Hi has anyone got any ideas how to ca... - Oesophageal & Gas...
Hi has anyone got any ideas how to calm down acid reflux .. I am 2 years post op and get it nearly every night it really burns my throat..
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Hi. I am now 20 months post op and only recently started suffering from this - usually around 03.30 in the morning. I take Lansoprazole every morning and am going to ask my GP if it is OK to take another before going to bed - although I do not have the confidence that my GP is knowledgeable enough about the condition. I eagerly await advice from others. Good luck. alex
Hi. I am 4 years post op and suffer with reflux. I take Omeprazole 20mg at night and 10mg in the morning. On occasions l have to up my doses like now as l cracked 2 ribs and painkillers are causing more reflux, and this is all done with the blessing of my surgeon. So why dont you give your team a call and speak to them about it.
As you say GP's are not really on the ball with this surgery.
All the best
Edwina x
Hi Gerard. i am five years post op and so have had a lot of practice in managing our condition! Sadly that doesn't make me an expert though.... Like the others who replied I take Lansoprosole every morning and also Gaviscon at night. The Gaviscon lasts about four hours, when I wake up with mild 'heartburn' (reflux). More Gaviscon would help - but I would have to wake fully to handle the spoon.... so I pop a Rennie in and back to sleep I go. You didn't mention how you sleep - I sleep on my back and with my head/ neck/ upper chest elevated so that I am almost sitting up.
I wish you well - do persevere with the various suggestions everyone is making until you find what works for you.
Hi Buzzboy and Gerard. Just a little tip for you both, they now do Gaviscon in sachet's and i find I can rip the top off and just swallow it while still half asleep--lol. hope this help's
Kind Regards
Steve
Hi Steve. Thanks for the tip (was it you who told me about these before ?). I find the sachets are also really useful to take away on holiday, saves packing pint bottles of Gaviscon! Do you get the Sachets on Prescription ?
Hi Buzzboy. Yes it possibly was me I do remember telling someone about them. I don't get them on prescription because I never asked the Doc, good idea maybe I should --lol.
Hi Steve... good to chat! I tried gaviscon tablets a while ago - they're available on prescription. My GP couldn't find Gaviscon Sachets or Rennies on the 'approved' list. Gaviscon tablets - No good though, they leave ones' teeth lined with a chalky goo that sticks for hours! Not what you need at 4 in the morning....
Take lansoprazole before bed and try not to eat late meals.I had it for approx 2years after op and only get it nown and again now but still take lansaprazole
Griff
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Thanks Griff cheers
Both my surgeon and my doctor suggested gaviscon. I am on one Lanzopprosole in the morning and I asked whether I needed another in the evening. I was advised to take Gaviscon and that seemed to work.
I have found that sleeping with 3 or 4 pillows helps an also taking amitriptalene 25mg a hour before bed. The amitriptalene relaxes your gut (and the rest of you) and also acts as a pain killer. I have been on amitriptalene for 2 years and not had reflux at night for at least year. Worthwhile asking your GP about it.
Hello
One thing I learnt over the years was not to worry about changing the timing of the PPIs I was given to take, indeed I was encouraged to experiment to see what was best for me. And one other tip I can pass on: frequently being woken up with "acid burn" stopped overnight when my doctor switched me to oro-dispersible versions of PPIs.
Good luck
John
Hello Gerard
You have, I see already lots of fellow sufferers who made suggestions. Maybe I can add a little. I had my Ivor Lewis Op nearly 2 years ago. Also had reflux problems. I now have the medicine called Somac, twice a day, in the morning and before the evening meal. I do not eat anything at all for at least 2 hours before going to bed. I have raised the head end of my bed 7 inches and have two good pillows. No reflux any more. Good luck and best wishes. John
This a common problem I would endorse what has been said about raising the position of your head whilst sleeping I had the same problem and l now sleep with three pillows and find the situation greatly improved
Hi Gerard
I sleep sitting up and take oral an dispersible PPI, if I get reflux that wakes me up I take a quick swig of gaviscon and suck a sugar free aniseed sweet if gaviscon doesn't work.
Hi Gerard I take 1 lansoprazole and 1 metoclopramide before bed and since taking them I haven't had trouble with reflux. Hope this helps. Good luck.
The only thing I would add is to clarify whether or not it is bile reflux - which is an alkali. The hospital will be able to give you a test and prescribe accordingly
Thanks EVERYONE for the advice
Regards Gerard
A pleasure any help u need get in touch
I have recently found that a soothing cough lozenge has provided an amount of relief when the reflux kicks in.
Hi
I found it a problem until I refrained from eating late and most importantly I have 2 firm pillows which helps gravity to subdue it. It worked for me so it might be helpful
Kind regards
Brian
Gerard I am 4 years post op and don't suffer half as much as I used to,3 things I found helped enormously firstly cut out meals 2 hours before going to bed,sleep in an upright position as much as possible,and take your medication at night instead of in the morning,also I found an apple helps to negate the acid reflux.Hope this helps in some way,good luck for the future.....
Hi Gerard,
Like Buzzboy I sleep with my head and neck/chest elevated. This helps stop the acid running back up the oesophagus. You can try taking some Metamucil in the evening about an hour before bed and this has two benefits. The fibre will help keep you regular (not that you may have problems in that area) and it sets a bit gelatinous to keep a lid on stomach acid and prevent it flowing freely up into the trachea while you sleep. I am 14 years post op and a change of meds worked for me (went from Losec to Nexium taken in the evening) along with the metamucil to stop reflux. The main ingredient is psyllium husk powder and I think this gives it it's jelly like characteristics. Check with your Doctor about taking metamucil as it can affect how some medicines are absorbed. It costs around $15 for 48 doses 283g net. and we can buy it in supermarkets and pharmacies here in Australia. I prefer the orange flavour and you just mix it into a glass of water. Hope this helps.
Hi, I'm now eight months post-op (oesophagogastrectomy) and have been on Lansoprazole since my diagnosis nearly fourteen months ago. My GP always responds to my requests for a review of my medication, and between us, and after a little trial and error, we came to the conclusion that 30mg in the morning before breakfast and 15mg in the evening before tea/supper would be just right. This works perfectly as long as I remember to take them.
Wish I know the answer to having same problem myself at the moment I'm sitting up in bed now burning in my chest and throat
Hi
I am post op 8years now and I take Nexium Esomeprazole 20mg mornings and 40mg Esomeprazole before bed time. I also take gaviscon as and when, i find this helps and rarely get problems with my reflux