Not related to Bicarb, but a few years ago, I was diagnosed with Gall stones when admitted to Hospital with terrible pain.
The doctors wanted to take gall bladder out asap, but seeing I felt OK the next day, bought a book over the internet from USA and "cleansed" my liver and gall bladder, ... a couple of times over a few months.
When I revisited my GP, he recommended getting the gall bladder out and drew on one of his brochures, what might happen if a "stone" moved from the gall bladder to the sphincter in the bile duct.
A year later, outside working at my work bench, and 'blip', there was a strange feeling in my stomach area and then pain later on, ... back to hospital, transferred to another one, ultrasound, blood tests, and then MRI showing a 12mm "stone" stuck in the bile duct sphincter.
No one available Albury/Wodonga to treat so sent by plane to Melbourne, and a couple of days later, and by this time my skin was yellow, an ERCP performed to remove the problem stones.
Back to A/Wod, gall bladder operation cancelled, lost about 8kgs as no food over 8 days except jelly, clear soup, apple juice, cup of tea, and infusion bag .... discharged and had to wait about 3 weeks for GB op.
Operated on the Friday, discharged on Saturday, back into hospital by ambulance Sunday night with terrible pain, ... when I breathe
One year later, ... now, pains back, go to doctor, blood tests, ultra sound and then Cat Scan, ..... shows a 33 x 27mm abscess, ... and a foreign body.
So, now have to wait until 15 Sep to see the surgeon probably to have a MRI, and then looks like another surgery to remove the "foreign body".
What I am getting at, is no matter if you try and take responsibility for your own health or put your faith in the medicos, ... shit still happens.