Question:
Hello all, I thought I would post my experiences over the past year with a nasty bout of gastritis and related problems. Last April, I was eating a submarine sandwich when I suddenly had some kind of reaction where I felt prematurely full. I was experiencing severe hot flashes and I thought I had some kind of food poisoning, but it started as I was eating! Throughout the rest of evening I was in something of a state of panic, wondering if I should visit the ER. The next day, I felt somewhat better, but I immediately went to my local physician. One thing he noted was a bit of an cardiac arrythmia, which he diagnosed as "normal" sinus arrythmia. Eventually I was diagnosed with gastritis and had a blood and stool test done. The blood test showed the presence of H. Pylori and Giardia as well (I never drank from any mountain streams). I figured most of my symptoms were due to a combination of both "bugs". Over the next few months, I experienced a full range of hellish symptoms: nausea, feverish/flu-like feeling, diarrhea, painful indigestion and a couple panic attacks. I After two different rounds of antibiotics (I finally saw some improvement while on Biaxin). I know that antibiotics are nasty stuff and can cause gut candidiasis to flare up, so I began taking acidophilus supplements soon after. I later saw a GI specialist and had two successive upper endoscopies and a colonoscopy done. They discovered an inflammed bulb (or polyp) in my duodenum along with minor ulcerated areas, gastritis and, yes, a slight hiatal hernia, but no damage to the esophagus. I do experience mild GERD symptoms now and then, but nothing distressing. I was prescribed Prilosec for 6 months, which I have ignored, but I’m willing to give it a try for a month or two. I was on Prilosec while on the Biaxin and experienced weird symptoms of premature hunger that bugged the hell out of me — I blamed it on the Prilosec and since stopped taking it. I’m doing a lot better now, but one particular symptom still bothers me: frequently after eating I get a feeling of gas pressure in the upper region of my stomach which "presses up" and causes my heart to skip a beat. This is a very weird and disturbing sensation, which is diminished when I manage to burp and expel any gas! The arrythmia exactly corresponds with this sensation in my stomach. Sometimes, anxiety sets it off. I think this could be caused by my hiatal hernia, which makes some sense, since the stomach pushing up into the chest cavity could somehow push agaist the heart. This sounds dangerous, and I found no medical references for this possibility. Regardless, I’ve gotten used to it. Finally, while browsing the web, I came across a "new age" health practitioner’s article about hiatal hernias that acknowledged the arrhythmia condition that I believe I experience. The web page is: http://www.montana.com/energybal/stomup.html I would be curious to know if anyone else has experienced this sensation? I first had this sensation around 5 years ago, and thought I was having a heart attack or something. I’ve since gotten used to it, but it’s very irritating. It isn’t painful, just uncomfortable. A combination of gastritis and a hiatal hernia seem to be the likely culprits. There may also be a food allergy involved. I’ve also learned that I can aid my burping by bending my upper body slightly to the left, but I try not to strain, as this isn’t healthy. Regarding the above article, I remain intrigued but skeptical about their claims that this is the "most common problem in the world". I think it is worth trying the adjustment exercises, since they should be harmless. I’m a very open-minded person who is critical of both the medical and the new age / natural-medicine communities. The medical community is bent on alleviating symptoms at any cost, often in the form of medications that are not advisable for long-term use (antibiotics anyone?), whereas the natural-medicine groups seem to constantly be proclaiming miracle cures, claiming that some condition or deficiency is the cause of all one’s ailments. I take it all with a grain of salt, but I keep my eyes open. Here’s another that discusses a hiatal hernia adjustment technique (again, worth a try): http://www.empyreanquest.com/Healing/hiatal.htm Lastly, here’s an interesting study ( http://www.ginet.com/papers/401to500/Mpape449.htm ), regarding the effect of coffee and alcohol on H. Pylori. This study shows that an H. Pylori infection tends to worsen when drinking coffee but that alcohol can have an inhibitive effect. I find this interesting because my stomach problems worsen after drinking coffee (I’m completely off it now). I also received info on a "jungle remedy" for H. Pylori that involves drinking a couple ounces of 40-50 proof alcohol (preferably something "clean" like vodka) with 1000mg of Vitamin C on an empty stomach every morning for 2 or 3 days. I’m not convinced that this can totally eradicate H. Pylori, but it does make some sense because alcohol (ethanol) can be used as a primitive sanitizing agent for wounds, because it kills bacteria (through dehydration, I suspect). Beer or wine would not be recommended, however, due to their low alcohol content and their other acidic ingredients. Unfortunately this remedy seems to encourage a mean buzz in the morning…but only for a few days! I question whether this technique as "maintenance" for gastritis is wise, but it’s fascinating in its simplicity. Anyway, there’s some food for thought. Thoughts? Opinions? Mike
Response:
Correction to my post: I meant to say 80-100 proof alcohol and "ethyl" not "ethanol"! Duh! Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I also received info on a "jungle remedy" for H. Pylori that involves > drinking a couple ounces of 40-50 proof alcohol (preferably something > "clean" like vodka) > with 1000mg of Vitamin C on an empty stomach every morning for 2 or 3 > days. > I’m not convinced that this can totally eradicate H. Pylori, but it does > make some sense because alcohol (ethanol) can be used as a primitive > sanitizing agent for wounds, because it kills bacteria (through > dehydration, I > suspect).
Response:
HI Mike, I have had the same experience with the heart skip relieved by burping. My story is listed on the http://www.heartburn-help.com web site under Real Stories section under HawkTear Heartburn and Gastro Esophageal Reflux web page: http://www.heartburn-help.com
Response:
I found your post very informative. I always had suspicions this damn hernia had something to do with my heart even though tests revealed no abnormalities. How else to explain the numbness and tingling going down my left arm? I may try the adjustment method (I already tried conventional medicine–except surgery–and the "Jungle Cure" and nothing has worked except mind-altering antidepressants). I figure it can’t make me feel any worse, right? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hello all, > I thought I would post my experiences over the past year with a nasty > bout > of gastritis and related problems. Last April, I was eating a submarine > sandwich when I suddenly had some kind of reaction where I felt > prematurely > full. I was experiencing severe hot flashes and I thought I had > some kind of food poisoning, but it started as I was eating! Throughout > the > rest of evening I was in something of a state of panic, wondering if I > should visit the ER. The next day, I felt somewhat better, but I > immediately > went to my local physician. One thing he noted was a bit of an cardiac > arrythmia, which he diagnosed as "normal" sinus arrythmia. Eventually I > was > diagnosed with gastritis and had a blood and stool test done. The blood > test > showed the presence of H. Pylori and Giardia as well (I never drank from > any > mountain streams). I figured most of my symptoms were due to a > combination > of both "bugs". Over the next few months, I experienced a full range of > hellish symptoms: nausea, feverish/flu-like feeling, diarrhea, painful > indigestion and a couple panic attacks. I > After two different rounds of antibiotics (I finally saw some > improvement > while on Biaxin). I know that antibiotics are nasty stuff and can cause > gut > candidiasis to flare up, so I began taking acidophilus supplements soon > after. I later saw a GI specialist and had two successive upper > endoscopies and a colonoscopy done. They discovered an inflammed bulb > (or polyp) in my duodenum along with > minor ulcerated areas, gastritis and, yes, a slight hiatal hernia, but > no > damage to the esophagus. I do experience mild GERD symptoms now and > then, > but nothing distressing. I was prescribed Prilosec for 6 months, which I > have ignored, but I’m willing to give it a try for a month or two. I was > on > Prilosec while on the Biaxin and experienced weird symptoms of premature > hunger that bugged the hell out of me — I blamed it on the Prilosec and > since stopped taking it. > I’m doing a lot better now, but one particular symptom still bothers me: > frequently after eating I get a feeling of gas pressure in the upper > region > of my stomach which "presses up" and causes my heart to skip a beat. > This is > a very weird and disturbing sensation, which is diminished when I manage > to > burp and expel any gas! The arrythmia exactly corresponds with this > sensation in my stomach. Sometimes, anxiety sets it off. I think this > could > be caused by my hiatal hernia, which makes some sense, since the stomach > pushing up into the chest cavity could somehow push agaist the heart. > This > sounds dangerous, and I found no medical references for this > possibility. > Regardless, I’ve gotten used to it. Finally, while browsing the web, I > came > across a "new age" health practitioner’s article about hiatal hernias > that > acknowledged the arrhythmia condition that I believe I experience. The > web > page is: > http://www.montana.com/energybal/stomup.html > I would be curious to know if anyone else has experienced this > sensation? I > first had this sensation around 5 years ago, and thought I was having a > heart attack or something. I’ve since gotten used to it, but it’s very > irritating. It isn’t painful, just uncomfortable. A combination of > gastritis > and a hiatal hernia seem to be the likely culprits. There may also be a > food > allergy involved. I’ve also learned that I can aid my burping by bending > my > upper body slightly to the left, but I try not to strain, as this isn’t > healthy. > Regarding the above article, I remain intrigued but skeptical about > their > claims that this is the "most common problem in the world". I think it > is > worth trying the adjustment exercises, since they should be harmless. > I’m a > very open-minded person who is critical of both the medical and the new > age > / natural-medicine communities. The medical community is bent on > alleviating > symptoms at any cost, often in the form of medications that are not > advisable for long-term use (antibiotics anyone?), whereas the > natural-medicine groups seem to constantly be proclaiming miracle cures, > claiming that some condition or deficiency is the cause of all one’s > ailments. I take it all with a grain of salt, but I keep my eyes open. > Here’s another that discusses a hiatal hernia adjustment technique > (again, > worth a try): > http://www.empyreanquest.com/Healing/hiatal.htm > Lastly, here’s an interesting study > ( http://www.ginet.com/papers/401to500/Mpape449.htm ), regarding the > effect of > coffee and alcohol on H. Pylori. This study shows that an H. Pylori > infection tends to worsen when drinking coffee but that alcohol can have > an > inhibitive effect. I find this interesting because my stomach problems > worsen after drinking coffee (I’m completely off it now). I also > received > info on a "jungle remedy" for H. Pylori that involves drinking a couple > ounces of 40-50 proof alcohol (preferably something "clean" like vodka) > with > 1000mg of Vitamin C on an empty stomach every morning for 2 or 3 days. > I’m > not convinced that this can totally eradicate H. Pylori, but it does > make > some sense because alcohol (ethanol) can be used as a primitive > sanitizing > agent for wounds, because it kills bacteria (through dehydration, I > suspect). Beer or wine would not be recommended, however, due to their > low > alcohol content and their other acidic ingredients. Unfortunately this > remedy seems to encourage a mean buzz in the morning…but only for a > few > days! I question whether this technique as "maintenance" for gastritis > is > wise, but it’s fascinating in its simplicity. > Anyway, there’s some food for thought. Thoughts? Opinions? > Mike
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I’m just a little anxious right now, I wasn’t expecting these results from my EGD. My Doctor was also surprised since I had such mild heartburn. Nothing I ate ever gave me heartburn. Lately however come to think of it Margarhitas have caused me some moderate pain.Lately I was also taking some diet pills with Efedra to lose weight, maybe I was my own worst enemy. So scotch,excedrin, diet pills, and eating heavy right before I went to bed caused acid reflux to slowly eat away my esophogus? Do you feel some needed lifestyle changes is all I would need after I get off the meds like Previcid? 
