Lesley Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I avoid bread, I always get indigestion if I eat bread, I avoid anything rich, cakes, biscuits, eggs, chocolate - anything like that. I'm not overly strict, just careful. I totally agree with this -I have known for sometime but always revert to eating bread etc and suffering for it. It is not so much as a wheat allergy but more of an intolerance. It also may have something to do with yeast. Anyway if it is food related you have to eliminate one thing at a time, and for more than a week. I go for months without eating bread and think I'm ok then after a couple of weeks on bread I'm back to square one. From what I have read it is something about the variety and fermentation of wheat these days which causes a lot of people problems. Of course you should always consult your GP as a precaution. Hope this helps. p.s. am on bread free at the moment and after weeks of agonising heartburn am ok...you think i would learn I do exactly the same - sometimes I'll be OK for a week and think I'v e outgrown the problem but it always gets me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I come from a family of people with acid reflux mainly caused by hiatus hernia which is the sphincter muscle not working correctly and part of the stomach lining protruding and allowing acid in and causing bloating when too much food is eaten. I first started to have problems in my late teens when I started work, my job involved very long hours and a lot of travelling. I developed a couple of ulcers which were treated and I was then largely ok until i was pregnant with my children, when I took antacids. I went to the doctors just over 2 years ago now because i had a contant lumpy feeling in my throat, I had lost my apetite and felt generally unwell. I had a camera up my nose and down my throat which showed a lot of acid erosion. The doctor also noticed that my thyroid was enlarged and sent me for a bloodtest which showed that I had an underactive thyroid. I was put onto Lansoprazole 30mg and Levothyroxine. With you mentioning weight loss underactive thyroid seems unlikely but it might be worth getting your thyroid hormone levels checked because overactivity can also cause enlargement of the thyroid gland which is in yout throat. I was initially concerned because my dad had just spent a month in hospital after his oesophagus spontaneously ruptured. This is incredibily rare only a few cases each year but may have been due in part to many years of untreated acid reflus. My parents used to be very anti medication, now they are very pro Lansoprazole has changed my life I do occasionally get reflux but only when I have eaten too much rich or acidic food, if I am sensible about what I eat, I don't even get indigestion. Both of my parents and my MIL all take it too and I am trying to persuade my OH to go to the doctors too because he gets through loads of antacids. I hope that you feel better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I was diagnosed with IBS about 5 or 6 years ago but was told that allergy testing wasn't available. I sent off for one of these home tests and it was spot on. I'm no longer ill all the time and have very few symptoms now. http://www.camnutri.com/food-detective-c-23.html Ive just ordered my kit, its amazing what you can find out on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I can recommend it. The instructions are quite detailed. However, I only studied science up to O level (showing my age ) and I coped ok with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted January 4, 2011 Share Posted January 4, 2011 I know it's a bit "out there" but I find that if I stick to a food combining way of eating then I have far less digestive problems and get rid of all those sluggish feelings ( I also avoid bread). I'm not for a moment suggesting that this is all that is required...just that you might feel more comfortable if you try not to eat both proteins and carbohydrates in the same meal...perhaps it's worth a try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I am a retired doctor. The main causes of reflux are mechanical (a problem with the muscle that controls the top of the stomach) and over production of acid, often due to stress. The fact that your symptoms get worse when your stomach is empty suggest that you might have some over production of acid and such pain is a symptom of a gastric/duodenal ulcer. Lansoprazole will not cure this although it may ameliorate your symptoms - you also need antibiotics or antibacterials to deal with the bacterium (H plyori) that causes ulcers. I would ask for a Helicobacter pylori test. The fact that you have lost weight is also worrying, and I would definitely ask your doctor for a referral for a gastroscopy (flexible fibre optic tube passed into the stomach to see if you have an ulcer and where the inflammation is). The science behind food intolerance tests is extremely dubious (in other words, when scientifically tested, these tests perform no better than random chance) - I would not waste my money on it. It is far easier and cheaper to start by eliminating common irritants (wheat, dairy) and see if this has an effect on your symptoms. But first of all go to your doctor, get a H pylori test and get a gastroscopy. If your symptoms are worse at night, you could try raising the head of the bed by placing it on blocks - don't use extra pillows as you slip off them. This can reduce the amount of acid that refluxes at night, and thus improve your symptoms. Acid reflux is not trivial: it makes you feel miserable and sick. Don't feel that you are bothering your GP by asking for proper tests and advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Cheers Doc I'm quite proud of my reply now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 We're not a very healthy lot are we? I think its the stressful lives we lead. Steve - I think you missed your vocation - should have been a medic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Cheers Doc I'm quite proud of my reply now It was very good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
