GERD and nightly heartburn

[Nonbeliever]

I suffer daily with/GERD but especially at nights. I have made a radical change to my diet, elevated the head of my bed and is currently on Omeprazole and have been for quite some time but nothing seems to help. I have done all that I've needed to do to manage this condition without success. I get frustrated and depressed at times as I do not know what else to do. Is there anyone having the same problems and have managed to find a solution and/or can offer some advice?

[behcets]

I had a lot of problems with reflux and didn’t feel like the meds did anything to help. I switched to drinking alkaline water and it has made a huge difference!! I still sleep elevated but only wake up about once a month with reflux. I no longer take meds for it.

[adela1]

Have you tried taking Gaviscon Advance last thing at night? And not eating 3 or 4 hours before going to bed. Otherwise you might be a candidate to have your hiatus hernia operated on, as you are not managing your reflux by meds and lifestyle changes.

[Nonbeliever in reply to adela1]

Thank you Adele 1 for your advice. I had an endoscopy last year and was advised by the Gastroenterologist to take 25mg amitriptyline at nights which I refused at the time as I thought it could be managed through my diet, gaviscon etc. Unfortunately nothing worked. 3 days ago I started taking the amitriptyline and I had a good night's sleep with minimum disturbance from acid reflux. Hopefully I am on the way to have better days and nights

[Harmonious]

I now take esomeprazole instead and hardly have any problems with heartburn

[Nonbeliever in reply to Harmonious]

Currently been prescribed 25mg amitriptyline trial for 2 weeks. Waiting to see how well it works.

[Harmonious in reply to Nonbeliever]

Good luck

[Spikey]

I suggest that you ask your GP to change your medication. There are better PPI's available than omeprazole, such as pantoprazole (which I take), lansoprazole and esomeprazole. Also, as already suggested, you could try taking Gaviscon before going to bed. If none of that works, then I suggest you ask for a referral to Gastro-enterology, who will probably want to do an endoscopy to take a look inside your stomach.

[petercaron in reply to Spikey]

I use 40 mg pantoprazole at night and sleep in a recliner. It has just about done away with my reflux. I found I would slide down in my raised bed during the night and experience reflux. It does not happen in my two motor recliner where I can adjust head/back from the feet angle. Life changing

I had an expensive sleep number bed that just didn’t work for me . The recliner makes a difference

[Nonbeliever in reply to Spikey]

Thank you for your response. Saw the Gastroenterologist last year but had refused to take amitriptyline as advised. Thought I could manage symptoms through lifestyle changes. Sadly this wasn't the case. Recently, I have started to take 25mg amitriptyline on 2 weeks trial. If not GP suggested changing PPI. Thank you

[Pepita933]

When are you taking your medication? I've taken omeprasole for many years, but my gastro insists I go to famotine. (Bone loss) Did you know you were supposed to take it 1 hour before you eat? My best advice is to take it 2 X a day. Once in the morning and 1x at night. Then it's monitoring my fluids, I have Sjogrens so I drink a lot of fluid! I allow myself watered down iced tea until about 4 pm. Then it is water, maybe with flavorings but hopefully no acid. About 3 hours before bed no acid, plain water. Does this fix it all, but it has been much better than before! So I take 40 MG OTC is 20 so instead of the 40 1X a day I take 20 2X. If I'm really miserable I take liquid mylanta to try and get through.

[davidap]

To give you a considered response I need to know what treatment you have had. In my case problems with GERD it started after my oesophagus was removed and I was started on omeprazole it did not work for me then because eventhe lowest dose was too strong for my shrunken stomach. I took 6 months to adjust my diet and the amounts of food, change my times of eating, most important complete last meal by 7.30pm. Very anti social. It's now thirteen years since my op and 12 years wwiithout Omeprazole.

[Nonbeliever in reply to davidap]

Thank you for your response. I am so happy for you that you are no longer having to take meds for GERD. I had made all the life style changes just like you had but without success. I had an endoscopy last year and was advised by the Gastroenterologist to take amitriptyline but refused. I recently relented and for the past 3 days or so has started taking 25mg amitriptyline at nights on trial for 2weeks. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will help.

[Spikey in reply to Nonbeliever]

Be careful with amitriptyline. As I'm sure you know, it is a nerve blocker and is used to treat migraine and depression (which presumably is why you initially refused to take it). I was prescribed amitriptyline for arthritis in my neck, but stopped taking it after three days because of the side effects.

[Nuxperience]

had esophagus surgery via Ivor-Lewis method 9 years ago.

Sleep in recliner because eventually slip down in bed. Reflux most of time my bad- eat too late, wrong foods, sometimes just happens.

[Sol1]

I have had similar struggles. Switching from Omeprazole to Lanzoprazole has helped. I was on Pantoprazole at some point, too, but also lost effectiveness after some time.Not eating 4 hours before bed helps a lot.

Have you tried eliminating milk products? I think this helps me a lot. (Just haven't been super consistent).

[thisismaya]

Hi Nonbeliever

I'm sorry to hear that you are having trouble sleeping because of GERD.

Have you tried eating a light dinner and going for a walk after the meal?

There is actually a new health platform called HExSOS that might be helpful to you. There are lots of questions and answers on GERD, including lifestyle choices you can make to reduce the symptoms and a list of alternative medications and home remedies.

hexsos.com

I hope you find it useful.

[Artiquety]

Hi

I have literally changed my diet drastically- to Keto, cutting out any added sugar and dairy products, adding Huel all in one supplement. Warm drinks of Barley, Decaf coffee, cocoa with cinnamon or honey to soothe the throat.

I also adopted my fitness regime to prevent over exertion of my stomach muscles. I change my breathing techniques, whilst listening to calming music and listen to “orange noise” before retiring to bed.

As unique beings- that we all are, living different lifestyles and environments: Any one change, does not suit all. But we have to be positive and take out anything that is stressful and look for that glimmer of hope. X