GERD or Hypochlorhydria? (too little acid)
I had an RNY 3 1/2 years ago. I had severe GERD and was taking Prontonix 2x a day. After the surgery the GERD resolved. In the last several months I had been experiencing some symptoms again, primarily a sore throat. Even went to an Ears/Throat Dr. to rule out post nasal drip for the sore throat. He said that there was irritation on my esophagus that appeared to be from GERD. My internist put be back on (this time Prevacid) -- but it didn't seem to be working, so I was told to double the dosage. Still, it has only gotten worse and I started taking Pepcid AD in addition!
Today I went to a nutritionist who said that the problem may actually be too little acid (apparantly, not only does the small pouch produce little stomach acid, but the PPI's (meds) were shutting the acid production totally down, causing my food to ferment and not digest with symptoms similar to GERD).
He suggested I take Betaine Hydrochloride (Betaine HCL) -- [2 tablets with every meal] -- well I started this evening and so far not only do I have the throat soreness, but now the burning goes all the way down, and my stomach is rumbling up a storm.
Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this problem, and if so, what helped? ~ Thanks ;)
