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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/24/2011 7:36 PM (GMT -8)
HI everyone!

  I'm still around, but hanging in there... Things are great with me as far as my living arrangements, but I've developed the most horrible heartburn!!!!! I can't even drink 1/2 cup of coffee anymore without suffering the entire day... Sometimes it get's so bad I feel like throwing up.... It's making me afraid to eat anything. I have an appointment with my GI on the 28th and I think I will ask him to do another endoscopy.. it's been about 4 years or so since I've had one I think....  I just can't grasp why this is happening to me now.... I just hope something weird is not going on with my stomach or esophegus....  Does anyone else suffer from horrible heartburn and if so, have you found out why you have it or what do you do to relieve it besides the usual antacids.... they don't seem to work for me much anyhow... P.S.. I take a Nexium EVERY day so I shouldn't have this breakthrough heartburn which is another reason I'm a bit concerned... UGH

Other than that and some bleeding with every BM still.. I'm hanging in there...

Posted 3/24/2011 8:26 PM (GMT -8)
Hey Susiebuddy. I don't get heartburn ever really, but wanted to share some things I've read that you might be able to check into.

In the book "Listen To Your Gut" by Jini Patel Thomspon... she writes that doctors are now thinking that heartburn is caused by not enough acid being present in the stomach to digest food properly. She says that the food either sits too long in the stomach or possibly the espohageal valve doesn't work right and the food in the stomach rises back up somewhat.

She gives several alternative remedies, but makes it a prudent point to make sure you stop taking ant-acids since they stop the stomach from producing acid. **She also says not to take natural acid supplements either, because people with IBD can have bleeding caused by taking them.

Some things she mentions...
-Taking lactobacillus Acidophilus helps to balance the bacteria in the stomach. Take it whenever you usually get heartburn... around 20 minutes before eating. Take it on an empty stomach.

-Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL). Chewable lozenge form provides acid reflux relief.

-Craniosacral Therapy. The esophageal valve could simply be stuck or malfunctioning. Osteopathic doctor or massage therapist with craniosacral therapy certification could work this out for you if it were the problem.

-Don't eat within 2 hours of bedtime... thus using gravity to keep your food down.

I don't know much about heartburn, but those are the things that were listed in one of my books. I have another book called "Optimal Digestive Health" that I'm reading. I'd bet it would have even better advice, but I haven't read about heartburn in it yet.

If you're not into alternatives, then these approaches probably won't be for you. I just wanted to mention them so perhaps you could do your own research. I've been trying alternatives this year and have the best digestive health I've had in my 8 years with IBD... though there is still plenty of work to be done!

Good luck.
Posted 3/24/2011 11:54 PM (GMT -8)
hi susiebuddy,

glad to hear from you again!  sounds like you are doing somewhat better? sorry about the heartburn issue.  are you taking any prednisone, because pred gives me TERRIBLE heartburn.  also, sometimes certain things i eat can give me that problem too (such as chocolate or red sauce).  could it be something in your diet?  i hope you find some relief and feel better soon!

Posted 3/25/2011 1:12 AM (GMT -8)
Medicine causes a lot of heartburn. I am on sulfasalazine which causes me heartburn. I use tums, which seem to work the best for me
Posted 3/25/2011 4:50 AM (GMT -8)
Here's what my doc suggested.
No caffeine, no chocolate and no eating 4 hours before bed.
He's trying to kill me!!
Posted 3/25/2011 5:04 AM (GMT -8)
I've gotten it very badly on a few occassions where I've had to throw up or almost did. It hurts! I don't think I get it as often as you though. But when I took apple cider vinegar tablets it really helped keep general heartburn away.
Posted 3/25/2011 5:25 AM (GMT -8)
I never got heartburn until I started taking the remicade. I started that in July 2009 and I have had heartburn since. I am on prilosec and that helps but if I forget to take it I have heartburn soooo bad, I feel like I'm dying. Last night I had it really bad and if I take tums I'm okay. I will get it really bad every now and then and I'm on prilosec so I'm not sure why we get it worse than other days. I was told the same thing. Chocolate and caffeine and greesy food is bad for heartburn. Hang in there and I hope you feel better.
Posted 3/25/2011 6:19 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks everyone

It's a new morning and I am feeling better. NO Coffee for me again.... EVER... lol.... I justs ate a bowl of cereal with some craisins and instead of milk I use Almond Breeze.. I think I'll be ok today if I just keep it bland... I thought I was going to DIE yesterday..

I have these pills called "Acid Be Gone" which are like tums I guess but they foam up in your mouth and provide instand relief, but for me it only lasts about 15 minutes then it comes back again... I think something is going on so I will update after my appt with the GI on the 28th and see what he wants to do.

Thank you all again~
Posted 3/25/2011 7:14 AM (GMT -8)
Susie - So sorry for your discomfort!!!!
But it's good to hear from you.

Keep us posted!
Posted 3/26/2011 6:10 PM (GMT -8)
Can you tolerate blueberries? I put them on my cereal and do o.k.-- because they are relatively low acid & contain lots of pectin. The craisins may not be good for you-- dried fruit can be irritating to people with GI sensitivities. I can deal with raisins if they're cooked into something-- they plump up & soften. But just out of the package-- no way! You are right to go bland when the heartburn creeps up on you-- also drink plenty of plain water. Good luck with the gastro appointment. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 3/27/2011 4:28 PM (GMT -8)
     Hi Susie...my husband has bad heartburn if he doesn't take his Nexium.  That is a good med for heartburn.  Best to get another upper gastric exam.  Keep hangin in there girlie!!!
Posted 3/28/2011 11:41 AM (GMT -8)
have you tried protonix?
Posted 3/28/2011 7:51 PM (GMT -8)
Thank you for all the replies :D

  I am feeling better now for 4 days... I haven't had a drop of coffed, no mustard, no anything good... lol... I've been eating chicken, canned green beans, Special K for breakfast with Almond Breeze instead of milk, and plain turkey sandwiches for lunch with only mayo and nothing else... 

  I have an appt with my GI on Thursday at 9am to see what he wants to do.. I bet he's gonna want another look down there since I haven't had one in a few years now.. 4 I think....

  I'll keep you posted.. Just happy I can control it with a completely boring diet... (haven't lost any weight tho) :(

LOL.....

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