Persistant GERD

I have persistant GERD.  I am on Protonics which has helped quite a bit.  My problem is that I have gained a lot of weight because of medications I take as well as immobility due to complex regional pain and a terminal degenerative brain disease.  So, I am sure this is making the GERD worse and I am taking steps to lose the weight.  My main problem happens at night when I have reflux and aspirate some of the "vomit."  I have already had aspiration pneumonia.  My doctor ordered a swallowing test and I do have slight aspiration problems.  When he ordered a CT scan, I had an obvious hiatal hernia which I've known about for years.  I have mentioned possible correction of my hiatal hernia but my doctor thinks it won't work and he said we should really be cautious before we consider surgery because of my medical condition.

The problem is that the GERD problem is difficult to live with on top of everything else I have to deal with.  It wakes me up at night, the upflow of stomach contents burns my throat and mouth and I do start coughing because I do usually aspirate some of the GI contents.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[selmaS]

Hi...have u tried to elevate the head of ur bed..avoid foods know to agitate gerd...and avoid dairy late in the day and avoid lying down until at least 3 to 4 hrs after eating.

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"selma"