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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 1/4/2012 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Last night, I got off work at 10pm and decided to get something to eat. I hadn't eaten much during the day so I decided to get a small meal and since I don't go to bed until 2 or 3 in the morning, that'd be fine for no-eating-before-bed. Bad mistake. I was in pain all night. My chest, my arm, my throat, just in between the bottom of my breasts...it was terrible. I'm still feeling some pain today. The past few days have been more tolerable, but last night was terrible.

I'm actually worried about now going to have this problem for the rest of my life. I hate the idea of having to limit everything so much so that I'm not in terrible pain. I'm even paranoid right now of going anywhere, either for an evening or even overnight! On NYE, I spent $20 on a cab home rather than stay at my friends when I could have gotten a free ride in the morning because if I were to have a flare, I would have wanted to be home.

This whole thing just...sucks!
Posted 1/4/2012 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
In another thread you talked about your use of Nexium and Gaviscon. Perhaps you might try moving your Nexium to a nightly dose instead of morning, or even a twice daily dose? Are you sleeping on an incline?

I empathize with your feelings. Yes, this does stink.

-Bruce
Posted 1/4/2012 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure if I can take it at night time. I was told in the morning. Besides, taking it at night could mean missing a dose right now. I've wondered if I should have a daily dose but right now I'm on 40mg. If I double, I'll have 80mg. I'm still in pain today and I don't know what to do.
Posted 1/4/2012 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Amy,
Before my surgery I was on 80mg of nexium and 300mg of zantac. 40 mg of nexium in the morning, 40 mg of nexium at supper and 300mg of zantac at bedtime. It worked for a few months.
Posted 1/5/2012 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Right now, if I take a deep breathe in my lungs, it hurts, in the side/back. Sometimes I wonder if there's something more wrong with me, or if it's not GERD but something else.
Posted 1/5/2012 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Amy,

If you're having a lot of trouble with reflux at night, then you need to let your doctor know.  He/she will either move your dose to before dinner, or give you another dose...40mg AM and PM. 

If you were to switch yourself to a night dose, you could take it in the morning, then before dinner as well on the day you make the switch.  As Joy said, 40 mg twice a day is a very common thing.

Please contact your doctor and discuss your problems.

You shouldn't just live with it, without giving your doc a chance to help you be more comfortable.

Good luck!

Denise

Posted 1/5/2012 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Amy

I am a brand new member, so take what I say with a grain of salt, as it were: I was moved to twice a day PPIs when my reflux became increasingly worse at night. Also, my doctor started sucralfate. I did feel much improved, with not very many sleepless nights.

All that said, I did choose to have a TIF and partial Nissen wrap in late December. So far, I'm glad I did, though I must say the initial diet is hard!

I hope you feel better soon!

JB in Northern CA
Posted 1/5/2012 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
I have a week and a half of Nexium left. Should I move myself to the night and go to the doctor as scheduled when I run out? Or should I go asap?
Posted 1/5/2012 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Also, just mentioning that I woke up normal this morning, took my medications, had my breakfast (which consists of a small cup of coffee, since having small amounts seem to be ok, and Oatmeal Crisp with flax seeds added) and now my acid reflux is coming back. I'm in the same pain as before and can't take deep breathes. What can I do to make everything better?
Posted 1/5/2012 5:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Amy,

I hate to break it to you, but you really need to give up even a small cup of coffee if you're having the kind of trouble you're having.  I know how hard it is, but coffee not only has caffeine, which relaxes the LES it's very acidic which adds to the problem.

I found I could tolerate fairly weak decaf tea, so if you need a hot drink you could give that a try.  Can't help you with the caffeine.  No matter what it's in, it will weaken your LES and increase your reflux.

I strongly suggest that you at least call your doctor and leave a message with the nurse regarding your morning AND afternoon reflux issues.  Don't let things go on the way they are.  These things can be brought into control.

Hang in there!

Denise

Posted 1/5/2012 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
I went without coffee for 2 or 3 weeks, and then I tried a small one and had no problems. I continued to have a small one the rest of this week with no problems. If I had one a day it was ok. I can handle herbal teas though, no problem.

So you're saying to see my doctor rather than just waiting for the Nexium to run out?
Posted 1/5/2012 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
Amy, have you made any of the lifestyle changes I told you about (avoiding triggers, raising the head of your bed, not eating for 3-5 hours before bed)?

Medication seems to only be a magic bullet for a select few. Most of us see the most drastic changes with lifestyle changes. Have you started a food diary to determine which of the things you ate is causing it?

Not only will making changes most likely help you, it also shows your doctor what works for you and what doesn't, which can rule out ailments and conditions. He will also see that you are actively involved in healing yourself.

I know this is new for you, but don't waste time not making changes because you don't feel like you should have to. I did for a few weeks when I first got GERD and just basically wasted time suffering and not learning anything. Sorry if this is not the case, I'm only drawing from my own personal experiences to help you.

It sucks that we all have this disease, but we all have to cope somehow, and it's better to be constructive and to help ourselves than to cross our fingers and eat the proverbial chocolate cake :)

Sorry you're still suffering. I hope it's better soon.
Ashley
Posted 1/5/2012 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
The bed is raised and I do my best to avoid eating a few hours before bed. If I do eat, it's something like a piece of toast when I get home from work (I work until 10pm most nights, so I don't usually go to bed until 2 or 3). I know that tomatoes and onions are triggers for me so I avoid those as much as I can. I even turned down some food that members of my family made that I normally eat because it had tomatoes in it.

As for other foods...like I said, I tried coffee last week and it went down ok. But today it didn't. And with foods I normally eat, sometimes there's no problem at all, other times there's a little bit, where it's more tolerable.

And sorry, I'm of the mind where it's like "something's wrong, fix it NOW". Not always the best way to go about doing things, but it's usually how I work. This is probably one of those situations where thinking that way isn't going to work.

Oh, I also went outside to walk to the mall to pick up a few things. It seemed to help. Maybe because it helped get more oxygen in me, which helped with my being unable to breathe properly, and I was more upright which kept the acid down.
Posted 1/6/2012 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Amy,

Yes, I do think you should contact your doctor regarding the breakthrough reflux you're experiencing.  Be sure to inform them of the things you're doing to avoid reflux, and let them know that you're still suffering.

If they try you on two Nexium a day, you'll just use the ones you've got and get a script for double.  It's not worth suffering without letting your doc know so he/she can help.

Good luck!

Denise

Posted 1/7/2012 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
I can't see my doctor for a few days, since he doesn't work on weekends and was out of the office this afternoon. I was doing fine today but in the last hour, for no reason, I've been having another flare-up. It's on the right side tonight, which is odd, since I'm usually on the left. I've been in a miserable mood all day and this isn't helping. I take some Gaviscon and it's helping a bit, just not all the way.
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