 150 a.m. - carafate solution - before meal - oatmeal for breakfrast with Gluten free toast w/ almond butter, preceded with 2 "Prelief" tablets (supposed to remove acid from acidic foods taken with the food to eat) -  I seem to have luck with not ill acid effects, but am concerned about the small amount of caffeine since I'm doing the 1/2 reg/decaf (both low acid) mixed together.  Is this small amount of cafeine going to push me over the edge and give me cancer of the esophagus????

Question 4 - Anyone else use the Prelief Tablets --calcium/phosphorous as calcium glycerophosphate (found them at Walgreens only)?  Same principal as Beano and LacTaid pills.

Question 5 -  Am I ever going to be able to drink a glass of Pinot Noir or Malbec (of course, Organic and sulfite free dark reds) again?????????

Question 6 -  What do people use for acid reduction besides Zantac, Gaviscon, low acid foods, bed rizers, etc.

if they are allergic to PPI'S like I apparently am?  - Lucky Me!!!  If I do have barret's then what do I do -  no dysplasia was found on itinital scope.

Thank you all of you who have taken the time and patience to read my extremely lengthy post.  You were all so helpful to me when I was initially diagnosed with reflux and esophagitis.  Bless you all.

Thank you so much Stacey for sharing your experience.  Funny about the Aloe.  I had a similar experience with one also -  tasted just like water, but when I found that it was "distilled" it didn't make any sense, and yes all the others seem to have citric acid in it as a preservative.

I'm hoping we are onto something valid with the Manuka honey.  Today, I had some reflux which was causing me upper ab pain (which is why I had first EGD).  I had just taken my zantac an hour earlier so I thought, "why not try a teaspoon of Manuka honey "straight up" - :o)  IT WORKED!!!!!!  My reflux pain disappeared within a few minutes.  I was so pleased. 

You are so right about the meditation and breathing.  I've been working with a reiki therapist for "all my issues and anxieties about them", and the breathe work really helps so much.  I just wish it would last more than just a day for me, but I know I need to continue to "do my work".  I just started my first Yoga class yesterday and it was wonderful....peaceful, comforting, lots of different types of breathing (except stayed away from the Dragon Breath breathing because of the reflux -- the instructor specifically said not to do this type of breath we reflux).  Thought that was interesting.  I will keep it up.

Thank you for your kind thoughts.  I pray for a good EGD on Friday or at the least a better understanding of what's going on.  Bless you!