Acid Reflux, Bloating and Smelly Gas

The connection between antacids, bloating and smelly gas

I’ve just had a 43 year old male in the Clinic today, let’s call him Mr. X. He came for a digestive health assessment and colonic hydrotherapy treatment.

Symptoms: smelly flatulence and bloating, and he has no idea why.

I picked up the reasons why within 2 minutes of reading the health questionnaire that I asked him to complete. I always ask for a full list of any medications taken currently, and in the past (if they can remember). It transpires that Mr X has been taking the proton pump inhibitor, Lanzaprozole at 15mg per day, for 10 years. He’s taking this because he suffers with acid reflux.

However, there’s a trade off here because although the acid reducing medication will help prevent the contents of his stomach and hydrochloric acid from migrating out of his stomach and up the oesophagus, his stomach acid will be ZERO! We know it’s important to stop the acid getting into the oesophagus because it can lead to cancer, but what do we do about the effect the medication is having on the intestines and digestion.

We need stomach acid to help break-down and digest proteins. Acid is also important to enable absorption and assimilation of nutrients. On top of that, the acid acts as a neutraliser to any bacteria, virus, parasite or other pathogen trying to get into the body, via the mouth.

Mr. X has very smelly gas, and bloated intestines due to excessive putrefactive gases building up, and inflammation in the small intestine. I’ve tweaked his diet a little, asking him to avoid alcohol, for the time being, tomatoes, anything from the onion family, anything spicy and coffee. Introduce some pineapple and papaya into his diet as these contain natural digestive enzymes, (these can be sliced and put in salads or stir fries, also whizzed up in smoothies) and put a few books or boards under the feet at the head of the bed, so the acid isn’t pouring out of his stomach when he’s asleep. It’s important not to sleep flat in bed, especially if you have reflux. I’ve also recommended a daily probiotic and some digestive enzymes to help support his over-burdened digestive system.

It’s important not to stop taking acid-reducing medication, as this can cause reflux-rebound, where acid just pours into the oesophagus and into the throat. It has to be a gradual withdrawal of the medication, incorporating some gentle, natural digestive enzymes instead.