Background: I am a former competitive distance runner who took ibuprofen like candy for about 8 years -- 400-800 mg before every long run, sometimes daily during heavy training blocks. By the time I quit running in my early 30s, my stomach was wrecked. Constant bloating, acid reflux, food sensitivities that seemed to multiply every year, and a general feeling of my gut being perpetually inflamed. Gastroenterologist said I had "NSAID gastropathy" and told me to stop taking NSAIDs (already had) and take PPIs (which helped the reflux but gave me other issues).
I tried BPC-157 oral capsules from a reputable peptide vendor, 500 mcg once daily on an empty stomach in the morning.
Week 1: Bloating reduced noticeably by day 4 or 5. This was the first thing I noticed. Meals that would normally leave me feeling distended for hours were processing more normally. I was cautiously optimistic.
Weeks 2-3: Acid reflux episodes decreased significantly. I had been having reflux 4-5 times per week; by week 3 it was maybe once a week. I tentatively tried a food I had been avoiding (tomato sauce) and tolerated it without the usual burning aftermath. That was a significant moment.
Weeks 4-8: Continued improvement. By week 6, I would describe my gut function as closer to normal than it had been in years. Not perfect -- I still had the occasional off day -- but the baseline had shifted dramatically. The constant low-grade discomfort that I had simply accepted as my reality was mostly gone. I ate a full Italian dinner with red sauce, garlic bread, and wine and felt fine afterward. I genuinely cannot remember the last time that was possible before BPC-157.
The improvement has largely held six weeks post-cycle. I am considering running a second cycle to see if I can get further gains. My gastroenterologist was skeptical when I mentioned it but acknowledged that my symptoms had objectively improved.