Raising the head of the bed for GERD

[glenda]

How effective is raising the head of the bed?  Since I get heartburn even while completely upright, I have hesitated to make a big change in my sleeping arrangements.  A friend told me that when she raised the bed a full 5 - 6 inches, she and her husband both felt like they were sliding off the bed all night!  My GERD has become steadily worse over the past 5 years or so and now I am awaiting tests to decide the need for fundoplication.

[Carol]

Hi:

Sue, I agree with the fundoplication. It isn't all it's cracked up to be. I suffer everyday as a result of this horrible operation. If anyone already has gastroparesis, don't even consider having the fundoplication it will make things worse. I know, I am living it. I have a more restricted diet now than I did before the surgery.

Just be careful and do thorough research before opting for this avenue. There could be more and worse problems afterwards.

Carol

[sue]

To anyone thinking about having a Nissen Fundoplication, I would reconsider.  I had one in May of '98 and wish that I hadn't.  I only had relief for 2 months before the symptoms started up again. Now if I feel nauseous, I'm not able to vomit. I can eat nothing without having symptoms.  I feel a pressure on my chest after eating.  This is no way to live!!  Sue

[Glenda to Cassandra]

Sorry about your email troubles - I have a computer specialist in my house so I don't have to worry about stuff like that (of course, half the time the computer is in pieces on the floor, but I live with that *LOL*)

Your situation sounds very extreme.  I can't imagine you have much of a life!  I am imagining you have been tested every which way - gastroscopy, colonoscopy, etc?  I gather that the gastroparesis is a partial paralysis of the whole gastro system - top to bottom, so to speak?  If that is the case, the way I understand it, the fundoplication would not help in the least unless you also have the loose muscle at the top of your stomach.

I would think that they would have you on more motility drugs, although I see you have tried Reglan.  There is also motilium and propulsid although it does have some problems.  I forget what is in Zantac and Pepcid, but I have had such good results with Pantoloc, I cetainly recommend it, although it costs a small fortune.  But then, your grocery bills are pretty small, eh? (*LOL* If we can't laugh, we really ARE in bad shape!)

In spite of the pantoloc, my acid is getting continually worse so I do also take Gaviscon at night.  I chew the tablets, but you might not be able to do that - the liquid maybe?

Please feel free to post here - I was just thinking it was easier to email - obviously got that one wrong!  I'll check in daily.

Glenda

[mary l.]

i am on previcid for intestinal metaplasia will this condition be cured or will i have to worry about barretts?

[Cassandra to Glenda]

Hi there...
Thank you for responding, I'm sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner! I haven't been able to e-mail you because something is wrong with my e-mail program, it will receive incoming mail but won't let me send any. When I push send it acts like it's going to send it but takes forever, then it tells me "connection timed out." That must be computer talk for a brain fart. I'm not too good with computers as far as troubleshooting goes!

If you don't mind, can you respond here in the forum? I would be really interested in any advice you can give me. This problem is pretty frustrating... what I wouldn't give to get a good night sleep! If you'd rather not write here, I'll be trying to fix my computer in the meantime and will e-mail you as soon as I get this figured out. Thanks again!

[glenda]

Theresa - I take my pantoloc in the evening rather than the morning and that has helped quite a bit.  But if you still need something that works like propulsid (a motility medication), there are other things you can try, such as motilium, which don't have such scary side effects.  But if propulsid is the only thing that works for you, I am sure you will still be able to get it - I hope!