Any tips for night acid reflux? I get hungry and anxious at night.

Hi SurferHB:

First of all anxiety can cause/make your GERD feel worse. Try eating more smaller meals during the day, and avoid eating anything 3 hours before bedtime - and I would not have the power shake at 10:00 p.m. Try taking an over the counter Pepcid to counteract the acid you get over night. All prescribed medication comes with risks and warnings. Personally, I don't think less than two weeks is enough on the PPI, especially with having surgery. Is the Nexium prescribed or OTC? The most important thing is to strictly follow a GERD-friendly diet. It's surprising all the foods (besides the obvious) that are not good for acid reflux. Also, keep a food diary to try and pinpoint your potential trigger foods and/or sensitivites. Unfortunately GERD/Acid Reflux doesn't go away as quickly as we would like.

Sharon

My advice is to not self-diagnose with Dr. Google. There is a lot of misinformation out there.

Usually PPIs are taken in the morning on an empty stomach, then you eat about 45 minutes later for them to be the most effective.

Good luck with your doctor!

Sharon

WJF said...


In general eating supper is a bad idea as it invites night-time reflux.
But if I have to eat something during that hour, I find certain food is better than others (in small quantity).

1. banana
2. chocolate-flavoured malt berevage with honey

Protein powder shake is I believe a terrible idea, because protein can stimulate your stomach to produce more acid.
Still. It's best if you can adjust your dinner time and the quantity right, so that you won't go too hungry before bedtime.

2nd thing, I find it odd that you are taking Nexium when it's not prescribed. It is one of the strongest PPI, and so it has the strongest withdrawal reaction when you do want to wean it off.

Usually when self-medicating with OTC meds, one goes Antacid -> H2 blocker -> PPI

Lastly, find a way to sleep upright, it will reduce your anxiety considerably.
When you do have a night-time reflux what wakes you up, stay calm in the dark, and take a short-acting acid blocker (Antacid or H2 blocker).

Hi WJF,
thank you for your reply it really helps with the anxieties

I have had acid reflux flares before, and was self-taking Nexium after they became available over the counter. This time around I think I really did it to myself causing this big flare. I was eating extremely badly (due to stress) before the acid reflux. Spicy, greasy foods and I remember the night before the acid reflux kicked in, I ate a 11 pm snack.

Last Thursday I went to see a PCP doctor and he prescribed daily 40mg Protonix for 30 days and Gaviscon. The doctor examined me and said everything is as expected after having appendectomy surgery. The Protonix had a immediate effect but I'm still experiencing the acid reflux. Since last Thursday it’s been slowly improving but yesterday had a bit of dry heave before feeling the acid reflux. The odd thing this time around, when the acid reflux happens, I experience dizziness and body twitching. I’m not sure if these symptoms are anxiety related or cause by GERD?

I admit last night was a bit rough for me. I ate the last meal around 8pm and went to bed at around 11pm. I felt the dizziness and acid reflux right around that time, I was starting to get hungry again. During the night, I woke up multiple times with a growling stomach, acid reflux and some anxieties. I took a Gaviscon pill and managed to fall back a sleep. In the morning I woke up and the acid reflux wasn’t as bad. I went for a 30mn jog before breakfast and felt ok.

I must remind myself that I need to give my body time to heal and for the meds enough time to work. Albeit this is mentally challenging especially at night. I’m trying not to Google symptoms as it makes me think of the worse. At this point I think I’m doing everything possible to heal up mentally and physically. I have a therapist, changing my diet, meditating at night, and sleeping at an angle. Part of me wants to just go directly to a GI doctor but the PCP didn’t recommend it.

Sorry for the long post but I needed to vent out my frustration with this acid reflux thing.

SurferHB said...

The Protonix had a immediate effect but I'm still experiencing the acid reflux.

Protonix is another type of PPI meds. They all reduce the acidity of stomach, but do nothing to the strength of your sphincter muscle, which is the one that actually keeps your stomach content from reaching the upper area.

It sounds like your stomach was temporarily weakened, and that affected your sphincter, and it will take a while to heal.

SurferHB said...

I must remind myself that I need to give my body time to heal and for the meds enough time to work. Albeit this is mentally challenging especially at night. I’m trying not to Google symptoms as it makes me think of the worse. At this point I think I’m doing everything possible to heal up mentally and physically. I have a therapist, changing my diet, meditating at night, and sleeping at an angle..

You are on the right track. GERD has affected me for more than 10 years (unfortunately for me it was not a temporary problem).

The trick is to know what to do when facing different symptoms at different hours, and that takes time to learn by trial and error. Today it has become part of the muscle memory for me, if I do wake up at night with a sensation of reflux. I would drink a cup of water and sleep upright on a sofa for about an hour, and go back to the bed again when the stomach calms down. It doesn't bother me anymore.