Burned esophagus drinking APV

Two months ago I drank 2 oz. of apple cider vinegar and it still has not healed. In fact, it is now worse after relapsing from eating a sandwich. I drink maybe 1 - 1 1/2 cups of water a day and eat about 500 calories. I have lost over 20 lbs on a 125 lb frame. I have had two GI doctors... neither seem to help. I am in constant pain, constant fatigue. I am waiting for this to turn a corner but it doesn't. I am taking protoniz 40 mg a day. Tried slippery elm but that hurts to drink as well. Because I drink so little I'm concerned for my kidneys so I don't take dgl licorice or gaviscon which can help but they indicate do not take if kidney issues. I don't have kidney issues yet but how long can my body take this. Why don't doctor's care? I've already gone to the hospital once due to dehydration and received a liter of fluid. But I need constant IV fluids in order to heal. I'm afraid I'm not turning a corner or what to do. I read an old post from KINDHEART and I've tried to follow her regimen since it's very close to mine but I can't drink liquids. It's more painful than eating food. I'm at the end of my rope. What do I do? I feel like going to the emergency room and begging them for help. And I look anorexic. I've lost hope. Can anyone provide me any guidance?

Hi Wellwoman, Thanks so much for the advice. I'm going to get some slippery elm lozenges tomorrow. I already have the dgl licorice lozenges...and they did help when I took them. I'm also getting the chamomile tea as well. The only thing is that I can't drink anything except for a couple of small sips. I drink only about 1/2 - 1 cup of water a day.

Interesting you talk about dairy. That is what I've been eating mostly in the past couple of weeks. Yogurt, goat's milk (alkaline and more digestible than cow's milk). It's the only liquid I could drink. I've also been eating watermelon and cantaloupe...also alkaline. But if I eat too much the pain in my esophagus is so overwhelming I feel like I could go to the emergency room.

I ready your story. How long did it take you to heal your esophagus? ....when you started to feel a difference after taking the natural remedies? I drank the ACV on May 26th. I was getting better until I ate a pb jelly sandwich and destroyed the healing that was occurring and am starting over, but worse than before. I will need to focus more on the vegetables.

Also, everything I eat is baby food consistency...creamed in the blender. I include chicken, kale, carrots, dandelions for detox, etc. But again, I can only eat in very small quantities. Tomorrow I will be creaming spinach with some scrambled egg. I do really well with scrambled egg.

I'll let you know how I do once I start on this new regimen. Thanks again

zoelove said...
I ready your story. How long did it take you to heal your esophagus? ....when you started to feel a difference after taking the natural remedies?

I wouldn't call myself totally "healed" yet. On most days, I don't need to take the licorice or slippery elm, though. I rarely have heartburn, but I do have discomfort (like pressure) if I eat too much. Today I went to a potluck/BBQ lunch, but I didn't eat just everything and anything. I stick to cooked vegetables (no raw), little meat, mac and cheese, and limit the wheat (bread, cakes, etc., ...and yeah, I know macaroni is made of wheat) I don't use any condiments, so no BBQ sauce, mustard, etc. because that has vinegar in it and can burn. Today, everything sweet had peanuts in it, another one that will cause pain. Melons may be alkaline, but they are hard to digest. I would stay away from most raw fruit (and vegetables) until you feel you are really well again. If you like well-ripened bananas, that is one exception; just don't eat them firm or green.

Like I said, you should feel relief in a few hours, or at least a couple of days. I began to eat little bits within a couple of hours after the first cup of chamomile/licorice root/lemon grass tea, and have gradually gotten better ever since.

Wellwoman, I started the new regimen today. I've used the DGL licorice root several times today, the slippery elm lozenge a couple of times. I did feel slight relief. I did push myself today to eat more that I have before and I am feeling a slight burn and an intense pressure. The pressure is the worst part. It has subsided a bit now, but it's still there. I'm not eating anything else since I don't want to push it. I wouldn't say I'm comfortable eating more at this point. I'm more concerned with being able to drink more and that is more difficult. I feel like there is a tear in my esophagus and when I drink it runs down that tear. Drinking water is the worst. I did buy chamomile and lemongrass tea (herb, non-caffeinated). I don't know when I will be able to try it though since I still hurt when drinking.
As for your progress, you are definitely making progress. I wish I was where you were. It's like seeing light at the end of the tunnel. The one thing I have to focus on is eating slow and very small bites.
Congratulations on your progress.

zoelove said...
Can you please tell me the brand of tea you are using (chamomile/licorice root/lemon grass tea)?

It was made by Carrington Teas; "Heavenly Herbal" flavor. I got it a couple of years ago at Big Lots, but they don't have it anymore at my local store. Since I felt it saved my life, I called the company to see where I could get more, but they said no stores in my area had ordered from them. You really don't have to get this particular tea. The same ingredients in any form will work.

You might not be doing yourself a favor by pushing yourself to eat more. The lower esophageal sphincter, the valve at the top of your stomach, is not closing properly. That's why you feel the pressure and burning. It would be best to eat very small amounts of easily digested foods, and only when you're hungry. Use more slippery elm than licorice, because the slippery elm keeps your stomach/esophagus coated to help with the burning.

Hang in there and have patience for your body to have enough time to heal itself.

One thing you could try is Lockets, I used to have them when heartburn was bad. They have a mild anesthetic effect on the throat and esophagus and the constant swallowing helps keep stuff down.

zoelove, your esophagus is not "torn" in the sense that there is a hole that something would run out of. The tissue is likely raw from the acid, though. You should get an endoscopy so that you know what you're dealing with, but my bet is that it is inflamed, and the valve is not closing properly. Beware that if you do get it scoped, the doctors will tell you to take PPI's, and you will be back to square one, along with the other 99% of people on this board who never heal back to normal. Give the regimen a chance, and don't eat (or drink) things that set off the pain.

Sorry, after reading my post I think I sounded a it ungrateful. I will continue to use the DGL licorice and slipper elm lozenges as they did give me temporary relief, but don't feel I need them long term. The chamomile tea was great at soothing my stomach. Will continue to take that now that I know it works.

Frankie2, I don't think you were irresponsible with the vinegar. People talk about its benefits all the time, and as with yours, it did help my digestion right up until that first cataclysmic heartburn event. Who would think that it is acidic enough to fry your esophagus even in a glass of water?

I had no idea there were so many people with this issue. I talked briefly with a [dietitian/naturopath/healer?] who said something like, "Of course you're having problems with ACV, you have type 'O' blood". I didn't respond for a couple of seconds, so she said, "You do have type 'O' blood, don't you?". That was over the phone, 30 seconds after I described my symptoms and what it came from. I have still never met her in person. I wondered how she knew that I was type "O". She said that we already have an abundance of stomach acid, so we don't need more for digesting, but we do need plant aminos. I'm also still wondering if she gets these complaints frequently.

Do you think that your upper esophagus is scarred instead of (or maybe in addition to) your stomach/sphincter valve? Why don't you try a cup of tea with some of the beneficial herbs in it? I'm sure that wouldn't hurt you and it may sooth your voice. Honey is also very soothing, and when my dog had her right ear filleted, the veterinarian told me to put honey on it because it lays down granular cells faster than anything. (He was right, and it did heal pretty well, though without proper hair).

Keep us updated on your progress. Like everyone here, I hope you feel better soon.

I'm not feeling bad anymore since the licorice root, slippery elm, and an occasional aloe juice w/ honey during the day. I only felt bad (like you're describing) when I was taking the PPI's, and then still bad even on the Zantac. Pepsid didn't seem strong enough to do anything for me. I even felt lousy when carrying a bottle of Maalox around and chugging it. I am honestly healing and eat three meals a day, plus some snacking. The meals aren't huge like I used to eat, but still a luncheon plate full. And you know what? Tonight I will lay down flat, not inclined, and sleep wonderfully without any heartburn.

I'm retired (very early and very blessed, at 47; 56 now), but today I mowed the grass with a rotary push mower, trimmed a hedge, pulled weeds, refinished some wood, did laundry and a few other chores. I feel basically good.

Unlike you, I don't put much faith at all in the doctors, though. They all think/say the same thing, because they were educated in a box and are influenced and pressured by the pharmaceutical companies, Medicare and insurance companies, and their peers to take the wide road. They don't read the internet, ever, as far as I can tell. They rarely keep up with the latest medical studies, even in their own field. Have you ever wondered how people got well before Nexium? I don't see people getting well on this forum. I see them in various stages of misery, maybe getting better for a short time, then having rebound effects, taking ever more medicine, wanting to cut back, feeling down and in despair but unable to help themselves, and having horrible surgeries to try to fix what the medicine didn't. I just cut out all that misery and said, "What did people do 50 or 100 years ago to get well?". (They did get well, not just tolerate feeling lousy for years like some of the folks on this forum.) It works, and I'm proof enough for myself.