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Fast Track diet helped my LPR

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Posted 1/10/2014 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Alexandra: I think you're right that a certain amount of fear is normal for people with health problems. But for me, it was a level of anxiety that was definitely not normal. The paleo diet was so very helpful for that. Two other things I forgot to mention: I eat my last meal of the day about 2 or 3 hours before bed time. I also used to keep the head of our bed raised about 4 or 5 inches. Once my reflux symptoms went away, I stopped doing that (my wife didn't like it). So if you're not already doing those things, you might want to give them a try. I hope you find relief!

Gondore: Yes, I did have shortness of breath. A lot. But I could never be sure that it was the reflux that caused it. I suspected that. And now that I'm no longer having problems with reflux, I rarely experience breathing problems. But I still can't be sure of the connection. So many other issues can cause shortness of breath, including low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which I sometimes experience. I hope your symptoms get better!

Scott
Posted 1/12/2014 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
SmbBoise,
Hello...I'm new to this thread as hours upon hours of researching online about various symptoms I've been feeling have eventually led me here. I had no clue that the feeling of something stuck in my throat (which I have unfortunately had for 7 years...off and on) would be related to Acid Reflux/LPR. I had no idea that this slight tickle in the back of my throat or cough/throat clearing at night could also be a symptom OR the feeling of constant heavy mucus. My mind is blown. I have yet to see a Doctor about this because I have massive anxiety problems...like severe. Until two weeks ago, my symptoms would come and go. Now, I have just experienced massively bad symptoms that are persistent and It's terrifying me. I made several appointments with Doctors and am reduced to 'sitting duck' territory as I wait to be seen. The 'lump' in my throat, or as I always thought it was food literally getting stuck in my esophagus, is really bothering me. Horribly. To the point that I refuse to eat because I'm afraid. I'm not necessarily feeling pain...just pressure and...something stuck there. I've read and reread all the symptoms of G.E.R.D and LPR and I'm 95% sure this is what I have, save for the 5% of Dr.'s confirmation)

Anyway, my question for you is...how can one start on this diet ( and believe me I want to start RIGHT away) with that feeling of something in the back of your throat? Did you continue eating whilst feeling this way? Did it disappear rather quickly or were you forced to deal with it for a while?

My diet as of now consists of pretty much every. single. thing. that exacerbates this dreaded condition...so, that's nice.
Sorry for the long-winded post. Thank you in advance for answering and a massive THANK YOU for sharing your info on this thread!!!!!! I highly appreciate it.

-Nicole
Posted 1/12/2014 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
SmbBoise:

Where the breathing problems mainly when you were inhaling? I am 99% sure they are related to my LPR. I have started the diet a couple days ago and it seems I am having some success with it. My symptoms are tightness in throat, pain when talking for very long, chest pain/tightness, throat clearing, acid taste in mouth, and the worst of all...almost constant shortness of breath (like I cannot fully inhale). I did have a question on why you only eat the egg yoke and not the entire eat? Thank you for taking the time to share with everyone here your success story!
Posted 1/12/2014 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
Nicole: I'm so sorry to hear that you've had to live with this condition for 7 years without knowing what it was. That's terrible. Yes, I had those same symptoms: lump in the throat, cough/throat clearing, heavy mucus draining down the back of my throat. And I still get them if I eat too much fruit (especially apples -- I assume because they're high in fructose, fiber, and sugar alcohols -- 3 of the 5 things Robillard recommends we limit). I do think you should switch to this way of eating (Fact Track Diet) immediately. However, at least for me, the symptoms improved very gradually. If I remember correctly, it took a few weeks before they were completely gone. And, as I've mentioned, they will come back if I stray from this eating plan. But start the diet now, and hopefully you will soon begin experiencing a reduction in your symptoms. However, please do not over do it on the fat. Even though Robillard doesn't caution against fat (not that I remember, anyways), I've found that it can worsen the symptoms when I'm in the middle of a flare up. And it sounds like you're in the middle of one, so please keep an eye on how much fat you're eating to see if it worsens your symptoms. I don't suggest a truly low-fat diet, because you've got to get calories from somewhere. Just be mindful of the fat and how it affects your symptoms. But definitely avoid or limit the 5 things Robillard writes about: lactose, fructose, sugar alcohols, resistant starch, and fiber. And I'm glad you're going to see a doctor about this.

Gondore: Yes, it felt like I couldn't inhale enough oxygen. Not pleasant! I had those same symptoms, except for chest pain/tightness. I do sometimes experience chest pain, but it's rare and it doesn't seem that bad. I'm glad you're starting to experience a reduction in symptoms! I hope it continues to get better. If, after most of those symptoms are gone, you still find yourself experiencing chest pain/tightness, then I would go see a doctor. about eggs: I eat lots of poultry and fish every day, so I get plenty of protein. Egg whites are pure protein. They have no fat, and (as far as I'm aware) no other vital nutrients. The yolk, on the other hand, has lots of good stuff. Since I'm already getting plenty of protein (about 150g/day, which is about 1 gram per pound of body weight for me), and since an excess of protein may be harmful (see The Perfect Health Diet, by Paul Jaminet), I avoid the whites. So if you need more protein, definitely include the whites. Good luck with the diet, and I hope your breathing problems go away soon!
Posted 1/12/2014 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
SmbBoise:

Thank you SO much for your reply. Knowing that you had the same breathing issue is a HUGE relief to me as I was 99% sure this was related to the reflux but I lot of people didn't believe me. I had all kinds of test done for heart, lungs, etc. and in the end my physician told me it was anxiety and prescribed Zoloft and Xanax. This feeling like I was constantly being suffocated came on after my recent GERD/LPR flare. It has lasted for around a month (almost constantly) and did result in panic attacks that sent me to the ER. I'm not sure how somehow expects you to not be anxious when you feel that you can't properly breath. I did find though that if the breathing gets really bad I can take a Xanax and it will take the edge off it....trying to avoid this as much as possible though. I had an endoscopy done a couple weeks ago and they found I had grade 1 esophagitis and a 2-3 cm hietal hernia. Where you diagnosed with a heital hernia at any point and time? I believe the esophagitis is what is causing my chest pain. I was prescribed protonix 40 mg x 2 which I have been taking to heal up my esophagus. Using this diet I plan to wean off the PPIs in a couple weeks. I must say I think this diet is going to work!!!! After only a few days I have noticed the breathing getting better at times and it has given me hope!! One symptom that is also very strange that I was wondering if you also had is when I am failing asleep...like right before you enter your first stage of sleep...I will get that suffocating feeling very strongly and my body will jerk back awake. It's terrible! I didn't sleep for nights on end because my body would jerk me awake continuously stopping me from sleeping. I finally found that if I take a benadryl it knocks me out enough to get some sleep.
Posted 1/12/2014 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for such a quick reply SmbBoise. I highly agree with you that I'm right in the middle of a flare up. I bought the book and am now going to follow the diet, however, I am a tad confused about lactose.

I know it should be avoided, yet doesn't cottage cheese contain lactose? It's listed in the book for the meal plan on the Third Day. I know that there is a Lactaid Low fat Cottage Cheese, but the book does not specify that.
Thanks for the tip regarding the fat intake, I will definitely keep an eye out for that. I plan on eating bowls very similar to the one's you've listed that you eat. I don't mind eating the same things everyday, just as long as I have this under control and it isn't bothering me anymore...I'd be happy.
Posted 1/13/2014 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
Gondore:

Yes, although I can't be positive, I'm pretty sure the breathing problems I had were caused by the LPR. The symptoms you describe, and the intensity, are awful. I'm so glad to hear things are getting a bit better. And I'm sure they'll continue to improve as you continue to stick with this new way of eating. I've had panic attacks before, so I know how terrible those can feel. I wouldn't wish those on my worst enemy. I'm glad you have some Xanax to help reduce the anxious feelings that the shortness of breath can cause.

I've never been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia. When I saw my doctor about the LPR symptoms, he didn't run any tests. He just gave me a bunch of Nexium samples and told me to come back in a month if the symptoms remained. I never used the samples, because I wanted to see if the diet would work. Fortunately, it did.

I have experienced the problem you described where I'm right about to fall asleep and then, all of a sudden, I'm jerked back awake. It's no fun at all. It rarely happens to me, and I don't remember it happening back when I had LPR symptoms. It's possible, though. It's been quite a while since the last time it happened, so I can't remember if I had a suffocating feeling at the time.

I'm so glad the diet is helping you. Keep me posted!
Posted 1/13/2014 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Nicole (Worrier1):

I don't know much about dairy, but I think cottage cheese is one of those dairy foods that's low in lactose. So maybe that's why he allows it.

Good luck with the diet, and keep me posted!

Scott
Posted 1/13/2014 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
SmbBoise:

Would your breathing issues come and go for short periods of time or where they more chronic? Sorry to keep asking so many questions about this just trying to figure out if our causes may be the same. Thank you so much for your replies.
Posted 1/14/2014 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Gondore: My breathing problems seemed to come and go for short periods of time. And although it was certainly uncomfortable, it never felt bad enough to make me feel like I was suffocating. I hope you can find relief soon, because that sounds so awful.

Scott
Posted 1/14/2014 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to give an update. I have been following the diet for a couple days now and I have noticed a significant difference my in breathing! It's far from being gone and a lot of my other symptoms are still around but this is the most progress I have made in about a month! I am going to stick hardcore to the diet and see what happens. I will keep updating this post.
Posted 1/15/2014 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Gondore: That's great news! I'm so glad to hear it.
Posted 1/15/2014 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
SmbBoise:

I am trying to determine when I should wean off my Protonix 40mg x 2. I am not looking forward to it at all because I have gone off PPIs before and it was not pleasant at all. I am concerned about the diet not working correctly for me since I am using the PPIs; however, I was barely able to even work due to my condition. Since starting the diet I have been able to work half-days in the office. I am thinking I should probably go a couple more weeks on the Protonix before I start weaning so I can heal up my grade I esophagitis. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Posted 1/15/2014 12:07 PM (GMT 0)

SmbBoise said...
Alexandra: I think you're right that a certain amount of fear is normal for people with health problems. But for me, it was a level of anxiety that was definitely not normal. The paleo diet was so very helpful for that. Two other things I forgot to mention: I eat my last meal of the day about 2 or 3 hours before bed time. I also used to keep the head of our bed raised about 4 or 5 inches. Once my reflux symptoms went away, I stopped doing that (my wife didn't like it). So if you're not already doing those things, you might want to give them a try. I hope you find relief!


Thank you Scott!

I'm trying to not have my dinner later than 2 hours before bed also too.
But it is hard to elevate the head of the bed :( It seems like the construction can be destroyed if the height will be different confused So we are still working on it... I've heard that there exist some special stuff to incline the bed - i would be glad if someone can provide me with the example (on Amazon or Ebay - just to look at it).

I am on the 6th day of the diet. The average FP is around 30-35. I thought some improvement the second and the third day, but then simptoms came back. I didn;t use PPIs or anythig except homeopathy (Gaviscon from time to time) so it isn't rebound.
Maybe i should go lower than 30-35 and eliminate all dairy (yogurt and cottage chese) - don't know yet.

I also think of contacting Dr. Robillard to have consultation. I have "lazy gallbladder", so my reflux is more biliary than acid...gallbladder adds problems to my story. :( So i hope dr. Norman will share some thoughts about my case (he already answered some of my quastions on his site).

Alexandra
Posted 1/15/2014 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gondore. I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on that. I would suggest asking your doctor.

Good luck!
Posted 1/15/2014 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Alexandra. What about placing something (books, old clothing) underneath your mattress to prop up the head of the bed?

I'm sorry to hear your symptoms came back. I think you're right to contact Dr. Robillard for a consultation. I bet he can help you.

Many people have experienced relief with a paleo diet (no grains, no dairy, no legumes). So that's an option, too. Some people do really well on it. I'm mostly paleo, but I've found that I feel better with some starch in my diet. So that's why I include rice in my meals. And too much fruit makes me bloated. But others do well with a strict paleo diet. We're all unique.

But yes, contact Dr. Robillard. I hope he can help you.

Good luck!
Posted 1/15/2014 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Gondore,

I had breathing problems pre-NF surgery due to aspiration of acid.
This problem is gone post surgery.

CaryF
Posted 1/16/2014 12:40 PM (GMT 0)

SmbBoise said...
Hi Alexandra. What about placing something (books, old clothing) underneath your mattress to prop up the head of the bed?


Yes, it's a good idea. I didn't think about elevating mattress.

SmbBoise said...
Good luck!


Thank you :)

Did anybody try melatonin supplement? I found a few articles that it can be helpful in our situation.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2821302/
In the study they used 3mg of melatonin taken daily before bed time for 4 to 8 weeks and it worked pretty well.

I am about to try this also. Maybe it can enhance the effect of diet alone.

Post Edited (Pompadur) : 1/16/2014 5:43:00 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/16/2014 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to give everyone an update. I have been on the diet about four or five days now. I have seen a pretty significant improvement in my ability to breath! I was having problems inhaling almost constantly for a month before starting this diet. The shortness of breath now seems to come and go instead of being constant. Things appear to be slowly getting better. It should mention though that I am doing a very restrictive version of the diet similar to what SmbBoise is doing. So I mainly just eat fish, chicken, non-starchy veggies (carrots, zuchinni, lettuce, spinach, collards greens, etc), a little olive or coconut oil, smaller amounts of jasmine rice, and a little fruit (melon, strawberries, and blueberries). I am experimenting with walnuts and peacons to see how I can handle though. I am also keeping a detailed food/symptom log to help me track what might be causing my symptoms to worsen.
Posted 1/16/2014 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
Gondore, good to know that you're feeling better!
Do you count FP? (i'm interested how much FP do you have per day if so)
Posted 1/16/2014 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Pompdar:

I haven't been calculating my FP. I may start doing this if I stop making progress. So far I have been sticking with all low FP items so I haven't worried a whole lot about FP. I typically eat three meals with a snack or two in-between (usually nuts and a little fruit). I think that eating five small meals is probably better though as I tend to have more problems when I eat to much at once. I have also been taking a probiotic (15 billion x 2) each day and a digestive enzyme called Acid Soothe.
Posted 1/16/2014 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Gondore, thank you for details!
Posted 1/21/2014 9:04 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to give an update. Things continue to improve on the diet. It seems like it's two steps back and one step forward but it's definitely progress. If things continue I may be close to symptom free by the month mark!! I have really restricted myself a lot so far in order to try and figure out what is really causing my issues. I am mainly just eating chicken, fish, pork, turkey, brocoli, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, kale, melon, dates, and berries. I cut out both nuts and rice as I think they were bothering me. I am going to try adding them back in down the road. I should also add that I am still on a high does of PPIs. I was on this several weeks though and noticed very little difference. The true test will be getting off of these though.

I also had my blood drawn yesterday for the Cyrex Labs Array 3 test to see if I really have issues with gluten. If this comes back positive then I am going to have the Array 4 test done to see what other things I cross react with. On this list is rice, corn, coffee, just to name a few. I will keep updating the thread as things progress.

How is everyone else progressing on the diet? Any changes?
Posted 1/22/2014 7:50 AM (GMT 0)
Gondore, it is nice to read that you are getting better! Keep it up!

As to me, i had an appointment with Dr.Robillard yesterday via Skype. I am impressed with his attentiveness and his wish to help.
He proposed some changes and restrictions for my meal plan taking account of my particular health issues.
So i have experimental meal plan for two weeks and then we will see what to do next.
I hope it will help me...

One advice to someone who decides to make an appointment with Dr.Robillard. It is very helpful to make a food diary for a week or so before an appointment. It can help him to decide what to change in your meals.

That's all my news for now!
Posted 1/22/2014 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
It is nice to see that others are getting results through diet change. I have been following the Paleo diet and it has helped me a great deal. I've recently read about the Fast Tract diet and have compared it to the things I eat within the Paleo diet and it seems that the Paleo diet seems a bit more constricting but allows you to eat some things that are not allowed through the Fast Tract diet. The biggest difference between the two is that the Fast Tract allows you to eat some grain based foods where Paleo cuts all of those out. I have started eating jasmine rice and it doesn't seem to cause the same problems as other grains for me so I think I'll just stick with that when I do eat some sort of grain based food. Other than that, another thing that seems to help me is that I juice with fresh fruits and vegetables every morning. This gives me a boost of phyto nutrients and with only getting 6-7 hours of sleep each night, I still have more than enough energy to get me through the day without any caffeine source or extra carbs.

I enjoy reading about your success as it proves that diet alone can help turn things around. I went from 1 40mg dose of protonix all the way down to 1 pepcid complete chewable tablet in the last 4 months with the Paleo diet and everything looks hopeful for being down to just a few tums in the next couple weeks to completely free of anything in a month or two.
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