Re: Topper's ramble on ulcer, and acid, and food.... another long one... sorry

[Guest guest]

Hi Misty....

You're gonna have to do what you feel is right for you... but maybe... consider some things.

When your digestion is off and it is right now... in part cuz of the yeast, in part because of the thyroid, and in large part because of the prevacid, you're body is not going to be absorbing nutrients properly from the food that you do eat.... Without proper nutrition... well consider it as not having all the parts to do something... it's like trying to bake a cake without baking powder, baking soda or salt... It's gonna be a cake, but an awfully pathetic one.

When your diet, or digestion doesn't allow you the nutrition you need, you will need to supplement it.

If you aren't taking any Selenium and no multi-vitamins, that's gonna contribute to your low thyroid issues.... Even with the Armour you're only getting a small amount of direct T3 in it. Yes, it helps, but it's not enough, your body has to be able to convert hormone or you're gonna have to add additional T3.

Controlling excess acid, my opinion, based on having had a bleeding ulcer, two years plus consuming only stuff that I could run through a blender, carrying maalox with me, liquid, where ever I went.... I learned a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff that I wish I knew a lot sooner... It took me over 20 years to figure it out.

Any idea what it's like to have to run everything you eat through a blender, and add milk to it so that you can drink it? That's how bad I was... even with all the dumb pills and liquids that I was told would fix it all....

When Prevacid and those lovely things first came out I did them too.... the only good thing about them was that I didn't have to worry about constipation anymore.... often food passed through with minimal digestion... that's because without the proper level of stomach acid you can't break it down to the point where it can be absorbed as nutrition and energy for your body.

I know... you're screaming at the computer right now and calling me names..... right?

I'll tell you what I discovered... if you want to tell me to shut up... or choose not to read past this point that is your choice.... I can't tell you what to do... but maybe if I share what I learned and what worked for me.... something might hit you as worth giving a try.....

Acid production is triggered by eating, and other things too... the reflux and heartburn and such results from excess acid..... and for some of us the excess food that is not being digested and begins fermentation.... gas, from both, or either end... is a sign of that.

When I turned by thinking away from neutralizing excess acid with antacids and concentrated on having the correct amount of acid to do the job, I GREATLY reduced symptoms...

This gets involved... in involves understanding a process and getting the process to work right and not just dumping a Band-Aid on it...

I don't mean to be insulting.... I'm hoping to offer what worked for me, so that you can look at it and see if you think some of what I did might help you..... if not... I'll not be insulted or hurt..... but... sniff sniff... don't yell too loud... you'll hurt my little feelings! hehehehhe

Acid is released when triggered... normally by the introduction of food. Food enters the stomach and acid is released to break down that food as part of the digestion process. When you take antacids that alter acid production and then eat... you won't have enough acid for digestion.... sometimes it makes that body produce excess to fight the antacid, sometimes it just gives up and doesn't produce enough... Too much acid equals pain, not enough acid equals pain.

One of my profound realizations was to stop taking antacids when I felt heart burn, or reflux or whatever and get something to eat instead. Food entering the stomach triggers the process, if too much acid is there, the acid production stops, if the acid there was too much for an empty stomach and was causing discomfort, but is not enough to break down the food... more acid is released to accommodate that food, then stops.

When you take and antacid it neutralizes the acid, and or inhibits acid production (depending on the type of medication you are taking) and it messes up the body's normal response.

I hope that made sense....

So... I was feeling bad and I'd have something to eat. Non acid, non spicy, not oily, not chocolate, not caffeine, bland. A bit of cheese, dry bread, Just a bite or two, to start the response to food in the system and allow my body to respond to it and react by increasing or decreasing the acid, as needed, for the food consumed.

It doesn't happen over night.. it takes time it takes consistency, it takes relaxation... to help the body to get things regulated again and work the right way....

I kept this as short as I could, to give you an idea of things... if you want to go into more detail I will.....

One of my staples during my worst days.. that is the days when I was on solid food again and the ulcer was no longer bleeding was something I affectionately referred to as gruel... It's made with Minute Rice (easy to digest, bland, gentle on the digestive process, absorbs acids), a processed cheese, like Velveeta, because it's salt and seasoning is the ONLY seasoning used in the gruel... and milk. The rice is cooked according to the package. Add enough cheese to make it colored and gooey, milk to make it liquid enough to swallow.

It actually tastes pretty good once to you get used to bland. But the magic of this concoction is that it will makes you burp and then you feel okay. I'd only eat about a half cup to a cup of gruel, as needed, during an attack. Almost always had some in the fridge...

Years later I kept cottage cheese or cream cheese in the fridge... if I was having an attack I'd grab a tablespoon or so of either one or them for quick relief.

Things that I learned to stay away from to reduce the 'attacks' of excess acid, reflux, gerd, heartburn, and vomiting (yep.... if mine got bad I'd often vomit as my body tried to get rid of what was eating my insides).

All citrus

Bananas

Peppers

Spices

Some Herbs

Soda

anything with Caffeine

Pepperoni

Sausage

anything with tomato

popcorn

greasy things, no fried anything unless it was done in butter

chocolate

baked goods except home made bread

peanut butter

pears

celery

most fruit juice, especially citrus

onions

It seems like a LOT when I make the list... there may be more, but this is all that comes to mind right now... but eliminating these things, irritants to the physical damage involved with excess acid and the extra acid that is released to deal with many of these foods mean that my attacks became fewer and fewer.

But, with the damage that I had it was a long time to heal and I learned as I went. Never eat food before bed.... for me I found that the four to five hours before bed I could not eat... if I did I'd be waking in the night vomiting.... I didnt' have just a bit of reflux.... I had it spewing out.... So I didn't eat.

As I got better (this was over 20 years that I dealt with this) I found that I could do pizza, certain brands, with canadian bacon type topping, no sausage or pepperoni, peppers, onions, etc... IF I did them before noon... with a bedtime of about 10pm.

Now... we come to today.... It was almost two years ago (anniversary is coming up in October) that I learned about mini meals... See, up until then I generally ate one of two meals a day with a calorie total, I found out, ran around 2,000 calories or so.... I usually ate mid afternoon or so.... If I ate in the morning it would be a smaller amount with the rest of it later, about mid afternoon.

Mini meals.... basically taking the number of calories that you consume in a day and breaking it up into between five and six meals a day. This is great for folks that are hypo, to keep energy levels up, to ease the stress on the digestive system when our digestion is as slow as the rest of us, evens out blood sugar.... finally got me losing weight.....

.... but the thing I never ever ever ever EVER imagined..... No more reflux, no more gerd, no more heart burn, no more sour stomach.....

Why? Well... as I sat and thought about it, it hit me.... smaller amounts of food at one time means less to process at one time. Hypo body, everything works slower, resources are less, cuz everything works slower.. .and if digestion works like the rest of us.... if our bodies tire out when we work to much or too long and we are fatiguesd and need to rest... what do our stomachs and the rest of our digestive systems do when they have too much (food) to do and can't finish the job? It stops. So now whatever food is left in the stomach causes pressure, on that little flappy that keeps stuff in our stomachs and not shooting up our esophagus.

Less food in the stomach, quicker to process, faster to move through the system, better job of breaking it down, more nutrients extracted as it passes through the intestines... Hmmmmm.. win win?

So... since I started doing that... besides no more symptoms... unless I do stupid stuff like eat a whole pepperoni pizza..... I found that I can eat more stuff.... Go back up to the list that I made... I still don't like peppers and onions.. some spices I don't like but I use a lot of spices and herbs now... I have a special bread that I make now that is garlic and herb..... but otherwise everything on that list is back in my diet....

I can have a mini meal portion of pizza while in bed, role over and curl up and go to sleep... and not only not throw up in my sleep.. .but not even have any discomfort.... I can eat citrus again... in fact, my dad's bday was just a week or so ago.. for his bday I make his favorite.... lemon meringue pie... and I can eat it!!!

A new favorite recipe that I concocted is oatmeal crusted friend chicken... Doesn't make me ill at all...

Went for years not being able to eat spaghetti... now... I'm just fine...

Do lots of garlic in things.... no problem...

I attribute the improvement to a combination of three things....

Letting my body learn, remember, take over acid production in response, in reaction to, food.

Getting my thyroid hormones normalized.

Eating mini meals

My ulcer happened in the middle years of my being hyper... late teens... I went into storm in my late 20's, got nuked (RAI) when I was in my early thirties.... I'm 48 now. I spent nearly half my life with problems with food/eating/acid and only in the last year and a bit... did I finally find that last thing that I needed to do to take care of the problem... for me...

I think it's worth the time to figure it out. what is causing the problem, figuring out what you do to reduce that trigger, helping your body to regain it's own control, making whatever lifestyle changes that you can to help your body maintain it's normal control.

I took the pills for years, took the liquids when the pills were too slow..... and dealt with all the side affects resulting from that...

Now.. I can't say that this is the perfect solution for everyone.... I can say that it takes more effort to figure it out than it does to take the pills...... but, for me, it was VERY much worth it.

So... confession.... I've been running back and forth between the kitchen and the office all day, writing this in jumps and spurts over the last 7 hours.... If I go back and proof it I'll end up adding more stuff and I'm gonna venture to guess that it's plenty long enough as it is.....

If anybody has questions of curiosity.. thoughts to add that I might have missed... experiences or solutions that worked or didnt' work for digestive problems... jump in... lets compare notes and see what the group can come up with for suggestions and maybe we'll have more folks having pizza for a late night snack!!!

Topper ()

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 07:39:52 -0700 (PDT) Misty Lazenby writes:

Okay, here goes-Selinium - none (?); my nutritionist says vitmains areout right now because I am so weakened because of theyeast and thyroidPrevacid - if I try to get off, I am sick within about24 hours (buring stomach and throat, throwing up); Ihave tried other things, but end up sick. If anyonehas any suggestions, bring them on!! I hate prevacid- I poop my guts out!All tests ARE fastingAnti-TPO IGG - 81.6 (0-30 normal)Timed UR creatinine was high (no ranges given!!)TSH 1.062 (.350-5.5 uU/ML) (down from 6.597 one monthprior)IRON 76 (65-165)8AM Cortisol 8.4 (8.7-22.4)4PM Cortisol 8.4 (2.0-9.9)24 urine cortisol was borderline highPositive H. PyloriSo sorry, but no ranges given for:free t3 2.7free t4 2.191 (0.71-1.81)T3 total 1.73T3 uptake .31free thyroxine 2.2vitamin b-12 356I eat a lot twice a day - usually at night. I know,bad, bad - but I am trying to do better. I can eatmost organic meats (no pepper, sugar, etc), brown rice(1/2 c daily) organic potatoes, organic apple,rotation bananas, water, tea (some), onions, garlic,some seeds and nuts, water chestnuts, and watermelon.I hope that answers all of the questions - let me knowif not.Misty

[Guest guest]

Well in October it will be two years since I was

admitted to hospital with a suspected perforated

stomach. I had suffered from GERD before and for some

time had taken proton pump inhibitors. This time it

was so much worse, the pain was indescribable. After

lots of tests it was clear that all I had was severe

gastritis and oesophagitis. I spent a week in hospital

and couldn't eat anything at all for a week until the

inflammation had subsided. None of the medical staff

seemed interested in the fact that I had been

constipated for ages; had been suffering from

indigestion on and off for years; that my pulse was

only 48, that my blood pressure was 70 over 49 (apart

from telling me I couldn't get out of bed); that all I

wanted to do was sleep all day. It was nearly 3 months

before my GP did a thyroid blood test (and 18 years

since the first thyroid test). By this time I couldn't

walk more than 100yards and couldn't climb my stairs.

I was prescribed 25mcg of thyroxine.

Eventually I was given 50mcg of thyroxine, then after

joining this group and discovering the lab was using

the old ranges the dose of thyroxine was raised to

100mcg. The constipation and GERD did not go away, I

started putting on weight. Eventually in January of

this year I went to see a private doctor. By July I

was taking 200mcg of Thyroxine. I did lose weight but

remained constipated and still suffered from GERD. For

the last 4 weeks I have been taking 150mcg of

Thyroxine and 20mcg of Liothyronine (T3). No more

constipation, no more GERD. Why can't doctors

understand that the muscles of the intestine need T3

just like the muscles in every other part of the body?

If the intestine is not working efficiently then the

stomach cannot empty itself and more acid is produced.

My appetite is small but I eat whatever I feel like

eating now.

--- topper2@... wrote:

> Hi Misty....

>

> You're gonna have to do what you feel is right for

> you... but maybe...

> consider some things.

>

> When your digestion is off and it is right now... in

> part cuz of the

> yeast, in part because of the thyroid, and in large

> part because of the

> prevacid, you're body is not going to be absorbing

> nutrients properly

> from the food that you do eat.... Without proper

> nutrition... well

> consider it as not having all the parts to do

> something... it's like

> trying to bake a cake without baking powder, baking

> soda or salt... It's

> gonna be a cake, but an awfully pathetic one.

>

> When your diet, or digestion doesn't allow you the

> nutrition you need,

> you will need to supplement it.

>

> If you aren't taking any Selenium and no

> multi-vitamins, that's gonna

> contribute to your low thyroid issues.... Even with

> the Armour you're

> only getting a small amount of direct T3 in it. Yes,

> it helps, but it's

> not enough, your body has to be able to convert

> hormone or you're gonna

> have to add additional T3.

>

> Controlling excess acid, my opinion, based on having

> had a bleeding

> ulcer, two years plus consuming only stuff that I

> could run through a

> blender, carrying maalox with me, liquid, where ever

> I went.... I learned

> a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff that I wish I knew a

> lot sooner... It took

> me over 20 years to figure it out.

>

> Any idea what it's like to have to run everything

> you eat through a

> blender, and add milk to it so that you can drink

> it? That's how bad I

> was... even with all the dumb pills and liquids that

> I was told would fix

> it all....

>

> When Prevacid and those lovely things first came out

> I did them too....

> the only good thing about them was that I didn't

> have to worry about

> constipation anymore.... often food passed through

> with minimal

> digestion... that's because without the proper level

> of stomach acid you

> can't break it down to the point where it can be

> absorbed as nutrition

> and energy for your body.

>

> I know... you're screaming at the computer right now

> and calling me

> names..... right?

>

> I'll tell you what I discovered... if you want to

> tell me to shut up...

> or choose not to read past this point that is your

> choice.... I can't

> tell you what to do... but maybe if I share what I

> learned and what

> worked for me.... something might hit you as worth

> giving a try.....

>

> Acid production is triggered by eating, and other

> things too... the

> reflux and heartburn and such results from excess

> acid..... and for some

> of us the excess food that is not being digested and

> begins

> fermentation.... gas, from both, or either end... is

> a sign of that.

>

> When I turned by thinking away from neutralizing

> excess acid with

> antacids and concentrated on having the correct

> amount of acid to do the

> job, I GREATLY reduced symptoms...

>

> This gets involved... in involves understanding a

> process and getting the

> process to work right and not just dumping a

> Band-Aid on it...

>

> I don't mean to be insulting.... I'm hoping to offer

> what worked for me,

> so that you can look at it and see if you think some

> of what I did might

> help you..... if not... I'll not be insulted or

> hurt..... but... sniff

> sniff... don't yell too loud... you'll hurt my

> little feelings! hehehehhe

>

> Acid is released when triggered... normally by the

> introduction of food.

> Food enters the stomach and acid is released to

> break down that food as

> part of the digestion process. When you take

> antacids that alter acid

> production and then eat... you won't have enough

> acid for digestion....

> sometimes it makes that body produce excess to fight

> the antacid,

> sometimes it just gives up and doesn't produce

> enough... Too much acid

> equals pain, not enough acid equals pain.

>

> One of my profound realizations was to stop taking

> antacids when I felt

> heart burn, or reflux or whatever and get something

> to eat instead. Food

> entering the stomach triggers the process, if too

> much acid is there, the

> acid production stops, if the acid there was too

> much for an empty

> stomach and was causing discomfort, but is not

> enough to break down the

> food... more acid is released to accommodate that

> food, then stops.

>

> When you take and antacid it neutralizes the acid,

> and or inhibits acid

> production (depending on the type of medication you

> are taking) and it

> messes up the body's normal response.

>

> I hope that made sense....

>

> So... I was feeling bad and I'd have something to

> eat. Non acid, non

> spicy, not oily, not chocolate, not caffeine, bland.

> A bit of cheese, dry

> bread, Just a bite or two, to start the response to

> food in the system

> and allow my body to respond to it and react by

> increasing or decreasing

> the acid, as needed, for the food consumed.

>

> It doesn't happen over night.. it takes time it

> takes consistency, it

> takes relaxation... to help the body to get things

> regulated again and

> work the right way....

>

> I kept this as short as I could, to give you an idea

> of things... if you

> want to go into more detail I will.....

>

> One of my staples during my worst days.. that is the

> days when I was on

> solid food again and the ulcer was no longer

> bleeding was something I

> affectionately referred to as gruel... It's made

> with Minute Rice (easy

> to digest, bland, gentle on the digestive process,

> absorbs acids), a

> processed cheese, like Velveeta, because it's salt

> and seasoning is the

> ONLY seasoning used in the gruel... and milk. The

> rice is cooked

> according to the package. Add enough cheese to make

> it colored and gooey,

> milk to make it liquid enough to swallow.

>

> It actually tastes pretty good once to you get used

> to bland. But the

> magic of this concoction is that it will makes you

> burp and then you feel

> okay. I'd only eat about a half cup to a cup of

> gruel, as needed, during

> an attack. Almost always had some in the fridge...

>

> Years later I kept cottage cheese or cream cheese in

> the fridge... if I

> was having an attack I'd grab a tablespoon or so of

> either one or them

> for quick relief.

>

> Things that I learned to stay away from to reduce

> the 'attacks' of excess

> acid, reflux, gerd, heartburn, and vomiting (yep....

> if mine got bad I'd

> often vomit as my body tried to get rid of what was

> eating my insides).

> All citrus

> Bananas

> Peppers

> Spices

>

=== message truncated ===

____________________________________________________

Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

[Guest guest]

Well in October it will be two years since I was

admitted to hospital with a suspected perforated

stomach. I had suffered from GERD before and for some

time had taken proton pump inhibitors. This time it

was so much worse, the pain was indescribable. After

lots of tests it was clear that all I had was severe

gastritis and oesophagitis. I spent a week in hospital

and couldn't eat anything at all for a week until the

inflammation had subsided. None of the medical staff

seemed interested in the fact that I had been

constipated for ages; had been suffering from

indigestion on and off for years; that my pulse was

only 48, that my blood pressure was 70 over 49 (apart

from telling me I couldn't get out of bed); that all I

wanted to do was sleep all day. It was nearly 3 months

before my GP did a thyroid blood test (and 18 years

since the first thyroid test). By this time I couldn't

walk more than 100yards and couldn't climb my stairs.

I was prescribed 25mcg of thyroxine.

Eventually I was given 50mcg of thyroxine, then after

joining this group and discovering the lab was using

the old ranges the dose of thyroxine was raised to

100mcg. The constipation and GERD did not go away, I

started putting on weight. Eventually in January of

this year I went to see a private doctor. By July I

was taking 200mcg of Thyroxine. I did lose weight but

remained constipated and still suffered from GERD. For

the last 4 weeks I have been taking 150mcg of

Thyroxine and 20mcg of Liothyronine (T3). No more

constipation, no more GERD. Why can't doctors

understand that the muscles of the intestine need T3

just like the muscles in every other part of the body?

If the intestine is not working efficiently then the

stomach cannot empty itself and more acid is produced.

My appetite is small but I eat whatever I feel like

eating now.

--- topper2@... wrote:

> Hi Misty....

>

> You're gonna have to do what you feel is right for

> you... but maybe...

> consider some things.

>

> When your digestion is off and it is right now... in

> part cuz of the

> yeast, in part because of the thyroid, and in large

> part because of the

> prevacid, you're body is not going to be absorbing

> nutrients properly

> from the food that you do eat.... Without proper

> nutrition... well

> consider it as not having all the parts to do

> something... it's like

> trying to bake a cake without baking powder, baking

> soda or salt... It's

> gonna be a cake, but an awfully pathetic one.

>

> When your diet, or digestion doesn't allow you the

> nutrition you need,

> you will need to supplement it.

>

> If you aren't taking any Selenium and no

> multi-vitamins, that's gonna

> contribute to your low thyroid issues.... Even with

> the Armour you're

> only getting a small amount of direct T3 in it. Yes,

> it helps, but it's

> not enough, your body has to be able to convert

> hormone or you're gonna

> have to add additional T3.

>

> Controlling excess acid, my opinion, based on having

> had a bleeding

> ulcer, two years plus consuming only stuff that I

> could run through a

> blender, carrying maalox with me, liquid, where ever

> I went.... I learned

> a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff that I wish I knew a

> lot sooner... It took

> me over 20 years to figure it out.

>

> Any idea what it's like to have to run everything

> you eat through a

> blender, and add milk to it so that you can drink

> it? That's how bad I

> was... even with all the dumb pills and liquids that

> I was told would fix

> it all....

>

> When Prevacid and those lovely things first came out

> I did them too....

> the only good thing about them was that I didn't

> have to worry about

> constipation anymore.... often food passed through

> with minimal

> digestion... that's because without the proper level

> of stomach acid you

> can't break it down to the point where it can be

> absorbed as nutrition

> and energy for your body.

>

> I know... you're screaming at the computer right now

> and calling me

> names..... right?

>

> I'll tell you what I discovered... if you want to

> tell me to shut up...

> or choose not to read past this point that is your

> choice.... I can't

> tell you what to do... but maybe if I share what I

> learned and what

> worked for me.... something might hit you as worth

> giving a try.....

>

> Acid production is triggered by eating, and other

> things too... the

> reflux and heartburn and such results from excess

> acid..... and for some

> of us the excess food that is not being digested and

> begins

> fermentation.... gas, from both, or either end... is

> a sign of that.

>

> When I turned by thinking away from neutralizing

> excess acid with

> antacids and concentrated on having the correct

> amount of acid to do the

> job, I GREATLY reduced symptoms...

>

> This gets involved... in involves understanding a

> process and getting the

> process to work right and not just dumping a

> Band-Aid on it...

>

> I don't mean to be insulting.... I'm hoping to offer

> what worked for me,

> so that you can look at it and see if you think some

> of what I did might

> help you..... if not... I'll not be insulted or

> hurt..... but... sniff

> sniff... don't yell too loud... you'll hurt my

> little feelings! hehehehhe

>

> Acid is released when triggered... normally by the

> introduction of food.

> Food enters the stomach and acid is released to

> break down that food as

> part of the digestion process. When you take

> antacids that alter acid

> production and then eat... you won't have enough

> acid for digestion....

> sometimes it makes that body produce excess to fight

> the antacid,

> sometimes it just gives up and doesn't produce

> enough... Too much acid

> equals pain, not enough acid equals pain.

>

> One of my profound realizations was to stop taking

> antacids when I felt

> heart burn, or reflux or whatever and get something

> to eat instead. Food

> entering the stomach triggers the process, if too

> much acid is there, the

> acid production stops, if the acid there was too

> much for an empty

> stomach and was causing discomfort, but is not

> enough to break down the

> food... more acid is released to accommodate that

> food, then stops.

>

> When you take and antacid it neutralizes the acid,

> and or inhibits acid

> production (depending on the type of medication you

> are taking) and it

> messes up the body's normal response.

>

> I hope that made sense....

>

> So... I was feeling bad and I'd have something to

> eat. Non acid, non

> spicy, not oily, not chocolate, not caffeine, bland.

> A bit of cheese, dry

> bread, Just a bite or two, to start the response to

> food in the system

> and allow my body to respond to it and react by

> increasing or decreasing

> the acid, as needed, for the food consumed.

>

> It doesn't happen over night.. it takes time it

> takes consistency, it

> takes relaxation... to help the body to get things

> regulated again and

> work the right way....

>

> I kept this as short as I could, to give you an idea

> of things... if you

> want to go into more detail I will.....

>

> One of my staples during my worst days.. that is the

> days when I was on

> solid food again and the ulcer was no longer

> bleeding was something I

> affectionately referred to as gruel... It's made

> with Minute Rice (easy

> to digest, bland, gentle on the digestive process,

> absorbs acids), a

> processed cheese, like Velveeta, because it's salt

> and seasoning is the

> ONLY seasoning used in the gruel... and milk. The

> rice is cooked

> according to the package. Add enough cheese to make

> it colored and gooey,

> milk to make it liquid enough to swallow.

>

> It actually tastes pretty good once to you get used

> to bland. But the

> magic of this concoction is that it will makes you

> burp and then you feel

> okay. I'd only eat about a half cup to a cup of

> gruel, as needed, during

> an attack. Almost always had some in the fridge...

>

> Years later I kept cottage cheese or cream cheese in

> the fridge... if I

> was having an attack I'd grab a tablespoon or so of

> either one or them

> for quick relief.

>

> Things that I learned to stay away from to reduce

> the 'attacks' of excess

> acid, reflux, gerd, heartburn, and vomiting (yep....

> if mine got bad I'd

> often vomit as my body tried to get rid of what was

> eating my insides).

> All citrus

> Bananas

> Peppers

> Spices

>

=== message truncated ===

____________________________________________________

Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

[Guest guest]

Well in October it will be two years since I was

admitted to hospital with a suspected perforated

stomach. I had suffered from GERD before and for some

time had taken proton pump inhibitors. This time it

was so much worse, the pain was indescribable. After

lots of tests it was clear that all I had was severe

gastritis and oesophagitis. I spent a week in hospital

and couldn't eat anything at all for a week until the

inflammation had subsided. None of the medical staff

seemed interested in the fact that I had been

constipated for ages; had been suffering from

indigestion on and off for years; that my pulse was

only 48, that my blood pressure was 70 over 49 (apart

from telling me I couldn't get out of bed); that all I

wanted to do was sleep all day. It was nearly 3 months

before my GP did a thyroid blood test (and 18 years

since the first thyroid test). By this time I couldn't

walk more than 100yards and couldn't climb my stairs.

I was prescribed 25mcg of thyroxine.

Eventually I was given 50mcg of thyroxine, then after

joining this group and discovering the lab was using

the old ranges the dose of thyroxine was raised to

100mcg. The constipation and GERD did not go away, I

started putting on weight. Eventually in January of

this year I went to see a private doctor. By July I

was taking 200mcg of Thyroxine. I did lose weight but

remained constipated and still suffered from GERD. For

the last 4 weeks I have been taking 150mcg of

Thyroxine and 20mcg of Liothyronine (T3). No more

constipation, no more GERD. Why can't doctors

understand that the muscles of the intestine need T3

just like the muscles in every other part of the body?

If the intestine is not working efficiently then the

stomach cannot empty itself and more acid is produced.

My appetite is small but I eat whatever I feel like

eating now.

--- topper2@... wrote:

> Hi Misty....

>

> You're gonna have to do what you feel is right for

> you... but maybe...

> consider some things.

>

> When your digestion is off and it is right now... in

> part cuz of the

> yeast, in part because of the thyroid, and in large

> part because of the

> prevacid, you're body is not going to be absorbing

> nutrients properly

> from the food that you do eat.... Without proper

> nutrition... well

> consider it as not having all the parts to do

> something... it's like

> trying to bake a cake without baking powder, baking

> soda or salt... It's

> gonna be a cake, but an awfully pathetic one.

>

> When your diet, or digestion doesn't allow you the

> nutrition you need,

> you will need to supplement it.

>

> If you aren't taking any Selenium and no

> multi-vitamins, that's gonna

> contribute to your low thyroid issues.... Even with

> the Armour you're

> only getting a small amount of direct T3 in it. Yes,

> it helps, but it's

> not enough, your body has to be able to convert

> hormone or you're gonna

> have to add additional T3.

>

> Controlling excess acid, my opinion, based on having

> had a bleeding

> ulcer, two years plus consuming only stuff that I

> could run through a

> blender, carrying maalox with me, liquid, where ever

> I went.... I learned

> a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff that I wish I knew a

> lot sooner... It took

> me over 20 years to figure it out.

>

> Any idea what it's like to have to run everything

> you eat through a

> blender, and add milk to it so that you can drink

> it? That's how bad I

> was... even with all the dumb pills and liquids that

> I was told would fix

> it all....

>

> When Prevacid and those lovely things first came out

> I did them too....

> the only good thing about them was that I didn't

> have to worry about

> constipation anymore.... often food passed through

> with minimal

> digestion... that's because without the proper level

> of stomach acid you

> can't break it down to the point where it can be

> absorbed as nutrition

> and energy for your body.

>

> I know... you're screaming at the computer right now

> and calling me

> names..... right?

>

> I'll tell you what I discovered... if you want to

> tell me to shut up...

> or choose not to read past this point that is your

> choice.... I can't

> tell you what to do... but maybe if I share what I

> learned and what

> worked for me.... something might hit you as worth

> giving a try.....

>

> Acid production is triggered by eating, and other

> things too... the

> reflux and heartburn and such results from excess

> acid..... and for some

> of us the excess food that is not being digested and

> begins

> fermentation.... gas, from both, or either end... is

> a sign of that.

>

> When I turned by thinking away from neutralizing

> excess acid with

> antacids and concentrated on having the correct

> amount of acid to do the

> job, I GREATLY reduced symptoms...

>

> This gets involved... in involves understanding a

> process and getting the

> process to work right and not just dumping a

> Band-Aid on it...

>

> I don't mean to be insulting.... I'm hoping to offer

> what worked for me,

> so that you can look at it and see if you think some

> of what I did might

> help you..... if not... I'll not be insulted or

> hurt..... but... sniff

> sniff... don't yell too loud... you'll hurt my

> little feelings! hehehehhe

>

> Acid is released when triggered... normally by the

> introduction of food.

> Food enters the stomach and acid is released to

> break down that food as

> part of the digestion process. When you take

> antacids that alter acid

> production and then eat... you won't have enough

> acid for digestion....

> sometimes it makes that body produce excess to fight

> the antacid,

> sometimes it just gives up and doesn't produce

> enough... Too much acid

> equals pain, not enough acid equals pain.

>

> One of my profound realizations was to stop taking

> antacids when I felt

> heart burn, or reflux or whatever and get something

> to eat instead. Food

> entering the stomach triggers the process, if too

> much acid is there, the

> acid production stops, if the acid there was too

> much for an empty

> stomach and was causing discomfort, but is not

> enough to break down the

> food... more acid is released to accommodate that

> food, then stops.

>

> When you take and antacid it neutralizes the acid,

> and or inhibits acid

> production (depending on the type of medication you

> are taking) and it

> messes up the body's normal response.

>

> I hope that made sense....

>

> So... I was feeling bad and I'd have something to

> eat. Non acid, non

> spicy, not oily, not chocolate, not caffeine, bland.

> A bit of cheese, dry

> bread, Just a bite or two, to start the response to

> food in the system

> and allow my body to respond to it and react by

> increasing or decreasing

> the acid, as needed, for the food consumed.

>

> It doesn't happen over night.. it takes time it

> takes consistency, it

> takes relaxation... to help the body to get things

> regulated again and

> work the right way....

>

> I kept this as short as I could, to give you an idea

> of things... if you

> want to go into more detail I will.....

>

> One of my staples during my worst days.. that is the

> days when I was on

> solid food again and the ulcer was no longer

> bleeding was something I

> affectionately referred to as gruel... It's made

> with Minute Rice (easy

> to digest, bland, gentle on the digestive process,

> absorbs acids), a

> processed cheese, like Velveeta, because it's salt

> and seasoning is the

> ONLY seasoning used in the gruel... and milk. The

> rice is cooked

> according to the package. Add enough cheese to make

> it colored and gooey,

> milk to make it liquid enough to swallow.

>

> It actually tastes pretty good once to you get used

> to bland. But the

> magic of this concoction is that it will makes you

> burp and then you feel

> okay. I'd only eat about a half cup to a cup of

> gruel, as needed, during

> an attack. Almost always had some in the fridge...

>

> Years later I kept cottage cheese or cream cheese in

> the fridge... if I

> was having an attack I'd grab a tablespoon or so of

> either one or them

> for quick relief.

>

> Things that I learned to stay away from to reduce

> the 'attacks' of excess

> acid, reflux, gerd, heartburn, and vomiting (yep....

> if mine got bad I'd

> often vomit as my body tried to get rid of what was

> eating my insides).

> All citrus

> Bananas

> Peppers

> Spices

>

=== message truncated ===

____________________________________________________

Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page

http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

[Guest guest]

Amazing isn't it? You figured out what you needed when they couldn't..... Just from taking the time to learn....

good for you!!!

How is your pulse, blood pressure and such now?

Topper ()

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:59:17 -0700 (PDT) writes:

Well in October it will be two years since I wasadmitted to hospital with a suspected perforatedstomach. I had suffered from GERD before and for sometime had taken proton pump inhibitors. This time itwas so much worse, the pain was indescribable. Afterlots of tests it was clear that all I had was severegastritis and oesophagitis. I spent a week in hospitaland couldn't eat anything at all for a week until theinflammation had subsided. None of the medical staffseemed interested in the fact that I had beenconstipated for ages; had been suffering fromindigestion on and off for years; that my pulse wasonly 48, that my blood pressure was 70 over 49 (apartfrom telling me I couldn't get out of bed); that all Iwanted to do was sleep all day. It was nearly 3 monthsbefore my GP did a thyroid blood test (and 18 yearssince the first thyroid test). By this time I couldn'twalk more than 100yards and couldn't climb my stairs.I was prescribed 25mcg of thyroxine.Eventually I was given 50mcg of thyroxine, then afterjoining this group and discovering the lab was usingthe old ranges the dose of thyroxine was raised to100mcg. The constipation and GERD did not go away, Istarted putting on weight. Eventually in January ofthis year I went to see a private doctor. By July Iwas taking 200mcg of Thyroxine. I did lose weight butremained constipated and still suffered from GERD. Forthe last 4 weeks I have been taking 150mcg ofThyroxine and 20mcg of Liothyronine (T3). No moreconstipation, no more GERD. Why can't doctorsunderstand that the muscles of the intestine need T3just like the muscles in every other part of the body?If the intestine is not working efficiently then thestomach cannot empty itself and more acid is produced.My appetite is small but I eat whatever I feel likeeating now.

[Guest guest]

Amazing isn't it? You figured out what you needed when they couldn't..... Just from taking the time to learn....

good for you!!!

How is your pulse, blood pressure and such now?

Topper ()

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:59:17 -0700 (PDT) writes:

Well in October it will be two years since I wasadmitted to hospital with a suspected perforatedstomach. I had suffered from GERD before and for sometime had taken proton pump inhibitors. This time itwas so much worse, the pain was indescribable. Afterlots of tests it was clear that all I had was severegastritis and oesophagitis. I spent a week in hospitaland couldn't eat anything at all for a week until theinflammation had subsided. None of the medical staffseemed interested in the fact that I had beenconstipated for ages; had been suffering fromindigestion on and off for years; that my pulse wasonly 48, that my blood pressure was 70 over 49 (apartfrom telling me I couldn't get out of bed); that all Iwanted to do was sleep all day. It was nearly 3 monthsbefore my GP did a thyroid blood test (and 18 yearssince the first thyroid test). By this time I couldn'twalk more than 100yards and couldn't climb my stairs.I was prescribed 25mcg of thyroxine.Eventually I was given 50mcg of thyroxine, then afterjoining this group and discovering the lab was usingthe old ranges the dose of thyroxine was raised to100mcg. The constipation and GERD did not go away, Istarted putting on weight. Eventually in January ofthis year I went to see a private doctor. By July Iwas taking 200mcg of Thyroxine. I did lose weight butremained constipated and still suffered from GERD. Forthe last 4 weeks I have been taking 150mcg ofThyroxine and 20mcg of Liothyronine (T3). No moreconstipation, no more GERD. Why can't doctorsunderstand that the muscles of the intestine need T3just like the muscles in every other part of the body?If the intestine is not working efficiently then thestomach cannot empty itself and more acid is produced.My appetite is small but I eat whatever I feel likeeating now.

[Guest guest]

Amazing isn't it? You figured out what you needed when they couldn't..... Just from taking the time to learn....

good for you!!!

How is your pulse, blood pressure and such now?

Topper ()

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 16:59:17 -0700 (PDT) writes:

Well in October it will be two years since I wasadmitted to hospital with a suspected perforatedstomach. I had suffered from GERD before and for sometime had taken proton pump inhibitors. This time itwas so much worse, the pain was indescribable. Afterlots of tests it was clear that all I had was severegastritis and oesophagitis. I spent a week in hospitaland couldn't eat anything at all for a week until theinflammation had subsided. None of the medical staffseemed interested in the fact that I had beenconstipated for ages; had been suffering fromindigestion on and off for years; that my pulse wasonly 48, that my blood pressure was 70 over 49 (apartfrom telling me I couldn't get out of bed); that all Iwanted to do was sleep all day. It was nearly 3 monthsbefore my GP did a thyroid blood test (and 18 yearssince the first thyroid test). By this time I couldn'twalk more than 100yards and couldn't climb my stairs.I was prescribed 25mcg of thyroxine.Eventually I was given 50mcg of thyroxine, then afterjoining this group and discovering the lab was usingthe old ranges the dose of thyroxine was raised to100mcg. The constipation and GERD did not go away, Istarted putting on weight. Eventually in January ofthis year I went to see a private doctor. By July Iwas taking 200mcg of Thyroxine. I did lose weight butremained constipated and still suffered from GERD. Forthe last 4 weeks I have been taking 150mcg ofThyroxine and 20mcg of Liothyronine (T3). No moreconstipation, no more GERD. Why can't doctorsunderstand that the muscles of the intestine need T3just like the muscles in every other part of the body?If the intestine is not working efficiently then thestomach cannot empty itself and more acid is produced.My appetite is small but I eat whatever I feel likeeating now.

[Guest guest]

Check your numbers again.... pulse, temp..... this isn't sounding right....

Are you taking the Thyroxine on an empty stomach?

Avoiding goitrogens?

Are you taking Selenium?

.... I know you have probably answered these questions... but there is something off here.....

Are you taking extra Calcium and/or iron?

What were you last labs? What have they been testing?

You said that you'd lowered the T4 a bit and added T3.. that you had improvement after that with the Gerd and such..... did that help bring up your temp at all?

Topper () *who's sometimes too much the mother hen*

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 01:49:30 -0700 (PDT) writes:

In July, after 3 months on 200mcg of Thyroxine, mypulse was 62, my blood pressure was 115 over 80 but mymidday temp was still only 35C (37C is normal). Ihaven't checked any of this since starting the T3 butI am aware that my palpitations have disappeared.

[Guest guest]

Check your numbers again.... pulse, temp..... this isn't sounding right....

Are you taking the Thyroxine on an empty stomach?

Avoiding goitrogens?

Are you taking Selenium?

.... I know you have probably answered these questions... but there is something off here.....

Are you taking extra Calcium and/or iron?

What were you last labs? What have they been testing?

You said that you'd lowered the T4 a bit and added T3.. that you had improvement after that with the Gerd and such..... did that help bring up your temp at all?

Topper () *who's sometimes too much the mother hen*

On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 01:49:30 -0700 (PDT) writes:

In July, after 3 months on 200mcg of Thyroxine, mypulse was 62, my blood pressure was 115 over 80 but mymidday temp was still only 35C (37C is normal). Ihaven't checked any of this since starting the T3 butI am aware that my palpitations have disappeared.