Heartburn? (reflux)

[biowham]

For about the last four weeks, I've had heartburn/reflux (real reflux, too) pretty much every single night. I almost never have had heartburn (unless in late pregnancy), and now, I'm waking up every night, reaching for the Zantac. I can't really take it pre-emptively right before bed because it might interfere with my BCP.

Anyone had a problem like this? I don't take in much caffeine, this doesn't appear to be food related in any way. And when I say "reflux," I mean...burning liquid refluxing pretty high into my throat. It HURTS. Also have it during the day, but since I'm not lying down, it's tolerable.

Thanks,
Bio

[Justrum]

"Craig has bad reflux that makes him cough and feel like his throat is closing up when he sleeps... So now he takes over the counter "Pepcid AC" once before dinner.  It gives him perfect relief."

I have the exact same problem and Pepcid AC sits next to the bed.

[biowham]

Thanks, Quix. I've actually been gradually losing weight for a few months now without trying. Have dropped ~17 pounds in the last year. I was healthy weight-wise to begin with, had a healthy BMI. I'm not sure why the weight loss, really, but I'm also not complaining. Might just be that with daily thyroid hormone pill instead of whacko thyroid, things have equilibrated.

Not constipation here. ;-) Somethin' else.

The only meds I take are levothyroxine in the a.m. and low-dose Pill in the pm, neither of which is new. I do prop myself up (learned that one while pg), but it's just not doing it. The Zantac seems to be doing the trick for now, though.

Bio

[Quixotic1]

Well, there are a couple ways that it could be related to MS.  Several people here have gastroparesis to one extent or another.  (weakness or paralysis of the stomach muscles so that the stomach takes longer to empty).  This is supposedly not seen much in MS, but it can happen.

Constipation or anything that disrupts the routine movement of the stool throught the intestines can cause slowed stomach emptying.  If you are having lower intestinal issues that can contribute.

Many meds contribute to reflux.

Gaining weight does it.

Try sleeping propped up one night and see if it helps.  I sleep in a recliner and it does help immensely.

My $0.05 worth.

Q

[biowham]

Wow, thanks everyone for the good information and for the responses. I am reluctant even to mention this to my current PCP (or anyone else) because I've been on such a specialist merry-go-round in the last year or so, not just with the neuro stuff but also with GI (large adenoma removed from colon--can I really now be having trouble at the other end); ENT and endocrinologist (thyroid removed) and OB-GYN (endometrial polyps removed). While all of these turned out (obviously) to be really necessary specialist problems...after the neuro experiences, I'm just tired of doctors, and I'm secretly worried that someone is going to start to think I'm just crazy and attention seeking (EVEN THOUGH all of my issues were obviously legit). It just doesn't seem possible to have this much trouble with this many body systems in this brief period of time. Is it because I turned 40? ;)

I'll try the antacid before dinner (and watch my B12 intake) and see what happens. If it doesn't resolve or maybe after the dust settles here in a couple of months, I'll find a new PCP and see about going to my GI for an eval. I may need to go back to him sooner anyway because of lower intestine issues (which I won't detail here). ;)

Bio

[alicetinker]

Hi

I was recenty diagnosed with gastritis. I have never had any problems with such things previously.

The GP said this was my body's response  to being chronically ill.

Unfortunately, the medication that I was given is not effective on its own so I was advised to take OTC meds, also.

I am wondering this is actually an ulcer...

Feel better soon.

Alice

[LLWB]

I had reflux to the enth degree. Docs put me on every acid reducer known to man. All would work for a short period of time, then it would come back with a vengence. Have you tried raising the front of your bed? Use books or whatever to make it stable. That can help. I ended up having a Laparascopic nissan fundiplication. The valve between my stomach and esophagus was totally non-functioning. They go in and wrap the top of your stomach around the lower end of your esophagus. Long recovery period, as it's major abdominal surgery. BUT well worth it. Now the aid can't back up into the esophagus. When even water gives you a sour stomach, it was time for me to do something. It's been over 8 years now, and the only time I get even a twinge of reflux is from pain meds on an empty stomach.I know, I should know better. They only downside I have from the surgery is the in-ability to vomit........Not once, in 8 years. And boy have I tried sometimes. It feels like the whole stomach is trying to rip itself out. It's very hard to hold your stomach together, while praying to the porcelin goddess. But that is the only draw back I have had. The acid reflux can cause a lot of damage, so it's a serious condition. Please see a gastroenterologist for an evaluation.

Maggie

[Deb61]

I have a bad problem with this.  I take Nexium (one of the medicine listed on the 8 medications doctors wouldn't take).  It works, though.  The Prilosec OTC helped, but wasn't strong enough.  

This problem has lead to extremely painful esophageal spasms.  However, once the reflux is under control, the spasms are better.  

I've done away with caffeine altogether (for avoidance of migraines), but this has not affected the reflux problem at all.  However, tomato-based food (like hot sauce and tomato soup), fatty foods will cause problems for me.  Plus, avoiding eating several hours before bedtime will help.  When I have problems, I sleep propped up with pillows--I've not tried raising the head of my bed (don't think my husband would like that).  

Have you been tested for the helio.... (I can't think of it) bacteria?

Oh, another very, very bad problem is the choking at night.  I think it's related to the reflux and it's very scary.  I will wake up feeling as though I can't breathe.  So, I know it's important to get the proper treatment for this.  

Deb

[wonko]

I have been having issues with this, and do think it is related to my undiagnosed nonsense.  I've had a constant little tickle in my throat for the last couple of months that is from reflux.  I've tried prilosec OTC, and am going to switch to the other one, Zantac, which my PCP says works differently, and see if it helps.  If not, I'm gonna need another endo.  

I also sometimes get "stuck" mid-swallow, a really annoying and uncomfortable experience.  I actually developed that problem years ago, and got an endo at that time.  But it then stopped, along with the reflux, until the last couple of months.  Like you, it doesn't seem to have much to do with how much or what I eat.  

I am just trying to use extra caution to not upset my stomach.  For me, all my symptoms respond and act up if I am in extra pain.  So something like a minor upset stomach can turn into a really bad experience.    

Anyway, Kathy is so right that this is worth discussing with your doctor.  Ignoring these things can be really dangerous.  They can look for damage and signs of reflux and test you for bad stomach bacteria during the endo, so I think it's a worthwhile procedure.

Take care!

[Fluffysmom]

I have reflux disease, developed Barrett's Esophagus, which can lead to esophageal cancer.  It did in my dad.  He was just taking Pepcid, so the damage from the acid changed the tissue in his esophagus, which then turned into a slow growing cancer.  He thought the Pepcid was taking care of the problem, until he started having trouble breathing (that took several years to reach that point). The cancer had metastasized.

X-rays, more and more tests, and it was too late; he died four months after diagnosis.

Sorry about the awful story.  All I really wanted to say, is that reflux can do some serious damage, especially when it doesn't go away.  You may want to have an upper endoscopy (simple procedure).

I take Prevacid every morning.  I have my B12 levels checked every once in a while; so far so good.

Elaine, Craig has had an upper endoscopy, hasn't he?  Sometimes feeling relief isn't doesn't do the whole job.  I'm sure you already know that, but I would rather speak up and hear "yes, I know that", than hear that Craig or anyone here has one more thing go wrong.  Oh, I just noticed that you discussed it with Quix; now I know that my info. is old news.

Be well,

Kathy

[monotreme]

Craig has bad reflux that makes him cough and feel like his throat is closing up when he sleeps.  He tried Prilosec which worked but you can only take it once (one box) every three months.  

So now he takes over the counter "Pepcid AC" once before dinner.  It gives him perfect relief.

Please be aware that Prilosec and Pepcid and most drugs that stop acid also inhibit the production of B12, since B12 needs stomach acid.  So you should take sublingual (under the tongue) B12 in the form of methylcobalamin, NOT cyanacobalamin.  You can also buy B12 lozengers that are methylcobalamin.

Take the B12 late in the afternoon between lunch and dinner to make up for the B12 loss from the acid reducer drugs.

Quix and I have discussed this, since I was panicked over Craig waking up coughing and not being able to breathe.

Elaine

[jensequitur]

Bio, I have recurring acid reflux, that started about ten years ago.  I believe it was one of my first MS symptoms, because it triggered these awful throat spasms that felt like a heart attack.

All that went away for seven years, then came back with a vengeance!  It was really bad last year - no matter what I ate, I got an acid stomach, and the acid would trigger my throat spasm, and everything would cramp up.  I could get the cramps to stop by drinking a glass of lukewarm water, so I started keeping a bottle of water by my bed.  I also started taking acid reducers whenever I got a sour stomach.  The acid reducers in combination with water is what I recommend.

As for cause, I think the flap closing my stomach is weak, and allows acid to flow back into my esophagus.  It makes sense, as I have other problems in that area.

[wingnut19]

The only other time besides pregnancy that I had heartburn (reflux) REAL bad was when I had the IV Solumedrol in late March....

My GOD, was it horrible....I know this is going to sound totally lame, but have you tried gnawing on some celery when it first starts??  I know it sounds crazy because I thought it would NEVER work, but amazingly, it did!!  Unfortunately it doesn't last long, though..

I also tried an OTC acid reducer (no name brand) and it worked excellent....

I hope that subsides for you soon, Bio!  That is just awful!!

Tammy