Some interesting info regarding ulcers from the NY Times - Charschan Chiropractic in North Brunswick, NJ and Scotch Plains, NJ

Some interesting info regarding ulcers from the NY Times

A number of years ago we were told that stomach ulcers were caused by H. Pylori, a bacteria that was discovered by a doctor in Australia. It would be nice if stomach problems were so simply solved, but unfortunately, many people who have been evaluated for H. Pylori are often negative for the bacteria, so what gives?

Prilosec, a common drug given for stomach upset, along with tums often will make the problems with stomach discomfort more chronic, as your tolerance for certain foods is reduced. An empty stomach in some of us can hurt worse, so where is the pain coming from? Is it an ulcer or perhaps, are there food sensitivities that your doctor does not ordinarily test for?

According to the NY Times article, the truth is the doctors know much less about what makes your stomach ache than what you might think. Perhaps, this is why we often do not get the satisfying answers we may want.

Antibiotics can often change the chemistry in the gut, and be responsible for body wide inflammation, the overgrowth of bacteria which often feeds off of the simple carbohydrates and sugars. This can also cause stomach upset as well as GERD, often responsible for reflux and aggravated by anything that buffers the stomach since the overgrowth is often improved by a more acid environment in the stomach. Perhaps, this is why a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar is more helpful than most people realize.

One other cause of stomach upset most doctors and patients never consider is spasm of the upper insertions of the rectus abdominus and obliques. That feeling at the pit of your stomach may be a response to poor body mechanics that also may cause neck and back pain as well.

Another cause is birth control pills. This is something we discovered in my daughter who had a sensitive stomach through high school and her first year of college. We found out the dosage was way too high for her size and weight. Adjusting the dosage downward made a big difference.

Check out this informative NY Times article. It offers some good insight for those of us who have stomach problems which may not be ulcers.

6 Things I Learned About Ulcers

By CATHERINE SAINT LOUISAPRIL 13, 2017

Halfway through February, I could no longer sleep through the night. At 2 a.m., I’d find myself chugging milk from the carton to extinguish a fire at the top of my rib cage. The gnawing feeling high in my stomach alternated with nausea so arresting I kept a bucket next to my laptop and considered taking a pregnancy test, even though I was 99 percent sure I wasn’t expecting.

One day on the subway platform, I doubled over and let out a groan so pathetic it prompted a complete stranger to ask, “Are you all right?” Then I knew it was time to seek medical attention. New Yorkers don’t address strangers on the subway, I told myself. It’s like breaking the fourth wall.

The next day, my primary care doctor told me I probably had an ulcer, a raw spot or sore in the lining of the stomach or small intestine. Here are some of the things I learned about ulcers during the odyssey that followed.