Howdy,

Thought I might rattle your brains if thats okay when considering potential issues with stomach acid and H pylori.

For a while now I've often felt gassy, bloated, cramp a little bit, occasionally nauseas and constipated and all my diet and digestive approaches have seldom helped. I'm thinking I may have low/high stomach acid, H pylori and/or an ulcer.

The biggest clue yet was yesterday eve just before bed after a snack I took one capsule of betaine HCL. There was a mild burning followed by a real strong burning the next morning. The discomfort feels stomach based rather than gut/intestine based.

I'm thinking the likihood is I have low stomach acid, considering I'm probably dealing with candida, however the burning and other symptoms from the HCL leads me to think that I have an ulcer and/or H Pylori, thus making me not able to increase acid.

I've picked up a couple of supplements, mastic gum and slipperly elm powder. The plant based enzymes I was using did didly squat and probably did more harm than good so I've removed these also.

Don't suppose you had any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Hi there,

I'd actually like some advice on something similar. About an hour and a half after I've eaten, I get a feeling in my stomach (or more accurately, I think my upper intestine) that feels similar to when your stomach is really empty and you know that it's about to rumble. The thing is, it's not empty and it never gets to the 'rumble' stage. It just feels like it's on the verge all the time. I wondered whether I had low acid and tried taking enzymes with my food but that made no difference. Is it that my upper intestine may be slightly inflamed? I had some rancid nuts (from a new unopened packet - not good) a couple of weeks ago and it's def not been right since then.

Any suggestions would be greatly welcome!!

Abi

Hi Matt

With the burning in your stomach from just one betaine HCl capsule it would certainly indicate either you are already producing a high amount of acid - or H.pylori and gastric ulcer are a possibility.

It is certainly worth going to your doctor and reporting all this. They should be happy enough to send you for a urea breath teat (UBT) to check for current H.pylori infection...then take it from there.

H.pylori neutralises stomach acid to survive and low stomach acid is associated with poor digestion and gastrointestinal overgrowth of bacteria and yeast - so it could all tie in. H.pylori is something certainly worth ruling out. I had the test myself (negative) and it was painless and fairly quick.

Abi - can you tell us more about tests you may have had and anything you have been diagnosed with? It is hard to say what your symptoms might be caused by. I have a similar \"knawing\" sensation in my upper intestine that is associated with both low blood sugar and a result of low level inflammation resulting from poor liver and gall bladder function. Did the enxyme supplement you took also contain betaine HCl (stomach acid)?

Thanks for that fella.

To your knowledge is there a fairly non invasive test available on the NHS that can give an indication into stomach acid levels?

Hi Matt,

I don't think the NHS will test stomach acid levels unless serious stomach disease is suspected with achlorhydria (total lack of stomach acid).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achlorhydria#Diagnosis

Your best bets privately are:

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) - home saliva kit for £80.

Or:

The Heidelberg Stomach Acid Test - need to visit a lab and it takes a few hours. Costs more than the above too but more tried and tested and perhaps more reliable.

You can aways ask your GP. The worst thing they can say is \"no\"