Is it weak LES or stomach issues that causes reflux?

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to get some clarification. I have LPR, and I only have it when my belly is 'angry'--not sure what's going on with it (delayed emptying, indigestion, etc.). So, I figure when my stomach cannot digest food, the food gets pushed up, pushes open the LES, and up it goes (or the pepsin or acid or whatever) into my upper airways.

Now, I've heard of people who have LPR/Gerd who don't have stomach issues (or don't seem to). In this case, is it only a weak sphincter that is allowing food/pepsin/acid back up? Or does there have to be some force (i.e. gas, bloating, indigestion) from stomach that is pushing valve open? I don't see why stuff would go 'up' from the stomach if there weren't some digestive issues...

Is it possible to have no issues with digestion, but still have GERD/LPR?

And, if I have digestive issues, is it probable that they've weakened my LES so that the perfect storm (digestive issues/weak sphincter) makes for a miserable reflux?

If someone has the surgery to fix a weak sphincter, doesn't that just fix one of the problems, and not the digestive issues?

Thanks for any answers...!

Thanks Macs.

I have to think it's more than that, though....

There are there so many books/articles about SIBO, about changing diet to a low-acid diet, etc. And we know that GERD, at least in commercials for those terrible PPIs, happens due to something you eat that upsets your stomach....

Electracat:

Just be careful trying to self-diagnose through articles you find on Google - there is a lot of misinformation. One site I found to be trustworthy and accurate was mayoclinic.org. My suggestion would be to talk to your doctor and have an endoscopy done (if you haven't already), and go from there. There is also definitive testing for delayed gastric emptying. In my situation, I had a large hiatal hernia, a LES valve that didn't close letting all of the stomach acid up through me esophagus. Surgery was necessary, and was a complete success. Until you get some testing done, you can't speculate what your issues could be.

Sharon