Caitlin
Member
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2019
- Messages
- 59
I read that acid reflux is caused by undigested food traveling from the stomach into the small intestine and then the SI "sensing" that it is undigested, it forces it back up into the stomach and esophagus, in other words a DEFICIENCY of stomach acid, not an excess.
Basically the food is going stomach -> small intestine -> stomach
I'm skeptical anyone has too much stomach acid. The stomach is supposed to be extremely acidic and if not adequately
Too much stomach acid ensure the food is properly digested, and you claim the food leaves you undigested.
I would look into:
-Betaine
-Digestive enzymes (with pepsin, proteases, + ox-bile)
-Bromelain
-Extra salt in combination with the above ^. Salt increases stomach acid.
And excessive burping (which I had in the past) is pretty much a sign you have SIBO.
I would try Rifaximin + another antibiotic to reduce SIBO. After Rifaximin excessive dragon burps stopped.
As far as increasing CO2, try plain baking soda + magnesium carbonate on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.
Thanks, SOMO! Unfortunately I have tried the majority of this. I agree with you that there is so much confusion in the low acid/high acid debate. The thing is, per all the exams and photos that the otolaryngolist took, my throat and larynx are super inflamed and "scorched" by acid. In his opinion, the pepsin has traveled too far up the throat and larynx, and whenever I eat anything acidic, the pepsin is activated and eats away at the esophagus. When I went on an acid blocker (I tried both a PPI (Prilosec) and an H2 Blocker (Zantac) things got better (only temporarily) in conjunction with the gabapentin. They improved for only a few weeks and then went back to baseline, but they did get better. So for some reason things do improve with less "acid." It's just tough to tell what is really coming up my throat. Is it really stomach acid, or it is gas from bacteria overgrowth? Regardless, it is creating a crapload of burning sensation in my throat and nasal passages (My sinuses are stuffed up every morning when I wake up and I am alreading sleep at 45 angle and finish eating at least 5 hours before bed)
I have tried taking HCL throughout the years and it hasn't helped. I take digestive enzymes, too, but that hasn't helped. I upped my dosage of salt last week because I thought hey, maybe that's finally the issue. But I felt worse on more salt, not better.
I was tested for SIBO years ago (before anyone knew what it was, haha) and my results were positive and off the charts. I took rifaximin and it did help initially, but it only worked for so long. My gut issues have improved considerably, and my most recent SIBO test came up negative. I know those tests are always completely accurate, but I just don't know what to think anymore -- and am therefore skeptical if I have it or not.
I do think there's something with the SIBO or excessive gas, I just don't know what to think anymore because I did get better on an acid blocker initially. And then my body adapted.
Thank you for your insight. I soooo appreciate it.