Does anyone know if there is a difference between Bile & Acid? Also..I've had recent GB removal, would like to know what foods or anything, that I can take that can absorb Acid or Bile, naturally. I heard that fiber foods can absorb Bile ...can anyone in here offer any more input on this information please?
Thanks Sandy

hi! my mom has a lot of acid in her stomach and she always just goes into the kitchen and eats a dry piece of bread. she says it helps to soak up the acid in her stomach. also i guess just dry bland foods like saltines as well, but nots ureif it works. hope it helps
~Shan

Hi,

Bile and acid are two different things. Bile is produced by the gallbladder and helps in the digestion of food. Hydrochloric acid exists in the stomach and is produced to help in the break down of food that is eaten so that is can be digested more efficiently. Acid reflux comes from the stomach and is that burning feeling in your esophagus.

Carbohydrate is quite good for mopping up, but sometimes after a GB removal, bile can be left hanging around in your intestines and can cause you to have pain and diarrhea. If this happens, the drug Colestid - a prescription med can be helpful to mop it up. If it does not subside, go and speak to your doc about the possibility of getting some if appropriate.

Thank you Shanny & Super Sarah, for your reply's...

Super Sarah,
Thank you for this info. I don't have a problem with diarrhea...so far. If anything it's the opposite. But I still have significant discomfort & pain in the upper epigastic area, especially after eating something. My food intake is very limited & low or no fat. No burning in the esophagus, only at the bottom. My esophagus does feel like it's spasming at times, but the Anti-spasm meds don't seem to help either. I'm 8wks post-op of GB removal, & still suffering. Most likely it's reflux. However,none of the PPI's are helping. How long should it take before getting any kind of relief from these PPI meds?
Also, how long does this bile hang around before it dissipates... Will it? I just thought that I could help my self naturally, if that's possible. Any other input or information you can offer me would be so needed & helpful to me.
Thanks Sandy

PPI's need to build up in your system to be effective, so give them a little longer. The bile should be absorbed naturally after a while.

If you want something natural, you could try taking ginger, peppermint tea and sometimes Aloe juice is good for your stomach.

Hi, Sandy! I'm really sorry that things aren't going better for you yet. I was so hoping you'd feel great by now.

The PPI's should really help with acid control within 4-6 weeks. However, I was on 40mg Prilosec for a couple years with little change in my reflux pain. 'Course you know all that from my other posts.

I hope you feel better soon. Get back to your doc for endoscopy or something to take a look at your esophagus and stomach. My reflux actually worsened after the GB was removed, so that may be happening to you too.

Take care,
Katie G

Hi Katie G.
Well..You wouldn't believe what I've been through...Well, to start.. I had my checkup with my Cardiologist, & he scheduled me for a Nuclear Stress test, which they told me would take 3-4 hrs. Turned out to be 6 hrs. My poor hubby said, if I don't have a nervous breakdown from all this, he is...lol But everything came out normal with that.
You know from what I've been telling you how I still feel significant discomfort & pain, in my upper epigastric area, especially after I eat something. I have no idea as to what the difficulty is, well, neither does my Gastro. My Gastro finally called me, to give me my recent CT-scan results, & it apparently, showed nothing in the area that I'm having a problem in. Maybe it is an acid & bile problem with my body trying to adjust to the complexity of surgery...I dunno. But, I made an apt. with a Gerd Specialist in Columbia Presbyterian Hosp, in NYC. I hope he can help me with meds, I'm too old to go through more painful surgery's that doesn't help...wish me luck w/him.
Then, I had to go to my Gynecologist, as this CT-scan showed some fluid in my right ovary or something, & my Gastro thought it necessary for her to look into, so, I made the appointment with her, (I have a female Gyno) & had to have a pelvis sonogram, & I'm too embarrassed to tell you what that involved...& get this...I had to drink a quart of water one hour before the test...Jeeesh, I didn't think I could hold it..but I did...I don't know what the hells going on with me, all I know is I'm sooo tired of it.. & not knowing why or what anything is. (sound familiar) Since I had a CT-scan before the surgery, & it didn't show this situation then...The Technician, who gave me the Pelvis Sonogram, said, although my Dr. has to confirm it...she (the tech) didn't think I had anything to be concerned about, that it's possibly just residual from the surgery. I have an apt for a thorough checkup with my Gyno in November. I also have to go for my yearly mammography in Oct, as I had a breast cancer scare last yr, but that turned out to be just a benign cyst...So far my retirement sucks.. & If I have to go for any more tests, I'm going to glow in the dark, besides.. I don't think I have any more orifices that they can enter..lol
Sry to vent, it's the pain talking. I don't understand, somedays, although few, I feel so fairly good, like I'm getting better, & my hopes get high, then..bam it's back. I really hope this new Dr. can help me w/out surgery being my only answer. I fear this most of all. Back to being scared again...thanks for the reply....
How have you been?
Sandy

Wow Sandy,

I am sorry to hear about all this. Of course, I am worry that maybe all my indigestion is related to my ovaries, etc. I have an appointment with my GYN on Sept 11 of all days just to cover that possibility. I just need to try to stay calm.

Michelle

Hi, Sandy. WOW - you sure are going through a lot! I hope that you get an answer soon. It's nice your docs are willing to refer you for tests to find an answer. Sometimes my doc just seems to ignore my complaints.

Overall, I'm doing ok. My IBS is under good control, and my fibromyalgia pain/tenderness is tolerable. I'm just so used to feeling this way that I guess I'm doing good.

I so hope you get some answers soon and can enjoy retirement. Right now I'm a working gal, and hoping to enjoy retirement when I get to it (not for another 25 years or so).

Remember, you can vent anytime here - that's what I like about the boards. You're in my thoughts/prayers.

Katie G