Re: testing acid with the string test

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

I believe you want to know about a test called Heidelberg Capsule Test. You

swallow a capsule which has a thread attached to it. The capsule sends radio

waves to a receiving machine that shows instant data about the acid in your

stomach. The doctor monitors the information on a screen. The capsule stays in

for about 30 minutes while your stomach acid activity is measured on the

monitor. Here is a link to the info. You can also search geographically for

doctors who do the procedure: http://www.phcapsule.com/

Do NOT confuse this test with the Bravo Capsule Ph test or a Ph monitoring

study, as these ONLY monitor the acid level in your esophagus. The Heidelberg

monitors the acid level in your stomach. This tells you how much acid is being

produced, while the Bravo and regular Ph monitoring show what's being refluxed.

Many of us Hashis DO have LOW STOMACH ACID. I am one of them. Reflux is not

about having *too much acid OR too little acid*, reflux is about acid, bile, and

whatever else is supposed to be in your stomach being in your esophagus and not

in the stomach. Even if you have too little acid, if your lower esophageal

sphincter or LES is open and lets that small amount of acid up into your

esophagus, you will have reflux.

In healthy people, when the stomach produces acid in the right quantity, this

signals the LES to close. If you don't produce enough acid, the problem is that

there is nothing signaling your LES to keep shut because digestion is taking

place; so it stays open. Consequently, reflux occurs. HCL supplements can help

this in most people.

Again, the tests you usually see measure the acid level in your esophagus - not

what is produced in your stomach. They are done for entirely different

purposes. Some people with low stomach acid also have low vitamin B-12. I,

also, had gastritis, which is now under control; gastritis is caused in part by

an imbalance of pepsin vs acid vs bile in the stomach. Having no or low acid in

your stomach can cause atrophic gastritis. Essentially, you can get gastritis

from just about anything, especially with an impaired immune system.

What helped me was reading and learning from Dr. Sherry ' books: No More

Heartburn…, You Are What You ATE, Tired or TOXIC, Chemical Sensitivity, Wellness

Against ALL Odds, etc.

I hope this is helpful,

~Bj

>

> Hi just wondering how you do an acid test with string just curious. I

have been having alot of stomach problems and they are now thinking i could have

maybe acid reflux disease going threw alot of test just waiting to hear back

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: Thyroiditis

> Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2011 12:35:57 AM

> Subject: testing acid with the string test

>

>

>  

> i did the string test to see the acidity of my stomach acid. the first time on

an empty stomach and then the second time after drinking baking soda & water

mixture. my results were 7 and 6, respectively, which is apparently almost

neutral on their scale. has anyone had experience with this? my ND was kind of

in disbelief because you'd think i wouldn't be digesting anything at that level.

thoughts?

>

> thanks

> nicole

>

[Guest guest]

BJ - just curious - do you believe that traditional acid reflux supplements like

Prilosec are not a solution then? I take one a day - it does help me. Maybe

doesn't completely resolve it but I notice when I miss a pill. My acid reflux is

mostly noticeable in the form of mild nausea upon waking in the morning. It took

me a long time and a smart doc to figure out what that was.

I had a sharp (and popular) GI doc when I lived in CA who seemed pretty

open-minded. He thought I had gluten intolerance/ Celiac back then and he was

right - he had seen Celiac via endoscopy in patients whose blood tests were

normal like mine. He was also open-minded toward the possibility of me having a

parasite (the Blastocystis diagnosis from another doc) and in fact gave me the

heavy-duty prescription if I wanted to try it. But I remember him saying he did

not believe in the low stomach acid thing.

> >

> > Hi just wondering how you do an acid test with string just curious. I

have been having alot of stomach problems and they are now thinking i could have

maybe acid reflux disease going threw alot of test just waiting to hear back

> >

> >

> >

> > ________________________________

> > From: elocin711 <elocin71@>

> > To: Thyroiditis

> > Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2011 12:35:57 AM

> > Subject: testing acid with the string test

> >

> >

> >  

> > i did the string test to see the acidity of my stomach acid. the first time

on an empty stomach and then the second time after drinking baking soda & water

mixture. my results were 7 and 6, respectively, which is apparently almost

neutral on their scale. has anyone had experience with this? my ND was kind of

in disbelief because you'd think i wouldn't be digesting anything at that level.

thoughts?

> >

> > thanks

> > nicole

> >

>

[Guest guest]

hi lori

you swallow a gelatin capsule with string inside. it has a hole on one end with

the string sticking out. you hold onto the string and swallow the capsule and

the string unravels into the stomach. then you lie down for 10 mins (fast for 8

hours before), pull the string out, and rub a pH chemical on the end and match

it up to their color strip. then you drink baking soda and water and repeat

with another capsule.

i did this before having an endoscopy. i had the throat burning symptoms after

a particularly nasty cold that kept me hacking/gagging. i guess i temporarily

messed up my esophageal sphincter. my burning throat was resolved after

sleeping elevated and some DGL and slippery elm bark but what i haven't figured

out, is why lying down flat gives me bloody mucous in one nostril. had it

cleared up but it returned after i quit sleeping elevated so i'm back to the

elevation again. of course i can never quite get comfortable and find myself

off of my pillows in the middle of the night. i haven't broken down and gotten

a proper wedge because i'm going to figure it out soon, darnnit!

nicole

>

> Hi just wondering how you do an acid test with string just curious. I

have been having alot of stomach problems and they are now thinking i could have

maybe acid reflux disease going threw alot of test just waiting to hear back

>

>

>

> ________________________________

>

> To: Thyroiditis

> Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2011 12:35:57 AM

> Subject: testing acid with the string test

>

>

>  

> i did the string test to see the acidity of my stomach acid. the first time on

an empty stomach and then the second time after drinking baking soda & water

mixture. my results were 7 and 6, respectively, which is apparently almost

neutral on their scale. has anyone had experience with this? my ND was kind of

in disbelief because you'd think i wouldn't be digesting anything at that level.

thoughts?

>

> thanks

> nicole

>

[Guest guest]

Hi - thanks for sharing your experience and tip. I use plain old generic

apple cider vinegar (is there something special about Braggs?) when I have a

yeast or bacterial infection going on.. or let's say I suspect mild food

poisoning - I believe in apple cider vinegar's anti-bacterial properties for

that, it's great stuff. I find apple cider vinegar does not help my indigestion

as some people claim - it probably aggravates it a little. At least when I tried

taking it during a bout of indigestion it didn't help at all.

I definitely have a gluten problem - it's not limited to wheat. I know when I've

been exposed. And I do believe I have acid reflux going on or else the Prilosec

would not be helping. As to why I have the acid reflux, I'm not sure. Could be

from years of gluten abuse, or from continuing to stay in bed a while after

taking my Levoxyl. I have always been slow in the morning and do like to lounge

in bed if I can! Now I don't swallow my Levoxyl until I know I'm going to get up

and stay up.

> > >

> > > Hi just wondering how you do an acid test with string just curious.

I

> >have been having alot of stomach problems and they are now thinking i could

have

> >maybe acid reflux disease going threw alot of test just waiting to hear back

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ________________________________

> > > From: elocin711 <elocin71@>

> > > To: Thyroiditis

> > > Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2011 12:35:57 AM

> > > Subject: testing acid with the string test

> > >

> > >

> > > Â

> > > i did the string test to see the acidity of my stomach acid. the first

time

> >on an empty stomach and then the second time after drinking baking soda &

water

> >mixture. my results were 7 and 6, respectively, which is apparently almost

> >neutral on their scale. has anyone had experience with this? my ND was kind

of

> >in disbelief because you'd think i wouldn't be digesting anything at that

level.

> >thoughts?

> > >

> > > thanks

> > > nicole

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi - thanks for sharing your experience and tip. I use plain old generic

apple cider vinegar (is there something special about Braggs?) when I have a

yeast or bacterial infection going on.. or let's say I suspect mild food

poisoning - I believe in apple cider vinegar's anti-bacterial properties for

that, it's great stuff. I find apple cider vinegar does not help my indigestion

as some people claim - it probably aggravates it a little. At least when I tried

taking it during a bout of indigestion it didn't help at all.

I definitely have a gluten problem - it's not limited to wheat. I know when I've

been exposed. And I do believe I have acid reflux going on or else the Prilosec

would not be helping. As to why I have the acid reflux, I'm not sure. Could be

from years of gluten abuse, or from continuing to stay in bed a while after

taking my Levoxyl. I have always been slow in the morning and do like to lounge

in bed if I can! Now I don't swallow my Levoxyl until I know I'm going to get up

and stay up.

> > >

> > > Hi just wondering how you do an acid test with string just curious.

I

> >have been having alot of stomach problems and they are now thinking i could

have

> >maybe acid reflux disease going threw alot of test just waiting to hear back

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ________________________________

> > > From: elocin711 <elocin71@>

> > > To: Thyroiditis

> > > Sent: Thursday, September 1, 2011 12:35:57 AM

> > > Subject: testing acid with the string test

> > >

> > >

> > > Â

> > > i did the string test to see the acidity of my stomach acid. the first

time

> >on an empty stomach and then the second time after drinking baking soda &

water

> >mixture. my results were 7 and 6, respectively, which is apparently almost

> >neutral on their scale. has anyone had experience with this? my ND was kind

of

> >in disbelief because you'd think i wouldn't be digesting anything at that

level.

> >thoughts?

> > >

> > > thanks

> > > nicole

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

gah, i just want to stick my fingers in my ears and go 'la la la, i can't hear

you!' best to be informed, and all that, but man it can be disheartening.

thanks for passing on the info

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Thanks so much, BJ - I will keep it all in mind, but I'm still

at

> > > > > > a loss as to why Prilosec is working for me if it's not acid reflux.

> > > > > > The nausea is not bad, but it can wake me up early in the morning if

I

> > > > > > don't take the Prilosec. I've done the probiotics (and overdone them

-

> > > > > > I swear one even gave me a urinary tract infection once), been

tested

> > > > > > for H. Pylori (negative), and for the most part don't eat " CRAP " .

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

something from a quick google search:

http://www.elaine-moore.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=PeI1qxX3QXY%3D & tabid=59 & mi\

d=1007

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Thanks so much, BJ - I will keep it all in mind, but I'm still

at

> > > > > > a loss as to why Prilosec is working for me if it's not acid reflux.

> > > > > > The nausea is not bad, but it can wake me up early in the morning if

I

> > > > > > don't take the Prilosec. I've done the probiotics (and overdone them

-

> > > > > > I swear one even gave me a urinary tract infection once), been

tested

> > > > > > for H. Pylori (negative), and for the most part don't eat " CRAP " .

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Autoimmune gastritis and pernicious anemia (B-12 deficiency) is often used

interchangeably by researchers. The focus should be on reducing inflammation

and avoiding environmental triggers such as spicy foods and increasing levels of

vitamin B12 and folic acid. A B-12 test can be helpful in determining your B-12

status.

I truly hope you do NOT have Sjogrens, I hear the drugs are totally awful that

supposedly help with building up the fluids and moisture in the body, or maybe

the drugs prevent losing moisture. Either way these horrible side-effect drugs

are so bad that they can be worse than the disease. A friend has gooten much

worse on the drugs, now that she quit taking the drugs she has improved a lot.

Best,

~Bj

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Thanks so much, BJ - I will keep it all in mind, but I'm still

at

> > > > > > > a loss as to why Prilosec is working for me if it's not acid

reflux.

> > > > > > > The nausea is not bad, but it can wake me up early in the morning

if I

> > > > > > > don't take the Prilosec. I've done the probiotics (and overdone

them -

> > > > > > > I swear one even gave me a urinary tract infection once), been

tested

> > > > > > > for H. Pylori (negative), and for the most part don't eat " CRAP " .

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

It is all about being informed here, but it's also best to take the info. in the

doses you can handle. No sense in overwhelming yourself, or fearing you have

this or that when you just don't know. I always keep a friend's words in mind

too - when I was diagnosed with the Hashi's it was my first big illness since I

was 3. And she said when you get to a certain age, you realize almost everyone

you know has something. Welcome to 30, I thought! The human body is definitely

imperfect, but incredibly resilient too even when it has some heavy stuff going

on!

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Thanks so much, BJ - I will keep it all in mind, but I'm still

at

> > > > > > > a loss as to why Prilosec is working for me if it's not acid

reflux.

> > > > > > > The nausea is not bad, but it can wake me up early in the morning

if I

> > > > > > > don't take the Prilosec. I've done the probiotics (and overdone

them -

> > > > > > > I swear one even gave me a urinary tract infection once), been

tested

> > > > > > > for H. Pylori (negative), and for the most part don't eat " CRAP " .

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

The B12 deficiency comes in the later stages, when it has moved beyond the

esophagus and stomach and advances to the lower digestive tract.

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Thanks so much, BJ - I will keep it all in mind, but I'm still

at

> > > > > > > a loss as to why Prilosec is working for me if it's not acid

reflux.

> > > > > > > The nausea is not bad, but it can wake me up early in the morning

if I

> > > > > > > don't take the Prilosec. I've done the probiotics (and overdone

them -

> > > > > > > I swear one even gave me a urinary tract infection once), been

tested

> > > > > > > for H. Pylori (negative), and for the most part don't eat " CRAP " .

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>