Suggested Regimen for Mastic Gum Treatment - Digestive Disorders Message Board

mrmusicman79 · 07-10-2004, 04:45 PM

Well after weeks of searching local drug/herb stores in vain, I'm soon going to dust off my credit card and order some Mastic gum from the Vitamine Shoppe. It was suggested to me in a previous thread, that a treatment of Mastic gum and magnesium/calcium supplement is what I need to "cure" my chronic gastritis, which has sucked away my quality of life for the last 10 years. It really sounds too good to be true (after so many years of letdowns) but at this point I have nothing to lose. I have only a few simple questions before I start any treatment:
1. Assuming the Mastic gum capsules are 500mg, how many am I supposed to take per day and when? Most MG manufacturers suggest taking the capcules either between meals or one hour before breakfast. Both of these options would be quite inconvient, and I'd much rather take the capsules with a meal.
2. How long would I have to continue taking the MG?
3. Should I stop taking my PPI's (Prevacid) when I start the MG?
4. What suggested dosage of calcium and/or magnesium supplement do you suggest?
5. Any side effects to be concerned about?
6. Just what are the chances of this working anyway??
You folks have been quite helpful so far, so I'll trust you to put my mind at ease once again. I just want so much to be better, but at this point I've all but lost hope.
Thanks for any advice.

mrmusicman79 · 07-14-2004, 08:01 AM

Just bringing this thread back to the top of the list, as this seems to have been overlooked. I would greatly appreciate a reply, as I have put this idea on hold pending receiving some advice. I just don't want to proceed with this until someone can put my fears at ease. I know you're back Harry, if even you could give me a brief reply that would be great.

TALIN · 07-15-2004, 07:54 AM

Hey MusicMan,
I"m new to these boards and H. Pylori brought me LOL. I think that I have had it for the past 8 years I am 20 now and about 8 years ago I had many of the same symptoms. I underwent several test but not the breath test. The doctor counldn't figure out what is was but I lost 35 pounds in the process bottoming out to about 105 pounds. It subsided for the next 8 years however I would get bouts of nausea and unexplained reflux about once or twice every month. Recently I had severe acid reflux and went to the emergency room on my birthday thinking it was my tonsils. She gave me some cocktail and it worked for the night. About two days later the reflux returned. I'm fairly young to have such a bothersome problem so my mother gave me some of her Ranitidine to take since she has bad reflux. Well it worked about a day then the reflux returned. So fed up I went to the family doctor and he did the PYP breath test. What do you know. It came back very positive. The normal concentraion is supposed to be 50 and mine came back 1440. I also had a bladder infection because of the reduced appetite and acid amounts in my stomach. He prescribed me PrevPac and another antibiotic for the Bladder infection. I must admit I have not taken a pill of that because I'm already taking the 8 pills daily. After about a week of taking the medication I still had reflux feelings. I'm alreadey fairl small. I used to be 125 pounds (took 8 years to finally gain) but because of the lost appetite I'm 115 and still losing weight like before .I went and bought Mastica Gum from a health food store. I have not taken it yet, but I finish PrePac in two days. The past two day I've had diarreah and cant keep anything in. I've had lower back pains, maybe because of the bladder infection.This morning I woke up feeling very full and no appetite so I dont know how the PrevPac is working. I have another appointment on monday to see if it has been eradicated. I dont know what to do. I'm so young and I have a feeling antibiotics aren't going to cure this thing. Have you started the Mastica Gum because that is my next option most likely. Someone please reply to his questions because it loks like they will be applying to me in th near future.

mrmusicman79 · 07-15-2004, 11:21 AM

You're about where I was a couple of years ago. Severe reflux, unable to eat much, and so on. Today Prevacid keeps my reflux at arms length, but I still have too many problems to start eating again. I'm about 5'11" tall and I too weight only about 115 lbs.
No I haven't ordered the Mastic gum yet, as I've been waiting for someone to give me advice on the MG treatment. I'd appreciate some advice from someone who's taken it, as I'm rather apprehensive about things I've never taken before.
Bowel upset is a pretty common side effect of the Prevpac, it's caused mainly by the antibiotics messing up the balance of "good bacteria" in your system. It's strongly recommended that you take a probiotic supplment (such as lactobactillus) during the treatment and for several weeks afterward, to get things back to normal.
Good luck with the Prevpac, and keep me informed of your progress.

Harry · 07-15-2004, 01:44 PM

Hi Mrmusic,
I am not a doctor just a retired Electrical Engineer. I have found no one including doctors have all the answers.

I have post on the other thread what problems I think you have and how to cure them!!
I was cured of gastritis using Mastica in two weeks taking 2 --500mgm caps twice daily on an empty stomach between meals. My doctor also told me to take a probiotic supplement along with the Mastica. You can take it with a PPI. No side-effects that I know of--- you will know how long to take it by how you feel.

The dose of Calcium and Magnesium is needed to help your muscles including Gastro muscles work properly without cramping and spasms. I have found that taking this supplement in divided doses helps absorption of these minerals as well as all minerals. I use the chelated type that is bonded to an amino acid(protein-- gylcine and lysine)-- because I think your body absorbs it better. It is a smaller particle that get through your intestine walls more readily to the blood and to the cell but 67 percent of magnesium is use in the bones for strength. Just take the RDA-- 1000mgms calcium and 400mgms of magnesium -- also 400IU of Vit D help with the absorption of calcium. You need these anyway to prevent get osteoperous.

YOU should also eat more fiber in your diet-- 25 to 35 grams daily to get regular BMs w/o straining.

I wish you well---Harry

PS --- I read this board most days since 10/1999 and I just give suggestions about my experiences --- if you are not intersted in taking Mastica then don't. I donot like to repeat meassages basically because I am a very slow typist and it takes me too much time. I told you all this in the other thread.

Also,-- the reason that you should want to get well is not so you can eat cakes, pies and chocolate-- it is so you can eat a healthy diet and live a quality healthier LIFE. I know because I have been there --- I am no spring chicken.