Do you have GERD?

GERD = Gastroesophageal reflux.

This is VERY common in people with OSA. Dr. Park and others believe that it is caused by the effort to suck air in during an apnic event--the negative pressure created in the airway sucks gastric contents up into the airway. This is a serious issue--as the stomach contents can erode the airway linings, become aspirated into the lungs, etc. This can be the cause of serious esophageal disease (Barrett's Esophagus, cancer, etc.), lung problems, etc.

For some people like me, CPAP stops the GERD (about 90% of it, at least, in my case). Some people have MORE GERD on CPAP, especially at first when they have a lot of aerophagia to contend with as well.

The reason I'm bringing this up is that I'm also following what would be described as a low carb diet (in my case, low carb, high fat, whole food diet). There's a lot of anecdotal evidence that a low carb diet reduces or eliminated GERD for most people. An interesting podcast about it is here: http://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/the- ... cure/12391 (Norm Robilard's interview is about 38 minutes in) and there's info on various low carb and paleo websites if you go googling.

Many people can get off their medications for GERD by following a low carb diet. This is not well understood in the mainstream medical community (they will still tell you to avoid spicy foods, coffee and alcohol, although in my experience that won't help at all). I'm just throwing this out there. If you have GERD, it may be worth looking into--and you may even get other health benefits from such a way of eating as well.

I have had GERD since I was an adolescent and have been taking Prevacid for nearly 14 years now. I was actually diagnosed with Barretts Esophagus when I was 17 but after yearly endoscopies it was determined I was close to developing the full disease but it was reversed. I have found no relief though since the start of sleep therapy.

i have gerd. i have done low carb too many times....and need to be doing it again. it eliminates my gerd and my fat immediately....

i have found cpap to reduce the gerd as well in most cases...but not entirely like the low carb does.

I've had GERD for 20 years (including Barrett's) but was just diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I was able to control the GERD by diet and elevating the head of my electric bed about 25-30 degrees. I also eat a very low carb diet and take Zantac (other meds gave me too many side effects). I had very few problems until I went back to sleeping in a flat bed for about a year. Now I'm back in my electric bed. For me the head of bed elevation seems to be the key to controlling my GERD. I haven't started on my machine, but since I have mostly central apnea, I'm not sure if I get the negative pressure that would bring stomach acid into my throat. Chocolate, mint and alcohol do cause me to have symptoms but they really aren't on my low carb diet./

I have it but have not had symptoms since starting on Nexium many years ago. It worries me to take a medicine that decreases/eliminates stomach acid since that acid kills bugs. It would be great to not need it.

I have been doing the low carb thing for a few weeks but can't tell what the effects on GERD are (nexium) but have read that wheat allergy can be one of the culprits involved with GERD (any many other things). I haven't given up wheat but have cut down.

I'm overweight but lost 115 lbs a few years back with no noticeable difference in cpap needs but did cut the nexium in half. I have gained a lot back and am back to needing 40mg of nexium.

Yes, I do have GERD.

I have GERD but Nexium keeps it under control.

I had quite bad GERD fairly hefty doses of medication controlled it. Gone completely since being on CPAP, no longer take the medication.

What kind of medication do you folks use to control your GERD?

For me it's Prevacid.

Apnia may cause GERD symptoms, but, most GERD is caused by a weak lower esophageal sphincter valve (LES). Symptoms can sometimes be controlled by meds, diet,and lifestyle changes, but, the CURE is surgery. I had the nissen surgery 10 years ago and have had absolutely no problems since.

NJSleepless wrote:What kind of medication do you folks use to control your GERD?

For me it's Prevacid.

I was on something in the same family, Pantroprazole. I think in the US it's branded as Protonix. Worked very well for me, did the job and no side effects (that I noticed).

Janknitz wrote:GERD = Gastroesophageal reflux.

Jankitz,

Since you're so methodical with explaining the GERD condition I am volunteering to share with you some of my own experience with it.


I have been suffering from GERD for about 20 years and been doing almost all the things that you're suggesting plus others ( from the Consumer Reports, etc).

In 1995 my gastroenterologist who is also a professor at Carolina, Chapel Hill, while doing an upper endoscopy on me has found:

Barret's esophagus that extends from the upper extent of the gastric folds which were at 41 cm from the incisors to to the Z-line . No visible abnormalities. Localized moderate inflammation charaterized by erythema and friabilty was found in the gastric antrum. Biopsies were taken with cold foreceps for Helicobacter Pylori testing using CLO Test. A small hiatus hernia was found. The examined duodenum was normal.

Recommendations: Continue taking Prilosec (one daily). Repeat the upper endoscopy in 2 years for surveillance.

In subsequent endosocopies it turned out that my esophageal mucosal changes were secondary to established short-segment Barrett's disease. This was good news to me that it was short-segment and not long-segment.

In addition to the Berett's stuff I also had a "Schatzki Ring" (reminding me of your screen name!) that blocked some food going down. This ring was dilated with one gravity passage of a mendral (that looked like a long hot dog sleeve full of metal particles).

Since 2010 I am repeating these tests every year instead of two years and taking two Prilosec daily instead of one.

As to using a CPAP, I have seen no difference between me and other posters with regards to ingested air, etc. Taking the Prilosec Rx took away my GERD. For indigestion I take Pepto Bismol.

In the meantime I sadly lost a few friends (in their 60th and 70th) who neglected treating their GERDs.

I suffered from occasional reflux events before I was diagnosed with OSA and began cpap. Since beginning cpap 8 months ago, I have not had any events.

I also have GERD. Double dose of Prilosec (per doctor) keeps it down to a dull roar but it is still very problematic for me and nothing seems to help long term. Not too long ago I had an episode where a small piece of food got stuck. Scared me enough that I am going to schedule the scope to make sure nothing really bad is going on.
I had a friend of mine die really quickly from cancer of the esophagus.

GERD symptoms started about the same time as the OSA symptoms (5 or 6 yrs ago) started but the GERD symptoms have gotten progressively much worse despite the OSA being well treated.

Pugsy... the scope is relatively easy. No pain, not even discomfort. You'll be sedated and it will be over in a matter of minutes. When your head clears, you'll hear the doctor say that everything is fine.