The root cause of GERD

I think there are just so many possible things in today's culture that could mess up the entire balance of our GI systems.........carbs, too much food, viruses, additives, preservatives, over-medicated people, pesticides, genetic factors etc., etc. I guess we just have to wade through our experiences and what other people have suggested, and see what works.
I'm finding over the years that sometimes people view one illness (like fibromyalgia), as being caused by ONE thing, but I think it is caused by many things, but leading to the same symptoms. So I'm careful not to view the world through one color of glasses. For example, some people believe that yeast-overgrowth is the cause of the world's problems, while other people believe it's Lyme disease., and so on.
I'm sure there are many reasons why our LESs relax, and it might be different in each of us. But if we don't come up with all the possibilities and consider them all, we will be left with our GERD. I personally would rather fix something permanently, than rely on a drug for the rest of my life.

I personally think that my GERD is caused by: being overweight, eating too much (mostly carbs), having a very high waist, so there's always more pressure in my upper trunk, and at this time, being genetically predisposed to it, and especially the fact that I'm going through menopause. It has caused me sooooo much reflux.

The problem I think people are having on being compliant about not eating the "bad" foods, is that some of us have major problems with NOT consuming some things........be it right or wrong, good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. I'm so aware of this in my own family. My husband eats very healthily. He doesn't care for deserts or chocolate. He can let an apple sit there until it rots. If he gains weight, he just says "Okay, I need to eat less", and he proceeds to eat less. But I, on the other hand, am just this big mass of cravings, who is tormented on a moment to moment basis about what my body is screaming for, versus what I intellectually know I should be doing. One of my useless theories is that people who are type O have adapted much less well to modern day foods. I'm O, my husband is A. But I realize I can't make any kind of scientific statement based on a couple of people!
I guess all I'm saying is sometimes, in this culture, where to start seems so overwhelming. I know what I need to do to feel better, but it's hard to get there from here.........especially when the entire society is pushing the bad stuff into our faces. I'm not making excuses for myself..........oh, wait a minute, yes I am. hahahaha But you know what I'm trying to say.

So........I'm glad to hear all sorts of possibilities and theories, and see what might work for me.

The problem I'm having with conventional doctors is that they don't have enough imagination about possibilities, and also, they don't seem to collect much anecdotal information from their patients anymore. For example..........I've talked to people on forums who have lots of similar symptoms as I have........like the post here about irregular heartbeats with GERD........but no doctor I've ever talked to would ever have heard that. It gets frustration.

Also.......the day after I ever start an antibiotic, I get reflux and I have trouble swallowing things. It seems to have an affect on the musculature, even before I have time to have my good microbes distroyed.
Okay......enough rambling.

One thing that might help all GERD sufferers is taking DGL Licorice chewable tabs by Enzymatic Therapy (they're the only ones palatable) 20 minutes before every meal really really helps with the GERD symptoms. DGL means the component in licorice that can cause high blood pressure has been removed. A lot of GERD sufferers have gotten a great amount of relief just with the simple chewing of two Licorice tabs before each meal. It helps heal mucosal linings.

I wish this site would actually advertise Dr. Norm's book so that we could all spend a small amount and try it out. When GERD causes pain, all of us are willing to try anything to help. The study at Duke University regarding low carb diet and GERD had excellent healing results. A case report of this study can be gotten from Alternative Therapies Nov/Dec 2001. Vol 7, No. 6 magazine. You can find them on the web and call for a copy. It's worth the read.

As well, trying a specialized diet that isn't as nasty as the GERD/PPI diets and getting relief and off the PPI's would be a lot easier than any major surgery or even the minor new endoscopic surgeries, Stretta, Endocinch, Enteryx or Plicator. One can research these new endoscopic surgeries on the web. If a lower carb diet can fix the pain and eliminate the pills, why not try it. Everyone will cheat now and then, but not having the side effects of the PPI's would be worth being off them.

As for the Molocure, there's another outfit makes the same thing for a lot cheaper. I've taken it and noticed no real difference, but I've not gotten sick from it either...so one might still want to try it. Aloe won't hurt you, but always checking with a doc would be wise before departing from the norm.

I'm always amazed at how few people do their own research on their diseases as the docs today don't always keep up on everything and we all know we only get our 15 minutes with them and have to talk fast. They basically want to feed you the pills and consider you cured....doesn't happen that way for a lot of us. I just figured out that corn on the cob was a bad culprit for me...and gosh I love corn! Anyone else have trouble with that? Dang!

Kelleigh,
Thanks for being open minded about a new approach.

Dr Norm

Chill,
Great post. ckg and I are just debating the causes of GERD. It's not about out smarting so much as sorting this thing out. There is no reason you can't have some fun doing it. I will tell you here, that if I am presented with compelling data or reasoning that contradicts my theory, I have to be willing to let it go and consider changing my mind and focus. That's the way science works. Each bit of information, facts, or data form bricks in the wall of knowledge. If we find a bad brick, it must be removed and repaired with the correct brick.

I have been learning much on this board from ckg and other posters. None of us have all the answers, but here are a few of the things I firmly believe and will continue to believe until someone can shot holes in my theory:

1. Carbs themselves are "the trigger for reflux". Other trigger foods get the rap because they are consumed either with, or some period of time after, carbs. Fats and protien do not result in nearly as much gas. Fats have been shown not to be the cause of reflux.

2. As low carbers (previously suffering with heartburn) discovered some time ago, the low carb way of eating can eliminate even the worst cases of GERD and it happens in one or two days. I am not sure if people don't want to hear it, it sounds to difficult to do, are still skeptical, or are just cautious about changing the way of eating our parents, doctors and the USDA taught us to eat dispite a tremendous amount of data showing that reduced carb diets improve numerous key health indicators (triglycerides, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease).

3. Microorganisms living in our intestines play a major role in GERD, consuming the excess carbs we cannot absorb (because we eat too much of them), and producing the gas that creates intestinal and stomach pressure that ultimately causes reflux. Inhibit microbes (mostly bacteria) with erythromycin and symptoms improve, reflux subsides. Take away the microbes preferred food (carbs) and symptoms and reflux is eliminated.

4. The consumption of excess carbs in our diet is responsible for the huge rise in esophageal cancer rates in the US. Tata Memorial study correlating the rise in soda consumption with the rise in this form of cancer.


If I could accomplish one thing, it would be to connect the low carbers with the heartburn sufferers.

Thanks,
Norm

PS: Let me know if I am not being clear on some of these points and I will try to simplifiy my explanation.

Thanks,
Norm

Hello,
I mean what I said in the above post. I would like to have an open discussion of GERD and low carb. I challenge any G.I. doc to poke holes my theory (see points 1-4 above). I would particularly like to hear from board members of the American Gastroenterological Association. I would like to know why this association has taken so long to address the merits of this approach (the positive results of Yancy's clinical study are 4 years old) and what so many people are saying. That is "Low carb cures heartburn".

Thanks,
Dr Norm

I am still not convinced about the carbs as I definitely have problems when I eat too much fat/protein. I know it isn't from carbs eaten with these because it is the same foods every time that give me indigestion. Some days I eat mainly carbs and feel fine. However, I like to keep an open mind !

Hi Everyone, Several years ago, my husband had serious heartburn and discovered that if he eliminated his carb intake especially stopping to eat potatoes that the heartburn went away.  Recently within the last 6 months, I developed heartburn.  My doctor recommended an over the counter anti acid.  I tried my husband's approach and discovered the same results.  

Bump

Hi, just to be a total contrarian...I buy non-fat, no sugar plain yogurt (store brand) which does contain active cultures and it is fine.

My problem is that I was born with dislocation of the hip and two "bad feet" and therefore have arthritic problems. I had to take massive doses of pain killers (ibuprofin) as instructed by the emergency room doctor.

This is the primary reason I have a bleeding ulcer. Growing old ain't for sissies.

Did ya know that ppi's should be taken at night before sleeping?  It has 24 hour suspension.  You should go to bed on an empty stomach to be a good GERD patient.

Frankly over-doing on carbs, makes us chubby, no?  You have to be thin to be an excellent GERD patient.

May the "Force" be with all.

best wishes

                to all. 

Post Edited (Joan Mack) : 5/30/2006 2:58:46 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Dr. Norm....I am really interested in learning more about your diet plan.  I am in my 20s and have been diagnosed with Barrotts and don't want to take PPI the rest of my life.   If you could provide me your e-mail address.  

Hi Norm -

 

I agree that carbs could be involved in GERD as triggers.  But not all carbs are created equal.  In my case I spent years researching my trigger foods, many of them carbs, and found they ALL contain sulfite (not sulfate or sulfa).  I've posted my list a couple of times.  It can be searched.  I was told to keep a food log by my allergist, and then to do food challenge testing. 

 

I have sensitivity to carbs with sulfite: beet sugar (the common cheap one that is used in processed foods), corn syrup, corn starch, anything else made from corn.  I tolerate about the amount of sulfite that is in 1 can of soda (from corn syrup and carmel color).

 

My reflux triggers tachycardia and was so bad a few years ago that it caused a heart attack.  (Tachycardia can also trigger reflux!)  There are a bunch of scientific papers coronary artery spasm and esophageal spasm.  The coronary artery spasm triggers a plaque rupture which causes the heart attack.

 

So for me at least, going low carb is too simplistic.  I have to know my list.  Cane sugar is fine.  But beet and brown sugar cause reflux.