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.

[Teresa G.]

I suffered for many years with a gnawing pain after I would eat and when I would lie down I would have an burning sensation in
my upper chest area. MAny nights I would lie awake tasting an
acid like sustance. Sometimes, I would gag and have to throw up.
I tried Pedci AC, which helped a little, but it would get me bound up. I drank Mylanta or Peptp Bismol, but got tired of this all the time. After 6 years of suffering, I went to the Doctor  
and he gave me some prilosec to try. This was like a "miracle"
for me but the symptoms would come back in the early evening.
He suggested a combination of propulsid and prilosec. This was
wonderful. I could eat regularly again without feeling all
that nagging pain.

Now they are going to restrict prescriptions for propulsid.
Does anyone know of an alternative for this drug?

[Oscar Roncero Garc]

Estimada paciente:
te responder

[to Glenda from Cassandra]

Hi Glenda,
I have a rather complicated situation. My reflux comes from severe gastroparesis, and I also have chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. I have been on TPN (IV food) for years because I can't eat anything, but there's times I can tolerate sips of water. I have a ton of reflux even though I don't eat! My doctor refuses to give me oral meds because they won't be absorbed, any meds I take have to be IV. Unfortunately, the meds available in IV form are very limited. I have 200mg IV Zantac in my bag of TPN which is already beyond the maximum dose, and I've also tried Pepcid and Reglen. I'm going to convince my doctor to give me something, ANYTHING! It has gotten so bad that I'm awakened at night at least 8 times with acid coming up (even if I'm still sleeping upright), I have to take a deep breath to prevent it from coming all the way up. In the morning I still end up with acid in my mouth and a lot of pain in my chest. My voice is even starting to change! During the day I can't walk around without it coming up all day long. I'm pretty miserable and just don't know what to do. If I have an opportunity to try an oral med which do you think would be best? I heard Propulcid is going to be taken off the market soon. :(

I'm told the fundo isn't an option because of my underlying condition, is this true? Will the fundo only help if the LES is malfunctioning, or will it help with reflux from gastroparesis?

Thanks so much for your help! Good luck and God bless you all.

Cassandra

[Glenda to Cassandra]

How about emailing me at ***@**** and we can talk off the board...

[glenda]

John, it sounds a BIT like reflux but you would think it would be inflamed all the way up the esophagus, not just at the larynx.  I suppose one way to test it would be to go on some strong acid suppressors like prilosec.  If the pain went away then, you would have your answer.

[John]

Does anyone have terrible burning in the throat that they (doctors) cannot find a reason for?  I have had Endoscopy,
laryngoscopy, and barium swallow.  No answers!!  I have been
told that there was some redness around the larynx, but it does
not explain the severity of pain.  I think personally it might be
a weak Lower Esophageal valve allowing acid seepage.  Can anyone
relate??????This is a 24hr problem.