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Low or High Acid? Frustrated & don't know what to do!

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 8/11/2015 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
My GERD "journey" began three years ago when I went to the ER for serious pressure in my chest. From there I was set up with a gastro specialist and underwent an endoscopy & two awful PH probe tests. They diagnosed me with a loose/lazy lower esophageal sphincter and put me on omeprazole.

The pills worked for a few months until I began feeling dizzy, tired, nauseated, out of it, and just plain rotten. I researched the medicine and discovered the whole theory of low stomach acid & realized I had ALL the symptoms.


I have been healthy and pretty much GERD-free from taking apple cider vinegar pills, probiotics, watching my diet, and staying active. Sadly, I recently had some sort of weird relapse--waking up with intense indigestion, stomach pains, nausea, regurgitation, and dizziness. Went to a new gastro reluctantly and they, of course, put me on Zantac. Also had blood tests & a barium swallow done. Was told nothing is the matter and all tests are normal. I'm frustrated, don't trust doctors, and would seriously value some opinions.

MY QUESTIONS:
How is that possible for me to have a normal upper GI test/Barium swallow with a lazy LES?
Anyone else have these issues/similar story?
Is low stomach acid a real thing?
Should I go against my personal wishes and take the Zantac? Or continue with my previous regiment?

Post Edited (kayla997) : 8/11/2015 12:47:28 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/11/2015 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
So from what I'm reading, the treatments for both IBS and GERD are pretty similar, no? Basically, if I take natural things such as my probiotics and digestive enzymes I may be able to help both in the long run if that is indeed what it may be.

I spoke with the GI and they seem to say everything is normal...which goes completely against my old GI test results. This is why I, too, prefer a natural method. I'm not 100% on board with having the high acid & I don't want to take medication that may be damaging.

Any thoughts on the low acid theory?
Posted 8/11/2015 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
There are similarities, but bear in the mind that both can involve much different treatment approaches. Not all IBS is the same and not all GERD symptomology are the same. Though I'm a huge advocate for dealing with things naturally, there are times when medications are necessary.

GERD sufferers come in all shapes and sizes, some suffer from too much acid, some from too little acid, and then there are many other variables to consider.

You say you were taking probiotics. How much were taking per day and for how long? Sometimes people take too much and it can cause some of the problems you're describing.

Were you ever diagnosed with anything else other than GERD? 

There's no way to begin to guess if you have too much or too little acid without some kind of testing that would measure that.

As far as doctors are concerned, if you go to a doctor who was only trained in Western medicine then they are going to prescribe medicine, so I'm not surprised that the doctor prescribed Zantac.

You were having success before, so I'm wondering what was the impetus or cause that made your symptoms come back.

Speaking only for myself, I've noticed that if don't sleep properly or wake up in an awkward position, I've sometimes woken up in the early morning with a lot of pain in my esophageal area. And that one night of sleeping that way can cause me to have symptoms for several days.

Maybe it's time for a 3rd opinion? I'm on my 3rd GI doctor now because I didn't feel like the first two were working for me and as patient, you are also a customer and if you don't feel like the doctor is genuinely trying to help you (or maybe can't help you because of their limited training), then it could be time to look for another GI doctor, preferable one that takes a more holistic approach.

 

Posted 8/11/2015 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kayla997

Low stomach acid is a real thing. I developed delayed gastric emptying from taking a PPI (omeprazole 20mg). It was the only medication I was taking. I was taking this medication because I was having problems eating spicy foods and drinking things with caffeine & citric acid. Once I developed delayed gastric emptying from this medication, I could not eat anything without have serious LPR issues... not even a cracker or a slice of apple.

Unfortunately, PPIs can cause delayed gastric emptying in some people. If you develop delayed gastric emptying from taking this medication, the LPR does not go away. This is because there is no longer the correct amount of acid in the stomach to break down the food. The remaining acid in the stomach along with the food will come back up the esophagus over & over again until the stomach completely empties out.

My delayed gastric emptying reversed slowly once I weaned off PPIs, then zantac, then tums. But it was extremely difficult to wean off PPIs and even H2-blockers due to Acid rebound. Acid rebound (hyper-secretion of acid) is a withdrawal symptom when you try to wean off this type of medication. Goggle: Acid rebound

The question should be what is causing your LES (lower esophageal sphincter) to relax instead of trying to treat symptoms like so many GI doctors do with PPIs. Your naturopathic doctors are aware of PPIs causing slow digestion/delayed gastric emptying.

Post Edited (CAGU) : 8/11/2015 6:53:06 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/12/2015 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your responses! So I learned something interesting after posting this. I realized I had never received complete test results from my pH probe test years ago. Low and behold I finally got the records after requesting them yesterday--my doctor had suggested I STOP omeprazole and they had never told me. This was THREE years ago. Thankfully I weaned myself off after about 6 months, but still.

Also, more confusingly, his diagnosis seems to say that my symptoms aren't particularly acid related, but motility related. To summarize what I could make of his medical terms, I had normal acid levels but failed swallowing correctly and had very abnormal esophageal function and a very weak/low pressure LES.

Now I'm more confused then ever as to my next steps.
Posted 8/13/2015 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Motility issues is another way to say you are dealing with slow digestion. PPIs like omeprazole are known to slow digestion. I would consider having the gastric emptying test done.
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