CPAP, GERD, Rebound, Cure?

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:15 pm

Yesterday I believe it was, there was a thread about CPAP, GERD and rebound effect after stopping GERD medication. I've been on CPAP for a couple of years now and my GERD just wasn't going away despite all the claims about CPAP helping.

Yesterday I started researching GERD rebound....and then went on to research for GERD cures (thanks, Google!).

Personally, I've been on either the purple pill or an OTC product every single day for literally, YEARS! And, when I stop taking it, I'm in misery within about 16 hours! Soooo, with the wonderful suggestion of one of our forum members, off I went in search of help.

Here are 2 links that claim GERD "cures".... http://www.refluxgoneforever.com/sitemap.htm and http://www.heartburn-acidreflux-guide.com and, best of all, the info is free.

I stopped eating my nightly "chocolate fix" a few evenings ago, coincidentally. After reading the info on the sites, it seems that that was 2 of the recommendations (1. don't eat chocolate; 2. don't eat right before going to bed...I was eating my chocolate IN bed right before going to sleep! LOL). I forgot to take my OTC stuff yesterday and actually felt pretty good all day and night. I figured I'd go ahead and not take the OTC stuff again and see how today went. So far, so good! I'm drinking more water, too, which is another of the recommendations. I still need to get some gum, but what the hey! It's working pretty darn good so far and it's a bunch cheaper than the $$$ for the OTC stuff!

I hope this helps some of ya'll. Sweetie is gonna start on it tonight....but she don't know yet (she's not on CPAP, but what the hey)! LOLOL But I do believe that doing the steps listed in the sites in conjunction with CPAP is going to work!

Good luck, ya'll!

Kajun

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:42 pm

In addition, have you tried elevating the head of your bed?

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:50 pm

http://dry.org/saliwell.html

I wonder how the cost will compare to bubble gum?

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:58 pm

I haven't had ANY chocolate or anything with caffeine for years, and the tiniest bit gives me trouble as it's the worst thing of all for gastric problems (along with spicy tomato sauce, garlic, cinammon, and a load of other stuff - pop included).

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:28 pm

Julie wrote:I haven't had ANY chocolate or anything with caffeine for years, and the tiniest bit gives me trouble as it's the worst thing of all for gastric problems (along with spicy tomato sauce, garlic, cinammon, and a load of other stuff - pop included).

Thanks, you have listed some known triggers of acid reflux. According to the links TXKajun provided, for any individual the triggers will vary. It is recommended to remove all the triggers from the diet and then add them back one at a time. By watching your body's reaction you may be able to develop your personal list of triggers. Then you don't have to give up all of those good things!

NeedinZs · Post by **NeedinZs** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:07 pm

What, if wearing a CPAP isn't enough, now I have to give up chocolate??!

m1k2s3 · Post by **m1k2s3** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:18 pm

Give up chocolate!!! Now let's not be hasty. I mean isn't chocolate one of the five major food groups??? Ok I'm kidding of course but I LOVE my chocolate and somethings are just worth suffering for........mmmmmmmm chocolate...........

Patrick A · Post by **Patrick A** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:22 pm

[quote="NeedinZs"]What, if wearing a CPAP isn't enough, now I have to give up chocolate??!

Patrick A · Post by **Patrick A** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:24 pm

m1k2s3 wrote:Give up chocolate!!! Now let's not be hasty. I mean isn't chocolate one of the five major food groups??? Ok I'm kidding of course but I LOVE my chocolate and somethings are just worth suffering for........mmmmmmmm chocolate...........

YES IT IS !!!!

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:32 pm

OK, ya'll, thanks tons for all the feedback.

Today was day 4 off of my OTC stuff. I was doing great, even got to where I was chewing gum starting this morning (Extra sugar free), but I got cocky. I went to Pizza Inn for lunch (tomato sauce, peppers, pepperoni, sausage, etc). Bad move! By about 3 PM, my heartburn had returned. Drat! But when I got home from work about 4 PM, I took an AlkaSeltzer and all is well.

As far as giving up chocolate totally, I think, at least for me, the biggie was not eating ANYTHING as I was laying in bed, reading, just before turning out the lights and going to sleep. I think anytihing would have given me the reaction. I think I'm gonna give choccy and spicy food a rest tonite and tomorrow and then on Sunday try some during the day.

I've already got the head of my bed elevated about 3" using a brick.

Hopefully things will keep going well. I'll keep ya'll posted.....please do the same.

Kajun

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:35 pm

So if you say you are giving up chocolate and coffee and all this stuff, it is because you are suffering from heartburn directly after eating it?

I'm trying to understand because I rarely GET heartburn, yet I have been diagnosed with silent gerd.

I still drink coffee every morning and still have a dark choco fix after lunch most days. I'm allergic to milk and soy, so it seems like I have given up so much, it would be a real hardship to cut more out of my diet.

I've defintely seen improvement in the few symptoms I do have by being strict about the no food just b4 bed thing. Since my reflux seems to happen mostly at night and I now sleep on a wedge and I'm currently taking prilosec, but am thinking I will soon switch to a milder one and then trial stopping it to see if the symptoms come back.

Anyway, guess i'm just thinking aloud. It is so complicated. Maybe I'm ok because the really acid triggers are early in the day.

I'll be reading more on these sites soon, but it does seem to have some conflicting and "out there" information. I say as I sip my martini, LOL!

jen

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:42 pm

*clink* (toasting jen's martini with my JW Red and water! LOL) Good luck!

The referenced sites have some rather "radical" information, according to common medical theory, but it sure seems to make sense to me. No, not a bunch of scientific studies, but lots of anecdotal statements.

Like everything, take the references with a grain of salt!

Kajun

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:49 pm

TXKajun wrote:.............
Like everything, take the references with a grain of salt!

Kajun

Yes, one grain - that's all you get on a GERD diet.

roster · Post by **roster** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:11 pm

socknitster wrote:So if you say you are giving up chocolate and coffee and all this stuff, it is because you are suffering from heartburn directly after eating it?

I'm trying to understand because I rarely GET heartburn, yet I have been diagnosed with silent gerd.

I still drink coffee every morning and still have a dark choco fix after lunch most days. I'm allergic to milk and soy, so it seems like I have given up so much, it would be a real hardship to cut more out of my diet.

I've defintely seen improvement in the few symptoms I do have by being strict about the no food just b4 bed thing. Since my reflux seems to happen mostly at night and I now sleep on a wedge and I'm currently taking prilosec, but am thinking I will soon switch to a milder one and then trial stopping it to see if the symptoms come back.

Anyway, guess i'm just thinking aloud. It is so complicated. Maybe I'm ok because the really acid triggers are early in the day.

I'll be reading more on these sites soon, but it does seem to have some conflicting and "out there" information. I say as I sip my martini, LOL!

jen

Jen,

You and I seem to be progressing and thinking on very similar tracks. I had an upper endoscopy and was diagnosed with asymptomatic (silent) GERD in June. I have never once had heartburn nor acid taste in my mouth. My symptoms were a frequent slight cough (I thought it was from pollen and dust allergies) and premature awakening accompanied by acute anxiety. I would awake 2 to 4 hours after going to bed and would not be able to sleep again.

The doc prescribed Prevacid and elevated bed. The first night on this treatment I awoke prematurely but had no anxiety and was able to go back to sleep quickly after a quick restroom visit. Thank God, it has been that way every night since - about 6 weeks now.

Of course I am practicing some other habits such as eating a light dinner, not laying down for at least three hours after dinner, no "bending over" activities after dinner, less fatty/spicy foods throughout the day, chewing sugar-free gum, etc.

One thing that makes the silent type of GERD more insidious is not getting quick feedback in the form of heartburn when you do something you should not have. I have to keep aware of that slight cough appearing or not feeling too well in the morning and remember what I ate, drank and did the day before.

Like you I hope to soon try a few days without the PPI (Prevacid in my case). The doc told me I might have to take it the rest of my life but added that I should try nonpharmacological remedies mentioned above.

I am not feeling great yet, but hopefully I am making longterm progress.

Rooster

socknitster · Post by **socknitster** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 10:54 am

Rooster,

Yes, I have noticed that we are on the same track and are having the same ideas and I read closely every post you write to glean any info that might help me.

I guess I figure I want to stay on the over the counter acid reducers long enough that I can be sure my LES is healed then try natural remedies to maintain that. I have done this one other time, a few years ago, and the rebound GERD was horrible (I was the one that told Kajun about it--it isn't well known).

I'm going to ask my ent to look for gerd damage when my tonsils are taken out rather than have a separate procedure as you have done.

One thing I have noticed since starting prilosec: I used to have problems with "swallowing the wrong way" on a daily basis--I would swallow water or something else and have it "go down the wrong pipe" as we say, and end up in a coughing fit. This has completely DISAPPEARED for me now.

Also the "lump of snot" I used to feel, clear my throat against, try to swallow down at the base of my throat is 90% gone and doesn't bother me at all any more.

So, these are the subtle harbingers of my progress! I will continue to try to make gradual changes to diet etc. I may switch from coffee to green tea for several reasons, the gerd, it is better for you, AND since I've been sleeping better, I've found I am far more sensitive to the effects of caffeine. EVen with half-decaf some days I get the jitters if I drink too much.

Thanks for posting this great info and keep us all informed of your progress. I'll let you know what they see during my tonsilectomy. Hopefully it will be all healed up by then and I won't have any altered cells there--Baret's (sp?) esophogus.

jen

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