ACID REFLUX FEELS LIKE . . .

A fireball in your chest

Hot coals in your throat

A volcano rising from your stomach

When I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, my most predominant symptom was acid reflux; which I had for years and thought it was just mucus draining from my sinuses, or mucus coming up from the bronchial tubes due to allergies.  Then I decided I was just allergic to everything and had finally developed asthma. I went to an allergist to get my “asthma” diagnosis; but when the asthma meds did not work successfully, and he gave me an acid reliever instead, I thought he was nuts!  I did try the medication and surprisingly saw a huge difference in a few days.  He sent me to a GI to find the cause of the reflux.  I began taking Prevacid, healed my intestines to the point of no symptoms in about 2-3 weeks with the SCDiet and gradually tapered off the Prevacid. Eventually I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  I had absolutely no symptoms for a year and a half unless I ate really heavy or accidentally ate the wrong food.

Later, I came down with a very dense pneumonia (which, by the way, is not uncommonl for people who take acid suppressors).  My doctor gave me 2 rounds of broad-spectrum antibiotics to kill the infection.  After the second round, I began coughing up blood.  He didn't want to give me another round of antibiotic) so sent me home to rest and drink lots of fluids.  After 2 months and still coughing bloody mucus, he gave me a 3rd round of antibiotics, during which time the bloody mucus increased.  I had x-rays and Cat Scans on my lungs, then a broncoscopy to look at the lungs and all the airways, and an endoscopy to look at the esophagus and stomach to locate the source of the bleeding.  The only thing found was a very irritated and damaged esophageal ring (the connection between the esophagus and stomach) . . . from acid reflux . . . again!  The diagnosis: Severe acid reflux and a terribly enflamed esophagus. I again had experienced first hand what the “vicious cycle” is all about: 

The antibiotics killed off the good bacteria in the "intestines" allowing the bad bacteria to get a toe-hold and overpopulate.  The over abundance of bad bacteria gave off toxins that caused inflammation in the intestines and also slowed the digestive process.  The slow digestion led to over-fermentation of foods in the "gut" and literally gave the bacteria a banquet on which to feast and multiply, increasing the inflammation and toxins even more. 

I also discovered that the reflux medication they put me on contained "maize starch" (which was likely adding to that banquet!). I have re-learned a very important lesson:  Anything that we take in that does not digest well, causes bacterial overgrowth and inflammation . . . and can set off the acid reflux into the esophagus! 

My doctor prescribed Prevacid for the reflux, and that was that . . . just like before . . . no explanation . . . just “pop a pill”.  I’m thankful I had already found the SCD and knew how to heal or I would probably still be “band-aiding” my illness today and would probably be having even more serious health problems by now due to inability to break down foods and absorb nutrients.

Here is what I did A THIRD TIME (which again worked) to eliminate the overgrowth of bacteria, heal the intestines, and wean off the Prevacid:

1.      Took 2 Prevacid caps per day (before morning and evening meals) for a few weeks . . until symptoms were gone.  Then cut to one per day before my heaviest meal.  After there were no symptoms for a couple weeks, I went ‘cold turkey’.  I noticed a little burning as I weaned off, but continued on with the following until the burning was gone.

2.      Followed the SCD "fanatically"!!!  Did I say, “FANATICALLY”??? J I read the book again and found I had overlooked some things.  And I ate lots of homemade 24-hr. lactose free yogurt to rebalance the bacterial flora and heal the intestines.

3.      Cut down on fruits, honey and juices, which helped starve out the bacteria faster.

  4.  Ate 4-6 times a day (very small amounts at a time - many call it “grazing”).

  5.  Avoided highly spicy, acidic, fatty foods and ate very small amounts of almond baked

       goods daily; but no whole nuts until reflux subsided.

  6.  Ate only pealed and soft cooked veggies and fruits.

  7.  Avoided tight fitting clothing at the waist.

  8.  Elevated head of bed about 10”-12" at night.

  9.  Slept on my left side (moves gas easier).

10.  Didn't eat 1 hr. before bedtime or reclining in my recliner.

11.  Didn't slump when sitting at the computer right after eating.

12.  Squatted instead of bending over to pick things up.

13.  Drank 8-10 full glasses of water per day (after eating and in between meals) to wash

       back any acids.

14.  Avoided sipping liquid during a meal, which can interfere with the production of digestive

       enzymes.  Drank liquids after the meal instead. 

Within a few days I was noticing fewer symptoms and had more energy and breath control.  Within 3-4 months I was healed and able to discontinue the medication and go back to all SCD "legal" foods.  Woohoo!!! Success once again!

NOTE:

If the esophageal ring at the base of the esophagus is damaged, as it often is after suffering reflux for some time, some individuals have to continue with some of these 14 things indefinitely. 

Many people will get on medication for indigestion and/or reflux and stay on it indefinitely thinking they are cured since their symptoms have temporarily disappeared.  Indigestion and reflux are symptoms of a digestive and gut disease. Medications will only mask the "symptoms" for a while before they finally become ineffective. While the "symptoms" are masked, the disease progresses.  Medications also have serious side effects. 

Only a diet change will take care of the "cause" of the problem.  Just as frequent irritation in the intestines causes thickening of the walls and strictures/blockages (and possibly cancer), frequent irritation of the esophagus causes scarring, thickening, and strictures/blockages; resulting in the need to stretch the esophagus periodically to keep from choking on food.  Chronic irritation often results in esophageal cancer . . . one of the fastest growing types of cancer today. 

I’m thankful everyday to have found a “cure” and not just another temporary “band aid” for my illness.

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Please read the following article:   Heartburn sufferers shouldn't be too quick to reach for the antacids; heartburn medications do more harm than good  (Owner of this site does not endorse the products or supplements in this website article. They are likely not SCD compliant.)

Kay Stence