I'm not sure if there is prescript
ion medicine for low acid. I would still try the Betaine HCL in greater amounts (but be careful and go up gradually).
The road I've been on for my GERD has been filled with several different doctors and numerous lifestyle and dietary changes. I first experienced acid reflux as a young teen (12-ish), had it weekly by age 19, and am now 27 where I've experienced it daily for several years.
My experience is that most GI specialists (all of them in my case) see acid reflux through one lens - get thinner, don't drink alcohol or coffee, don't smoke, avoid acidic foods, take these PPIs and if all else fails, get the Nissen Fundoplication. I've done everything they've suggested (except surgery, which I'm considering now). I have taken 5 or 6 different PPIs, some at very high dosages. There seem to be various things that the GI specialists ignore - for instance, in all 3 of my Upper GI scopes, my stomach was very inflamed. In each case, the GI specialist just says that most people have inflamed stomachs from time to time. Really....? I had a small bowel series and the contrast took 6-8 hours to hit my small intestine. They didn't think this was important, but my own research suggests it is very irregular.
Aside from that, I've tried all the 'folk remedies' - Betaine HCL, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, probiotics, no gluten for 2 months, no dairy for 2 weeks, FODMAP diet, very low sugar intake, etc.. While some of these things may have helped to various degrees (probably with Betaine HCL working the best), none have cured the issue, and it steadily gets worse over the years. I've even tried meditating and exercising more.
To date, I haven't found a cure all. My feeling is that people fall into a few different categories concerning acid reflux - some just have an ulcer which can be cleared up with a few weeks of antibiotics and PPIs, but a large, growing portion of the population seems to have some sort of chronic health condition that isn't well understood, and has become much more prevalent in the past few decades. A lot say it is related to the lower esophageal sphincter acting up, but there's no consensus on why this is such a larger issue than it was in the 1970s, 1940s, etc. etc. My feeling is that it may be related to the rise of autoimmune disorders, as many people with GERD have family members with other conditions. For myself, I have immediate relatives with RA, Ulcerative Colitis, various forms of IBS, Celiac's disease, etc. I also wonder if it is attributable to some mass mental issue - like increased anxiety or stress caused by technology. Maybe I'm 'reaching' too much?
As far as the surgery is concerned, it seems to be a hit or miss. It seems like most people experience some amount of pain or discomfort for the rest of their lives post-op, but many say this is better than having the GERD and thus makes it worth it. I'm still trying to see if I can figure out a different fix for myself before taking the plunge with surgery. Anything you've come across that has helped and you think is worth mentioning would be very appreciated.
Post Edited (EJohn) : 6/8/2016 3:54:14 PM (GMT-6)