Can you suggest anything for stomach burning? - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

Aryana70 · 04-01-2009, 12:39 PM

I am on 2 x 40mg of nexium a day. My problems started 2 years ago and after 3 endoscopies and 1 colonoscopy and Ultrasound scan, I was finally diagnosed with small hiatus hernia 1 to 2 cm and acid reflux, and LPR.
With 80mg of nexium a day the heartburn and LPR seems to be in control, but for the past couple of weeks the stomach burning which wasn't constant is now always there. I wake up in the morning and my stomach feels like it is stabbed from inside and feels bruised. It can be below the breast bone, the whole stomach, or upper stomach. At this moment it is burning like hell.feels so sore and when I press in the burning area it actually hurts
I was wondering if anyone else suffers from this on a daily basis, and what i can take to calm it.
I am desperate and feel really scared when the pain gets like this, this is just not right.

jakes43 · 04-01-2009, 01:40 PM

Dear Aryana70,

We feel your pain. Have you taken a lot of antiobiotics? It seems that due to all the treatments you have had, you must have taken different kinds of medicine which could have included antiobiotics.

If this is the case you have destroyed your good bacteria together with the bad bacteria. There is therefore no antibodies to fight the problems caused by the hiatus hernia. We would suggest that you take natural medicine available at your nearest pharmacist to put the good bacteria back in your gut.

Not sure where you are based. We could suggest specific products to do this for you if we knew where you are?

Beeb · 04-01-2009, 02:15 PM

Sorry to hear of your troubles, and you are not alone.

Have you had a PH study to identify if it is actually too much acid? If not, it could be too little acid and the medication you are on wont help, but make it worse. It sounds counter-intuitive, but as I understand it the same symptoms occur for both conditions. You could try taking probiotics daily and digestive enzymes before each meal. In addition, taking a cap full of apple cider vinegar before each meal would help improve the lack of acid. Do a search on too little stomach acid and read up.

Other possibilities, according to Dr Sherry Rogers heartburn book, is yeast over-growth. Correcting this requires changes to your diet and additional yeast destroying supplements (or possible prescription strength pills). Again, search the topic and you will get a lot more information.

Another possibility is bile-reflux, which also produces the same symptoms, but the nexium wont help for that either. It does nothing to stop over production of bile. Carafat (sp?) is something they prescribe which soaks up the bile to prevent symptoms from occurring. However, they would have a clue that it was bile-reflux from your endoscopy, as the yellowish bile is usually seen during the scoping.

My last thought is the nexium itself, read up on its side effects. I seem to recall stomach discomfort as a possibility.

Aryana70 · 04-01-2009, 03:34 PM

Hi Beep,

Thanks for the reply. I have had 2 PH tests, one just measured acid, and the second one was the one that measures acid and non acid reflux. The results of the second one showed that I have mild reflux, and hiatus hernia, and that the LES is very slighly loose.
I was reffered to a surgeon to discuss Nissen Fundoplication but he suggested that if I don't get heartburn on nexium, I am better off on the meds due to complications that Nissen can cause(i.e bloating, and not being able to burp, or bring anything up).
But at the time that I saw him my stomach problems were not daily issues.
He said that he wants his lab to repeat the 24hr test again, to see what results he gets?!!! I should be havin g that done in 2 months.
But I have wondered that if nexium 80mg stops acid why am I still getting this burning in the stomach? and have to say that I wondered about Bile Reflux too!!
I have another appointment with the gastro in 2 weeks and will mention that to him.
In the mean time I will give the digestive enzymes a try, and will definitely read on your suggestions.
This is ever so frustrating, and I don't believe mine is diet related.
There were times that I can have 2 coffees a day wih no symptoms, but no weverything burns.

springtimespiri · 04-01-2009, 11:22 PM

Hello...
I have had 20+ years of Gastritis and reflux. I also had a double dose of Nexium until I lost my insurance. One huge favor you can do for yourself is not to cheat with even once-in-awhile coffee. My Gastro Doc said that it is the oils in the coffee beans that hinder our progress not the caffeine. After two very long bouts with my Gastritis (80's and than again in 2006) which both included hospitalizations and many ER visits, coupled with a great deal of meds and a year and a half to recoup each time I STOPPED the coffee. Even Lates... Can't fool our stomachs. The endoscopy (I've had five over the years making sure that my Esophogus was not severely damaged) will identify if you have any underlying issues. Be careful with your diet as well. While you have symptoms cut out hard to digest foods, no pepper, no tomatoes, no spices, and basically VERY bland food. When I get Gastritis (at least the last time) I went down to 99# and I'm 5'5". Best to nip any issues when you first get symptoms. No alchohal...I never have it ever. It is like liquid gasoline going down. (whether you have Gastritis or it is coupled with reflux) Google the illness and you will find lots of do's/don'ts on foods. Any kind of spicey foods (even mildly spicey) are out for us too.

Best wishes on feeling better! Let us know how you are feeling.