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Need advice about night time

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 9/9/2012 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
The past few nights I have been awakened by a burning pain in my upper back/ between my shoulder blades with some chest discomfort. I have Gerd/gastritis but haven't had to deal with this night time pain so much as I have lately. I take an otc zegerid and when this wakes me up I will get up and take a Gaviscon and it all calms down. I don't eat before bed and I haven't changed my diet either. Is this normal GERD stuff and could it be getting worse if it is waking me up in the middle of the night? I have been doing more weight lifting lately with hand weights so I wonder if this is also making things worse. Any information or advice is appreciated.
Posted 9/11/2012 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tinlou,

That sounds like gallbladder to me. My husband has bouts in the middle of the night and it sounds a lot like what he describes.


Have you been to your primary care doc for this? I'd recommend you do if it continues. No sense in guessing, or ignoring and just living with something that is bothering you.


Good luck getting to the bottom of what's going on!

Denise
Posted 9/11/2012 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply. My doctor thought it was my GB too and did an ultrasound but that showed nothing. I was suppose to go for the HIDA but never went because it wasn't acting up. Lately it has been happening every day. Is there anything I can do that may hold off getting surgery if it is my GB? Funny thing is, I haven't been terribly nauseated lately just the burning mostly.
Posted 9/11/2012 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Do you sleep elevated? What is your diet like? If you make some changes and see improvements, it could be GERD stuff.
Posted 9/11/2012 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
I really don't sleep elevated other than to use 2 pillows instead of 1 and my diet is not bad. I know enough not to eat late, usually I don't eat at all past 7 because I know I will pay for it.
Posted 9/12/2012 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tinlou,

2 pillows can actually put pressure on your stomach and create more chance of reflux.  That's the idea of the wedge...it's a more gradual elevation, so it doesn't bend the top of your body to create that pressure. 

If you're having more reflux at night, you could try a different sleeping arrangement. I have used the wedge and an elevated head-of-bed, and the elevated bed is much more comfortable in my estimation.

Good luck finding an answer!

Denise

Posted 9/12/2012 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
That is good to know about the 2 pillows, I had no idea that it made a difference as long as my head was higher than the rest of my body.
Posted 9/12/2012 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Tinlou-

Most people don't know that just using pillows under your head actually makes it worse. If you have enough pillows yuo can use them to make an improv wedge with them. Just be sure you re supported on your back and it gradually raises everything up.

Do you have any certain foods that seem to make the pain worse or come on quickly? When my gallbladder went I had certain foods that would make it worse. Such as something fatty like french fries. That would give me almost instant pain.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/12/2012 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Bill, I can't actually pin point what foods are bothering me since it is happening more and more. I imagine if I just stop eating I will be fine...ha but that obviously can't happen. Since i started drinking milk again really seems to be a factor though.

What kind of pain did you have when you were having problems with your gallbladder?
Posted 9/12/2012 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Tinlou,
Just wanted to confirm what Bill said. If you're just elevating your head the reflux can still make it's way up the throat, but inclining your whole upper body (like with pillows or a wedge) should help gravity to get the reflux to go back down.

Do you sleep on your back? Erica suggested sleeping on the left side, which has been helping me.
Posted 9/12/2012 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Tinlou-

I had pain in my right shoulder blade an sometimes in the middle of my back or in the front under my right side ribs. The shoulder blade pain was the worst for me. Kind of felt like some one had stabbed me there.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/12/2012 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
@robspect, I usually do sleep on my left side because it does seem to give me less trouble automatically as far as the GERD is concerned. It's odd, as soon as I switch to my right side or my back it starts to act up. Thanks for the advice though, I will try to elevate my whole self instead of just my head tonight.

@Bill, I get pain between my shoulder blades a lot lately. It just happens randomly. Lately, at night but during the day too, a few times where as it use to be just once a month if that. How often did you get the pain? Was it every day or even more than once a day like I do?
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