GERD - Acid Reflux

[MoutheBreather]

Hi All,

Hope this is the right place to post this, it doesn't really necessarily relate to sleep but here goes...

Do any of you get any acid reflux?

GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease

I've seen some pillows to lift you up so gravity keeps everything where it belongs. DO any of you suffer from this and what do you do about it?

[chelseauk]

Hi,

Yep - got GERD had it for years... In fact mines grade B (or at least was years back when it was checked (now that's an unpleasent process if you don't get put under) !

There are some GERD diets you can try (didn't help me) - but i think amazon will have books. Tried puttig the end of the bed up - but mines bad in the day as well - so it didn't help much either (I just put the bed up on some old books gaffer taped togerther)

Personally i'm on Zoton everyday for the rest of my days. As i got major depression with Zantac.

Interestingly those with GERD are more likely to swallow air on CPAP which leads to a rather nasty pain in the ribs (See my pain in the ribs post). Which funnily enough i woke up again with this morning (so i'll have to turn the cpap down a bit) - as it feels a bit like a broken rib - ouch.

Grade A
Definition One or more mucosal breaks no longer than 5 mm, none of which extends between the tops of the mucosal folds

Grade B
Definition One or more mucosal breaks more than 5 mm long, none of which extends between the tops of two mucosal folds

Grade C
Definition Mucosal breaks that extend between the tops of two or more mucosal folds, but which involve less than 75 per cent of the mucosal circumference

Grade D
Definition Mucosal breaks which involve at least 75 per cent of the mucosal circumference



Chelseauk.

[puffin]

I too have had this problem for 20 years plus. Had the camera down 3 times already and just been told that I will have it again in the new year. Not a nice proceedure if you are awake. Currently on 10mg of Losec daily. I have a 7cm Hiatus hernia when I was last checked.

[PowerNapper]

Hi All,

Do any of you get any acid reflux?

I get acid reflux if I sleep on my left side. More so if I eat late or spicy foods.

It is amazing how quickly the body remembers not to roll over!

Any ideas why it would happen one way and not the other?

PowerNapper

[puffin]

I too get this problem. If you look at the way the stomach is constructed, basically an open topped bag. Lay on one side the top is down, stomach contents is in the mouth, turn over the top is up no acid. In extreme cases stomach contents in the mouth can cause chocking, wake up in the middle of the night with hydrochloric acid in you lungs is not nice! Prolonged exposure can cause asthma, bad teeth etc. Its normally down to a weak valve at the top or openning of the stomach and or a Hiatus hernia and is very common. Chaps after up chucking, drink related, ladys the same or giving birth, there are other causes.

Treatment is simple, one pill a day for life. Zoton/Losec, these are acid suppressant drugs. Surgery is an option but does not work very well. The pill route works very well. Very often the method of finding out the problem is not very nice. A camera down your neck, sometimes tubes up you nose connected to a box to measure acid in various part of your system.

[Joe McManus]

Any ideas why it would happen one way and not the other?

Not an expert on this but I'd guess it's to do with the way the digestive tract is lined up. It's the same with the intestines, they go from your right to left. So if you lie on one side, even though there are valves, you'd be more likely to find stuff backing up.

[puffin]

Just been told that I have got NHS funding to have my insides rearranged.

Having been a little more than a little over weight since childhood, I'm 46 years old and 27 stone, I now am having Bariatric Surgery. This is a last chance option, as I've been on various diets, weight loss programmes most of my adult life, they have resulted in greater weight gain after often substantial weight loss, wast of time and effort.

So hopefully, this will prevent diabetes, heart problems etc., strong family history of both. And my OSA should improve with weight loss. Its not a light decision, I have had to apply for funding via my GP, 7 times in the last 18 months, even attended a seminar at the hospital for applicants. So I've had a lot of time to think about it.

[puffin]

Just found this article Bariatric Surgery http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40025123/ related to my post above that mentions improvements related to OSA.

[Joe McManus]

Congrats on finally getting it funded. Persistence pays off. But I have to say, it does sound somewhat scary. The benefits are strong of course so I hope it all goes very well for you and that it sorts out a few things.

When is it that you're going under the knife?

[puffin]

Joe, at the moment I'm still in the primary stages, i.e. blood tests, ECG, X-ray's etc. which are organised by the GP. These I have had, I'm just waiting for the first consult, which would be sometime in the new year now. They have already said that once you are first seen by the consultant it will take no more then 6 weeks.

I attended a seminar earlier this year at my local hospital. Some 150 local "fat people" turned up, all had been refereed for surgery. The team of Doctors then spent an hour saying how each option is completed and what is expected from the individual. All this was a great sales pitch, built up hopes for all that where there.

Then came the crunch, out of some 157 op's they do a year only 15 are from within the local area. This was down to funding, majority of op's are funded by outside Local Health Authorities for their own people. As you can imagine the mood of the room very quickly changed, a lot of angry people. As you can work out, 15 a year divided by 150 who attended not to mention those who could not. Anywhere upto 10 years plus waiting list for the current group! This is where the politics came in. They said the waiting list is only 6 weeks, right, thats six weeks from the time you see the consultant to the op. So the waiting time to get to see the consultant is not a waiting list! It can take years sitting on a nonexistent waiting list to see a consultant to get on to the official waiting list. This was a poorly organised seminar done with the best intentions but ill conceived. A good number of people got up and walked out and who could blame them.

[PowerNapper]

I wish you all the best with your treatment. Do keep us posted as to your progress.

My diabetes control has been rubbish for the last couple of years (until getting my CPAP), and was asked if I wanted to be proposed for the op a couple of times. I am a bit scared with the prospect of a complete change of lifestyle.

One of my few pleasures is to enjoy a nice meal every now and again. I guess it all boils down to priorities.

Good luck,
PowerNapper

[puffin]

Thanks Powernapper, I will do my best to keep everyone informed. At the moment I'm just wait for the consultants appointment.

[retsyo]

Hi All,

Hope this is the right place to post this, it doesn't really necessarily relate to sleep but here goes...

Do any of you get any acid reflux?

GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease

I've seen some pillows to lift you up so gravity keeps everything where it belongs. DO any of you suffer from this and what do you do about it?

Hi Mouthebreather

I have had GERD for possibly 20 years and take 10mg Losec daily with the addition of Ranitodene if it worsens.

Have changed diet to exclude all alcohol, citrus foods and drinks, no tomatoes, coffee and reduced amounts of tea. I have also cut down on spicy food. I avoid eating late and too much but suffer if I break the rules. However, I have always found lying on my left side helps considerably as the stomach is on the left side of the body. My sleep consultant suggested I had a Nissen Fundoplication procedure but after my sleep study and a further gastroscopy decided to see if I improved once on CPAP. Have not seen good reports on the web on such procedures.

The consultant explained in great detail the huge pressure OSA put on the heart and stomach causing stomach acids to be sucked out and deposited into the lungs. The heart apparently becomes enlarged. It was all rather frightening.

Last year I had great problems so did a bit of research on the web and found that honey is a great soother for the stomach, particularly in hot water. I now have a cup of hot water and honey after meals sometimes with a couple of tablespoons of cider apple vinegar added. This can be done before going to bed as well.

I also found a cup of hot milk before going to bed helped relieve the reflux. Try looking at your diet. It is always the food you love most that causes the problems.

Hope this info is useful

[martinb2410]

wow, Ive suffered this reflux for a few years but only found out last year that its a small hiatus hernia. Been put on nexium which is absolutley brilliant. It seems to be a common problem having a stomach complaint as well as sleep aponea. Sounds like eveything is all linked together. At least I can tell the wife now that there is a reason for having all these illneses.

[puffin]

Interesting, 12 months ago I had my gall bladder removed and since then I started CPAP. My long term problem with gastric reflex has nearly disappeared. I no longer need Gavison and my Losec was dropped from 20mg to 10mg daily at Chirstmas. I don't know if it is because of the op. or CPAP. Either way its win, win.