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Don't get it - low acid and PPI's?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 12/6/2006 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
I love reading this forum about alternative healing, but after several nights of an especially acid stomach, (and I'm in year 5 of GERD) I felt I really needed to use a PPI - at least for awhile.

I'm trusting that things will get better.  I'm taking OTC Prilosec one hour before dinner and last night it seemed that my dinner just sat in my stomach longer than usual.  This is what I don't get.  Motility is an issue with me - the food sitting there due to low acid is probably the cause of my reflux, and taking a PPI will further decrease the acid - so is it ultimately helpful? 

While I'm here, my bad nights of acid were after sleeping on pillows.  I already have the bed elevated 6-8 inches, and added 2 more pillows.  I think that when I don't sleep well it aggravates the reflux...And I had an odd thought:  What if sleeping on an elevated plane keeps your LES valve open?  I've been doing it for years now, and not sleeping especially well, I might add.

 

Posted 12/6/2006 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Have you tried sleeping only on your left side? It's made a huge difference for me. The acid can't creep up your throat while in that position.
Posted 12/7/2006 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
If acid can come up during the daytime, why can't it come up when you're sleeping on your left side?
Posted 12/7/2006 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
Lonibel,

I read on one website that, yes, being propped up on pillows or a wedge can sometimes cause more reflux because you are bending right at the stomach. I sleep on a wedge but I also put another pillow under my bottom so that I'm not bending so much in the middle but sleeping more at an angle. The ideal thing is to have your bed elevated.

The thing about this condition is that so many of us have similar symptoms but some find relief in one way and some in another. If you have to find what works for you.

Sillylilly
Posted 12/8/2006 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Lonibel,

I like your question about low acid and PPIs. I did some reading that said that reflux was caused by too little, not too much, acid, for exactly the reason you brought up - food sits in the stomach too long. The suggestion was apple cider vinegar before meals, to increase acid and speed up digestion. I tried it, but didn't see much difference one way or another. I think that's one reason the mindbody theories appeal to me - it really didn't seem to matter much what I ingested or didn't. The reflux had a mind of its own. I know that short term, I needed the PPIs (I took prilosec) to keep the acid out of my throat so it could heal, but after six weeks or so on it, I really felt I needed to find a better long term solution.


WDC
Posted 12/8/2006 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Lonibel,

  In response to your question as to why sleeping on your left side works to help keep the acid from going up into the esophagus is because anatomically, the esophagus has a curve to it, and when sleeping on the left side, it is harder for the acid to move up that curved area while laying down.  Try it , it does work.

Posted 12/8/2006 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
YankeeRose,
I wish it worked for me. It doesn't make any difference which side I sleep on, the acid still comes up if the food hasn't digested.
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