![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Rude Awakenings
I just got jolted out of bed by the worst bout of acid reflux I've had in a very long time.
Now, note, when I say "acid reflux", I'm not talking about the mild, achy "heartburn" sensation in the commercials. You know, the stuff that's so vague and undifferentiated that it's often confused with something mild, like a cardiac arrest.
I'm talking about reflexively leaping out of bed with one all-consuming thought: OH MY GODS I'M CHOKING ON STOMACH ACID IN MY MOUTH. Only less internally articulate, more of an OH FUCK FUCK FUCK OW.
Generally, after one of thse attacks, I can just cough a little and go back to bed. This one demanded that I sit up straight for... let's see, it's been half an hour now, and a glass of soy milk to try to neutralize some of the acid in my mouth and esophagus.
Nice thing to happen the night before my physical. I'll remember to tell the doctor about it.
Glad I don't have to get up at Oh My God Hundred tomorr... THIS morning.
Edit, 06:44 070427: It occurs to me that what I call "acid reflux attacks", most people would call "throwing up but clamping down on it".
Now, note, when I say "acid reflux", I'm not talking about the mild, achy "heartburn" sensation in the commercials. You know, the stuff that's so vague and undifferentiated that it's often confused with something mild, like a cardiac arrest.
I'm talking about reflexively leaping out of bed with one all-consuming thought: OH MY GODS I'M CHOKING ON STOMACH ACID IN MY MOUTH. Only less internally articulate, more of an OH FUCK FUCK FUCK OW.
Generally, after one of thse attacks, I can just cough a little and go back to bed. This one demanded that I sit up straight for... let's see, it's been half an hour now, and a glass of soy milk to try to neutralize some of the acid in my mouth and esophagus.
Nice thing to happen the night before my physical. I'll remember to tell the doctor about it.
Glad I don't have to get up at Oh My God Hundred tomorr... THIS morning.
Edit, 06:44 070427: It occurs to me that what I call "acid reflux attacks", most people would call "throwing up but clamping down on it".
no subject
I get that sort of thing too, but from the other direction. Sometimes I'll wake up in the middle of the night coughing, and have to sit up for an hour before it goes away. But (though I sometimes notice possible symptoms of the onset of acid reflux) I'm pretty sure this is post-nasal drip. Sometimes before the coughing starts I'll feel a sudden cool sensation at the back of my throat. Also, when I feel cause to take preventative steps against it, it's never happened when I've taken NyQuil. Plus it's been getting less severe lately when it happens, which isn't something you'd expect of acid reflux. Do you get cool at the back of your throat?
Also, I think you posted this entry twice.
no subject
I've had long experience with post-nasal drip, too, but it doesn't seem connected to my reflux. I've been taking a prescription ion inhibitor* for the last decade or so, and it's got most of the day-to-day stomach pains under control. Every so often, though, if I get sloppy about what I eat or drink, or the position I sleep in... ooork!
Last night, I think it was a combination of ALL the factors.
*Isn't that a lovely sci-fi name? I want to use it to defeat a supervillain!
no subject
no subject
My bad. I'm not at my most precise first thing in the morning.
"Proton-pump inhibitor" sounds even MORE Trek-tech, though.
no subject
I had to go on Prilosec back in the late 90s, after a run of GERD so severe that even prescription levels of H-2 antagonists wouldn't touch it much. (Take what you described, and extend for several hours every wee-of-the-morning.) Hope your doctor can find a good solution for your reflux troubles... it could be as simple as trying a different proton-pump inhibitor.
no subject
Prevacid has me MOSTLY under control, other than the occasional bouts of burny-burny-burny or the early-morning Acid Geyser. Those are mostly just reminders that the Magic Medicine Isn't A Cure-All, and I still have to KIND of watch what I eat. Last night's dinner-and-a-movie combination of pizza, beer, soda, popcorn, and Gummi Bears -- well, given that any ONE of those items have been known to trigger acid attacks SEPERATELY, combining them made this almost inevitable.
Especially after I rolled onto my side in my sleep.
no subject
There comes a time when you indulge, knowing full well you've set yourself up for an attack, and what I've done is pre-emptively take the medicine (Loperamide HCL in my case) before bedtime.
Esophageal (sp) erosion is terrible and must be avoided, since my aunt has really bad Barrett's and it's caused her to eat extremely bland stuff - spaghetti (marinara) sauce is too spicy. Nexium is helping some in making her more tolerant of foods. I think Barrett's is also known as a Hyatal Hernia.