New Member - GERD Question

Hi G,

Welcome to Healing Well!  Sorry to hear you're having GERD issues.  Your symptoms are pretty typical.  It will take time for the Dexilant to heal your esophagus enough to feel improvements in the throat symptoms.  They didn't get that way overnight, and won't recover that quickly either.

I would urge you to persevere with the wedge, or even better, elevate the head of your bed 6 or 7 inches with blocks under the legs.  I have always found the elevated bed is much more comfortable than a wedge.   I can't overestimate the amount of damage that can be done while you are sleeping flat.  Acid and stomach contents can migrate into your esophagus and undo any healing that takes place during the day.

I wish there was a set time for healing that I could provide you with, but everyone is different.  You're doing the riight thing by avoiding spicy foods.  I'd add rough foods to that.  You don't want to send "scratchy" or irritating foods down that irritated esophagus.  That might explain the increase in symptoms during the day.  Smooth foods are the best.

Before I had my Nissen surgery whenever I got gasritis I'd get esophagitis, and it would take at least two months of very careful eating (smooth, bland foods) to heal.  I'm not telling you that yours will take that long, but it will give you an idea of the patience it will take!

Glad you've joined us!

Best wishes,

Denise

Hi G,

The wedge is used by many people to help keep stomach contents in their place while sleeping.  The only problem is that you can slip down the wedge while sleeping, and end up with your body being bent at the stomach area, which then adds to the pressure that potentially pushes acid into the esophagus.

I think you can buy a metal frame for not much money.  Obviously you'll be without your head and foot boards, but raising the head of your bed would be a lot better for your recovery. 

The thing that worked best for me was the bed raisers sold at a store like Bed Bath and Beyond.  They raise the head of the bed about 4 inches.  I then added two 2X6 squares under each bed raiser to a total of 8 inches.  The thing I like about the bed raisers is that they hold the leg/wheel in a more stable position than just raising on the boards or blocks alone.

Sorry you're having to deal with all this.  I can tell you that once you get the head of your bed elevated it'll take a little time to get used to it, but in time it feels strange to sleep on a flat bed!

The wedge is good to keep for when you travel and are forced to sleep on a flat bed.  It's better than nothing!

Good luck!  Patience...it takes time to heal.

Best wishes,

Denise

Thanks Denise, I'll look into the risers and a new frame.

Mine started in December with a lump in my throat. My doctor started out thinking it was a sinus infection. Mine is mostly the feeling of a lump which my GI doctor told me is the esophagus reacting to the acid and trying to close itself like the LES should be but isn't. The only time I get a sore throat is when I've eaten too much that day. I am not on any PPI's right now. Since I have acid/non-acid reflux, PPI's do not help me. I noticed the sore throat happened more when I was on the PPIs though. Now, I notice I get the lump feeling on and off. I read through other blogs and pages that honey is a natural healer for throat/esophagus irritation so that's why I tried it. The lump feeling seems better after I take the honey. I'm scheduled to see a surgeon next month so I'll keep everyone updated.

At the beginning I would panic when I felt like my throat was closing, but my doctors assured me this is not the case since my airway is not restricted. So I usually try to not think too much about it when I get the lump and it seems to go away after an hour or so after eating, more so if I take 2 Tums (recommended by my doctor).