Acid Reflux?

[mylko]

hello lovely people;

i don’t know if this is a common / ongoing problem for those who have visited ICU, but i’m now 3&1/2 months ICU free and 2&1/2 months cleared to be safe with swallowing. whenever i lay down / bend over / lay on my side, i seem to have acid reflux or fluid shooting back up into my mouth which triggers mock-choking. i still have monthly contact with my SALT team and continue to carry out exercises she has given me, but i’m wondering if this is another time-game like it was waiting for my swallow / mobility to return or if this is a permanent change in my body?

thank you xox

[Rhyl1 Partner Moderator ICUsteps]

This sounds really bothersome. It is not a problem that I have come across and it is worth mentioning it to your GP and SALT team. They might want to investigate what’s going on. There may be medication that your GP can prescribe to help.

[FamilyHistorian]

That’s interesting I still have a coughing / choking issue since my trachy came out over 5 months ago. I haven’t thought of it as reflux. The cough is very dry and I get it a) when sitting or standing when it’s as if “you have swallowed the wrong way” NOT and b) at night. I sleep on my side and would wake up coughing but that has eased now that I have started using an extra pillow.

My SaLT person has said the muscles around that area have got to recover just the same as all our other muscles. So I have been doing some yoga chanting - making a noise as you breath out - and this definitely aggravates it and SaLT said that’s good and to stop for that yoga session and drink and then continue the next session as it is strengthening those muscles.

My other course of action, whether right or not, is try and ignore it as there is plenty else to worry about as I am sure worrying about only makes it worse.

[Sepsur]

Are you on any medication that might aggravate this? I happen to be on daily prophylactic antibiotics, an antiviral, a diabetes med, 2 types of BTK inhibitors and allopurinol - this combination gave me almost permanent acid reflux & mild nausea. I got prescribed omeprazole last week which has completed resolved problem.

Prior to my ICU admission I rarely even took a paracetamol

Ps - I, like @FamilyHisorian, have found exercise & yoga immensely helpful, improving my mobility z& range of movement & my breathing. This combination has also relieved some stress & anxiety too.

[Rach2Sym]

Yes, three months on from getting home, I'm bothered by these symptoms. I was in hospital for six weeks, intubated for two weeks (no trachy). I'll mention it at my virtual respiratory clinic next week. I find Strepsils soothing. Until told otherwise, I'll assume it is a 'time-game' like some of the other secondary symptoms. However, I have mentioned all these symptoms to the relevant clinicians, and been given re-assurances that they are not expected to be long term.