Today you'll hear from my friend Liz, she'll explain her recent health scare and how she got better using natural methods, even though she was very tempted to just “take a pill” as her doctor recommended. Thankfully she did her research first because she didn't want to be on this medicine for the rest of her life, and she also learned of all the common side effects that her doctor didn't even mention, like how hard it is to ever go back off of it!
Note that neither Liz nor I are medical professionals. This information is just to make you more aware, and to get you to ask questions yourself and do your research. Your health and the decisions you make are YOUR business, we all need to just do the best we can. 🙂
Listen as Liz and I talk about:
- How she woke up one day and felt like she had razor blades in her throat.
- How her one very RUDE doctor almost turned her into a lifetime patient.
- How she, through her own research and searching out other opinions, healed herself naturally.
- How she didn't take the prescribed PPI med (proton-pump inhibitors — Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium are common drug names), which decreases stomach acid, and what she took instead that got her better.
- How those who suffer with anxiety and depression are another common group of people whose docs often turn them into lifetime patients. They put them on a pill, and then they have to deal with all the nasty side effects and the fact that it is SO difficult to go back off of it. (For other options, see How to Fight Anxiety and Depression Naturally. Or find more help here.)
Watch the video here, it'll play after the ad:
Note: Believe me, I know ALL docs aren't this rude, most are truly kind, good people, and most have very good intentions, but like much of the population, many just don't know that there are often natural ways to treat illness, options that do NOT turn people into lifetime patients! Yes, there may be times when medicines are necessary, and thank God for the drugs when we need them. (Like when I had my kidney stone!) Or there may be times we need medications for the short term, like when Kent's blood pressure went scary high. Thankfully he wasn't on those BP meds too long, however, because I researched it and he was game to try different natural methods for lowering his blood pressure naturally — these worked so he could stop taking them! (Read how we got Kent off blood pressure medication.) So yes, if we need them, we need them. But make sure there's no other way first. Don't be lazy when it comes to getting another opinion (preferably some opinions from natural-minded doctors), asking friends and family, and researching online. It's so worth it!
NOTE: I realized later that we didn't cover it very clearly as far as how much ACV she took and how.
Liz took 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar 2 times/day. She drank it straight and then chased it with water and swished it around to rinse her teeth. If you don't think you could do that, you could just as easily (and get more ACV in this way), put 2 Tablespoons in a cup of hot or cold water and drink that. If you don't like the taste, add a bit of raw honey if needed. (I'm learning how powerful ACV is, it is helpful for SO many issues!)
As I said above, I'm not a doctor, I'm no where even close! But if you need help finding answers for your health condition, I'm happy to try and point you in a new direction. I know a lot of people who have struggled with many different health issues, and also, I can ask for advice on my Facebook page. No, that's not very scientific and you should never blindly follow advice you read on Facebook, anywhere online, and certainly not advice you hear from me, HOWEVER, these are all ways to dig around and find new ideas to look into more.
If you have similar stories to share, please tell us about it in the comments!
- Read about many more natural remedies here and the ways people have healed themselves of all sorts of health conditions. 🙂
- Even auto-immune issues can be healed naturally!
- Again here are the links for How to Fight Anxiety and Depression Naturally and ALL the posts on anxiety and depression are here.
- And here are the links for when Kent's blood pressure went scary high and How we got Kent off blood pressure medication.
Michaela Heilhecker says
Not all doctors are created equal or know everything or what is best for you as an individual. You are your own best advocate!
Cathy Zint Thomas says
True story – just happened this month.
Pathetic.
Donna Trobert says
Amen .. Been there ..
Steve Runyan says
…when they wanted to give me a stool softener several hours before a 3 hour surgery…
KitchenKop says
Shelly, wow, thank God you knew to get OFF of them!
Shelly says
I would love to know what supplement Liz was taking that was recommended by her chiropractor…?
Liz says
It was Standard Process “Gastrex”. I only needed to take it for a few weeks.
Shelly says
I had a similar experience in September and, while I dd not have ulcers, I was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. I went on the PPI for 7 weeks knowing full well they are not helpful, but hoping that at my follow-up, the Dr. would tell me I could stop. This was very upsetting to me as I had been on them off and on for 10 years during my pregnancies for acid reflux. Over the last 10 years, I have made huge strides in reversing the damage caused by this. At the follow-up, the Dr. told me to keep taking them forever. I stopped within a week. Over those couple of months that I was taking the PPI, I started experiencing acid reflux, a UTI, yeast infection, increased allergy and asthma symptoms, and hemorrhoids. In addition, the PPI pill is so small that I have a terrible time getting it to go down all the way. As you could imagine, this was entirely unpleasant. So now I am trying to increase my stomach acid production again and am taking a turmeric/ginger supplement for the inflammation in my esophagus.
Anne-Marie Alifano says
Here’s my recent post regarding our experience with the harmful effects of PPI’s “Thank you all for your beautiful messages of love and well wishes for Mum’s recovery. She’s due to come home from hospital before Christmas and it seems the prolonged use of varied and high strength antibiotics have worked on whatever it is the doctors may or may not have found she has. She will be staying home to complete her (hopefully full) recovery as her now weakened immunity makes her susceptible to picking up other diseases. A special thanks goes to the famous Sydney based gastroenterologist who prescribed mum the trial PPI medication as a precautionary measure (for symptoms she didn’t have but may experience in future) and which triggered her severe and life-threatening downward spiral within 1 week. We have since discovered this widely prescribed drug has caused irreversible biochemical damage. Thank you also to the doctors who rejected and flatly denied all evidence linking this medication to mum’s condition. Short term use of PPI’s has been proven to cause community-acquired pneumonia and enteric infection (among other things). May I suggest you set aside your ego and do some research before refuting information previously unheard of [2 weeks after Mum’s stay in hospital it was discovered she had contracted 2 pneumonia causing bacteria and the bacteria causing Q fever]. Also thanks to nurse Marilyn at St George Hospital who bullied and neglected Mum during the worst stage of her sickness. Yelling at her, not providing the assistance she asked for and leaving mum in her own vomit because she wanted to wait for the shift change (as she was heard admitting to other nurses). A massive thanks goes to Naturopath Monica Williams. The true professional who immediately found the reason for Mum’s condition and has been guiding us in treating her appropriately. We are truly indebted to your expertise and profound knowledge. I can only imagine the constant battle health professionals like yourself must face with allopathic medicine. Please remember you’ve made a world of difference providing answers and offering ongoing solutions and we are forever grateful to you.” … Among the many blood/urine/sputum/stool tests Mum endured in hospital, she was also made radioactive for a white blood cell count which revealed nothing. Studies also show long term use of PPI’s decrease B12, iron and calcium absorption/metabolism causing bone fractures.
Tonya Scarborough says
Sure, not all Doctors are rude, but we really need to be able to say that there is an epidemic of Dr.s who are bossy, arrogant, and know-it-all, when in fact, they know very little about actual healing. I’ve had my run-ins with them for various health issues and I’ve been shocked and horrified, in hindsight, by the terrible advice I was given. We need to be asking, what is wrong with the system that encourages this? What can we do to protect ourselves? Instead we are shamed for speaking out and assured that our experience was an anomaly. I don’t think so!
Tonya Scarborough says
Rosacea is autoimmune related. If I were her, I would be doing an elimination diet to pinpoint food sensitivities, and a gut sealing diet, like GAPS.
Liz says
Hi Kelly… I just wanted to let you know that I had another scope again today to recheck the status of my ulcers in my esophagus and stomach. I wasn’t nervous for the procedure, but a bit nervous to interact with the doctor. I should not have worried for a moment, because the entire thing went great. The doctor asked if I was still taking the medicine and I said no. Within moments I was out, so I didn’t have to answer any more questions. The good news is my ulcers have healed! Both the ulcer in my esophagus and my stomach. Gone, gone, gone! My protocol of apple cider vinegar and the supplement from my chiropractor worked! 🙂
I have to say that the doctor was like a totally different person today. My husband had the same impression. Perhaps he was having a rough day when I saw him last. I guess I will never know.
One thing I wanted to clarify for your readers is that when I had the scope to diagnose the ulcers back in July they biopsied them and tested me for H-pylori. I did not have any suspicious cells, nor did I have the H-pylori bacteria. If I had H-pylori my protocol would have likely been very different. I am grateful I didn’t have to go down that path.
I will continue with the apple cider vinegar two times per day to aid my digestion and I will be careful when swallowing pills, taking in plenty of liquid and a bite or two of something solid to ensure they go completely down.
Liz
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Liz, I’m so glad to hear your great news & that the rude doc wasn’t rude today!!
Kel
Mrs_MG says
I’m so surprised at that doctor! Not for being rude, because many of them have a superiority complex (after all, we don’t know what they do, how could we have any opinion on our own health?), but because it has been proven years ago that ulcers are caused by BACTERIA, not just sores or stress. The sore / stress leaves us open to bacterial infection, but the cure is to get rid of the bacteria, not supress the natural acids in the stomach (which can cause other issues, as you’ve mentioned). Enter the hero our your story, Apple Cider Vinegar, which I believe is a natural anti-bacterial.
I had a similar experience in the States many years ago when I was given a thyroid test (for being overweight). Doctor said I was a “bit low” and to take some pills for a month. Being a lot more naive back then, I did what he said, then returned the next month for more tests. Doctor then said my levels were normal (which means “average” by the way, not necessarily “normal” for me!). So I said great and started to get up to leave, when he said, “So here’s a repeat prescription for the tablets and come see me once each month for blood tests and we’ll keep an eye on this.” I said, “I thought I was normal?!” His response? “Yes, but you must take these pills for life to STAY normal.” I went to another local MD for a second opinion and was told, “Oh, labs don’t make mistakes. You should start taking the tablets as your doctor instructed.” Later, I discovered not only were the two doctors golfing buddies and had already discussed my case (second doctor let that slip). But they were both also shareholders in the blood testing lab! Talk about a conflict of interest! I wonder how many cash cows these MDs were able to create as lifetime patients at $60 a pop for office visits plus lab fees monthly!
Needless to say, I didn’t go back and I didn’t start on the thyroid pills after doing my due diligence. My levels were well within the standard variance from normal and there was no over-arching need for me to take pills for life and blood tests every month. Thank goodness!
The thing about this that most irks me is that you are prescribed something when they don’t know what is “normal” for you. Each person is different and what doctors are taught is normal is only an average of most healthy people. What is normal for you may be quite different. Moral of the story is, do your research and make your health your own priority — you care more than they do, so make it your business to know what’s what!
Anyway, thanks again for sharing this story! Cheers, Michelle G
kitchenkop says
Michelle,
Thanks for sharing your experience too! Again, thank God you knew enough to figure more out yourself!
Kel
Kathleen Andersen says
Thank you Kelly and your friend for sharing this story. A few years ago my 9 yo son was experiencing pain and burning in his throat periodically after he ate. He had a history of food allergies (peanut, soy, tree nut, egg, shellfish, etc) as well as intense pain in his abdomen once a week or so I knew he had digestive issues. I couldn’t figure it out at first but it seemed to be GERD. He did not eat a lot of typical GERD triggers but I noticed it happened after he had a lot of dairy and wheat (so mac n cheese or mozzarella sticks would bring it on, also if he ate a lot of dairy throughout the day, he would get it at night.)The Ped GI doc put him on Proton-pump inhibitor but I too, had read about the side effects and knew it only addressed the symptom rather than dealing w/root cause of the issue. He took Prilosec for a couple of weeks but it did nothing. I tried to give him apple cider vinegar but he wouldn’t swallow it. So I took him off all dairy for 9 mos or so and lo and behold, the GERD symptoms went away. He was afraid to eat dairy until recently he now eats some hard cheeses and yogurt I make and he’s fine. I also had him on the GAPS diet for 9 mos last year to address his overall issues. Just wanted to share this in case people can’t tolerate ACV.
KitchenKop says
Kathleen, you’re a great Mom, if only all kids were so blessed.
Kelly
Nancy says
To give hope to anyone who may be wanting to get off a PPI. My father was on Nexium for several years for GERD. My understanding was that bad microbes in the gut put off toxins that weaken the closing at the top of the stomach allowing acid to leak into the esophagus. Along with a change in diet, we gave him H202 therapy https://www.educate-yourself.org/cancer/benefitsofhydrogenperozide17jul03.shtml and now he doesn’t need the Nexium and has had no GERD for over a year.
KitchenKop says
I’m so thankful you told us this, I’m sure it WILL give many people hope!
Kelly
Lila says
I have read that food sensitivities, especially to gluten and casein, can be linked to rosacea, gut issues, etc. My husband had a similar experience, where he got food stuck in his throat due to inflammation called eosinophilic esophagitis. The doc put him on Nexium, and when my husband asked him if it could be a food allergy, he said “It probably is, but its too hard to figure those out.” We have decided it is likely a casein sensitivity, and he did not start the Nexium. He has not had that experience since stopping casein. Thank you for sharing your story!
KitchenKop says
Lila,
I really shouldn’t still be shocked to hear these stories, but I still am, and I’m appalled!!!
How awesome that you also did your OWN research.
Kelly
Maryjane says
Reposting for Maryjane after a website glitch…
I’m surprised that the doctor did not test her for H. Pylori, a common cause of stomach ulcers (and easily curable without “lifetime” medication).
Lori says
ReneeK, Out of curiosity, how does your dad take the lemon water and how often. I know every person is different, but it could be helpful with my step-mom. Thanks,
ReneeK says
Hi! Recently my Dad switched from water pills to lemon water to control the swelling from water retention in his body. In one week he went from size 36 jeans to his normal size 32 jeans and has his appetite back. He had been taking 3 water pills per day for a few months but did not notice much improvement. His blood tests showed that his white blood cell count was extremely low. After doing his own research he discovered that this is a side effect of water pills.
KitchenKop says
WOW! Good for him for doing his research!!!!!
Kelly