Getting back to normal after adrenal/digestion issues

Hi there

Was hoping somebody might be able to help please! Will try to keep this as short as possible...

About 12 years ago (I'm now mid 30's, male) I had GERD and was on PPIs. After getting fit, when coming off these a bit abruptly a year or two later I got bad 'acid rebound' (nobody warned me) and developed bad esophageal spasms. This, coupled with a very busy job, then caused several years of considerable stress - then anxiety and then adrenal fatigue.

After learning about adrenal fatigue and treating it with vitamins, relaxation etc, I have got substantially better over last few years - I have not had heartburn in years and am not really stressed; the esophageal motility disorder remains but is apparently fairly minor and I deal with it. However, I've never felt fully normal again - I haven't bounced back properly. I live a very healthy lifestyle (exercise, meditation, no smoking, minimal alcohol, probiotics etc) and haven't taken any meds for years.

Following some recent male fertility testing after my wife had a couple of miscarriages, my blood plasma/red cells tests revealed lowish levels of zinc and magnesium (despite years of mag citrate supplements to help spasms!) Most other stuff absolutely fine - albeit I am on a ton of supps for male fertility after surprisingly poor sperm parameters on tests.

After LOTS of research on here and elsewhere, I think that my digestion must be the issue. I seem to burp quite a lot these days and feel bloated after meals, as well as having some LPR/silent reflux symptoms and a slightly coated tongue, plus evidence of slightly undigested food. As I understand it, the several years on PPIs then further years of stress/adrenal stuff may have caused low stomach acid (and they also saw some bile in my stomach on endoscopy, but my esophagus was completely clear). So I don't think I'm absorbing vits/minerals very well at all. To cap it all, I've taken a magnesium supplement at RDA level for years to help with the esophageal spasms -I now wonder if it's possible this is acting as a further antacid when my digestion is already poor?

Just wondered if anyone had any advice on how to get back to full health with AF-related poor digestion? (Betaine HCL is a slightly odd one for me as I'm slightly wary of getting an acid pill caught if I have a spasm/poor motility! I think I may have gastritis from low acid and when I tried it HCL it made my stomach hurt as a result.) Are digestive bitters/enzymes the way forward? Anyone know how to 'heal' the gut and also improve digestion to get it all working again? I presume this takes time.

Many thanks for any help and advice, very much appreciated!

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