Whats going on with my digestive system?

Hi Emily,

I did some reading on the site and found this: duodenitis is the inflammation of the duodenum the top part of the small intestine. Brunner's glands are found in the duodenum as well. I can not get a clear answer from what I have read, but apparently displasia has to do with the changes in the Brunner's glands. What does all this mean to you? Well there is certainly something irritating your digestive tract for sure!

According to a posting by Dr Todd Eisner, resident expert here, NSAID's like Aspirin can cause issues with the duodenum. You can read more of Dr Eisner's posting here. Tylenol is recommended instead.

Have you gotten any results from the allergist or determined if something in your diet is causing the issue?

Remember, we're here if you have questions or need to talk! Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!

Vicki M

i am very short of breath due to gerd.  my breathing became increasingly worse over the past year until this past december i finally did the lap nissen fundoplication surgery with hernia repair.  prior to this i had an upper endoscopy and the ph monitor test done.  both showed massive amounts of reflux and the endoscopy showed a hernia but i was told it was small in size.  due to my constant breathing issues they felt it was best to move ahead because it looked as if the reflux was going into my lungs and bronchi. 

when i awoke from the surgery i was immediately told this alleged "small" hernia was in fact 4 times larger.  it had been sitting in my chest where my stomach pushed through it.  that is how the acid/reflux were getting to my lungs. 

i was also on nexium twice a day prior to this surgery, carafate and various other acid reducing medications.  however nothing stops reflux.  reflux and acid are two different things.  this surgery was the only solution.

i am still recovering although back at work.  i would do it all again because i am now a month out (exactly today) and my breathing has made some improvements.  because of how long this was going on prior to the surgery i have been told my recovery will take close to 6 months. 

like you i also do not have asthma.  i have tested negative for it many times and no inhaler has ever helped me.  if you have not had an upper endoscopy or the ph test done i strongly encourage you to do this.  if your breathing continues to get worse and no amount of medication is working i would discuss the possibilities with your doctor about the laproscopic nissen fundoplication. 

good luck!

Hi Melissa,

There are many people online here who are experiencing asthma/allergy symptoms along with their GERD. The acid reflux coming into the esophogus can cause the scratchy throat feeling. At night time the acid can actually get up into your sinus and cause sinusitis as well as pain in the sinus area. Our bodies are so connected!

Nexium is widely prescribed for acid reflux and you can read more about it here. It is something that acid reflux sufferers use long term. If you are interested in information about other types of treatments, you can find some information about that here. Most of all, these resources are good sources of information to help you manage your care by asking your doctor the important questions.

If you ever need to chat, or just want to ask a question or even vent a little or talk about a treatment that is working for you, just make a sharepost and let us know. Stay in touch!

Vicki M

Hi Annette,

I have been in a couple other conversations involving natural treatments. One is from Ladyisis. She has multiple issues she is dealing with and has done some research about papain, the enzyme in papaya. You can read this posting here.  Coffeelesscathy has also had some issues. She posted here and Sandra answered with some holistic and natural treatments. Take a few minutes to read what they've been saying.

Hopefully your doctor can work with you to find some relief. Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing!

Vicki M

Hi Emily,

I posted to Melissa about this, but acid can cause asthma like symptoms. You want to make sure that your doctor is treating you for the acid reflux. Acid reflux can cause problems with your esophagus, so you want to make sure you treat it. The swelling could be caused by allergies or the acid reflux could be triggering allergic reactions.

Take care and stay in touch!

Vicki M

Hi Bryan,

The actual definition of Acid reflux is that the digestive enzymes in the stomach get past the esophogial sphincter and irritate the throat. See definition here. So if you are taking additional enzymes because you are not able to digest your food properly, then you have acid reflux as a by product of the digestive issue and not digestive issues as a result of acid reflux, correct?

Please stay in touch and let us know how the enzyme suppliments are working for you!

Vicki M

That's correct. My digestive problems, I believe, caused my acid reflux. Before I started on enzymes, I could feel food traveling back up my esophagus because it was improperly digested. This food, I'm quite sure, brought with it acid and enzymes that moved past the esophageal sphincter and caused the irritation.

My digestive problems also were largely due to my lifestyle. In high school, we had 10 minutes to eat lunch and had to learn to eat fast. Through most of my life, I learned that I had been shoving food down my mouth without proper chewing.

Here are some other tips on dealing with reflux and poor digestion that have helped me:

1) Hot beverages help break down food in my stomach, and therefore are usually good ways to keep food out of my esophagus. Green tea seems to work best. Coffee works but in small amounts. As many acid reflux sufferers know, coffee can be tough on the esophagus.

2) It seems my posture plays a role in acid reflux. I find that if I sit up straight and don't slouch, my digestive system moves food along more quickly, and I have fewer acid reflux symptoms.

3) Chewing each bite of food 20-40 times seems to help me.

Back to enzymes. The great thing about the enzymes I take is they're vegetarian. Unlike digestive enzymes derived from animal-based sources, vegetarian enzymes start working in the upper part of the stomach. These enzymes help digest food for the first 30 minutes to one hour before stomach acid fully takes over.

Best of health to everyone.

Bryan

Hi Susan! Glad to see you checked in here!

I referenced our most recent exchange regarding the papaya fruit. Have you tried that yet? Let me know how it's going for you.

Some folks can take Nexium and some can't. That's why it's good to check the treatments database here to see what is available. I have also been told that drinking alot of water is good for flushing the system, but it causes more acid when it's all you have in your stomach. It's best to make a practice of eating small meals throughout the day and wash them down with lots of water.

Anyway, take care, stay in touch and let me know how you are doing!

Vicki M

Question: What type of doctor serves patients with Acid Reflux?

Our own resident expert, Dr. Todd Eisner is a Gastroenterologist. You can read about him, and read some of the questions he has answered here in his profile.

Vicki M

Hello Vicki,

I did not know about the water because I have one of those stands and 11L bottles delivered to my home. I shall make sure I have something in my stomach and see how it goes.

I have not tried the papaya yet but I have tried the mango and it works fine, no acid reflux.

I went to a dietician also to help me lose weight to reduce my cholesterol and blood pressure.

You are right, you can go see a gastroenterologist, but my doctor (general medicine) sent me for a blood test, as it can be detected through your blood.

I have not as of yet taken a Nexium.  All smiles :) :)

Sticking to my new plan given to me by a dietician at my hospital near by.

I shall visit the site your have mentioned here.

I will keep in touch.

Susan

Hi Susan,

Glad to hear you are beginning to do well and not taking the nexium!!

Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing. Also if there are any other recommendations by your dietician, if you can share those, that would be great!

Take care and I wish good health to everyone!!

Vicki M

Hello Vicki,

I found something really exciting when I received the documentation from my dieitican.  Would you believe the diet that I am now on for "high cholesterol and high blood pressure" are more for vegetarians.  Don't get me wrong it works really well.  It's from the "Canadian Food Guide" but I know there is one also for America.

With this diet it helps my acid reflux immensely.  There are hardly any trigger foods that are affecting my acid reflux.

First of all some of my medications say that I can't take grapefruit so this is one food that I avoid and helps my acid reflux.

I eat a lot of the night shade vegetables, but include one yellow and orange per day.  I think it's the balancing of foods and their reaction to the system.  Works well for me.

I eat a lot of light foods such as yogurt, even cheese, lots of tofu, fish.  What makes my meals great is that I use my imagination for the spices and liquids.  I make my own chicken broth from natural vegetables and then freeze them.

I don't eat the spaghetti sauce that I used to make.  I now use equal parts of my chicken stock and canned tomatoes (ones with the least salt).  I add vegetables and voila :)  And it tastes good when you add your own spices and such.

So far, no nexium and I feel pretty good and I am losing weight.  YOU LOSE WEIGHT YOUR CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD PRESSURE GO DOWN.

Anything else I can think of I will share as I go along with this diet.

Susan

Hi Susan,

I have seen other discussions about the vegetarian diet and vegan diets (believe it or not, they are different) I myself can not go completely vegetarian, no matter how hard I try, but I do try to incorporate more vegetables in my diet. The only thing, is that I am also diabetic, so adding non meat items to my diet can sometimes back fire due to charbohydrates.

Well I hope things are going well for you!! Stay in touch!

Vicki M

Hello Vicki,

I myself cannot go completely vegetarian.  I do understand about the diabetes as my sister is also a diabetic.  She has great ideas for me to incorporate new foods into my daily menu.  Having variety makes a big difference.

I did cheat a little yesterday.  I had homemade chili.  I did rinse all the fat off and used organic tomatooes and rinsed the kidney beans.  The only problem was once you start, YOU CAN'T STOP. OUCH!

Today, my mind is clear and empties of all those carbs and now back to my daily routine.

Hope all is well with you also Vicki.  It is always a pleasure to talk with you. 

This week I am going to get some papaya and try it out.  I will see if it has an effect on my acid reflux or not.  But so far with the diet and semi-vegetarian eating it makes a big difference.

Susan

Hi Susan,

I will eat chili from time to time, but I use the white chili beans instead of the dark red ones. For some reason I don't have as many problems with them. I also use turkey instead of beef. It makes for a chili delish!!  I use almost no chili seasoning. I suppose I call it chili, but in reality it is a thick soup, and I have been known to put corn in my chili. Did you know that the American Chili Association says chili with beans in it is not chili? How about that!! Nothing says winter like a bowl of chili and a piece of cornbread, lol.

Let me know how you make out with the papaya. I never cared much for papaya, but I do eat pineapple from time to time. Now and then it will turn on me. I usually eat it with cottage cheese.

Anyway, glad to hear you are doing well! Hope to chat again soon!

Vicki M