Acid reflux and burping

After few months of answering questions its my turn to ask one.I have been suffering from acid reflux and bad burping especially at night.Still on medication(lazansoprol) and still propped up at night.I suffered this after op for few months then flare ups nown and again.No other probs as still gaining weight eating better and being able to function very well now, and I am 17th months post op

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The easy responses are about gravity. During the day it tends to keep stomach contents in their place; lying down lets it move up towards the throat. Hence being propped up is meant to help. Variations include putting bricks under the feet of the bed, and perhaps ideally having a bed with an adjustable W-shaped profile and/or memory foam mattress /cover to stop you slipping down the bed. Or propping yourself up even higher.

Having lost the lower oesophageal sphincter valve between oesophagus and stomach during surgery, you will never get it back, so we are probably looking at a long term solution here.

The later in the day you eat, the worse it is likely to be.

Lansoprazole and omeprazole are meant to stop stomach acid being produced, so we then start to think about dosage, or changing medication, or wondering whether it is acid you are tasting, or is it bile, which is alkali and therefore not likely to be counteracted by a PPI like that medication? Gaviscon would work for either because it creates a protective raft for a few hours, and is a real boon to have by your bedside.

The air that is taken in with food usually has to leave the system somehow, either up or down; otherwise I think you risk getting colic? I think that it may, just may, be affected by how much you chew really thoroughly before swallowing. And eating later in the day might also be something of a factor sometimes.

Why should it go in phases? I have no idea, but I wonder if it might depend on some food rather than others? In which case we suggest a food diary to try and work out a few clues.

I think that the particular re-plumbing positions carried out in your individual surgery can be relevant at times.

These are the 'easy' responses, and I think that you probably know all this already, so we then start to think about whether to pursue things further with the specialist nurses / surgeons/ gastroenterologist! But probably best to eliminate the straightforward things first!

I hope this helps!

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Thanks Alan.The advice is much appreciated so will be looking into it.

Griff