Reflux leading to coughing and phlegm

[AnonymouslyNoted]

I am 14 months post IL. Recovery has been great with my strength and appetite returning. I sleep on an incline on my motorized mattress. Only issue I’m having is occasional reflux at night when I slide down into a flat position. I wake up suddenly with harsh burning at the top of my throat and a 10-15 minute bout of coughing and phlegm. Neither Pepto-Bismol nor cough drops can soothe the throat. Oddly, I have found that a few sips of Irish Cream does help. After it has faded, I can still feel a tingle at the top of my throat for a day or two, combined with very occasional coughs of phlegm. This happens maybe once every two weeks.

This morning was a rough event though. Heavy cough for longer and much more phlegm. 9 hours later and a cough/phlegm still comes every 20 minutes. No blood in phlegm, just thick.

Hoping it’s not I the brisket I cooked yesterday. It was (is) delicious but maybe I should avoid the leftovers for a few days.

I am having a “surveillance” esophagectomy in 2 weeks. It was scheduled last year following my surgery. I was declared cancer free after surgery, but some Barrett’s remained. So this upcoming esophagectomy is just to see how things look down there now. Yes, I will discuss this issue in detail with doc when I see him.

Anyone else experience this? What do you do for it? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[behcets]

I get the same thing. The harsh burning in my throat, followed by a day or 2 of phlegm and coughing. The only thing that seems to help is ice cream. It happens about twice a month. My doctor just increased my dosage of Esomeprazole so hopefully that will help. I hate taking pills every day for something that only happens every once in a while. I’m very curious to see if others have any input on this.

[AnonymouslyNoted in reply to behcets]

Thanks for letting me know I am not alone. Some small comfort in that. I quit ice cream one month after surgery because it caused me to dump shortly after eating. Maybe I should keep some on hand for events like this.

But first, next time this happens, I'm going to take some heavy cream instead of Irish cream. I take heavy cream in my coffee without any issues.

I'm on pantoprazole for the rest of my life. Maybe doc will increase dosage.

Thanks again for the reply.

[hunsdon]

Hi I so agree with what has been said and I am 10 years on and the reflux and the nasty bile can be horrific, the burning effects I use a very cold flannel around my neck to help calm it down , but it’s a very trying aftermath I just wish there was a more helpful medicine or a stronger one than we all use or aware of, I am going to call my support staff at my hospital to see if there has been any updates or any new clinical trials regarding this part of our lives .

[AnonymouslyNoted in reply to hunsdon]

uh oh, 10 years on and still dealing with it. Sorry to hear that. I will try the cold wrap. Thanks for the suggestion.

[tinabrown196]

I have a motorised bed also put the bed up under knees to stop the slip down, I make sure I don't eat two hours before bed, I take Sucralfate in the morning and at night recommended by my GI consultant, but also take Holland and Barrets licqoirce and slippery elm supplements with main meal around 5 pm daily to help with reflux

[AnonymouslyNoted in reply to tinabrown196]

My wife and I tried the raised knee option and neither one of us could get decent sleep. We have both adapted to the raised torso position, and I adjust myself upwards many times every night (it's so routine for me, I feel like I do it in my sleep 😀).

I avoid eating 2 hours before, but I could up that to at least 3 hours.

Never heard of slippery elm so I googled it, then ordered some (and licorice, too). Thanks for the suggestion. I will ask my doc about Sucralfate.

Thanks much for writing.

[tinabrown196 in reply to AnonymouslyNoted]

Most welcome x

[petercaron]

I am 3 1/2 years post Esophogectomy. I was getting the severe reflux at night the past year plus. I even had my esophagus stretched and injected with Botox to try and stop the reflux. My refluxed Bile was being silently aspirated at night and causing multiple boats of aspirational pneumonia including a 5 day hospital stay 3 months ago.

I also have a sleep number bed that I slept at almost 40 degrees inclined, but even with the knees raised, I was still sliding down and having my severe cases of bile reflux.

The last 1 1/2 months I have been sleeping in a recliner chair, and I have not had a case of reflux in the chair. I even sometimes have a little something to eat before bedtime and still no reflux sleeping in the recliner.

I guess my recliner going forward is my new bed!

Good luck as reflux is absolutely awful!

[AnonymouslyNoted in reply to petercaron]

Interesting that you were fine for the first 2 years. Tells me my new plumbing will keep evolving over time. Aspirational pneumonia is not a pretty picture.

I considered the recliner chair before we got the motorized bed. I'm not ruling it out as an option if things don't get better. before that, though, I will be increasing the angle of the bed.

Thanks for writing.

[hunsdon in reply to petercaron]

Hi I do have a wedge pillow which helps to keep me slightly up right but my tail bone does become uncomfortable at times so it’s like another problem to sort out

[kiddy]

Hi there yes 5 years post op and get the same. Mine normally lasts 2 Days and could be aspiration. I take Gaviscon advance at night and if eating red meat. I also take Lansoprazole and Sucralfate. Best wishes

Debbie

[AnonymouslyNoted in reply to kiddy]

Thanks Debbie. I'm on Pantoprazole for the rest of my life. Doc may want to increase dosage. I will ask him about Gaviscon and Sucralfate. I sure don't want to give up red meat.

[AussiePeterInLondon]

Hi,

I feel your pain (literally), doesn't take much coming up your oesophageous to feel absolutely horrid !

I'm not 100% sure of this but I suspect that what you're coughing up is not an acid - hence the antacids might not be as effective. If I'm in the middle of an "episode" I find that a can of diet coke helps to neutralise the reflux. Also, sometimes a few dry crackers will help to put a "raft" on my stomach contents.

I also eat a small scooop of vanilla icecream 15 mins before hitting the sack most night - seems to help put a layer on top of my stomach contents and helps.

My surgeon prescribed 2 x Sulfracate 1mg twice a day to help with this - has made a HUGE difference but it's not available on the NHS and is VERY expensive - fortunately my Health Insurer covers Outpatient meds.

Finally, prior to my IL I used to sleep on my front or left side - can no longer do either. I bring an additional pillow to bed and make sure to wrap my left arm over it when going to sleep - it stops me rolling over.

Good luck - let us know how you get on

[AnonymouslyNoted in reply to AussiePeterInLondon]

I have not heard the Diet Coke solution before. I will add that to my options. I will be picking up some ice cream on my next shopping trip. Sulfacate seems to be popular here so I will bring that up with my doc.

I used to be a stomach sleeper, too. No longer. I can sleep on my side if I'm careful about staying elevated.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[AlanWare]

This is a common problem for us. The burning is either bile or acid, that has adhered to your windpipe. As you cough the phlegm drags it out. I don't have enough to cough it up. So I returned to smoking (I had given it up completely). When I have an attack of aspiring. It will remain in a gasping situation. Unable to losen it. So I have to cigarette and the smoke causes my lungs to produce mucus. This enables me to cough up and bring the bile /acid out. The releaf is instantaneous. I have found a drink for liquorice root tea helps to clear the lungs. Good luck.

[AnonymouslyNoted in reply to AlanWare]

Interesting about the smoking but I won't be trying that. After smoking more than a pack a day, I quit cold turkey 25 years ago. Not a puff since. However, based on your suggestion, Amazon is delivering some licorice root tea soon. Thanks

[worthbanner]

Six years on and still daily (and occasionally nightly) reflux which causes a coughing fit. Since I found that coughing fits could at times lead to vomiting, I quell the coughing early on with a codeine cough syrup...none of the over the counter cough remedies work for me.

[doris22]

Hi there. I have found Gaviscon Advance really helps. Must be advance as this sticks to the sides and is a thicker liquid. I found it helps shift the mucas and stops the need to cough so much. Good luck

[Bien-aimee]

Bit late answering these, but as regards acid control, I should not eat after 8p.m. Take 2 lansoprazole at 10.30. Sleep propped up on several pillows. If I do not follow these rules and end up with very nasty acid reflux, if there is a sufficient time gap after lansoprazole, I use a quarter teaspoon bicarbonate of soda diluted in tepid water. If too soon after, you foam at the mouth - ha, ha. Simple chemistry - alkali neutralises acid. Do this during day if reflux is a problem - but if you eat little and often, avoid sugary foods, toast your bread or eat crackers ,avoid fibrous foods which can clog your system like apples and broccoli, opt for soft foods, tender meat well cut or minced etc. Should help avoid too much acid. Sip carbonated water to unclog throat. A gargle with salty water helps clear airways.