Barrett's Esophagus / Omeprazole / HELP :)
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Hello,
My father-in-law has Barrett's Esophagus and is on Omeprazole among other medication. He's had a couple surgeries to ' help' but it essentially fries the esophagus making it extremely hard to eat, breathe, sleep and drink. He is also having to eliminate a ton more foods due to the surgeries. Quality of life = suckyHe wants to stop taking the medication as the side effects are horrifying. I have done a ton of research myself - I know the benefits of aspirin in replacement of Omeprazole HOWEVER he is desperately trying to find ways to protect his esophagus and feels better reading studies instead of just taking my advice as cancer is on the line for me.
Any additional advice or info will be very much appreciated. I research and help him with new info as much as I can but I am no expert.
If you have any research papers you'd like to share I would be eternally grateful.
Ps. I have researched these topic's in the group but not much has come up.
Thank you!!
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Hi,
I’ve made a search with:
How do you fix lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction?
How to strengthen esophageal sphincter muscle?
Note: Caffeine and chocolate may trigger GERD symptoms because it can relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
Certain foods, such as bananas, oats, yogurt, and leafy green vegetables, may help reduce acid reflux. Adapt according to digestion. Try not to mix 50/50 between starch and meat but rather 30/70 or 70/30. Not the same pH to assimilate starch (alkaline) and meat (acidic). Avoid most legumes (antinutrients). Eat meat at midday (between 11 a.m. – 02 p.m.).
NB 1: Ginger can reduce the ability of stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. Ginger can also reduce inflammation. This can reduce the symptoms of acid reflux. Ginger is rich in antioxidants and may provide some medicinal benefits.
NB 2: Some interaction on the vagus nerve could help when nervous, to lower cortisol and adrenalin.
I’d take some theanine (150-250 mg pill) before bedtime if anxious (for boosting GABA impact).
Collagen powder and bone broth (or glycine ¼ tsp = 2 g) could help too. Combine.
NB 3: glutamine could help to rebuild mucin linen of the stomach. Not without taurine (¼ tsp of each).
Suggestion for mucin repair:
Mix in 100 – 120 ml water:
5 g collagen powder (glycine) (1 tsp)
¼ glutamine powder
¼ taurine powder (to modulate glutamate activity by blocking receptors)
magnesium bisglycinate (1/3 tsp = 300 mg Mg element).If your father is not convinced, it won't match. Let him come here to read the suggestions.
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Sounds like a nasty condition. Perhaps consider famotidine twice daily instead of the -prazoles for decreasing stomach acid. IIRC zinc supplements (uncoated) can also decrease stomach acid for several hours.
Closing of the esophaegal sphincter is to some degree very dependent on proper nervous system functioning. Therefore I'd want to ensure generous B12 levels and taking P5P and some folate. Hopefully H.pylori in the stomach has been excluded? Because that can cause impaired sphincter closing and dysfunctional gastric peristalsis on its own.
For the mucosal healing I'd want to make sure to get enough B2, B3, C and especially B5 and therefore binge on panthetine OR drink the OTC dexpanthenol oral liquids or get dexpanthenol powder and dissolve it myself at least twice everyday so that it can run down the throat and coat it similar to applying salve to outer wounds.
GABA is said to support downwards peristalsis. The theanine suggested by LucH also increases that.Idk how that condition appears in Barrett's in the first place (is it all due to lack of sphincter closure leading on to gross mucosa degeneration?).
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@jfb2304 - Others have already provided some very good information, here are my 2 cents.
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It is a man-made pharmaceutical that prevents the production of stomach acid. If it is stopped too abruptly, it is known to allow a rebound of stomach acid (and increased symptoms). So it would be prudent to slowly wean your father off the PPI. Drugs.com indicates that when starting the Omeprazole it may take 4 days to see relief. This may be an indication of how fast your can wean your father from the drug. It also indicates how long he can use the PPI on a continuous basis.
https://www.drugs.com/pro/omeprazole-tablets.html
I like the previous suggestion to switch to famotidine. This should be discussed with his doctor.
https://www.hweclinicalguidance.nhs.uk/prescribing-guidance/ppi-stopping-or-reducing-patient-letter/
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