HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Eliminating GERD and LPR Without PPIs or Surgery (in most cases)

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/2/2016 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
about four months ago I was referred to an ENT Clinic complaining of recurring hoarseness, post nasal drip, asthma and frequent throat clearing. After examination and testing I was diagnosed with LPR, a form of reflux. The ENT protocol for treating LPR, as approved by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, calls for a multi month treatment with a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) that essentially shuts off your stomach’s production of hydrochloric acid. The apparent theory being that too much stomach acid is causing the symptoms. At no time was I tested to determine my current level of stomach acid. I was given a prescription for a PPI (Omeprazole-Prilosec), a strong stomach acid suppressant. After two weeks and no symptom relief, I stopped the medication and started researching LPR on the Internet. This led me to the two books, “Stomach Acid is Good for You” by Jonathan Wright, M.D. and “Fast Tract Digestion-Heartburn” by Norman Robillard. PhD. I found many other resources including Chris Kressor, Dr. Axe, Dr. Perlmutter and Dr. Mercola all who suggested that low stomach acid was the root cause of most reflux and its replacement with Betaine Hydrochloride and Pepsin was the key to treating LPR and even GERD. Accordingly, I tested myself for low stomach acid and determined it was quite low. I started taking supplemental HCL/w/Pepsin and worked up to five 648 mg caps with most meals involving protein. Within a week, all my symptoms vanished. I am now down to taking only three capsules as my stomach is apparently starting to produce its own acid again. Since starting supplemental HCL with Pepsin, I have not had a single bout of asthma or hoarseness. Neither have I had a post nasal drip or throat clearing episode. I also follow Dr Robillard’s diet that eliminates carbohydrates that the body has a hard time digesting.

Most GI and ENT Docs will dismiss the work of Dr. Wright and Dr. Robillard as lacking sufficient scientific evidence to be of value as accepted treatment protocols. However both doctors report success using their methods with Dr. Wright reporting that 90% of the thousands of patients he has seen for reflux tested for low stomach acid and were helped by taking Betaine HCL with Pepsin. I suggest you get Dr Wright’s book as a starter.

PS: You may wonder why I tested myself for low stomach acid. Surely there is a medical test to determine how much stomach acid you have..and there is. It’s called the Heidleberg Test. However, the vast majority of GI and ENT Docs don’t administer the test. Why? Simply because their respective professional associations refuse to acknowledge that low stomach acid is a problem. Rather, they steer patients to expensive tests, PPIs and operations such as the Fundoplication, linx, etc. Big Pharma makes Billions selling PPIs and I’m sure some of the bounty finds its way back to the prescribers and their controlling professional associations. PPIs interfere with your digestion and proper uptake of necessary nutrients. A low stomach acid environment caused by PPIs leads to H Pilori infection and small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). That in turn can lead to reflux, IBS and leaky gut amongst other things.

PPS: I'm not a medical person..simply did my research and you can too
Posted 3/11/2017 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
Reading your post lets me know I'm on the right track. I tried Prilosec since it was recommended by the ENT that diagnosed me with LPR. My symptoms were far worse after 3 days so I stopped taking it. I believe my issue is low stomach acid since production does slow as we age. Why suppress what I don't have?? Made no sense to me so I'm taking matters into my own hands. I bought the book, Droppng Acid by Dr. Koufman, and immediately started a low acid diet. I'm going to buy the other books you suggested and try to rid myself of the condition!
Posted 3/11/2017 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum, Anita.

Acid, even low acid, can damage the esophagus. Your ENT, probably a very good medically trained physician, who I presume looked into your throat but no further, gave you the prescription, probably because he saw damage. Did he tell you anything about why you were having the reflux? If not, I'd see a gastroenterologist, a real MD, who does investigate this part of the problem with medically approved tests and real treatments, proven with documented research.

Prilosec doesn't work for everyone, and if you are taking the OTC half Rx strength one, that could be part of why it didn't work. It can take several days, or more, for PPIs (Prilosec and others) to start to relieve the burned esophagus (the damage I suspect the ENT saw). I tried several before finding one that worked for me.

It makes a huge difference if you take PPI medicine properly too. You can't just take it anytime. You have to take it first thing in the morning, half an hour to an hour before eating. And then you MUST eat. There are many posts explaining this on the forum. Check some keywords in the search box.

I wonder why he didn't start you on something like Zantac, which works differently, first. Had you tried that previously?

Low, truly low, acid in the stomach doesn't damage the esophagus. It doesn't cause reflux either. I had a weak lower esophageal valve (LES) for a long time, and I moved up the types of ant-acids as the valve got worse, and had NO damage. (It's appropriately called non-acid reflux.) However, I had reflux events, not just a leak from lying down with a partly open valve. I saw an allergist who helped me find my triggers by having me keep a food journal. (Look up these words in the search box at the top of the page.) I won't go further into this because it's a long story and it's been posted by many people here.
Posted 3/11/2017 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
I took the ppi correctly and it actually made me start having heartburn, reflux, and burping up vapors. The LES sphincter doesn't completely close until the acid level gets to a certain point. Lowering my acid done more harm than good. If the LES isn't closing properly any amount of acid escaping is gonna burn! I'm having endoscopy done the 22nd just to make sure there aren't other issues....then the acid test. I'm not lower acid unless a test actually shows my acid is high, which I don't believe it is.

Post Edited (AnitaF) : 3/11/2017 7:54:21 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/11/2017 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Also, I went to my GP and had complete bloodwork which showed I have low B12. & vitamin D. I read that low b12 can affect the LES closing properly. I know my issue resulted from being overweight, not eating healthy, drinking too much alcohol, not exercising, and too much stress. I'm addressing all those issues before committing to taking pills that could harm me further. Hopefully, we all find our solution.
Posted 3/12/2017 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings Anita: First, let me respectfully disagree with Alice with regard to low stomach acid not damaging the esophagus and not causing reflux. This is simply not true. The following from a post I made on another site explains how low stomach acid affects reflux, both GERD and LPR (which you have and I had)

"There is one very rare disease that causes the body to produce too much acid. Rather, most people, particularly those over 40, probably suffer from too little stomach acid! Too little stomach acid actually contributes to acid reflux. It sounds counter intuitive but it’s true. When food enters the stomach and there is insufficient acid, digestion is slowed way down and protein in particular isn’t properly broken down. Since the valve separating the stomach and small intestine (Pyloric valve) normally only opens when the pH of the stomach reaches 2, the contents stay in the stomach longer and begin to putrefy and release gas which causes bloating. Eventually, the pyloric valve is forced to open to let the partially digested food (chime) enter into the small intestine. At that point the pancreas releases bicarbonate to remove the acid from the chime since the walls of both the small intestine and colon are not designed to withstand acid. When the pyloric valve opens naturally when the pH is low enough, a signal is sent to the pancreas, gall bladder and liver which are involved in the final phase of digestion. However, when the food is forced into the small intestine prematurely, those signals are not properly sent and the final phase of digestion remains incomplete. This is where bacteria, good and bad, proliferate to eat the partially digested food. This is where small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) comes in to play. The by product is production of hydrogen and methane gas that moves back up into the stomach and places pressure on the valve separating the stomach and esophagus (LES) causing reflux"

Another thing you must understand is that the LES tightens and relaxes based on signals from the nervous system. When you start to eat, the stomach is directed to start secreting acid. As the pH of the stomach begins to fall, the LES is directed to shut tight to prevent acid backflow. Once digestion is complete and the pH falls, the LES is allowed to relax. If a person is not producing enough stomach acid due to aging, stress, etc., the stomach pH is affected and the message to the LES to close tight is interrupted. The relaxed LES combined with the incomplete digestion of the food (as previously described) contributed to stomach (and intestinal gas) contents being able to get past the LES.

Anita: Your B-12 deficiency is a sure sign of low stomach acid. B-12 comes primarily from meat. Stomach acid converts pepsinogen to pepsin that is instrumental in digesting protein and making B-12 bioavailable. Not enough acid, not enough pepsin and the B-12 can't be properly carried to the small intestine for absorption into the body.

You can go to Amazon and look up the product “NOW HCL with Pepsin” and read all 1500+ positive testimonials from people who have found relief from reflux by taking additional stomach acid capsules. Mother Nature gave us stomach acid for a reason. It is our friend not an enemy. I would suggest you locate a naturopathic, chiropractor or other functional medical practitioner who is familiar with digestive issues and can guide you in self testing for low stomach acid and assisting with treatment as needed. If it is determined your stomach acid is not low, only then would I seek the help of a GI MD.

Regards


dennis
Posted 3/12/2017 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
One correction to my post. The reference of 1500 positive testimonials for HCL with pepsin on Amazon is for all 33 supplement companies that sell an HCL with Pepsin product. The NOW brand has a little over 500 testimonials, 80% of which are 4 and 5, the top two ratings.
Posted 1/25/2021 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
is it still under control?
I tried everything regarding lowering stomach acid but it may be the other way around... it's a bit scary to take acid right now... but I am reading more and more stuff on Betaine Hcl.
Posted 1/26/2021 11:55 AM (GMT 0)
kafadama:

My suggestion would be to start your own post. The person that you are responding to hasn't been active in almost 4 years. I have to warn you, the Boards are extremely slow. When was the last time that you have seen your GI? I also suggest that you consult with your doctor before starting any types of supplements/medications, as there is a lot of misinformation on the internet.

Sharon
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply