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Constipation and GERD

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 1/18/2007 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Will taking laxatives help reduce my GERD symtoms?  I am wondering if there is a correlation between not going to the bathroom a lot and having GERD.  What do you think? friendlygal
Posted 1/18/2007 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
I have crohns with diarrhea. So for me there is no relationship between the two..
TCCIC
Posted 1/19/2007 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Well, you should always be regular but preferably naturally. Try BENEFIBER, it's a natural fiber to help keep you regular. Don't start adding to your problems with laxatives.
Posted 1/19/2007 8:40 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks, DANIE. I have tried Benefiber before.

I have tried everything, including an alkaline diet.  The acid in my throat is so out of control. so is the burping and heartburn. It is scary.  I don't even want to go out with my friends anymore and I am known as a relaxed, party type of person.

I want myself back!!

Posted 1/20/2007 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Friendlygal,

Try these 3 things:

1) Make it a priority to get enough sleep at night and of course wait 3-4 hours after eating.
2) Don't put anything COLD in your stomach. Heat up even the liquid you put on your cereal. And your water - at least enough to take the chill off. You're going to treat your stomach very tenderly.
3) Chew your food x30. This means devoting some time to eating.
Posted 1/20/2007 1:07 PM (GMT 0)

Lonibel, Heat up liquid that I put on my cereal??  Wow, I never knew that cold liquid is so bad for GERD...Have you been feeling better with all that you're doing?

about sleep, I don't sleep at night..


Posted 1/20/2007 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
You shouldn't eat anything too cold or too hot. It makes sense, it has to go down your esophagus and apparently room temperature is fine.
Posted 1/20/2007 2:53 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Friendlygal,

I had the same problem.  Although I was taking Prevacid twice a day I was still having alot of burning and alot of constipation. After talking to the dr, he said that it was probably bile backing up into my stomach because of constipation and then  going up my esophagus.  I tried natural laxatives like senna but it didn't help.  The dr put me on Zelnorm and when it started working good the burning went away.  I now take my Prevacid and it works great now.  All this time, I thought the Prevacid wasn't working but it was, it just doesn't work on bile. 

I hate the thought of taking another medication but I'm stuck doing it...it's better than the burn. 

Posted 1/20/2007 5:38 PM (GMT 0)

sillylilly, that is interesting that it might be bile.  I should bring that up to the nurse practitioner that i go to as well (I now go to a new GI place and the docs are so booked up that the only person I am able to see is the nurse practitioner.).  She seems pretty good...

the only thing is that when i burp i sometimes taste food.  so maybe it's actual food going up as well...who knows!!

I tried a laxative that worked a little.  so maybe i'll stay on that...we'll see...

Posted 1/20/2007 7:21 PM (GMT 0)

Bye the way, sillylilly

Did you have a bad taste in your mouth?  Because wouldn't bile cause you to have a bad taste?

Also, are you saying that the bile going up your esophagus has nothing to do with GERD? 

I'd like to know if perhaps I have what you had.  Because my prevacid doesn't seem to be working and I'd like to get to the bottom of this.

Thanks! friendlygal

Posted 1/21/2007 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Friendlygal and Sillililly,
What exactly do you eat that causes you to be constipated? Could the constipation be a side effect of drugs you take?
Let me know.
Danie
Posted 1/21/2007 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
DANIE, I've been juicing veggies and I even tried benefiber.  Not sure why but I just don't go number 2 that much!  Thanks for caring. :)
Posted 1/21/2007 8:17 PM (GMT 0)

Danie,

My constipation is due to nerve damage in my colon...the nerves just don't work right.  I was taking probiotics which really helped but when my GERD started and I had to take all this medication, it just stopped me cold...nothing wanted to move, so I'm sure the drugs really exacerbate the problem. 

Friendly,

Yes, you may have a bad taste in your mouth from bile.  If you have a reflux problem, then anything in your stomach including acid, food or bile can potentially reflux up.  So, you might consider that some bile may come up if you have a constipation problem.  Talk to your NP and see what she thinks.  I know that the Zelnorm is such a relief to me.  It takes a while for it to start working efficiently (about two weeks) but so far I'm doing good with it. 

Posted 1/22/2007 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Friendlygal,
Cook (much better than juicing for your system) your vegetables, especially greens such as spinach, kale, string beans, carrots and take Benefiber 3 times a day (NOT MORE THAN THAT as it says on the container). See if that helps you. Don't eat anything that you might think constipates you (keep a food diary) such as cheese, dairy, chocolate etc.

Sillylilly,
Sorry about the nerve damage but maybe you can be helped by the above suggestions too.
Posted 1/23/2007 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
hi, to everyone i have heard from my baby's doctor, when acid goes up is because we don't have the good bacteria in our intestine which helps to digest our food. I have acid reflux ever since my gallbladder was removed i have been to the hospital even with my doctor they can seem to find the problem my doctor put me on nexium. i had to ask my baby doctor if maybe he knew what was going on with my problem as for me that i don't have my gallbladder i can't store the bile he says i need the good bacteria to help digest my food. another thing i dont recommend anyone panic or get nervous
the first time i stared getting acid reflux i got so sick i could'nt eat at all not even liquids.what happen i got scared and nervous not knowing what was wrong with me i caused acid in my stomach. so now i try to control it. so for all you start by taking probiotic it has the good bacteria we all need and DGL licorice it helps to protect against ulcers and the upper intestinal lining, no medicine is going to heal from one day to another you need to have faith.
Posted 1/25/2007 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
mnj, did your doctor tell you about DGL?  because I don't know of any doctors who talk about it, they seem to just push the drugs on me...

Posted 1/26/2007 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
Friendlygal,
Are you kidding - talking to doctors????? I am telling all my doctors about DGL, no one has a clue!!!! Medical doctors are not trained in supplements/vitamins/natural solutions to health. All they know are drugs. The only medical doctor that speaks out about natural remedies is Dr. Weil.
I told my gyn about the problems I had with my health and she told me her husband has been suffering with GERD and had tried everything ........so I told her all about DGL.
Posted 1/27/2007 5:39 AM (GMT 0)
Danie, yep..precisely...most doctors won't talk about natural remedies...
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