Severe acid attacks

#1

So I am in an unplanned EF that started yesterday.

Suddenly this past week I have had an extreme flare-up of acid and gas pains no matter what I eat. As a matter of fact I was primarily carnivore this past week and the fat in that is triggering instant acid with the first bite. I drink ACV water to help but as of yesterday no matter what I eat it triggers hours of severe acid indigestion and pain, then severe nausea. I’m literally too scared to eat right now not wanting to feel that way anymore.

It’s been many years since it’s been this bad. This is what caused me to remain on omeprazole for so many years (which led to much more severe osteo). I have no gall bladder since 2009, which was removed to try to treat sharp gas pains that stabbed me in the upper right shoulder and chest. It only left me in worse condition.

Keto really helped the gerd condition that the omeprazole treated, and the ACV I drink each morning is usually enough to allow me to eat without issues. I’m not sure why after two years it suddenly stopped working, like a light switch was flipped.

I’m fasting out of a desperation to avoid another acid attack, because they are too extreme, but I can’t abstain from food indefinitely.

My body is refusing to handle fat like butter and beef and pork fat, but that’s what I rely on to control my appetite. I don’t want to be hungry every 2-3 hours the way we are when we eat carbs. I love my meats too, very much.

I don’t have any doctor around me that understands the Keto diet well enough to guide me through this, and I’m crazy desperate to figure out how to stop this tortuous acid. I am very open to telehealth if anyone knows of a good Keto doctor who offers telehealth?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

As I imagine you already know, acid reflux is generally a symptom of insufficient stomach acid, not too much. I can’t see how fat could be causing reflux or indigestion.

Is it possible that you have been infected with Helicobacter pylori, and what you are feeling are the symptoms of an incipient ulcer? Perhaps a course of antibiotics might be called for?

(B Creighton) #3

Sounds to me like you might be suffering from bile reflux. Bile reflux may accompany the reflux of stomach acid (gastric acid) into your esophagus. Gastric reflux may lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a potentially serious problem that causes irritation and inflammation of esophageal tissue, which you said you had.

“Unlike gastric acid reflux, bile reflux can’t be completely controlled by changes in diet or lifestyle. Treatment involves medications or, in severe cases, surgery.” Just bile getting into your stomach will irritate it. If it is getting to your esophagus, it can be quite serious. Since you had your gall bladder removed, eating a fatty diet may lead to the production of more bile than you used to have with a gall bladder in an attempt to digest the fat. I’m sorry, but I don’t know that this is somehing you should be trying to diagnose on the internet, and feel you probably need to consult a doctor if you are having these symtoms:

Bile reflux signs and symptoms include:

  • Upper abdominal pain that may be severe
  • Frequent heartburn — a burning sensation in your chest that sometimes spreads to your throat, along with a sour taste in your mouth
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting a greenish-yellow fluid (bile)
  • Occasionally, a cough or hoarseness
  • Unintended weight loss

In the meantime, I would try eating much less fat - only lean cuts of meat or even consider plant proteins.

Because you had GERD, I suspect your pyloric valve seems to not be closing all the way, allowing bile back into your stomach, and maybe esophagus - especially if you are vomiting bile.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #4

Forgive a slight correction. We know what you meant, but for the sake of accuracy, the pyloric valve sits between the pylorus and the duodenum. In other words, it’s the sphincter that releases food from the stomach into the small intestine. It’s the oesophageal sphincter that sits between the oesophagus and the stomach and prevents acid reflux, when all is well.

(B Creighton) #5

Yeah, I didn’t say that real well, but I suspect both valves may not be closing. To have bile reflux, the pyloric valve has to let some bile into the stomach. Having GERD does make this more likely apparently.

#6

Thanks you guys.

I agree I need to involve a doctor. But the reason I’m scared to go to one for this is the last time I did it was in 2009, they removed my gallbladder as a solution, then put me omeprazole for 13 years (should never be on it longer than 2-6 months) and it led to an extreme case of osteoporosis. So - I just don’t know if I can trust GI doctors again. They made my problem worse and then caused a new one to boot.

I hate not having better doctors around me that know Keto well and aren’t big pharma shills. A GI that is knowledgeable in Keto would be a dream.

(Edith) #7

It is possible you are having some kind of stomach bug?

#8

Well usually any stomach bug I have had kept me feeling ill around the clock. I’m only having problems after eating, and when I’m not eating I feel perfectly fine. Possibly there is some kind of bug I’m not aware of that only causes illness when you put food in your stomach?

As for intestinal bacteria, I eat fermented foods regularly and plain Greek yogurt daily, plus I take a probiotic each evening just as a “let’s see if it helps”. I was not that way in the past, but the past two years I have really tried to heal my digestive system as best I can.

I do remember in my late 20s/early 30s I was told I had an issue with my duodenum, and that was causing my GERD. They placed me on Axid during those years and told me it was safe during pregnancy. ?? It basically allowed me to eat, the way Omeprazole did, but neither ever healed me or resolved the root problem. Actually the Atkins diet during those years was the best treatment for my stomach issues. That’s why I’m shocked that after two years of consistent Keto this suddenly out of the blue is as bad a problem again that it is.

(Bob M) #9

That is shocking. Let us know when you find out something.

(B Creighton) #10

I understand. I try to avoid prescriptions, and surgeries, but tbh, I wouldn’t be around without surgical intervention. Nevertheless, removing the gallbladder does present problems. Unfortunately, I have no Dr recommendations for you.

Taking you back to Paul’s suggestion, I wonder if you have some SIBO causing problems? Since you have no issue taking probiotics, I will tell you what I do to heal my gut. I have used bacteriophages to clear out some bad guys. You can get it here: https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item02125/florassist-gi-with-phage-technology?gad_source=5&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4M3r7MzqhgMVuh2tBh1CtQuiEAQYASABEgIKovD_BwE
When I used this, I had lots of extra gas for a few days, which I attributed to it killing off some bad guy colonies. However, it will not kill off H. pylori. Next follow with a probiotic with lots of L. reuteri, which you can order separately, but this one has lots: https://www.swansonvitamins.com/p/swanson-ultra-femflora-feminine-probiotic-formula-60-caps
L. reuteri and gasseri are some of the few probiotics which will colonize the upper intestinal tract. Reuteri apparently makes some chemicals which kill off H. pylori. So, this is a way to suppress pylori without using antibiotics, which will also kill off good colonies allowing bad guys which survive in their biofilms to spread.

I also supplemented with a probiotic which had bacillus subtilis - the idea being to produce my own vitamin K2.Years ago, I would start with a fiber “drink”(turned into a gel) every time I became irregular, but now I realize I was not only moving out unwanted stuff, but also feeding probiotics with all the fiber. I wish I could help you more. You are in a very frustrating situation.

(Bob M) #11

Isn’t it possible to get a test for SIBO? I guess I’m thinking of the first one here: