This is topic Night in the hospital in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
 
Newsflash: Try to avoid July 4th hospital visits lol

I haven't been to a hospital in 4 years. I usually resist going and just tough it out, but last night I had to. All of the alcohol poisoned, drug overdosed, and firecracker injured punks got seen before I did (someone with an aggressive, acute infection). Go figure.

Took me 5 hours to see the Doc. He was really nice but admitted that Lyme wasn't his area of expertise. So I didn't get much done. The bloodwork came back monocytes high, Eos low, pH urine really high, sodium low, WBC low, and a couple other things.

I guess the reason I'm posting this is to get some advice on OTC drugs like Zantac and Zyrtec.

My main issue right now is Bartonella/Lyme. I've lost 15 lbs in about 2-3 days. No appetite, an inflamed esophagus, and awful acid burping that makes it hard to breathe.

I'm on IV Rocephin, plaquenil, zithromax, bactrim DS (but these don't do anything for me anymore... a year on most of those).

So we stopped Rocephin & switched to Ceftin.

NOW.... what can I do for the inflammed esophagus and acid reflux/GERD.

I've read everything possible online and it seems to me that I have LOW stomach acid and its' created a nice environment for bacteria. The acid reflux is toxicity, indigestion, etc. So how will blocking the production of stomach acid help me?

But I do believe something like zyrtec would just help bring down the stomach/esophagus inflammation so I can finally eat, right? Anti-histamines are ok for us Lymies? I'm also MTHFR positive.

I've had 150 calories in 24 hours. Can't take a bite.
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Q: help for "inflammed esophagus and acid reflux/GERD."

Zyrtec sounds like it could make this so much worse by drying out all the mucous tissues:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetirizine#Side_effects

Cetirizine /sɛˈtɪrɨziːn/ (trade names Zirtec, Zyrtec, Reactine

Excerpt:

Side effects

Commonly reported side effects of cetirizine include dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat, drowsiness, urinary retention, blurred vision, and headaches.

. . . In 2012, the FDA added cetirizine in Drugs to Watch List for oculogyric crisis (prolonged involuntary upward deviation of the eyes
).[16] . . . .
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Q: help for "inflammed esophagus and acid reflux/GERD."?

SLIPPERY ELM BARK POWDER made into a gruel
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Search here for both Slippery Elm Bark & also for Licorice,

and then also search for the body part, symptoms to find other detail.

Though not at all about lyme, this is one of the best reference resources on my bookshelf that has wonderful chapters, many graciously available through their website.

Home: http://oneearthherbs.squarespace.com/

The ONE EARTH HERBAL SOURCEBOOK (Tillotson, et al)

He is a doctor of Ayurvedic Medicine; She a doctor of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncturist. The third co-author is a doctor of optometry.
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Q: help for "inflammed esophagus and acid reflux/GERD."?

LICORICE ROOT EXTRACT

From: The ONE EARTH HERBAL SOURCEBOOK (Tillotson, et al)

http://oneearthherbs.squarespace.com/important-herbs/licorice-root-glycyrrhiza-glabra.html

LICORICE ROOT (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Note regarding the brand preferred:

www.thelicoricecompany.com/

ZAGARESE - The Organic LICORICE Company

What is DGL - and why should I be concerned about GL?

Excerpt:

. . . Zagarese licorice comes from a species (glycyrrhiza glabra) grown in the southern part of Italy. Its natural glycyrrhizin content is only about 5%, so there is no need to deglycyrrhizinate it.

The Zagarese company has been producing pure licorice extract as its sole product since 1886, using only organic methods of cultivation. . . .

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Licorice%20Root

search of medical literature

PubMed comprises more than 23 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books

LICORICE ROOT - 706 abstracts

Licorice Root, mucous - 3

Licorice Root, lungs - 15

Licorice Root, Diabetes - 19 abstracts
Licorice Root, Liver - 72 abstracts
Licorice Root, Adrenal - 3 abstracts

one from the lung group:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24028304

Attenuation of allergic airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma by Licochalcone A.

CONTEXT:

Licochalcone A (Lico A) is a major and biogenetically characteristic chalcone isolated from the root of Xinjiang liquorice, Glycyrrhiza inflata. . . .

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that Lico A may effectively delay the progression of airway inflammation and could be used as a therapy for patients with allergic airway inflammation.
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Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
 
Before I got the lyme and bart diagnosed that was a serious issue caused by them.

I used slippery elm and as much DGL Licorice as I needed. It is gone now.

I also drank cabbage juice. It took three or four months of that to get it to go away.
 
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
 
Thanks!

Sacred... you took slipper elm & the licorice in capsules? On empty stomach 30 mins before meals or what?

What did you notice it doing?
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Capsules will not coat the tissue that you most need coated, though.

Slippery elm is best as a gruel / drink.

And either that very particular brand of licorice or DGL should be melted in the mouth.
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Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
 
What's a gruel? Just pour the powder in water?

And what do you mean melted in mouth? Let the powder dissolve in mouth? What brand are yall talking about for these 2 products?
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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No, do NOT put slippery elm bark powder directly into mouth, that would be a huge mistake and you'd cough all the way to the moon.

Carefully, with as little action as possible, open jar that you will put this in after you receive and then take a spoonful and add to warm to just not quite boiling water and stir into a paste. Add some cool water into a milkshake consistency or thinner.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruel

Gruel
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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The best licorice brand is linked above.

Nearly any good vendor will carry slippery elm bark powder and many good food markets will also carry it.

Thayer's lozenges contain SEBP but careful not to take too many in one day as the other ingredients can cause loose stools.
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Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :
 
Marshmallow root is also good for coating the esophagus and digestive tract.


And slippery elm capsules will hope coat the stomach, so you don't have acid backing up to give you heartburn.

Honestly, though, I have used zantac in the past and it has really helped.
 
Posted by WPinVA (Member # 33581) on :
 
I have Lyme and I generally tolerate both anti-histamines and acid reflux meds.

Anti-histamines have a range of side effects. Zyrtec works great for my allergies but makes me sleepy. Definitely take it at night. Singulair made me very irritable. Now I'm taking Clarinex which doesn't control sx as well but haven't had trouble with side effects either.

As for antacids, zantac is a milder one. Prevacid - also now OTC - is generally stronger. They work by different mechanisms but both take time.

For a more immediate response, how about Pepcid? Pepcid works both on acid AND surprisingly it's also an anti-histamine.

You've probably already read all the general guidance about avoiding caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods and lying down after eating, etc.
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Be careful with any PPI (proton pump inhibitor), though, as they can trigger c. diff.

Also check the liver stress for any Rx and be sure that liver support is full.

And consider the ototoxity element of any drug. Cross search with "Neil Bauman".
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Was it the SMOKE from fireworks that triggered last night's emergency? Even if you did not attend a show, the smoke can cause lots of trouble for miles around for about 8 hours afterward.
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Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
 
No it wasn't the smoke because this all started prior to July 4th. And I wasn't outside at all. But that is interesting.

Thanks for all the replies. I do like the idea of slippery elm and healing my gut lining.

I'm assuming all these things should be taken on empty stomach and away from meds? (Sorry if yall answered already. I'm reading from a small phone and have awful brain fog right now).
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Empty stomach or not, no matter if the esophagus needs soothing. Empty stomach good so the gut lining can get coated, though.

A little bit so soothe the esophagus will not likely affect any Rx absorption but a larger dose of slippery elm MIGHT (not sure). Still, if Rx destroys stomach lining, it would be best to have a layer or protection there.

A LL ND would be best consulted for all this. At the least, spend some time reading about each from various professional sources.

hiker53's idea about MARSHMALLOW ROOT powder / extract is also excellent.
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Have you been tested for h pylori?
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Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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Could be some of the Rx you are taking is causing some of the mucous membrane trouble. Be sure to consider that.

And, if any stress the liver, that liver stress can directly irritate the esophagus in many ways, too.


You say that you have had "150 calories in 24 hours. Can't take a bite. "

Well, something has to be done to get calories and nutrients. Do you have a good blender?

With mouth tissue trouble, I've often had to just puree my meals, even meat. It works. Of course, vegetables are more tasty this way, though.

Someone suggested cabbage juice above. excellent idea for the gut. Still you need more good calories.

Oils should help add calories and nutrients, too.

Organic Tofu can helpful, too, as a protein. And a nut butter gruel (mixed with warm water). just not peanuts.

Scrambled EGGS should slide down very soothingly.
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[ 07-05-2015, 02:51 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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While not your diagnosis, food textures are a key part of all this and you may find suggestions that work for you.


http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=119808;p=0

Topic: Treatment / Support for Gastroparesis

Many great links here
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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
All I have to say is "I'm sorry to hear this, canefan!"

I hope some of the above tips will help. I don't see how you can take abx with a stomach issue like this.
 
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
 
So sorry to hear. I had to make an emergency call to the dentist last night and she was rather nice. Today, not so much.

Hope you are feeling better.
 
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
 
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LymeToo makes an excellent point about abx and their propensity toward GI irritation (and part of that is also due to liver stress that spills over to the entire GI system stress).

Is there anyway you might be able to get a rife machine?

http://flash.lymenet.org/scripts/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=117755;p=0

RIFE Machine - Reference LINKS
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Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
 
I made a kind of tea with the slippery elm and I took it twice a day. Kind of like what Keebler described, but maybe a bit thinner.

I took the DGL licorice in a kind that you could just suck on, or chew up. I got mine at the Vitamin Shop.

Cabbage juice is really important because it has been proven to heal ulcers; so I think it should help with any nasty bacteria you don't need in your stomach.

There was also a type of cabbage pill that I found and took for a while too. It has vitamin U. They think that is what helps heal the gut. You can read the reviews on it.

http://www.amazon.com/Gastra-zyme-90tb-Biotics-Research-Tabs/dp/B000UQTEHY/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1436122624&sr=1-1&keywords=cabbage+pills
 
Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
 
Oh and make sure it is DGL licorice because you will be consuming it for a long time. None DGL will give you blood pressure issues.

Even DGL can be dangerous is you take it too much as it still has some DGL left it in, from what I recall, but I didn't care.

I did notice towards the end of healing that the DGL would actually trigger a bit of reflux, but I think that was from the sugar in it.

I finally cut out the DGL too and everything was back to normal. I still have occasional heart burn, but from my meds.
 
Posted by MannaMe (Member # 33330) on :
 
My sis-in-law used coconut milk for her son when he had / has acid reflux. The coconut milk helps to coat the esophagus and stop the burn.

She gets it from vitacost - the native forest or thai kitchen brands. Plain without all the added sugars and stuff.
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
Coconut water may even help?
 
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
 
Yes, positive for H Pylori. But isn't it treated the same as Lyme and co's. With same stuff?
 
Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
 
H pylori will cause horrendous acid reflux/GERD. There is a very specific treatment for this illness. You better take it.

Left untreated, it can turn into cancer of the stomach. So, don't fool with it.

Hopefully, the proper 2-week treatment will cure you on the first try. They call it "triple antibiotic therapy."

Here is an example of the treatment, no dosages given:


Antibiotic therapy

A two week course of combination antibiotic therapy is recommended.
•clarithromycin (Biaxin)
•metronidazole (Flagyl)
•tetracycline (Achromycin)


Antacid therapy

Proton pump inhibitors and H2 blocker medications decrease acid secretion in the stomach and are often prescribed for a minimum of two weeks.
•Proton pump inhibitors◦lansoprazole (Prevacid)
◦omeprazole (Prilosec)

•H2 blocker◦ranitidine (Zantac)
◦famotidine (Pepcid)


Bismuth therapy with Pepto- Bismol is sometimes recommended, especially if the first round of antibiotic therapy failed. Please remember that this treatment will cause stools to turn black.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/helicobacter_pylori_h_pylori/page6_em.htm#helicobacter_pylori_h_pylori_treatment

So, treatment is NOT the same as lyme and cos. There is a unique treatment for helicobacter. My husband had it and I watched how it made his life totally miserable.

He was cured in less than 2 weeks and has never gotten it back again, thank God! This was many years ago. It will ruin your sleep and your life if it gets bad enough.
 
Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
 
The cabbage juice will help with that too. If you decide to go along the lines of a traditional treatment.

There was a study I found online showing how cabbage juice cured people's ulcers. H Pylori can be beat. =)
 
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
 
TF,

I have been on H Pylori killers (as you mentioned). They are all ineffective now due to resistance, etc.

And PPI jack me up.

So here I am
 
Posted by Nula (Member # 38409) on :
 
canfan17,

Since I've been on a "Buhner roll" lately (have been reading his latest books), I suggest that you try some of the herbs he mentions for H. Pylori.

-Alchornea (herbal systemic - get from Woodland Essence)
-Berberine containg plants (non-systemic)
-Licorice (non-systemic, should not be used alone but in combination with other plants)
-Ginger (non-systemic)

Check for side effects and contraindications. All suggested in his book "Herbal Antibiotics"
 
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
 
Thanks Nula. And yes ginger has been a lifesaver for the gerd/acid reflux. So probably has an effect against H Pylori and it's symptoms.
 
Posted by TNT (Member # 42349) on :
 
canefan17, have you tried the 676 frequency for H. pylori? I know Dan has used that with success.

I realize your situation may be more complex than just an H. pylori infection considering your first post.

The ginger is a good suggestion. Very helpful to always have on hand. We use it frequently for upset tummies and indigestion. The bottle we have right now is Nature's Way brand, a brand which many nutrition stores and some large supermarkets should carry.
 
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
 
I haven't tried that but thanks for suggestion
 
Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
 
No joke about the cabbage juice, pills, slippery elm, and dgl licorice. Hit it with everything you can, other herbs suggested too.

Just check to make sure they don't react with each other.

You will get it in check.

None of the meds ever got me any better, and usually made me worse.
 
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
 
Mastic Gum is also excellent for killing h. pylori.
 
Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
 
YES RAZZLE. I forgot all about that. I added that to what I was doing then last and I think that really was the final nail in the coffin.
 


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