Chronic Kidney Disease and GERD: Yes, There Is a Connection (2023)

Anne, 73, was first diagnosed with GERD (Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease) 10 years ago. It initially started as a symptom of a common hip, but when antacids were ineffective, he sought medical treatment for his condition. Several different drugs have been tested; In the end, she was given Prilosec (omeprazole) twice daily, which is effective in maintaining her GERD symptoms. He has been taking Prilosec ever since.

GERD is a condition in which the muscles between the stomach and esophagus are weak and thus allow the stomach contents to enter the esophagus. Symptoms usually burn, pain, and pressure sensation in the chest. People can also cough if their contents reach the trachea. Sometimes these symptoms are so severe that people believe they have a heart attack. The two main medical treatments are Inhibitor H2 and Proton Pump inhibitors. Both are designed to maintain acidity in the stomach to stop the burning sensation. The person still has reflux of stomach contents, but they do not symptoms of reflux.

A new medical procedure is to strengthen the esophagus at the point where it enters the abdomen — a procedure called fundoplication. Another is called LINX where a band is placed around the esophagus to prevent stomach contents from entering the esophagus. As this is a new procedure, little is known when writing this article.

The causes of GERD are not known in medicine but several lifestyle and nutritional factors have been linked: obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, high fat diet and carbonated drinks. If someone has a hose hernia, it can also cause or worsen GERD. Most medicines can cause or aggravate GERD as well.

In my practice, I have seen other factors contributing to GERD: food allergy or sensitivity, the inability to digest one's food, emotions and mental states (especially if the person suppresses emotions or thoughts so they do not face them - basically "swallowing" feelings).

In Anne's case, she took 9 different medicines and supplements; most of the medications she has been taking for at least 20 years. Anne's people take what is commonly known to cause GERD are prednisone, a statin drug for cholesterol, and Lasix (diuretic). She is not sure if she is allergic to any foods, and she refuses to discuss her mental / emotional state with anyone. She weighs more than 100 pounds and doesn't watch what she eats (stating "that's what they're all for"). In essence, he has many "risk factors" for GERD.

Prilosec manages Anne's symptoms, but at a cost.

About a year ago Anne was diagnosed with stage 3 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) when routine blood tests showed high levels of creatinine and calcium. She has no symptoms of other kidney problems except for back pain that may or may not be related to kidney failure. His MD started it on metformin as a high glucose level (diabetes) common with CKD. She has been taking medication for other conditions often caused by CKD (high blood pressure and fluid retention).

The cause, according to the renal specialist, is Prilosec, a drug he thinks he can't stop taking without curing GERD symptoms. So he kept taking drugs that he knew would make it worse. He sought my care "to release Prilosec."

Prilosec (omeprazole) is a Proton Pump Inhibitor, which means blocking certain enzymes on the surface of the stomach to prevent acid production. It's more technical than that, but generally, this is what it does. One of the great warnings about medicines in this class is that they cannot be used for more than 2 weeks, with a 4-month break between courses, due to the high risk of kidney damage.

Anne took it twice daily for 10 years without any rest.

Although Anne had many health challenges, she only wanted to give up Prilosec while she was taking care of me. After examination and history, I realized that he probably didn't digest certain foods. Bile tests show that it works at just 40%, meaning that some digestive enzymes are either not produced or not produced in sufficient quantities to digest food.

I also wonder if he got enough nutrients to make digestive enzymes. One of the medications she is taking is statin to reduce cholesterol. He takes this once a day, a standard dose. But during that time, he took the drug and also took all his supplements. Unfortunately, with statins, they block the absorption of almost all nutrients when taken, even from foods, which is the main reason why statins are taken only once daily — if taken more often, people will be exposed to poor nutrients for a short time. .

Without sufficient nutrients, the digestive enzymes will be depleted and the food will not break. The 2 major signs that food is not broken down are GERD (because the food is too long in the stomach) or gas (either in the form of belching or flatus). Anne has both.

I started Anne's at Papaya Chews, which will be taken every meal. Papaya is a natural food that contains digestive enzymes. Pineapple will help, too, but Anne doesn't like pineapple. I also recommend that he take his supplement in the morning and statin in the evening to ensure that he receives the maximum benefit from the supplement.

At this time I choose not to give homeopathic medicine. Homeopathy will work to address the most life threatening conditions, the most challenging health challenges. When Anne takes many different medications for conditions that affect the heart, lungs and kidneys, it is difficult to determine the most dangerous conditions for life and health. Plus he has a pacemaker, so I have to be careful with him.

The plan was to drink Chepa Papaya for a few days and then look at taking Prilosec only once a day. She will call within a week with updates or if she is unable to get down to 1 Prilosec tablet daily due to GERD symptoms.

She called 2 weeks later and said she was able to take 1 Prilosec daily without any symptoms of GERD. Therefore, we discuss this by damaging it from Prilosec completely as suggested by the MD.

For 1 month, she was able to go 3 days without Prilosec before her GERD symptoms returned, but she was now aware of her blood pressure. She sought medical attention and found her kidneys deteriorating, resulting in increased blood pressure and difficulty breathing (due to increased water retention). He was given additional medications to manage his blood pressure and water. He was told by the MD to stop Prilosec as soon as his kidney function became worse; but Anne says she won't as long as she has GERD symptoms.

Anne called a month later and stated that she was able to completely release Prilosec by taking Chew Papaya. She no longer has GERD symptoms.

I didn't hear from Anne afterwards. The main purpose of keeping me safe was to turn off Prilosec; has been achieved. I wish her the best and hope her kidneys heal as soon as the medication is stopped — or at least worsens.

I urge everyone to always look for any medicines (and natural supplements) they take to make sure they are administered properly and not taken longer than necessary, or ordered. Doctors see many patients every day and have many remedies to remember — they are commonplace for mistakes made. Everyone needs to monitor their own care and instructions from a doctor to minimize their mistakes. As a teenager, when I was first diagnosed with asthma, the medical doctor often prescribed antibiotics that should not be given to my asthma medication; If I didn't do my own research, I could be very sick.

Everyone needs to know more about their medicines than what their color is. Investigate carefully. If you have questions, ask your pharmacist or prescription doctor. If you also take natural supplements, discuss possible interactions between medications and supplements with people who are knowledgeable in natural supplements and natural remedies.

Your health is important. You're important. Careful.

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