 |
| Author | Post |
|---|
Foundation Staff
.
| Joined: | Sat Jul 10th, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 17283 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 19th, 2007 01:27 |
|
What should I do for my throat, esophagus or stomach problem?
Symptoms related to the upper gastrointestinal tract are very common in Th1 diseases. The first suspect when symptoms exacerbate should be DThomas and Aunt Diana have reported hoarseness.
Nausea/vomiting
If nausea is accompanied by cardiac symptoms, see When should I be concerned about cardiac symptoms?
Avoid foods that seem to be causing nausea. Check any meds you are taking for palliative reasons, especially pain medications to see if nausea is a side effect. Do not take Benicar on an empty stomach if it is followed by nausea.
If the nausea lasts only a few hours, you may avoid eating and continue to sip on fluids. If the nausea lasts for more than a few hours, it is important to find food and fluids you can tolerate so you maintain your nutrition and don't become dehydrated. Most people find eating small, frequent bland foods is best. You may prefer food and fluids at room temperature. Avoid greasy, fatty, fried and spicy foods. Avoid coffee, caffeinated drinks, alcohol and acidic drinks (orange or grapefruit juice). Avoid foods with lots of fiber (bran, raw vegetables, fresh fruits, high fiber vegetables such as broccoli, corn, beans, cabbage, peas, cauliflower), whole grain cereals and bread.
There are behavioral therapies and techniques that can also prove helpful in combating nausea and vomiting, including:
- Acupressure
- Acupuncture
- Biofeedback
- Distraction Therapy
- Hypnosis
- Relaxation
- Visualization/Imagery
- Rhythmic breathing
If nausea seems to be related to weaning from steroids, follow the weaning guideline to mitigate withdrawal symptoms.
Nausea due to immunopathology may be relieved by adjusting MP meds. If this is ineffective, you may try OTC palliation and is that is ineffective, ask doc for a prescription antiemetic (you may need one of the new more effective meds developed to treat the nausea related to chemotherapy).
If nausea is accompanied by symptoms of stomach flu and methods to reduce immunopathology are not effective, maintain hydration for the duration of the viral attack and treating nausea/diarrhea palliatively. You may contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice about palliative medications. Any medications that are not on the list of Medications To Avoid While on the Marshall Protocol are okay to take to relieve intolerable symptoms.
Dramamine, Bonine, Benadryl, Pepto-Bismol, Emetrol, Maalox, etc., are over-the-counter products that often help with mild stomach upset. But often they will not stop vomiting, because they only work in the stomach and intestines while the nausea center of the brain controls vomiting.
Anti-nausea (antiemetic) medications work in the nausea center of the brain and require a prescription, e.g. Phenergan (promethazine), Compazine (prochlorperazine), Kytril (granisetron), Zofran (ondansetron), Reglan, (metoclopramide), Ativan (lorazepam) to name a few. Anti-nausea medications may also be compounded to improve tolerance.
Certain herbs have also been found to be effective nausea remedies.
-Another thing to try is licorice Altoids I know they helped my dad when he was having terrible nausea from his chemo treatments for cancer....he was an MD, so he had access to pretty much anything he needed - and he chose the Altoids! ~Knochen
Prevent dehydration
Maintaining adequate hydration may help to keep symptoms tolerable.
This article and this article explains prevention of dehydration and when you should notify your doctor.
Maintain hydration. The following liquids may be tolerated:
- water
- popsicles
- apple juice
- decaffeinated Coke
- clear soup/broth
- Jello
- weak herbal tea
- Koolaid
Once clear liquids are tolerated with no further vomiting or diarrhea, gradually add solid foods like rice, applesauce, bananas, toast/crackers without butter, and plain pasta. If these foods are tolerated without the return of symptoms, continue to add bland, low-fat foods such as baked potatoes and white chicken meat.
Seek medical attention if:
-you have been vomiting several times a day for more than two consecutive days or 3 times an hour for more than 8 hours. You may already be dangerously dehydrated. Dehydration can occur in one day if there is serious vomiting and diarrhea. If you are too lethargic to go to the bathroom by yourself, seek immediate medical attention.
-there is blood or 'coffee-grounds' material in the vomit.
-you cannot keep any food or liquids down.
-you are vomiting and you lose more than 2 pounds a day.
-your urine is dark yellow and you are not going to the bathroom as often as you usually do.
-you cannot keep your nausea medication down.
Please consult your doctor if you are using aspirin in any form. Aspirin is contraindicated with any bleeding because it prolongs bleeding time.
Sea-Bands help with nausea for some people. They can usually be bought in pharmacies.
Most medications can be taken sublingually if nausea prevents them from being taken orally. In extreme cases, an antiemetic can be given by suppository to relieve the nausea.
Medications may cause gastrointestinal disturbances
Taking meds on an empty stomach may be a trigger; it is okay to take your MP meds with food. Their action may be delayed but its effectiveness will not be reduced.
GI bleeding
NSAID use is discouraged on the MP. Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) has some serious side effects (it's hard on the stomach and may prolong bleeding time) so please check with your doctor. It can also cause fluid retention.
Naproxen and naproxen sodium are marketed under various trade names including: Aleve, Anaprox, Miranax, Naprogesic, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Synflex. Like other NSAIDs, naproxen is capable of producing disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. Addition of a proton pump inhibitor such as omeprazole will prevent this adverse effect.
Since aspirin has serious side effects, chiefly 'thinning the blood' and causing gastric upset, it should be taken only if your doctor says it's okay to take. We do not recommend the routine use of aspirin for its touted preventative characteristics. Other NSAIDs such as Arthrotec may cause you to bleed more easily also. Be sure you know the side effects of all medications you are taking and check with your doctor before you take any medication that delays clotting.
Acid reflux
Gastrointestinal Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is quite common as related muscles/tissues age and inflammation may have a lot to do with that. Medications to reduce stomach acid are some of the most frequently prescribed in this country. The first symptom of acid reflux may be nausea but typically reflux causes epigastric discomfort and pain (heartburn).
Your symptoms of reflux may abate by following a low carbohydrate diet. According to Dana Carpender, who has written several books on lowcarb eating:
"Proteins digest in the stomach, in an acid medium, while carbohydrates digest in the small intestine, in an alkaline medium. This means that eating the two together can trap undigested carbohydrates in your stomach, waiting for proteins to digest - and those carbohydrates can start to ferment in your stomach, leading to indigestion and heartburn. No fun. This is one of the reasons that many people find that reflux clears up on a low carb diet."
If adjusting MP meds and a low carb diet doesn't work to reduce gastric reflux, it is okay to take medication that reduces stomach acid (e.g. a proton pump inhibitor such as Prilosec) or antacids that provide immediate relief; just be sure to take them 3 hours away from antibiotics to give full chance for adequate absorption of the antibiotic.
Food intolerances
Food sensitivities and 'allergies' are more appropriately labeled intolerances and members report a wide variety of symptoms and offending foods. Food intolerances may also be linked to the level of soy, chlorogenic acid or genistein in a food.
Many folks report intolerance to alcochol. This may be due to other ingredients in the alcoholic drinks, such as the grains in some beer. See Is alcohol allowed on the MP?
All your food allergies disappear as you recover on the MP. It is important for you all to realize that the worrying about food you are doing is as a result of your Th1 disease. Therefore, it is not helpful to think about these things as food "allergies," you should think about them as "can't tolerate certain foods." These days I eat anything I want. I know that my body is not sensitive to any of the foods I used to shun. Once the bacteria had been cleared from my body and mind, the sensitivities to smell, foods, and touch had all gone.
..Trevor..
Frequent hunger
Hunger has often related to fluctuating blood sugar levels. Changing from a low fat diet to a low carb diet should stabilize blood sugar and eliminate frequent ravenous hunger.
Cramps
When I first had bad spasms in the stomach and intestines, I was told to get Dicyclomine 20mg. When I am desperate, this really comes in handy. The pill is small, but I cut it into 4ths. Sometimes even less. Don't need much to stop the pain. Makes me sleepy. ~Lori
Belching, bloating and excess gas formation
Burping (belching, or eructation) can be due to gas-producing bacteria in the digestive system. Eating carbs such as refined sugar, flour and some high-sugar fruits can make digestive gas or belching worse. This article says. "The gas-producing colonic bacteria thrive on foods containing poorly digested carbohydrates (starches and sugars)."
An NIH website says, " Most foods that contain carbohydrates can cause gas. By contrast, fats and proteins cause little gas." You may reduce gas by reducing carbohydrate consumption.
Some people have burps and others have gas in the lower digestive system, but the gas produced by bacteria in the gut eventually must escape. This is another symptom of the disease that we would expect to resolve.
Simethicone is an oral anti-foaming agent used to reduce bloating, discomfort and pain caused by excess gas in the stomach or intestinal tract.
Beano is a natural enzyme supplement that can help you prevent gas, bloating, and other digestive problems after eating certain foods
-An occasional acid reducer like Tagamet works well for me. Phazyme is also good at relieving bloating as is good old baking soda in water. ~VEZ R.N.
Members experiences
~I always take my abx at bedtime and I always have some sort of snack before I go to bed or I wake up way too hungry. I guess what I'm trying to say is a snack probably won't hurt. I think you have to find a snack that works for you, maybe something like toast. I have noticed, also, my stomach and kidneys tend to react with abx increases. For nausea, I rely on a drink called Ginger Soother(see gingerpeople.com). It also helps to stimulate my appetite when I don't feel like eating but know I should. ~Karna Sept09
-My food 'allergies' have lessened with time. When I react to a food now (I'm in phase 3 MP), I may get sick, but can function. ~Bevin
-Since starting the MP my tolerance for fruits and vegetables is down to almost zero. At first I still tried to eat a few different things in the name of 'variety', but after the stomach pains, nausea and diarhea, I decided that I didn't care what anyone's opinion of "healthy eating" is. So now I only eat what my body agrees with and I'm doing fine. ~Shadowzone
-Braggs apple cider vinegar in water (just a splash) ALWAYS works for my reflux (which causes instant nausea for me). ~xtian1
-Taking excessive amounts of antacids is probably counter-productive, causing the stomach to secrete more acid. As you've discovered, adding more acid (vinegar) actually works better. But use cider vinegar, which seems to have its own healing properties, and take only a teaspoon in half a glass of warm water. Cider vinegar is just a kind of vinegar made from apples. I get it in my local supermarket alongside the other vinegars, but if you can't find it there, it will certainly be in a health shop. It's an old folk remedy for arthritis and all sorts of things - no scientific evidence, all old wives' tales (says the establishment  ), but I find it magic for any tummy upsets. But do take care to dilute it well, as it's very caustic. ~Julia
-Limiting the frequency and amount of diazepam (Valium, a muscle relaxant) has eliminated any GERD symptoms for me. I can get away with 1 mg for sleep occasionally but using 5 mg for any reason means sleeping on a wedge for awhile. ~tgritton
-All my life I could swallow the hottest cup of tea due to neuropathy. But I cannot do so now because of esophageal burning. This return of sensation thru immunopathology indicates the healing process is working. Benicar and adjusting MP meds palliates this immune response symptom. ~AB
-My digestive IP is improving immensely. Here is what I have worked out.... I take a digestive enzyme before eating and then about 30 minutes after I eat I take a calcium supplement. The enzyme is improving my digestion and the calcium (which I tested low for in the Fall) seems to stop the burning in the pancreas/gallbladder area. I am barely even sore there right now. The burning sensations continue throughout my body which is not uncomfortable. It took me long enough, but I think I am finally understanding my IP and how to control it. I hope so, at least! ~Juliette
-Phazyme, Titralac, and sometimes good old baking soda to name a few that have worked well for me. If things get too bad for me I have used an occasional Zantac with some good results as well. ~VEZ
-Just a note to tell how I solved my nausea. I was taking my Benicar first thing after rising in the morning, on a completely empty stomach, then waiting 90 minutes for it to digest. This gave me bad nausea. I noticed that I did not get the nausea the rest of the time, after I had my first meal of the day. I changed my schedule so that I ate first thing in the morning, and then took the Benicar halfway between meals the rest of the day. This worked great!. Be sure to allow at least 2 to 3 hours after meals --I allow 3 hours except when my hypoglycemia kicks in, then I wait 2 hours. The pill I take during the middle of the night doesn't seem to bother me since I have my last meal about 3 hours or so before going to bed. I take my last pill just before bedtime. ~Nell C.
Related FAQs:
Should I take probiotics?
I’m losing weight. What should I do?
What should I do for liver or gallbladder pain?
I have diarrhea. What should I do?
I'm constipated. What should I do?
Last edited on Fri Sep 25th, 2009 17:56 by
|
Current time is 11:04 | |
|
|
|
|
