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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 517
Location: New Jersey | I was recently diagnosed as having a Peptic Ulcer. Does anyone know if it is a good idea to practice Yoga while I'm having a flare up? If so, which asanas would be beneficial to not only soothing my stomach during a flare up, but also preventing them? I asked my doctor about this, and although he admitted he doesn't know much about Yoga, he said it couldn't hurt, and to do what makes me feel better. Thanks for any advice anyone has!
Samantha |
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Expert Yogi
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| Samantha - I don't know too much about ulcers but generally for digestive problems a well rounded practice is very useful during times of "normality". During a flare up I would advise no twists, deep forward bends or back bends. Poses that open and support the abdomen, such as supta baddhakonasana , baddhakonasana, upavista konasana etc. would be nurturing and quieting to both body and mind. Forward bends (seated) with head resting on a height such as a chair would be nice. The poses in the menstrual series (http://yogacircle.com/asana_menses.html) would be good, I'm sure. Take care! |
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| Dear Samantha:
You must disttinguish between Feeling Better and Being Better (which is the real health). If you have a serious stomach ulcer, the stomach should not be challenged too much from inside, and this is more to do with eating or diet. If the ulcer is serious, you should leave the stomach alone during exercise, and also not exercise other parts beyond your capacity. I mean you should give more importance to Ulcer than other things, if you are interested in health of the body. See the other postings here related to Asthma and or breathing in the recent weeks.
If stomach ulcer is flared up, you should use Yoga only to relax that part, and never exercise that part. All exercise of any part including Yoga exercise should be done only when that part is NOT in pain, I mean real pain.
And, lastly, do NOT seek Cure for serious Peptic Ulcer ONLY in the Yoga Exercise.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 517
Location: New Jersey | Well, right now my doctor is more concerned with changing outside factors that are affecting the ulcer, like diet, and stress as opposed to medicating me. I'm really happy about this, because I'm not big on medication unless there is nothing else that can be done. I've been making a list of what I've eaten before a flare up, and that's helping me to change my diet. My doctor said that while stress can't cause an ulcer, it can exacerbate one that already exists. My job has been a big source of stress, and many of my episodes of pain occur on a Sunday, as I'm starting to stress about the week to come. I've taken care of that by deciding to go back to school to do something I actually want to do, and I'm putting my notice in at this job on Monday (Yay!) So now that I've started to deal with the factors that I think have cause the ulcer, I want to use Yoga to help promote the normal functioning of my stomach.
Samantha |
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| Drink lot's of water, especially in times of stress, or if you feel your stomach hurting.
Meditation can definitely help reduce the tension that often causes ulcers.
Edited by MrD 2005-02-09 2:27 PM
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: New Jersey | I've been trying to work up to drinking a gallon of water a day. Not only has it been helping my ulcer a little, I've had more energy lately. Does a gallon seem like too much to drink in one day? I read in a couple of articles that it's good to drink that much per day, but I've also heard about people who get sick from drinking too much water.
Samantha |
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| You should drink between 85 -- 100 ounces a day for average size americans. . More if you are sweating a lot. Personally I think that a gallon a day in the winter may be excessive. Many vitamins are water soluable and so excessive amounts may be flushed out of your system if you drink too much.
When I hike in the desert in the heat I drink up to 2 gallons a day. But it's in the 90's and very dry. I usually make sure to drink a gallon a day when I'm hiking in the mountains. Other than that I don't compute by gallons. I also make sure to drink an extra 1- 1.5 quarts if I've been doing a tough hot yoga routine.
I make sure that during work I drink 3 20 oz bottles of water. I usually drink at least 16 oz in the morning so that gets me most of the way there.
So it should be adjusted for your activities.
Yes you can get water poisoning, but it is really extreme for most adults. A little girl died in our area after drinking too much water as a punishment -- get this -- for not drinking enough water. But she was 5 and drank 1.5 gallons. The salt in her body leached out of her cells, and the cell walls collapsed. OK, back on topic.
I find that drinking at least 4 oz every half hour has a calming effect, even during tense times.
Edited by MrD 2005-02-09 5:32 PM
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| Samantha:
With all the best wishes for you:
1. You should drink water only when you are thirsty, never otherwise. If your thirst is decreased or forgotten due to stress, (for example, in the past you skipped drriking each time you were thirsty while in a meeting at job, etc.), then learn relaxation and meditation and thirs will return.
2. Drinking too much water is NEVER good, whether you have a problem or not, whether you are healthy or sick.
3. Since you decided to make the great changes, the best remedy for your situation shall come, without any doubt, from a supervised fast and thereafter following proper life style.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 517
Location: New Jersey | Thank you for all your advice, Neel. I do feel alot less stressed and tense since deciding to leave my job, so hopefully that will have an effect on helping to heal my ulcer.
Samantha |
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| Leaving the stressful job shall bring many other benefits too. It shall make the world a better place. Thanks for taking a step.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authhenticyoga.org |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 2479
Location: A Blue State | samantha77 - 2005-02-09 1:32 PM
Well, right now my doctor is more concerned with changing outside factors that are affecting the ulcer, like diet, and stress as opposed to medicating me. I'm really happy about this, because I'm not big on medication unless there is nothing else that can be done. I've been making a list of what I've eaten before a flare up, and that's helping me to change my diet. My doctor said that while stress can't cause an ulcer, it can exacerbate one that already exists. My job has been a big source of stress, and many of my episodes of pain occur on a Sunday, as I'm starting to stress about the week to come. I've taken care of that by deciding to go back to school to do something I actually want to do, and I'm putting my notice in at this job on Monday (Yay!) So now that I've started to deal with the factors that I think have cause the ulcer, I want to use Yoga to help promote the normal functioning of my stomach.
Samantha
Hi Samantha,
Look, the stuff about ulcers being "caused by stress" is a discredited old medical canard.
Research in the late 80's and 90's showed that the majority of uclers are caused by a
bacterium that infects the stomach lining -- Helicobacter Pylori. It can be elminated with
a two week course of antibiotics. Has your doctor tested you for this infection? If not,
has he discussed it with you?
Here are some links on this disease. Not all doctors keep current, so please investigate
for yourself! You can find more links if you Google "Helicobacter Pylori".
http://www.cdc.gov/ulcer/ The Center for Disease Control
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/ The National Institute of Health
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| I have heard that the antibiotic treatment is nasty and very hard on the body so you wouldn't want to do it without a strong positive on one of the tests. But a whole lot better than living for years with an ulcer, I think. I really hoped that my stomach issues were an ulcer - much more easily treated than reflux  |
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| tourist: can you please explain the last line of your above posting.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 517
Location: New Jersey | Thanks for the links! I do know that stress doesn't cause ulcers, but in my investigations, and from what my doctor has said, an already existing ulcer can be aggravated due to external circumstances, like stress, or diet. I haven't been tested yet, but I am going back three weeks from now to discuss my options, and also for my doctor to be able to see if caring for myself differently has helped the situation or not.
Samantha |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Neel - when I first had problems with my stomach, I was tested multiple times for an ulcer because that is what my doctors and I all thought I had. Having to take a series of unpleasant antibiotics would not have been nice, but it would have (hopefully) cured the ulcer and I would be better by now. Unfortunately I have acid reflux disorder and I'm still working on treatments, being retested etc. and it has been a long time. I would have perferred to have an ulcer, I think!
I recently had a test where I had a probe measuring the ph just above the stomach for 24 hours. I made sure to do a short yoga practice including headstand so I could find out what being inverted would do to the acid levels in my esophagus. The technician said it would be the first time ever they had a patient go upside down with the probe in!  |
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| OK Dear Tourist: Antibiotics do NOTHING good in case of Stomach Ulcer. And, Ulcer is NOT better than Acid Reflux in any way. Both are equally undesirable. If you are really interested in solving your problem, and are determined to go all the way, you should consider:
- Supervised Fast
- Complete Life Style Change
- Addition of 2 hours more rest each day over what you have (which you can start right away)
- Best combination of foods, which means NO combination. That is eating only one kind of food at a time, changing it at different eatings to get variety.
There is NO relation of inversion with acid reflux.
I wish you all the best
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Neel, of course you are right. Neither is desirable! I think this is a case of the saying "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" where we (before enlightenment) always crave what we don't have. Not that I would crave and ulcer OR reflux really!
Here's a question for you - if the reflux is a result of low muscle tone in the lower esophageal muscle (essentially a "mechanical" problem of the body) what is the theory behind the notion that fasting or eating single foods per meal will help that? I have a great deal of difficulty with that concept and I don't think I would offer nutritional advice to someone with, for example, low muscle tone in the bicep. I find it fascinating that every specialist, from chiropractor to surgeon, will find a solution to a physical problem that involves their own discipline. My husband once had a problem with his calf muscle that was very debilitating. The naturopath ordered vitamins, the massage person did massage, the acupuncturist poked him and the surgeon had elaborate plans for some frightening surgery. In the end, what I believe cured the problem was switching cars and not driving with his wallet in his back pocket. NOBODY had looked at how he was using his body on a day to day basis, even those who considered themselves "wholistic" practitioners!
As we discussed in another thread, we do have lots of excuses for not being able to incorporate changes in our lives even when they may be best for us. I try hard not to make those kinds of excuses. As far as rest goes, I do get a full 8 hours most nights and honestly feel quite a bit better than the days when I would sleep ten or more hours. When I get the opportunity to sleep late, it is rarely more than an hour more than usual. However I am working on developing a napping "program"! I have never been good at napping, waking groggy and feeling ill most of the time, but I am sticking to 30 minutes or less and it seems to be not too bad. But of course, this is not something I can do on a regular basis.
Fasting frankly scares me. I have migraine headaches when I don't eat and simply would have to be convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that it would cure me on the spot for me to try it, supervised or not. I have a feeling narcotics and other serious drugs are not included in a fasting program, am I right? On the other hand, I do tend to purge my stomach contents rather effectively while in the throes of a migraine so I could do vamana and fasting at the same time   |
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Expert Yogi
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| Also - I am curious about the suggestion for lifestyle change. What changes would that be? And how do you know my current lifestyle? I guess I have given away a few things about myself here but have you guessed enough to know what my actual lifestyle is? I am puzzled! |
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| Dear Tourist:
I shall try to answer your queries, but briefly.
1. When the diet I suggested will be followed: a) the load on the entire digestive system will be reduced including the Esophagos. So, with the less load, the same Esophagos will handle any musculor problem better. b) the energy available due to less energy needed for digestions, metabolism, and removal of toxins from your system, shall be used for Healing the parts necessary, including your Esophagos.
2. Your Esophagous problem is Mechanincal Only in the Result that is it is felt as a lower musculor tone, but is actually a systemic problem meaning it deals with the Healing of it. Healing will be as good as possible or at least better with the above suggestion.
3. Fasting will do all the above in the Fastest Way. Yes, you might have to bear the Migraine during that process. You may actually come out of Migrane in that process, as Migrane also deals with problem in the strength of the arteries in the head. The healing will improve their strength.
4. LifeStyle Includes, Proper Rest, proper execrcise, proper food, Proper Air, Propre Water, Proper Attitude. Whatever you can improve you should improve.
5. Fasting does NOT include vomition and should not include it.
6. Any drugs you take are Toxic which hinders healing everywhere and hindrance is most in the weakest part, which in your case possibly is a)Esophagos, b) Brain Arteries.
The life style I guessed is from what you wrote and your symptoms. let me know whether I was correct.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Well, I suppose it depends on what you mean by "proper"  I confess I did feel quite well at a retreat centre last summer where my food was excellent, clean and pure and I did a lot of asana and pranayama. But it was a totally unsustainable lifestyle and I don't have any idea of how I could live that way without finding a new and much wealthier husband. Plus, I kinda like the one I have 
I need to be very clear on the migraine thing. If I were to fast, there WOULD be vomititng. As discussed in the women's health thread, a migraine is something that unless you have experienced it, you do not understand the severity and intensity of the pain. I have had a ten pound baby (my first) without medication and it was a cakewalk (to translate: cakewalk is a VERY simple game) compared to a migraine. Would I come through it purged, clean and refreshed? Maybe, but you would have to give me some pretty clear and conclusive PROOF to make me voluntarily do something that would incur that sort of misery. I am not a self destructive type of person.
The main thing I have addressed in my life is Proper Attitude. I have learned to stay within my limits regarding rest, certainly. I long ago learned that I have limited resources of energy (we all do, some people's limits just SEEM to be endless) and pace myself accordingly. Practicing yoga has helped increase the energy levels but still I resist the urge to overdo. Not just try - I do resist! I eliminate stress from the gross to the mundane. I recently got my hair cut shorter because it was irritating me to have to push it away from my face during the day. Small but important! I got a lot of work done on my body to help strengthen from the outside, which makes my asana practice more productive. All of these things are proper attitude and have helped my life in many ways.
I suppose my issues with the practices you suggest are that I have seen many people undergo what appear to me extreme regimens (carefully designed and supervised) only to have their symptoms reappear in a short time. It is almost like "yo-yo dieting" where the people gain and lose weight over and over. Each well-intentioned practitioner insists that the other had the "wrong" idea of what "proper" food/rest/air/water is and has a newer/older/better/more natural method. It just seems that there must be a middle road somewhere.
The original set of tests I had were BY (before yoga) and the current tests will be interesting to compare AY(after yoga). I will keep you informed.
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| good. About Migrane. I am working on someone who had it for more than last 30 years. So, give me another 4 months or so, and then do remind me. And, I shall give you the proof you arelooking for.
NeelKulkarni
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| And, in terms of your query or comment on Proper ness of attitude, other things: I shall need to know much more details, and that may not be feasible for you. But, what I shall need is typical 2 weeks entire routine including all details such as what was exactly eaten, when, bathroom visits, yoga, sleep, work, etc etc. Then only I can comment.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
| Thanks Neel - this conversation has been very interesting! Maybe some day I will commit to a full 2 week journalling to see if you really could help me but it isn't feasable right now. A couple of things did occur to me, though. First - I have most of my life been a light eater, always small amounts frequently through the day. And slowly - I was always the last to finish at dinner. As a child I always ate one food at a time from my plate. Several foods at a meal but ate them one at a time. All of this changed when I had children and it changed even more when I started going out of the house to work again. I had to eat more quickly and often more than I wanted at one meal because I wouldn't have a chance to snack later and I couldn't risk being hungry and getting a headache. This has been on my mind a LOT since I started having the stomach problems because they started after I had changed my habits! So I absolutely do understand how daily living habits can be a key to understanding our physical ailments.
Let me just ask - for proper sleep, for example, you recommend waking up naturally without an alarm clock, right? As for going to sleep, do you suggest a regular time or just go to bed when you feel sleepy? Do you have other suggestions about how to sleep? Some "natural" types say one must sleep with the head to some particular direction and use only white cotton sheets etc. I have always found the white cotton sheet thing a bit odd since for millenia people didn't HAVE sheets at all I understand it should be clean, not too hot or cold, reasonably dark (I grew up in the country so I don't like light when I sleep) etc. - what else do you suggest? |
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| Dear Tourist:
Since you are a sincere tourist, let us talk after you give two weeks of detailed routine with actual events, and actual ingradients such as amouunts and names of foods eaten, etc.
For Now: Proper Sleep means, sleep when sleepy, do not sleep when not sleepy, and sleep until you can not any more and after sleep you feel extremely fresh. All this for long long time, may be 6 months.
Neel Kulkarni
www.authenticyoga.org |
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Yoga and Ulcers
