Wondering if my acid reflux was a result of the gallstone issues or if the GALLSTONES caused the acid reflux? I have been on acid reflux prescription since around 2007, prescribed by my GP. Just last year, Feburary, began seeing a gastroentorologist b/c of lots of stomach upset. She's the doc who told me I had gallstones. I would never have known it since I'd never had a gallstone attack. But last weekend, I had one: the first and it was a whopper. I thought I was dying. It just so happened, I was out of town and didn't realize I hadn't packed my Nexium AND in the upheaval toward going out of town, had forgotten to take it the day we left on our trip and the day I ate "the bad stuff". That night went to bed at 11; and woke up at 12 in pain.
So which do you think it was, acid first or gallstones first?
My understanding of acid reflux drugs is they are taken for a short period of time so the esophagus can heal, and then they're to be discontinued.
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Let us look at some of the more popular over the counter treatments for acid reflux disease, what it is that they do and some of their side effects.
Antacids
This kind of treatment depletes the acid that promotes digestion and prevents the absorption of mineral. Without a sufficient quantity of minerals, we are vulnerable to many diseases, from depression to cancer. In addition, antacids often contain aluminum, which, collects in the brain and can contribute to early senility and memory loss. Using antacids that relieve the symptoms also causes a false sense of security ignoring the real cause of the distress, which can lead to dangerous consequences.
H2-Blockers
These drugs actually stop the stomach from producing acid, or reduce the amount of acid that the stomach produces. This has to raise eyebrows because these drugs actually prevent a natural bodily function, which the body saw a need to evolve over countless eons.
Another problem with H2-Blockers is that they compete with the body for the same detoxification enzyme. This means that the body cannot get rid of poisons that might have invaded its system, so these poisons will accumulate and eventually destroy or damage vital organs.
A very important consideration is that these drugs do not affect everyone the same way and while some people will get away without much worry for quite a long time some of us are quite susceptible to the side effects of these drugs quite soon.
Diarrhea, yes diarrhea is another side effect of acid blockers. If you are taking drugs like Tagamet (cimetidine), Zantac (ranitidine), Axid (nizatidine), Pepcid, (fanotidine) or Mylanta AR Acid Reducer (famotidine) and other acid blocker including some of the newer acid blockers on the market.
Another side effect is that they can intensify the blood alcohol level making it higher than normal, making one alcohol drink seem like two or three depending on the individual physical tolerance.
Proton-Pump Inhibitors
Prilosec (generic name, omeprazole): This is a much stronger type of Acid-Blocker but it cannot be sold over the counter without a prescription, in other words, it must be doctor recommended. Proton-pump Inhibitors actually stop the stomach from producing acid.
Its side effects include diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, gas, constipation, reflux acid, and the development of cancerous tumors in the gut.
However, it does not stop there. Prilosec can cause fatal liver rot (necrosis), fatal pancreatitis, headache, back pain, hair loss, toxic epidermal necrolysis (a condition where your skin becomes red and scaly, then finally, painfully oozes and peels off), or it can stop the production of blood cells. Like Tagamet, Prilosec can severely distort or compromise the detoxification of other drugs.
However, Prilosec and similar drugs, which include Prevacid (lansoprazole), reach further into the workings of the cell to stop more normal function than other acid blockers. As proton-pump inhibitors, Prilosec-type drugs stop the stomach cells from producing acid altogether, curtailing normal stomach function.
Prilosec type drugs can also turn off other important stomach functions, which controls the absorption of B12 vitamin, which, in effect, can accelerate arteriosclerosis, depression, or fatigue to undiagnosable numbness, tingling and other nerve dysfunctions. If you happen to be a person with chronic disease, like diabetes or arteriosclerosis, you accelerate the side effects of that disease. Early aging, cataracts, painful neuropathy, even early death from heart attack, are only some of the side effects you may encounter. Why use these drugs when there are natural treatments for heartburn.
Another problem with long term acid blockers is B-12 deficiency.
__________________ "We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now you begin to understand me." George Orwell
My understanding of acid reflux drugs is they are taken for a short period of time so the esophagus can heal, and then they're to be discontinued.
Another problem with long term acid blockers is B-12 deficiency.
Yes. Short time. Makes sense, because as we age we already have a problem with lower stomach acid, and therefor digestive problems. Antacid also means neutralizing stomach acid. Lower stomach acid means that you won't be able to absorb minerals and several vitamins - as you say b12 for one.
I find a good temporary relief of acid reflux is baking soda. 1/4 teaspoon in a cup of water and drink.
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- Jim
"I am not young enough to know everything." - Oscar Wilde
Gallstones can be due to a magnesium deficiency. Try taking some Magnesium chloride or magnesium citrate or magnesium malate and drink dandelion tea regularly. Lecethin will also help dissolve gall stones.
I feel for ya! I know way more about the gall-bladder than I ever wanted to know! Mine is giving me some problems...says two MD's, another says my pains are not caused by the GB but I have stones and they affect different people differently. Don't give up, they can be dissolved, I am doing that with several things. BTW how large is yours? They found mine doing an ultrasound.
Wondering if my acid reflux was a result of the gallstone issues or if the GALLSTONES caused the acid reflux? I have been on acid reflux prescription since around 2007, prescribed by my GP. Just last year, Feburary, began seeing a gastroentorologist b/c of lots of stomach upset. She's the doc who told me I had gallstones. I would never have known it since I'd never had a gallstone attack. But last weekend, I had one: the first and it was a whopper. I thought I was dying. It just so happened, I was out of town and didn't realize I hadn't packed my Nexium AND in the upheaval toward going out of town, had forgotten to take it the day we left on our trip and the day I ate "the bad stuff". That night went to bed at 11; and woke up at 12 in pain.
So which do you think it was, acid first or gallstones first?
Ok - I think those PPI's are VERY dangerous. I had acid reflux for a long time and eventually got onto some PPI's (Prevacid & then Nexium) and over time it just made me sicker.
I developed IBS and even more painful gas and stomach pains. I started doing research and if you read the labels, what the drug companies say and what the research shows you end up realizing that:
1) They never claim to CURE the reflux - just to protect the throat from cancer.
2) The studies never cover long term effects. They suprress stomach acid creation which is crucial to digestive health. Your gallstones are a digestive problem - could this have been caused by prolonged use of Nexium?
3) The studies on PPI's never last for long - all the ones I saw were for a few months or a few weeks.
I started going down the natural route - some apple cider vinegar, mastic gum and DGL.
I tapered off my PPI's and now that I know what foods I'm allergic to I don't even take the mastic gum or DGL anymore :-)
This is no simple miracle. It was months of restrictive dieting (I followed a low carb/paleo style diet), eating fermented foods and supplementing with Mastic Gum, DGL and some apple cider vinegar.
Now I can eat spicy foods, occasionally have ice cream with my kids and don't get gassy, bloated or have IBS.
Just some things to think about. There is a ton of money drug companies make selling PPI's - they are the 3rd most popular drug sold and the market is now over $13 billion per year!
It should not be call acid reflux it should be not strong enough acid reflux.
When the acid in your stomach is not strong enough to digest the food. the stomach acid needs to be as strong as battery acid it needs to be able to turn all foods into a liquid even meat so the intestines can finish the job of digestion. When the acid is weak it puts more acid and it backs up but what do you take an anti acid to stop the pain and do more damage to your system.
Here is a webinar to explain how the stomach works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf8YSfMEyqA
gallbladder: acid reflux cause?
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