Acid reflux when baking soda helps?

[Cortex1]

Woke up tonight with a burning reflux in my throat. I think I managed to keep it out of my airways but I coughed anyway since my throat was burning.

Anyway, I swallowed half a teaspoon baking soda with water, and it soothed immediately. Does this mean I can be pretty sure it was acid and not bile? I guess baking soda would not help bile since they are both alkaloids.

[grannyjogger]

For years I’ve had severe acid reflux and since I had my gall bladder removed I now also have bile reflux. I now easily recognise which is which because of the distinctive taste associated with bile. Acid reflux burns but does not have the very bitter taste that you get with bile. Although I take a fairly high dose of meds (Combination of Lanzoprazole and Ranitidine) Because if my large hiatus hernia I still sometimes need additional meds. I take Gaviscon which works by forming a raft or barrier to stop the stomach contents refluxing into the oesophagus rather than just neutralising acid with bicarbonate. The barrier works for both acid and bile reflux.

[Cortex1 in reply to grannyjogger]

I take a low dose lanzoprazole as well as gaviscon before I go to bed (and I sleep elevated). However when my stomach is in a really bad mood it does not help. So I use bicarbonate as an emergency solution. But that wouldn’t work on bile, just acid, is that right?

[Spikey in reply to Cortex1]

Yes, that's right. Bicarbonate of soda is a mild alkali which works to neutralise acid. (Ant-acid tablets such as Rennies work exactly the same and are better for you than swallowing baking soda). But it has no effect on bile. You will know if you have bile reflux, as the burn is much worse and lasts much longer!

[Mary-intussuception in reply to grannyjogger]

Gaviscon Advance also stops the rising vapours / Pepsin -according to my ENT Consultant. Which is potentially harmful as well as acid in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux ("silent Reflux").

[kwaman]

I'm taking 20mg Omeprazole daily which helps soothe the burning reflux occurring during the night. Your GP would probably recommend this.