I am not sure why I didn’t see this earlier, but there was an article posted on DrOz.com about Gastroparesis by Robynne K. Chutkan, MD titled “Lazy Stomach”. The article belittles & seems to make light of Gastroparesis.

The technical term for Deborah’s condition is “gastroparesis” which means paralysis of the stomach – affectionately referred to as a “lazy stomach”.

Who in their right mind actually refers to Gastroparesis affectionately and uses the term “lazy stomach”? Oh “my stomach is just lazy!”, wrong! How about we just leave it at “my stomach is partially paralyzed and/or malfunctioning” which doesn’t sound quite as cute…

In the article it’s explained that the patient “Deborah” still had food in her stomach from ten hours previous to her endoscopy. This is not a minor issue! As also stated in the article the stomach normally empties about half it’s contents within 90 minutes of eating. To still have a large quantity of food in your stomach after 600 minutes have passed is a pretty big deal, regardless of what she ate or when she ate it.

But why are we seeing gastroparesis in so many non-diabetics like Deborah? Because we’re spending the majority of our day sitting at a desk hunched over a computer and that couldn’t be more at odds with our hunter-gatherer ancestry and design.

A nice jab at the patient, shifting blame on to them because if their body isn’t working perfectly it must be their fault right? As posted in the comments there were plenty of people who chimed in that they were very active until they were struck with Gastroparesis.

The facts are that you can go spend 30 – 60 minutes a day exercising & still end up spending 10 hours in a day sitting down. It could be at a computer, in a car, on a train or in front of your TV. There is no way we’re going to suddenly run out into the forests and start tackling wild boar, this is why saying something is against our “hunter-gatherer ancestry” is basically saying something while not really saying anything of use at all. What’s our option? Dismantle society? Guess what, people would still get Gastroparesis because many of the people with GP got it out of the blue with very little warning & from something outside of their control.

I am interested in her ideas about stomach motility being a major issue & a contributor to things like chronic heartburn & indigestion, but I don’t like her downplaying people suffering from GERD / acid reflux either.

My first thought had been acid reflux, which, as I like to tell my patients, is not really a disease. Reflux is your body knocking on your door saying, “I don’t like how you’ve been treating me. All that caffeine and alcohol and cheesecake and burgers is making me sick.”

Can she do anything other than blame the patient? Let’s ignore people who have a malformed or diseased esophagus, a dysfunctional lower esophageal sphincter or someone who really does have an overproduction or underproduction of stomach acids. It’s easier to lump everyone in the “lazy pool” & not have to qualify your statements with the exceptions that are actually quite common compared to her narrow assumptions.

While I think the articles intentions were to give people a wake-up call about unhealthy lifestyles, Dr Chutkan made a poor choice in “attacking” those with Gastroparesis as people who have brought it upon themselves with their unhealthy choices in life. There is a way to bring awareness to a disease that may be controllable by the patient, without outright insulting the patient. Bring awareness to things like not smoking to help prevent lung cancer, that’s fine. Don’t write articles saying “Everyone gets lung cancer because they smoked and aren’t listening to their bodies”, ignoring that there are many who got lung cancer from something totally unrelated. The tone of the article seems flippant in nature & comes off like a mother tapping her foot scolding a child.

In her clarification she attempts to differentiate between mild & severe gastroparesis & includes a  few sentences which gloss over treatment options for those more severe cases. I am not sure why she didn’t make mention of the severity with which Gastroparesis could affect people in the first article.

As a gastroenterologist who regularly sees patients with the more severe form of GP described by some of the commenters, I understand how life-altering and devastating this condition can be, and it never was my intention to marginalize the challenges this chronic condition presents.

Then why did she spend an entire article belittling those with Gastroparesis? If that wasn’t her intent then her original article should have never graced the Dr Oz website. Her article may have been the first time someone had ever read about Gastroparesis. Making Gastroparesis out to be less severe than it actually is was a great disservice to those who have to deal with it day in & day out. The fact is, Gastroparesis can be debilitating even for those with “mild” Gastroparesis.

Overall she sounds like a doctor who lacks compassion & perhaps enjoys a body that is well within her control while ignoring the fact that there are many people out there with less than perfect bodies which breakdown out of no fault of their own. Even if someone is partially at fault for their situation, a lack of compassion for the pain that person is now in, is not helpful. Gastroparesis needs more advocates, not adversaries, especially from those within the healthcare profession.

Related posts:

1. Hypochlorhydria / Low Stomach Acid Can Cause Heartburn & Indigestion
2. Stomach Banding Weight Loss Surgeries Have Mixed Results

Review: Nature’s Life Betaine HCl – Hydrochloric Acid

Stomach acid(mainly Hydrochloric acid) is an essential part of the digestive process. It is one of the three main things(enzymes,acid & muscle contractions) your stomach uses to breakdown foods into things like sugars and peptides which your small intestine can then absorb.

Hypochlorhydria is a condition where stomach acids are lower than normal or completely absent. The interesting thing about Hypochlorhydria is that the symptoms are very similar to Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD). There may be many people out there who are experiencing GERD like symptoms, but the medication they’re prescribed is either not working or actually makes their symptoms worse. This may mean they are experiencing low stomach acid instead of too much stomach acid. Usually doctors do not check to verify if that is the case or not. If you have Hypochlorhydria or you feel you have upper digestive issues related to low stomach acid you can supplement this Hydrochloric acid in pill form.

Today we’re taking a look at Nature’s Life Betaine HCL. There’s not a ton to go over about these pills as they are rather basic. Along with 648mg of Hydrochloric acid you also get 130mg of Pepsin(protein enzyme). They are rather large pills. The pills have a rather funky odor, this is normal though. The pills do use gelatin capsules, so they do not appear to be vegetarian friendly. It appears the bottle I got was mislabeled because the front has a statement that says “1 Daily” however the instructions state to take 1 – 2 pills with each meal. My current regimen is to just take one pill with meals that I feel I might have trouble digesting, such as meals that are large or may have a high fat content. I do believe it, along with digestive enzymes, does help with bloating occasionally. Has it curred all my indigestion & Irritable Bowel Syndrome? No. Has it helped, to some extent – yes.

With everything, your experience may vary. The only way to know for sure is if you try it out. You can buy Nature’s Life Betaine HCl at Amazon.com.

Related posts:

1. Review: DigestActiv Digestive Enzymes From Source Naturals
2. Hypochlorhydria / Low Stomach Acid Can Cause Heartburn & Indigestion
3. Review: Iberogast for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Thierry Thaure, President and Chief Executive Officer of EndoGastric Solutions commented: “Our technology offers significant clinical, economic and strategic benefits to our hospital and surgeon customers. Over the past two years, the EsophyX and StomaphyX product platforms have been embraced with a high level of enthusiasm by the surgeon community…

Esophyx is a fundoplication device & procedure that does not require incisions and instead is performed completely through the esophagus. Esophyx has come under fire recently for misleading statements & performance. It is marketed as a reversible procedure, but many have been told that their procedure cannot be undone. Additionally some have found no benefit or have had their symptoms worsen after the procedure. There is currently at least one lawsuit claiming Endogastric Solutions has made misleading statements regarding the Esophyx procedure.

References:
Endogastric Solutions Press Release

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1. Esophyx Procedure Reduces Heartburn For Some. For Others The Results Vary
2. Twin Peaks Actor James Marshall Suing Accutane Creator For $11 Million
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Update: It appears EndoGastric Solutions is in some hot water from the FDA regarding the device malfunctioning, as well as marketing the device as being reversible when in most(?)/many(?) cases it is not. There is also some legal action taking place as well.

Just read about the Esophyx procedure on NBC’s Dallas Fort Worth website. The procedure is offered as an alternative to Nissen Fundoplication.  The goal is to resolve acid reflux symptoms by strengthening the Lower Esophageal Sphincter valve.

Nissen Fundoplication is usually done via laparoscopic surgery, which means one or more incisions are made and a tiny camera is used through these incisions to guide the surgeon. The surgeon wraps part of the stomach around the LES valve and then staples it together so it holds tight around the LES. In some cases mesh devices are needed to help hold the stomach in place. Overall it is a serious procedure with side effects being the inability to belch causing a build of of gas, the inability to vomit, dumping syndrome as well as others.

Esophyx is a product made by EndoGastric Solutions. Esophyx works via endoscopy, there is no incision required. The full name of the procedure is “Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication”(TIF). The surgeon places a tube down the patients throat and all tools are transportable along this tube. The tools allow the surgeon to grab the top of the stomach near the LES valve and pull down a piece of the stomach. This piece is then folded onto itself. The fold is then stapled together. This is repeated around the valve to strengthen it. For some this resolves their acid reflux symptoms completely, others have to still take heartburn medications, while some are not helped at all by the procedure. Since this is a rather new procedure,  there is not a lot of data on it.

For actual experiences with the procedure, check out this posting about the Esophyx procedure on HeartBurn-Help.com. Or also check out this more recent posting on HealthBoards.com.

You can also check out this very informative 3D animation of the procedure. Click on the video as some people have posted on their results with Esophyx.

Have you had the Esophyx procedure or know someone who has? Please leave a comment about your experience.

Related posts:

1. Esophyx Maker Gains $30 Million in Venture Capital
2. Hypochlorhydria / Low Stomach Acid Can Cause Heartburn & Indigestion
3. Stomach Banding Weight Loss Surgeries Have Mixed Results

If you’re suffering from a digestive ailment like IBS, IBD or GERD exercise may not be a top priority. Usually digestive ailments leave us feeling tired, sluggish & fatigued. As you probably already know exercise can be very helpful overall for your body in general & can even help symptoms when dealing with digestion. Exercise has the two-fold benefit of helping to cleanse toxins from your body as well as helping to move gas through your system so you feel less bloated.

Knowing Your Limits

This is important. Don’t over do exercise. If you haven’t been exercising recently then you should start off slow. Nothing is more discouraging than going full force into an exercise program and completely exhausting yourself or even possible hurting yourself in the process. If you’re feeling bloated, aching abs are not going to make your abdomen feel any better, nor is having to use the restroom dealing with aching hamstrings.

If you’re dealing with a more serious digestive problem where you are having trouble maintaining weight, you should not be exercising until you have your condition under control. As a general disclaimer, talk to a doctor if you have doubts or are unsure of how to continue.

Easy Low-Cost Exercises

• Try some basic exercises like windmills, semi circles, running in place or using a jump rope. Basic slow stretching is also good as well. You can create your own 20 minute work-out with these basic items.
• Walking is your friend. Getting out on a hike if you’re dealing with digestion problems may not be a fun idea, but if you can navigate your local neighborhood 20 – 30 minutes, 3 times a week you’ll probably gain some benefits, plus you might even get a little bit of confidence.
• Tai-Chi & Yoga are great low impact exercises that can help not only with body, but also with mind. Check out Yoga For Beginners & Scott Cole’s: Discover Tai Chi For Beginners.
• Inflatable Fitness Balls are the way to go if you plan on working out your core muscles. Balls provide better support for your back and lessen the wear and tear on your abs when first starting out.

Exercise Equipment

Going to the gym when dealing with digestive problems can be nerve wracking, so instead of going to the gym, there is nothing wrong with getting some equipment for your home.

Suggested Equipment:

• Upright Exercise Bike
• Fitness Ball

Keep A Regimen When You Can

Try to keep a regimen or even a log of what you’ve done. If you’re not feeling well, don’t feel bad to skip exercise for that day. Listen to your body. Exercise is here to help, not hurt you!

Related posts:

1. Weight Loss Resolution Might Have Hidden IBS Benefits
2. Digestive Charities You Can Donate To.
3. Review – Trademark Bed Risers – Elevating Your Bed For Digestive Health

Many people believe stomach upset, indigestion or heartburn are usually caused by too much stomach acid. This is not always the case & one should not always assume you have too much stomach acid as there is a chance your stomach may not have enough stomach acid.

A Possibly Under Diagnosed Problem

Most doctors, after hearing about a patients complaints regarding heartburn, prescribe a “Proton-Pump Inhibitor”(PPI). Proton pumps in your stomach are what supply the acid that helps digest food. For people who do have an overproduction of acid or have a malfunctioning lower esophageal sphincter(the thing that keeps food/acid from harming the tender esophagus), PPIs can be helpful. On the other hand, people who are producing too little acid may have an increase in symptoms when taking PPIs. PPIs have also been reported to have psychoactive properties, some people become more anxious or nervous while on PPIs due to how they work.

If you are dealing with chronic heartburn/GERD, it may be worth talking to your doctor regarding low stomach acid before accepting a prescription for PPIs. Or if PPIs are not helping you right now visiting your doctor and having a test run for low stomach acid may be a good idea. Many doctors do not run many or any tests before prescribing PPIs.

Treatment

Treatment of Hypochlorhydria is usually a simple supplementation via Betaine HCL pills. Usually you take one pill before a meal and this increases acid in your stomach and hopefully improves symptoms. If symptoms worsen or do not improve, then you may not be suffering from Hypochlorhydria or there are other issues involved as to why you’re experiencing chronic heartburn/GERD.

Related posts:

1. Esophyx Procedure Reduces Heartburn For Some. For Others The Results Vary
2. Review: Nature’s Life Betaine HCl – Hydrochloric Acid
3. DrOz.com “Lazy Stomach” Article Angers Many

Perhaps you’re in the mood to give to a good cause, why not donate to an organization that aids in the advancement of treatments for digestive disorders. I’ve compiled a couple different organizations that could use your support. If you are aware of other organizations I should have listed here, please drop me an e-mail or leave a comment and I’ll add it.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

• IAmIBS.com (USA/Intl.)
• The Gut Trust (Canada)

Crohn’s Disease:

• Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (USA) or donate $5 by texting CCFA to 90999 via phone.
• National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease (UK)
• Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of Canada (Canada)

Gastroparesis:

• G-PACT.org (USA)
• The Gastroparesis & Dysmotilities Association (USA)

GERD:

• AboutGERD.org

If you have something to spare, please think strongly about giving to one of these organizations. Thanks.

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2. Hydrogen Eating Microbes Play Important Role In Digestive System
3. Genetically Altered Probiotic May Help Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Apple Cider Vinegar has a lot of buzz going for it on the Internet and the natural health circuit. It can reportedly help with all sorts of problems ranging from gout to heartburn to weight-loss. While a lot of these claims haven’t been proven, I decided to give it a try.

Vinegar is fermented apple juice thanks to yeast helping to breakdown the apple juice to an alcohol & then bacteria break that down into the sour acidic substance we know. Most commercial vinegar we see in supermarket shelves has been filtered & pasteurized, possibly even distilled(clear). If you’re looking for health benefits then you’ll want to skip those & look for Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar. Filtered & pasteurized ciders have had all their “goodness” boiled or strained out of them.

As far as digestion goes Apple Cider Vinegar is suppose to work two ways:

• 1) It increases acidity in the stomach which could helps digest food. Now people with heartburn might think this is a bad thing, but in some cases heartburn/indigestion is caused by a lack of acid, not too much.
• 2) It has something called “mother” which is the cloudy unfiltered stuff in the vinegar. Most people purport the “mother” as being the source of Apple Cider Vinegars healing properties. Reading up on it though “mother” is a nice way of saying “dead bacteria & fermentation byproducts”. There really may not be a whole lot of  stuff inside the “mother” that does anything. It is not dangerous to drink though.

Apple Cider Vinegar on it’s own is too acidic to drink, so it is recommended to mix about 1 tablespoon(15ml) with 8oz(235ml) of water, plus you’ll probably want to add something to sweeten it a bit. It’s strongly advised to use natural sweeteners like honey instead of refined white sugar. You could probably also use raw sugars that haven’t been overly refined. The flavor after sweetening is like a very tart apple juice.

My results were iffy. They seemed similar to results I received with digestive enzymes. Some days it seemed to help, other days it seemed to make my symptoms worse. One meal I’d feel less bloated, another day I’d feel more bloated and sometimes nauseated. Overall I do not think the apple cider vinegar helped me a whole lot, but heck it’s pretty cheap & worth a try if you’re suffering from some sort of digestive issue. There is very little harm or risk of side effects so long as you are taking it with water.

Which Brands?

I’d suggest you try out Source Naturals Apple Cider Vinegar Pills or Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar.

Related posts:

1. Weight Loss Resolution Might Have Hidden IBS Benefits
2. Review: DigestActiv Digestive Enzymes From Source Naturals