I have acid reflux. I got diagnosed with it last year. I had an unexplainable sore throat for 3 months and kept getting put on antibiotics and stuff. I was really sick. My doctor was about to send me for lung and esophagus tests. I'm a smoker. WHEN my flatmate suggested it might be acid reflux. Which I'd never heard of. I got something called sozol and took it for a whole month and it all cleared up magically. Then I found every now and then it plays up. So I take sozol for a couple of days and then I'm OK again. Only this time the pain (It's a stinging pain) Is not in my throat so much as my esophogus. AGAIN I had a cancer scare. Even now that I"ve realised it's just the old acid reflux again, I"m beginning to realise there CAN be complications with your esophogus with acid reflux. So still slightly worried. But definitley getting back onto the sozol for at least a week or two or longer to see if that helps.
I grew interested in the raised bed idea as I looked up acid reflux diet on About.com, realised straight away it was totally neurotic and then looked in wiki and found this:
"Diet
Certain foods and lifestyle are considered to promote gastroesophageal reflux, but a 2006 review suggested that evidence for most dietary interventions is anecdotal; only weight loss and elevating the head of the bed were supported by evidence.[20] A subsequent randomized crossover study showed benefit by avoiding eating two hours before bedtime".
So I guess it's really up to the individual to gauge themselves for food irritants. Because I honestly believe lemons are GOOD for you pure and simply.
ANYWAY I also found this in wiki:
GERD is largely preventable through changes in lifestyle, which are also used as treatment (see below).
Sleep on the left side, or with your upper body raised.
Relief is often found by raising the head of the bed to 30 degrees, raising the upper body with pillows, or sleeping sitting up.[20] The upper body must be raised, not just the head; pillows that only raise the head do little for heartburn and put strain on the neck. Sleeping on the left side also keeps gravity working for you, keeping your stomach below your esophagus.[21]
Eat smaller meals.
Eating a big meal causes excess stomach acid production, so attacks can be minimized by eating smaller meals. It is also important to avoid eating shortly before bedtime.[12]
Lose weight.
Gaining even a few pounds increases your risk of heartburn.[20] Exactly why isn't clear, but the leading theory is that more body fat puts more pressure on the stomach, which can cause highly acidic stomach contents to reflux to the lower esophageal sphincter. For the same reason, tight clothing around the abdomen can also increase the risk of heartburn.
Avoid acidic and rich foods.
Though less well supported by evidence,[20] a sufferer may benefit from avoiding foods that trigger their symptoms. These commonly include acidic fruit or juices, fatty foods, coffee, tea, onions, peppermint, chocolate, especially shortly before bedtime.[22]
Avoid consuming acidic substances that can trigger heartburn symptoms such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
And I am interested int he fact that this came about right when I'd gained 10 kg's. I'm not technically overweight still, I'm just an ectomorph, my bones are quite small which is why I'm usually under the BMI even though I eat fairly well. But the extra kilos do sit around my belly. And boy are they hard to lose. (Never had this problem before never had to diet)!
I also get it during the day. And just then I noticed it was awful when I was lying down.
I can't afford anything like a $3000 matress to go with some embarrassing contraption that no doubt is also very expensive. So I'm thinking the wedges sound like a good option. Especially if it is just to try to see if it helps.
To tell you the truth mine comes and goes and hopefully I'm not developing a complication. As so far it hasn't been that serious, ever since I got the sozol, I really seem to need only to take one or two every couple of weeks or so and that sorts it out. So hopefully it will again this time.
I"ve had no tests run or anything yet.
But if this stinging esophegos keeps up I"m going to have to of course.
Anyway meanwhile the wedge. Yes would be interesting to know if this helped also to relieve the daytime symptoms.
But I mean it would be nice to go on a journey of healing with this it really would.
All the good things like coffee and tea and ciggies could go, maybe, maybe not.
One thing I"ve found that does help me a lot is a daily cup (or three) of miso. It's good for your gut.
You can read this excellent article about this miraculous superfood here:
http://www.macrobiotic.org/Miso.htm
Meanwhile for those of us who pray lets direct the energy on the poor peeps of this forum and hope for the best shall we.
Hope this cleared a couple of things up for people. Although, we're all still wondering about our matresses aren't we. The bricks! Ha ha.
This discussion is related to
Raising the head of the bed for GERD.