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Can't Eat Enough on Dr. Kaufman's LPR Diet. Advice?

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Posted 1/16/2015 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have LPR and have started following the Dropping Acid diet after a particularly bad flare up this month. My only complaint is that I can't eat enough and find myself becoming irritable and sluggish because of it. I plan on following the Induction Phase longer than 2 weeks and don't want to keep losing weight like this.

There are many things on the "approved" list for the Induction Phase that I simply can't tolerate, such as grains, dairy, oatmeal, apples, beans, and possibly bananas. My daily intake was oatmeal for breakfast (before I had to remove that), egg whites and plain chicken breast for lunch, and plain rice and canned salmon for dinner. The pain and discomfort after eating makes it difficult to eat every few hours.

Dr. Kaufman's website talked about a few different protein drinks which are alkaline that I thought might help because they are high in calories, but I haven't tried them and don't know if I will be able to tolerate them right now.

Does anyone have any ideas of how to eat more on such a restrictive diet? Any advice would really help. Thank you. :)
Posted 1/17/2015 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
this is my first post! hello!

have you thought about making seed or nut milks?

can you eat almonds? or sesame?

you pulverize a quarter cup of sesame per 8oz of liquid in a blender then strain it with a cheesecloth or tea strainer to remove the hulls. no hulls in the drink until your throat feels better. you can blend 1/2 cup of almond with 8oz. Then you add sweetners. i think these fats are easier to digest than fat from flesh.

have several of these a day for calories.

since you can't eat a lot of the induction diet. I want to mention carob. i have found carob powder to be very soothing, a great phlegm reducer, and its naturally sweet. i am 6 weeks in on the dropping acid induction diet (not stopping it yet and it is helping me tremendously) and it was great for me! there are studies showing it helps babies with reflux. also carob molasses is used as a cough suppressant - i think in malta. just google it. you can mix it in with a whisk after you strain out the hulls. the carob granules pretty much dissolve. and then if you still hate the taste add honey! it never has exacerbated any throat issues for me. but as always tread carefully at first! everyone is different!

carob is described as a chocolate substitute, somewhat similar in texture and color. but like soy is a milk substitute, that's where the similarities pretty much stop. overall flavor and texture are very different. carob lacks the fat chocolate has, but it is much sweeter. somewhere between dates and sweetened 50% dark chocolate.

or you can just add honey.

or maybe reconstituted dried sulphite-free apricots. if you are willing to go one step out of the induction diet. you bring them to a boil then turn off the flame and let them sit all night in the water. it makes them plump, kills all bacteria and makes them easy on your throat and to digest. they don't taste great but they are low acid and packed with minerals. or you can add a few dates (don't boil those). dates are calorific. after you strain i would throw the sesame or almond milk back in the blender to reblend with the dried fruits.

good luck!
i totally understand if you are grain free. everyone is different. but you can't eat wheat? is that is what you mean by grains? i see you ate rice. have you tried buckwheat? or millet? try cream of buckwheat and add pulverized sesame seeds to it (no need to strain). they are gooey like oatmeal but gluten free. and also you can make a cream of millet. another gluten free grain. i think quinoa and amaranth will be too hard on the throat! you can pulverize a 1/4 cup of sesame to a dust and throw in it hulls and all. the gooey texture should protect your throat. as i said i think the fats in sesame oil are easier to digest than meat fats. and unlike flax seeds dont make you go to the bathroom. and if you feel bold enough try the grain with 1/4 cup of pulverized pumpkin seeds.

also eat more baked yams, potatoes etc. if that is not forbidden. you can bake 10 or so in the oven and take them with you! perfect small meal.

also the canned salmon can be causing discomfort. if you read dropping acid, it mentions that in the us canned foods must be acidfied by law. and on top of that salmon fat might be hard to digest right now. i find i can only eat a 1/4 pound of fresh salmon at a time.

Post Edited (lprsufferer) : 1/17/2015 1:51:01 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/17/2015 9:00 PM (GMT 0)

lprsufferer said...
this is my first post! hello!

have you thought about making seed or nut milks?

can you eat almonds? or sesame?

you pulverize a quarter cup of sesame per 8oz of liquid in a blender then strain it with a cheesecloth or tea strainer to remove the hulls. no hulls in the drink until your throat feels better. you can blend 1/2 cup of almond with 8oz. Then you add sweetners. i think these fats are easier to digest than fat from flesh.

have several of these a day for calories.

since you can't eat a lot of the induction diet. I want to mention carob. i have found carob powder to be very soothing, a great phlegm reducer, and its naturally sweet. i am 6 weeks in on the dropping acid induction diet (not stopping it yet and it is helping me tremendously) and it was great for me! there are studies showing it helps babies with reflux. also carob molasses is used as a cough suppressant - i think in malta. just google it. you can mix it in with a whisk after you strain out the hulls. the carob granules pretty much dissolve. and then if you still hate the taste add honey! it never has exacerbated any throat issues for me. but as always tread carefully at first! everyone is different!

carob is described as a chocolate substitute, somewhat similar in texture and color. but like soy is a milk substitute, that's where the similarities pretty much stop. overall flavor and texture are very different. carob lacks the fat chocolate has, but it is much sweeter. somewhere between dates and sweetened 50% dark chocolate.

or you can just add honey.

or maybe reconstituted dried sulphite-free apricots. if you are willing to go one step out of the induction diet. you bring them to a boil then turn off the flame and let them sit all night in the water. it makes them plump, kills all bacteria and makes them easy on your throat and to digest. they don't taste great but they are low acid and packed with minerals. or you can add a few dates (don't boil those). dates are calorific. after you strain i would throw the sesame or almond milk back in the blender to reblend with the dried fruits.

good luck!
i totally understand if you are grain free. everyone is different. but you can't eat wheat? is that is what you mean by grains? i see you ate rice. have you tried buckwheat? or millet? try cream of buckwheat and add pulverized sesame seeds to it (no need to strain) its gooey like oatmeal but gluten free. and also you can make a cream of millet. another gluten free grain. i think quinoa and amaranth will be too hard on the throat! you can pulverize a 1/4 cup of sesame to a dust and throw in it hulls and all. the gooey texture should protect your throat. as i said i think the fats in sesame oil are easier to digest than meat fats. and unlike flax seeds dont make you go to the bathroom. and if you feel bold enough try the grain with 1/4 cup of pulverized pumpkin seeds.

also eat more baked yams, potatoes etc. if that is not forbidden. you can bake 10 or so in the oven and take them with you! perfect small meal.

also the canned salmon can be causing discomfort. if you read dropping acid, it mentions that in the us canned foods must be acidfied by law. and on top of that salmon fat might be hard to digest right now. i find i can only eat a 1/4 pound of fresh salmon at a time.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I'm glad to hear that the diet is working for you. When did you start noticing improvements with it?

I can't have nuts or things made from nuts, as they make my post nasal drip pretty bad. I wish I could though, because they're so calorie dense.

What is the consistency of the carob molasses? I only ask because I've found things that are creamy or thick tend to bother me, even if it's an "approved" food.

I'm glad you mentioned apricots. I meant to pick up some dried apricots at the store today, but I forgot. I will pick some up next time I go though.

Yes, I'm sorry I meant to say that I'm trying to avoid gluten. I don't remember if buckwheat or millet was on the Induction Phase list, but I just checked online and on Dr. Kaufman's website she mentioned that buckwheat is okay (pH is 6.0), and I happen to have that in my pantry! :)

Thanks for mentioning fish. I must've missed the part about canned fish. That's no good, I guess. I was just buying canned because I'm on a budget and it's much cheaper than fresh/frozen fish.
Posted 1/17/2015 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I'm glad to hear that the diet is working for you. When did you start noticing improvements with it?

within 3 days helped along by a wedge pillow. its crazy! laryngospasms stopped cold. and 6 weeks on aided by supplements i'm getting better and and better. my doctor says ive been healing better through diet and supplements than people at the same point taking ppis. let me stress, i'm not healed, but much better. i am going to do a long post about my journey so far.

I can't have nuts or things made from nuts, as they make my post nasal drip pretty bad. I wish I could though, because they're so calorie dense.

do almonds and sesame seeds do the same thing? are you sure? not all nuts and seeds are created equal. almonds and sesame seeds are on the alkaline side. if you have tested it, please excuse me. but if not, try a few and see what happens! i'm in no way encouraging you to feel worse. i'm just saying do the equivalent of a patch test and see if these trigger you. eat like 3 almonds or something. and then daily working your way up until you find a tolerance level. but if i were you if your throat is really bad i'd make a milk or throw them in buckwheat or rice pulverized.

another option is you can make a rice milk from brown rice. it won't have all the crap in the store bought ones. i have never made rice milk. but why not do it!

What is the consistency of the carob molasses? I only ask because I've found things that are creamy or thick tend to bother me, even if it's an "approved" food.

it's a thick goo like all molasses. but carob powder is powder! and should be safe.

Yes, I'm sorry I meant to say that I'm trying to avoid gluten. I don't remember if buckwheat or millet was on the Induction Phase list, but I just checked online and on Dr. Kaufman's website she mentioned that buckwheat is okay (pH is 6.0), and I happen to have that in my pantry! :)

yay!

and millet is easy to digest too.

i actually find white and brown rices hard to digest. always have.

Thanks for mentioning fish. I must've missed the part about canned fish. That's no good, I guess. I was just buying canned because I'm on a budget and it's much cheaper than fresh/frozen fish.

it's not just canned fish, it's all canned foods. but there is a contradiction in the book. in the lists of safe foods, several canned foods are listed as safe. whereas in the essay part she states that they are to be avoided specifically because of a us law passed in the early 1970s requiring canned foods have an acidity below 4. the truth lies somewhere in between. but at least in the beginning of the diet it's probably best to avoid them. also why not cook several meals at once for 3 days and have them ready to eat in the fridge and then take them to work, etc.

if you have no problems with blood sugar, temporarily, eat dates (if the gooey-ness of them doesn't bother you). eat a bunch of those and you will not lose weight!

i wish you wellness on this journey!

Post Edited (lprsufferer) : 1/17/2015 4:11:29 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/18/2015 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
King Soba makes buckwheat noodles that are wonderful and soft and almost instant in preparation. High in protein, organic, nothing else added-- no salt, no citric acid, no preservatives. I even put them uncooked in a thermos bottle, add boiling water-- when I get to work they are already cooked and still hot.

I make cashew milk-- I don't know if on your list-- but you soak them over night, they really plump up, then drain them, put in blender and two cups of water to 17 soaked nuts and blend well. Does not need to be strained, there are no particles left at all. You can flavor it any way you desire. I put very tiny pinch of salt and one drop if vanilla. I'm not a sweet taste fan though you can add touch of sweetener if fits with your plan.
Posted 1/18/2015 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
agreed about king soba! they also make a millet and brown rice as well as black rice noodles that are tasty!
Posted 1/18/2015 12:55 AM (GMT 0)

lprsufferer said...
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I'm glad to hear that the diet is working for you. When did you start noticing improvements with it?

within 3 days helped along by a wedge pillow. its crazy! laryngospasms stopped cold. and 6 weeks on aided by supplements i'm getting better and and better. my doctor says ive been healing better through diet and supplements than people at the same point taking ppis. let me stress, i'm not healed, but much better. i am going to do a long post about my journey so far.

I can't have nuts or things made from nuts, as they make my post nasal drip pretty bad. I wish I could though, because they're so calorie dense.

do almonds and sesame seeds do the same thing? are you sure? not all nuts and seeds are created equal. almonds and sesame seeds are on the alkaline side. if you have tested it, please excuse me. but if not, try a few and see what happens! i'm in no way encouraging you to feel worse. i'm just saying do the equivalent of a patch test and see if these trigger you. eat like 3 almonds or something. and then daily working your way up until you find a tolerance level. but if i were you if your throat is really bad i'd make a milk or throw them in buckwheat or rice pulverized.

another option is you can make a rice milk from brown rice. it won't have all the crap in the store bought ones. i have never made rice milk. but why not do it!

What is the consistency of the carob molasses? I only ask because I've found things that are creamy or thick tend to bother me, even if it's an "approved" food.

it's a thick goo like all molasses. but carob powder is powder! and should be safe.

Yes, I'm sorry I meant to say that I'm trying to avoid gluten. I don't remember if buckwheat or millet was on the Induction Phase list, but I just checked online and on Dr. Kaufman's website she mentioned that buckwheat is okay (pH is 6.0), and I happen to have that in my pantry! :)

yay!

and millet is easy to digest too.

i actually find white and brown rices hard to digest. always have.

Thanks for mentioning fish. I must've missed the part about canned fish. That's no good, I guess. I was just buying canned because I'm on a budget and it's much cheaper than fresh/frozen fish.

it's not just canned fish, it's all canned foods. but there is a contradiction in the book. in the lists of safe foods, several canned foods are listed as safe. whereas in the essay part she states that they are to be avoided specifically because of a us law passed in the early 1970s requiring canned foods have an acidity below 4. the truth lies somewhere in between. but at least in the beginning of the diet it's probably best to avoid them. also why not cook several meals at once for 3 days and have them ready to eat in the fridge and then take them to work, etc.

if you have no problems with blood sugar, temporarily, eat dates (if the gooey-ness of them doesn't bother you). eat a bunch of those and you will not lose weight!

i wish you wellness on this journey!

Thanks again for your help. I really hope this helps me, because after hearing so many negative things about PPI's, I'd rather avoid that route if necessary. What supplements are you taking?

I'm not sure if it's all nuts that bother me or not. I know that cashews do, so I just assumed they all would. I chalked it up to the fat content.

I thought nuts and dried fruit like dates were only allowed on the maintenance phase on the diet though. I've lost my copy of the book, so I can't check right now.

@Pat Tall and lprsufferer, thanks for the recommendation about King Soba. I might have to order it online because I've never seen them carried at my local store, but they look promising! :)
Posted 1/18/2015 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
it's true nuts and dried fruit are not included in the induction diet. but if you can't eat gluten, dairy, apples, bananas, anything high in fats and you are feeling weak and losing weight you don't want to lose, then you have to think out of the box.

it's true non-gluten grains, squash, baked yams and potatoes will definitely help with calories. but any which way you need nourishment and should try anything that's safe in small amounts to feel ok. lpr is so poorly understood at this point, and koufman's diet is a lamp post not the light. so you might have to approach it a bit differently adhering to it's principles but not following it to the letter to keep up energy as you heal! thankfully even with lpr we have no issues with most of nature's foods.

there is also the sibo diet that might be better suited for you. and other of course others, that i don't know about.

when i started the diet, i found i couldn't eat/drink dairy because of mucus, any sort of bread, popcorn or the stems of any herbs because of the texture hurting my throat, ginger, coffee or vinaigrette because they made my stomach hurt like you wouldn't believe and evamor water because something about the way it is mineralized kills my lower abdomen (i drink iceland water with no problem). and let me tell you that a water actually was irritating my body is head scratching to me, but it's the case!

if you decide to try something outside the diet, start small. you can soak 1 date and remove the skin to make the experience eating them more gentle. and if its ok , then you can eat 2 the next day, etc!

it's frustrating that healing can be so slow in a world that moves so fast. i've made peace with it.

how do you eat an elephant? one bite at a time.
Posted 1/18/2015 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
in a few days i'll create a post about supplements.
Posted 1/18/2015 2:41 PM (GMT 0)

lprsufferer said...
it's true nuts and dried fruit are not included in the induction diet. but if you can't eat gluten, dairy, apples, bananas, anything high in fats and you are feeling weak and losing weight you don't want to lose, then you have to think out of the box.

it's true non-gluten grains, squash, baked yams and potatoes will definitely help with calories. but any which way you need nourishment and should try anything that's safe in small amounts to feel ok. lpr is so poorly understood at this point, and koufman's diet is a lamp post not the light. so you might have to approach it a bit differently adhering to it's principles but not following it to the letter to keep up energy as you heal! thankfully even with lpr we have no issues with most of nature's foods.

there is also the sibo diet that might be better suited for you. and other of course others, that i don't know about.

when i started the diet, i found i couldn't eat/drink dairy because of mucus, any sort of bread, popcorn or the stems of any herbs because of the texture hurting my throat, ginger, coffee or vinaigrette because they made my stomach hurt like you wouldn't believe and evamor water because something about the way it is mineralized kills my lower abdomen (i drink iceland water with no problem). and let me tell you that a water actually was irritating my body is head scratching to me, but it's the case!

if you decide to try something outside the diet, start small. you can soak 1 date and remove the skin to make the experience eating them more gentle. and if its ok , then you can eat 2 the next day, etc!

it's frustrating that healing can be so slow in a world that moves so fast. i've made peace with it.

how do you eat an elephant? one bite at a time.

Thanks again for your advice. I'm only just now starting to accept that I have a LPR and a problem with foods, so it's difficult and a bit frustrating. After a particularly scary painful incident last week though, I'm determined to get this fixed as much as possible.

If this diet doesn't seem to work out, I will definitely check out this SIBO diet as a backup. :)

I will ask one question, if you don't mind. I did find a protein shake at the store, and awhile I couldn't find it being approved anywhere (though I know Dr. Kaufman has approved some protein drinks), I thought I might try it. I think it fits into the diet. The only thing is, agave and oats bothered me last time I them. I know Dr. Kaufman talks about pH balancing though, so I thought this might apply here.

Do you think it's worth trying?

It's called Goodness-To-Go Tahitian Vanilla. The ingredients are: Low-Fat Milk, Water, Agave Nectar, Milk Protein Concentrate, Whole Grain Oats, Soy Protein Isolate, Tahitian Vanilla Extract Wth Other Natural Flavor, Contains Less Than 1% Of : Inulin, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Gellan Gum, Carrageenan, Monk Fruit, Stevia Extract, Salt.

It's a little pricey at my store ($6/4 bottles), but it's almost 200 calories and only has 3g of fat per bottle.

Also, thanks for the supplement list! I'll be waiting. :)
Posted 1/18/2015 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,


I've dropped foods from my diet that aren't essential to get me through life day to day.

For starters, peppermint and chocolate. I replaced them with fruit ( e.g. blueberries).

I've reduced coffee to one mild cup a morning, and switched to herbal teas.

For alcoholic beverages, I still drink a glass wine after dinner, but water it down in a glassful of ice.

No fried meat - I bake everything and rarely eat beef. Fish, pork, and chicken are fine.

The only side effect I have that hasn't gone away is the cough that brings up phlegm, but that isn't as bad now as before. I used to fill up a pint bottle daily. It's down to about 4 oz. now.

Like you, I'm still trying to find out how to get enough to eat, but I've found that I first have to rid myself of the foods that exasperate the problem and replace them with 'friendlier' foods.

Post Edited (Army_Vet60) : 1/18/2015 7:57:55 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/18/2015 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again for your advice. I'm only just now starting to accept that I have a LPR and a problem with foods, so it's difficult and a bit frustrating. After a particularly scary painful incident last week though, I'm determined to get this fixed as much as possible.

don't i know about the scary incidents! laryngospasms are terrifying!

If this diet doesn't seem to work out, I will definitely check out this SIBO diet as a backup. :)

I will ask one question, if you don't mind. I did find a protein shake at the store, and awhile I couldn't find it being approved anywhere (though I know Dr. Kaufman has approved some protein drinks), I thought I might try it. I think it fits into the diet. The only thing is, agave and oats bothered me last time I them. I know Dr. Kaufman talks about pH balancing though, so I thought this might apply here.

try to stay away from things that irritate your system. but if you must have it, try a tiny amount. then ask yourself, is it causing symptoms? if yes, just stop! if no, then try a little more. when it does cause a symptom, then just stop STOP STOP...give it a rest. and maybe reintroduce the amount you are tolerant of several days later.

i have spent weekends living "dangerously" trying to see what i can or cannot tolerate.

Do you think it's worth trying?

It's called Goodness-To-Go Tahitian Vanilla. The ingredients are: Low-Fat Milk, Water, Agave Nectar, Milk Protein Concentrate, Whole Grain Oats, Soy Protein Isolate, Tahitian Vanilla Extract Wth Other Natural Flavor, Contains Less Than 1% Of : Inulin, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Gellan Gum, Carrageenan, Monk Fruit, Stevia Extract, Salt.

since you experience sensitivities to milk, oats (gluten) and agave, and we don't know what the "other natural flavor" is, probably not. but of course you know this! :)

how about trying rice milk? or trying this?VVVVVV

http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/nutrafusion-plantfusion-vanilla-bean-1-lb-powder/a9-1005
i saw you can buy it on amazon too. maybe this would be safer?

it supplies 120 calories and 21g of protein. and the ingredients look safe.

http://livingwithgastroparesis.com/review-plantfusion-plant-protein-powder/

Also, thanks for the supplement list! I'll be waiting. :)

probably tonight!
Posted 1/18/2015 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Army_Vet60,

that's amazing how much better you are getting. this process is slow and idiosyncratic. but it's certainly character building!
Posted 1/18/2015 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
i just noticed there is a plain version but it still has stevia in it. you throw it in a blender with some water, a handful of parsley or cilantro and spinach or chard, a carrot stick, a celery stick, a teaspoon of olive oil and a bit of salt and voila you have a meal! you can do that all day. you get all the cellulose (fiber) from the vegetables. they are raw, nutrient filled and yet broken down for you by the blender, and of course you get calories from the protein drink and the teaspoon of oil. supposedly to best digest nutrients from vegetables we humans require some fat.

http://www.amazon.com/NAKED-PEA-Protein-North-American/dp/B00NBIUGA2/ref=sr_1_12?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1421603336&sr=1-12&keywords=pea+protein+powder

pure pea protein powder is another option.

http://www.amazon.com/NAKED-PEA-Protein-North-American/dp/B00NBIUGA2/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

one thing i've experienced, is that one medium sized juiced carrot stick before a meal, makes everything easier to digest. it should be just as good mixed in! carrots are so soothing. but i find i the palms of my hands and feet turn yellow if i eat more than a few sticks a day.

Post Edited (lprsufferer) : 1/19/2015 9:24:14 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/18/2015 6:04 PM (GMT 0)

lprsufferer said...
Army_Vet60,

that's amazing how much better you are getting. this process is slow and idiosyncratic. but it's certainly character building!

Hi,

I better give you some background on my case.

I had the Nissen done in May 2012. I couldn't get more than three bites of food down without doubling up in pain. My throat also felt like it was twisted and I could barely speak. My doctor said I was fine (?!) and refused to go back in, so I switched doctors.

The new doctor operated on me the following year. She found the Nissen was improperly done, had twisted my stomach and esophagus, plus a lot of scar tissue had formed over the wrap. She modified the wrap to a Toupet.

I was able to eat small meals without doubling over, but liquids were backing up in my esophagus and I was coughing up a pint or so of fluid, saliva, and phlegm into a pint bottle daily. I went back to the doctor this year because the regurgitation was wrecking every aspect of my life.

Two months ago, the doctor went back into me and found scar tissue was once again growing around the wrap and strangling me. She undid the wrap and did a gastroplexy to deal with the acid reflux. Now I can eat and drink, but I have all of the symptoms of LPD, so I am trying to adapt my diet to this. The regurgitating of fluid is gone, but phlegm in my larynx is an issue.

Thank you for responding my previous post! I just found this site and the people posting here have helped me incredibly this past week sharing their experiences. They've told me more about all the symptoms I dealt with .than my two surgeons combined
Posted 1/19/2015 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
oh i'm so sorry!

western medicine gets lots of things right, but when they get it wrong - it's so wrong.
but it's great that you found a better doctor who takes responsibility for the situation and is on top of things! and great that you are making modifications to live a more comfortable life!

have you thought about trying dr. koufman's dropping acid diet?

http://www.chewfo.com/diets/dropping-acid-the-reflux-diet-cookbook-cure-2010-by-jamie-koufman-jordan-stern-and-marc-bauer-what-to-eat-and-foods-to-avoid-food-list/

it doesn't work for everyone, but it has helped many.

the link above includes a list of what's allowed during the 2 week induction diet.

it has really helped me.

almost 6 weeks ago, what triggered lpr was the combo of a course of prescribed nsaids and a cold that hit while taking them. i had just developed gastritis from the nsaids, then got the cold and two days later i had laryngospasms. i've never had any discomfort in the esophagus. i immediately went to an ent who scoped me and said i had lpr and i was given nexium and zantac pretty much after the onset. i took 2 zantac pills - 1st a 150 and then the next day a 75 - i had awful tingling in my limbs and an awful headache from both pills and no relief. the side effects went away both times when the pills wore off. i had no interest in ppis or any more h2 blockers or whatever they are called after that. the cure was a greater poison than the disease. i then did some research, discovered the diet and started taking supplements.

things aren't perfect. today is definitely the hardest day i've had in a month. my throat feels tight and i've been hoarse all day. it's because i didn't properly mix the digestive enzyme powder in water earlier today and almost choked on the dust as i drank it (so stupid). i know it's a temporary setback, but i am reminded of the bad days of 5 weeks ago. and i understand healing this is a slow process and from time to time with these things you take two steps back as often you take a step forward. and it's all trial and error. if only we had two throats. evolution did not optimize by giving us one of every organ except for the eyes and ears and some other parts! why not two esophagi and two throats!

i'm doing a lot better over all. but in no way healed.

onward we go!
Posted 1/19/2015 1:08 PM (GMT 0)

lprsufferer said...
oh i'm so sorry!

western medicine gets lots of things right, but when they get it wrong - it's so wrong.
but it's great that you found a better doctor who takes responsibility for the situation and is on top of things! and great that you are making modifications to live a more comfortable life!

have you thought about trying dr. koufman's dropping acid diet?

http://www.chewfo.com/diets/dropping-acid-the-reflux-diet-cookbook-cure-2010-by-jamie-koufman-jordan-stern-and-marc-bauer-what-to-eat-and-foods-to-avoid-food-list/

it doesn't work for everyone, but it has helped many.

the link above includes a list of what's allowed during the 2 week induction diet.

it has really helped me.

almost 6 weeks ago, what triggered lpr was the combo of a course of prescribed nsaids and a cold that hit while taking them. i had just developed gastritis from the nsaids, then got the cold and two days later i had laryngospasms. i've never had any discomfort in the esophagus. i immediately went to an ent who scoped me and said i had lpr and i was given nexium and zantac pretty much after the onset. i took 2 zantac pills - 1st a 150 and then the next day a 75 - i had awful tingling in my limbs and an awful headache from both pills and no relief. the side effects went away both times when the pills wore off. i had no interest in ppis or any more h2 blockers or whatever they are called after that. the cure was a greater poison than the disease. i then did some research, discovered the diet and started taking supplements.

things aren't perfect. today is definitely the hardest day i've had in a month. my throat feels tight and i've been hoarse all day. it's because i didn't properly mix the digestive enzyme powder in water earlier today and almost choked on the dust as i drank it (so stupid). i know it's a temporary setback, but i am reminded of the bad days of 5 weeks ago. and i understand healing this is a slow process and from time to time with these things you take two steps back as often you take a step forward. and it's all trial and error. if only we had two throats. evolution did not optimize by giving us one of every organ except for the eyes and ears and some other parts! why not two esophagi and two throats!

i'm doing a lot better over all. but in no way healed.

onward we go!

Sorry to hear that things are rough for you right now. We're in the same boat it seems.

I know I'm not far enough along into the Induction Phase but I'm already feeling hopeless. It seems that my LPR has gotten worse. I have never experienced actual heartburn, but suddenly, I have had 3 episodes of actual heartburn - 2 of those times when I first started this diet and once a day or so before I started. I thought I had done really well this morning, having a small serving of plain roasted chicken breast and plain roasted potatoes and carrots. No seasoning or anything except some salt. I had very little stomach pain and only slight post nasal drip after eating. I did sip on a glass of warm water while eating because I've been having trouble swallowing later. about an 1.5 hours after breakfast though, the burning came back and started climbing up my throat. I burped once or twice and experienced an acidic taste. I tried to take 1/2 tsp. of baking soda, but it hasn't really helped.

I'm trying to change up my diet so more. I'm going to really try to increase my vegetable intake and see if I can tolerate bananas and pears. I'm cutting out rice, buckwheat, etc. I've been having those things, but I think it's making it worse. So basically just a diet of turkey, chicken, vegetables, egg whites, and small amounts of banana and pear.

I keep questioning whether the supplements I'm taking have anything to do with it. I take 2 Tylenol in the morning, along with 1200IU of D3, 250mg of Magnesium, and 500mg B12. I use these supplements to treat my pain condition and have been taking them for about a month now. I'm not sure what to think. I don't even want to eat anymore because it's just too much of a pain dealing with the side effects. Sorry for the lengthy rant. Just having a bad day. :/

Post Edited (helioseed) : 1/19/2015 6:11:14 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/19/2015 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Helioseed. Please visit this page. It was developed by a forum member and it deals with LPR and GERD. This is not selling and you do not need to sign up-- he has devoted his life to helping people with the same illness that he went through. Lots of great information that has helped many-- including my family. Let me know what you think. Learned more from him then the doctors.

https://www.facebook.com/refluxhelp

Also please try the high alkalizing water for drinking and gargling. I feel sad to read how you feel and wish you well quickly.
Posted 1/19/2015 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
@ pat,

i had to stop my b12 liquid supplement because it had citric acid in in it and it was burning my throat for sure. i finally found a sublingual one that has lactose instead of citric acid. even though i'm not doing very well with lactose right now, i figured it won't actually burn my throat. it doesn't. i take it at the beginning of my meal so the phlegm doesn't have a chance. it's a 1000mcg chewable by Natural Factors. of course if you are taking a capsule and swallowing it, disregard :)

have you heard of trisalts? it's tums meets baking soda minus the salt.
as i weaned off tums, i took it for a few days. the way yucky tums sticks to your teeth and the awful flavor and too much sugar!

trisalts composition is
Calcium Carbonate 450 mg‚ Magnesium Carbonate 250 mg‚ Potassium 99 mg

https://www.pureformulas.com/trisalts-200-grams-by-ecological-formulas.html#.
http://www.amazon.com/Ecological-Formulas-Cardio-Research-Tri-Salts/dp/B00014DY5S

the irony is it's actually salt free. ;)

and you can try

http://www.amazon.com/Freeda-Magnesium-Carbonate-Powder-OZ/dp/B003CO2YS2

anyway its an an optional way of getting your daily magnesium while being nice to your throat and digestion. Carbonate forms of minerals are not choice for our bodies in terms of absorption, but they do absorb. i get migraines. and i couldn't use any of my go to medicines. at the onset, i've used 500mg of magnesium carbonate powder mixed in 8oz of water and the headache was gone pretty quickly and oddly i had no diarrhea from it. so i can attest it does absorb!

also perhaps try to eat your grains at a different meal than when you eat animal protein. it's easier to digest them separately.

and carob for me a is a godsend. it's the last thing i drink at night. maybe it will help someone else.

i take a tablespoon of roasted carob with a generous dusting of ceylon cinnamon and whisk into a either a cup of oatmilk or milk or a combo of the two (of course you can use any grain, nut or seed milk and if you have no issues with dairy, why not try plain old milk) in a 1 quart pot. heat up until warm not hot on a medium heat. then i whisk in a light dusting of cardamom and a dusting of nutmeg. and then add 1 tsp of honey. i merely warm up the drink so i don't kill all the good stuff in the raw honey, but its still warm enough that the honey melts if i give it a good mix. not everyone can tolerate cardamom or nutmeg so they are optional!

for me this works so well, that last night, my throat stopped irritating after i drank it.

Post Edited (lprsufferer) : 1/19/2015 9:26:05 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/20/2015 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
@Pat, thanks for the link. I've been browsing this page all day reading and learning new things. I can't afford high alkaline water at the moment, but I have researched that as well and have some brands in mind.

lprsufferer said...
i had to stop my b12 liquid supplement because it had citric acid in in it and it was burning my throat for sure. i finally found a sublingual one that has lactose instead of citric acid. even though i'm not doing very well with lactose right now, i figured it won't actually burn my throat. it doesn't. i take it at the beginning of my meal so the phlegm doesn't have a chance. it's a 1000mcg chewable by Natural Factors. of course if you are taking a capsule and swallowing it, disregard :)

have you heard of trisalts? it's tums meets baking soda minus the salt.
as i weaned off tums, i took it for a few days. the way yucky tums sticks to your teeth and the awful flavor and too much sugar!

trisalts composition is
Calcium Carbonate 450 mg‚ Magnesium Carbonate 250 mg‚ Potassium 99 mg

https://www.pureformulas.com/trisalts-200-grams-by-ecological-formulas.html#.
http://www.amazon.com/Ecological-Formulas-Cardio-Research-Tri-Salts/dp/B00014DY5S

the irony is it's actually salt free. ;)

and you can try

http://www.amazon.com/Freeda-Magnesium-Carbonate-Powder-OZ/dp/B003CO2YS2

anyway its an an optional way of getting your daily magnesium while being nice to your throat and digestion. Carbonate forms of minerals are not choice for our bodies in terms of absorption, but they do absorb. i get migraines. and i couldn't use any of my go to medicines. at the onset, i've used 500mg of magnesium carbonate powder mixed in 8oz of water and the headache was gone pretty quickly and oddly i had no diarrhea from it. so i can attest it does absorb!

also perhaps try to eat your grains at a different meal than when you eat animal protein. it's easier to digest them separately.

and carob for me a is a godsend. it's the last thing i drink at night. maybe it will help someone else.

i take a tablespoon of roasted carob with a generous dusting of ceylon cinnamon and whisk into a either a cup of oatmilk or milk or a combo of the two (of course you can use any grain, nut or seed milk and if you have no issues with dairy, why not try plain old milk) in a 1 quart pot. heat up until warm not hot on a medium heat. then i whisk in a light dusting of cardamom and a dusting of nutmeg. and then add 1 tsp of honey. i merely warm up the drink so i don't kill all the good stuff in the raw honey, but its still warm enough that the honey melts if i give it a good mix. not everyone can tolerate cardamom or nutmeg so they are optional!

for me this works so well, that last night, my throat stopped irritating after i drank it.

Thanks for the info about the supplements. I will definitely check into those things you've mentioned!

The drink you described sounds amazing. I don't think I could tolerate it right now, but I will keep it in mind when I feel like I can handle more things.

When I was looking at my B12 and Magnesium supplements earlier, I discovered that they both contain stearic acid, which I understand is a saturated animo acid. Do you think this ingredient could be playing a role in my heartburn? I've been taking these supplements for about a month - long enough for them to start working - and for sure I remember not having such horrible pain before then. What do you think?
Posted 1/20/2015 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
i can't imagine if you are swallowing these pills the stearic acid would make a difference because its such a small amount. that is, unless your stomach is currently wounded. 6 weeks ago i couldn't handle any supplements. i would worry about vitamins that are sublingual or liquid, like b12 often is, containing citric acid and directly touching your throat area.

also certain forms of magnesium may increase reflux. but i haven't come across many individuals on the web complaining about it.

today, i posted the rundown of what i'm taking. it's a really long post. :)
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=3302828

Post Edited (lprsufferer) : 1/19/2015 6:41:15 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/24/2015 10:47 PM (GMT 0)

lprsufferer said...
i can't imagine if you are swallowing these pills the stearic acid would make a difference because its such a small amount. that is, unless your stomach is currently wounded. 6 weeks ago i couldn't handle any supplements. i would worry about vitamins that are sublingual or liquid, like b12 often is, containing citric acid and directly touching your throat area.

also certain forms of magnesium may increase reflux. but i haven't come across many individuals on the web complaining about it.

today, i posted the rundown of what i'm taking. it's a really long post. :)
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=3302828

I apologize for not replying sooner. Thanks so much for the advice and for the info in your other thread. I have continued to avoid the supplements I was taking, but your info may come in handy later if/when I start feeling better.

I read Fast Tract Digestion and have started following a combination of that and Dropping Acid. It's basically a keto diet with only alkaline foods. I have started to see some improvement (almost no burning/reflux into my throat and very little post nasal drip), but I am still really struggling with feeling full and bloated all day. It's difficult to eat anything still. I'm only eating about 500-700 calories a day. That's definitely not good, as my blood sugar dropped drastically this morning and I almost fainted. I'm trying to increase my calories little by little, but it's hard.

Anyway, thanks for all your help you and others have provided me in my thread! I really appreciate the support. :)
Posted 1/24/2015 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
did you try the protein pea powder? i know you said that wet foods are difficult at the moment. it's made from yellow peas and it tastes like split pea soup. :) i actually like it.

also try gelatin. it's slimy but it will help with digestion. but start slowly with 1 tsp a day and then work your way up. mix it with the pea powder and some veggies. and eating kelp noodles or seaweed with meals will help. the seaweed and gelatin, really are great.

i use this collagen peptides. unlike regular gelatin, i find it palatable. i can't say if it it has no flavor on its own.

http://www.amazon.com/Vital-Proteins-Pasture-Raised-Collagen-Peptides/dp/B00K6JUG4K/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

you can just eat 1/3 of a scoop at a time.

at this moment consider before bed marshmallow and/or slippery elm tea. you don't have to boil water to make it. in the morning you can add a marshmallow tea bag and a teaspoon of slippery elm to a cup of room temperature water. let the cup of water and herbs sit in a jar all day undisturbed until you are ready to drink it. squeeze the marshmallow root tea bag, discard. drink up cold infusion. drink up the slippery elm powder. drink slowly. you can add honey also. this is so soothing!

it's weird even though marshmallow is a root, it's even better to drink if you cold brewed it for a day than boiling it.

wishing you a wealth of health! i'm so happy you have some relief this week! that means you will have more next!

edit: i realize if you are on the fast track diet, forget the pea powder! that might not be good for you at the moment. everyone is different.
but you do need some calories!

hugs and health!

Post Edited (lprsufferer) : 1/24/2015 4:35:53 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/25/2015 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I had my second post op recently, and I talked to my doctor about the LPR problem with the tight throat and coughing up excessive phlegm. She recommended gargling with warm salt water (1/2 tsp in 4 oz of water). I read up on how this would benefit me. Apparently, the salt neutralizes acid in the throat, removes harmful bacteria, and breaks down phlegm. I have to admit it is providing some temporary relief from that "lump in the throat" feeling.

Anyway, you might want to try it after eating if you feel like acid is irritating your throat and see if it helps?
Posted 1/25/2015 12:31 AM (GMT 0)

lprsufferer said...
did you try the protein pea powder? i know you said that wet foods are difficult at the moment. it's made from yellow peas and it tastes like split pea soup. :) i actually like it.

also try gelatin. it's slimy but it will help with digestion. but start slowly with 1 tsp a day and then work your way up. mix it with the pea powder and some veggies. and eating kelp noodles or seaweed with meals will help. the seaweed and gelatin, really are great.

i use this collagen peptides. unlike regular gelatin, i find it palatable. i can't say if it it has no flavor on its own.

http://www.amazon.com/Vital-Proteins-Pasture-Raised-Collagen-Peptides/dp/B00K6JUG4K/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

you can just eat 1/3 of a scoop at a time.

at this moment consider before bed marshmallow and/or slippery elm tea. you don't have to boil water to make it. in the morning you can add a marshmallow tea bag and a teaspoon of slippery elm to a cup of room temperature water. let the cup of water and herbs sit in a jar all day undisturbed until you are ready to drink it. squeeze the marshmallow root tea bag, discard. drink up cold infusion. drink up the slippery elm powder. drink slowly. you can add honey also. this is so soothing!

it's weird even though marshmallow is a root, it's even better to drink if you cold brewed it for a day than boiling it.

wishing you a wealth of health! i'm so happy you have some relief this week! that means you will have more next!

edit: i realize if you are on the fast track diet, forget the pea powder! that might not be good for you at the moment. everyone is different.
but you do need some calories!

hugs and health!

Thank you for the recommendations and support. :)

I have some Slippery Elm tea in my pantry that I will try. I will also look for the Marshmallow Root tea.

@Army_Vet60

Thanks for the idea about gargling. My throat is not so sore anymore, so I will try the salt-water gargle the next time I eat!
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