Middle of Night Heartburn

[joeea]

I haven't changed my diet, but 5 of the last 6 nights I've awakened in middle of night with painful heartburn.

I can't get in to see my Gastro MD until 3 weeks from now.

Anyone with insight on this issue, and which medication is more appropriate?

If the usual medications aren't helping, you may want to consider altering your pillow/mattress so that your head is raised a bit more. That might provide some temporary relief.

Very glad to hear you have an appointment with your MD. This isn't something to treat on your own.

I don't want to alarm you, but persistent heartburn can be a sign of bad things. My dad went to the doctor a few months back with two symptoms - unexplained heartburn, and regular hiccups at each meal. He was diagnosed with inoperable stomach and tracheal cancer.

 

[mystang52]

I suspect the ice cream, complicated by the chocolate. Skip it a couple nights and see what happens

Yikes, skip my chocolate ice cream ?!!! I may have to consider stop breathing, first. If, after a few days on Zantac there is no change I will indeed give up my beloved ice cream.

If the usual medications aren't helping, you may want to consider altering your pillow/mattress so that your head is raised a bit more. That might provide some temporary relief.

Very glad to hear you have an appointment with your MD. This isn't something to treat on your own.

I don't want to alarm you, but persistent heartburn can be a sign of bad things. My dad went to the doctor a few months back with two symptoms - unexplained heartburn, and regular hiccups at each meal. He was diagnosed with inoperable stomach and tracheal cancer.

Thanks for the advice. You're not being alarmist at all. I already have a couple of medical conditions so I don't ignore any out of the ordinary symptoms, including this latest one.

 

[eytonxav]

How much coffee do you drink? Caffein can certainly cause a problem. Also, raise the head of your bed until you can get this checked out further.

 

[6miths]

Tums is fine for an isolated instance of heartburn/reflux. The problem here is that it's occurring while the OP is asleep and repeating over a number of nights in a row. By taking Zantac or one of the ppis instead of something like Tums, there is a good chance that the episodes will be prevented entirely. In any event, a flareup like this in the absence of changes in one's diet or activities requires a GI specialist's opinion and diagnosis and the OP is right to get there ASAP.

So five out of six nights and the OP should go on a systemic medicine for life. lol. As the old time physicians used to say 'tincture of time'. Unless there are suggestions that something more serious is going on. And the idea that it is only changes in one's diet that could lead to this symptom is a bit laughable. To each their own.

 

[Dawg52]

Here is what has changed --- You're getting Older.

Yep. I've had to change a lot as a result. No more caffeine or chocolate. Reduced my alcohol intake. As far as med's go....Prilosec works best for me. I will occasionally use Zantac as a substitute but not as effective.

 

[Cut-Throat]

So five out of six nights and the OP should go on a systemic medicine for life. lol. As the old time physicians used to say 'tincture of time'. Unless there are suggestions that something more serious is going on. And the idea that it is only changes in one's diet that could lead to this symptom is a bit laughable. To each their own.

Yes, I have these discussions with my internist and it is mostly a function of age and mechanical, in that the bottom of the esophagus no longer closes entirely and thus the stomach acids 'back up'.... So, he advises a daily dose of omeprezole... and not to skip, as the acid is not good for the esophagus.


And I have friends, where this quit working after 10 years or so, and they ended up having surgery to narrow the bottom of the esophagus.

 

[Crabby Mike]

With all due deference to the wise folks on this forum (including me), rely on the advice of your doctor(s) over SGOTI.

 

[Amethyst]

I am so, so sorry. You must be heartbroken about your dad.

I don't want to alarm you, but persistent heartburn can be a sign of bad things. My dad went to the doctor a few months back with two symptoms - unexplained heartburn, and regular hiccups at each meal. He was diagnosed with inoperable stomach and tracheal cancer.

 

[WestUniversity]

Tagamet usually heads this off for me. If I have any problem it will usually be tomato sauce that does it...

 

[joeea]

I am so, so sorry. You must be heartbroken about your dad.

Thanks. It's tough. But he's lived a good life. My mom passed a little more than a year ago, he has missed her a lot, and at 87 he's prepared.

He recently had some radiation treatments to reduce the tumors a bit. It's only temporary, but now he can eat without choking and is a lot more comfortable. We hope he remains comfortable as long as possible.

 

[Elbata]

 

[Ian S]

So five out of six nights and the OP should go on a systemic medicine for life. lol. As the old time physicians used to say 'tincture of time'. Unless there are suggestions that something more serious is going on. And the idea that it is only changes in one's diet that could lead to this symptom is a bit laughable. To each their own.

Actually, I was arguing that in this specific case, Tums is not a solution. Not saying he needs to go on meds for the rest of his life just presenting the fact that proper meds can eliminate such episodes but obviously seeing a doctor should come first due to the sudden onset of his symptoms. Nor did I suggest only change in diet could produce his symptoms. Rather i expressed concern that there's nothing the OP is aware such as change in diet or activities that might have triggered these repeat nocturnal episodes.

 

[John Galt III]

I take the smallest dose of Lansoprazole PPI (generic Prevacid) once every other day and it's great. I can eat anything I want with minimal acid reflux. Sometimes have to take a tums with certain foods. If I stop the Lanso, the acid reflux comes back in about 5 days. Baking soda, elevated sleeping, tums, etc just doesn't help. I do worry about low stomach acid and not absorbing certain nutrients, one being calcium.

 

[mystang52]

OP here with an update. Gastro MD had a cancellation so I just saw him. Because I've been sick on and off for the last few months, I have not been as physically active as I usually am, which in turn led to a slight weight gain.
I'm 4 pounds over my fighting weight.
Doctor put me on prescription dose Omeprazole. He thinks if I take off those few pounds in time I can wean off the Omeprazole. So I now have a bit more incentive to increase my running and bicycling. And, of course, to changing my diet a bit as well.

 

[charais]

Another trigger can be exposure to blue light before bedtime. Computer screen, TV, etc. can cause reflux issues. Melatonin supplements can help https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/melatonin-and-sleep

I'm a dental hygienist and recommend blue light blocking glasses and melatonin to patients who have GERD and they seem to get good results. YMMV

 

[firemediceric]

Personal experience

For years I would deal with intermittent bouts of heartburn that would have me eating handfuls of Tums/Rolaids like candy. Generally in the middle of the night. I would then go for months and months without an episode. Without a doubt food and beverage choices could be a trigger but at other times those same triggers did not negatively impact me. I'm 50 now and that had been the pattern since my 20's.

Fast forward to just a few months ago when it seemed no matter what I ate or didn't eat it seemed that heartburn even during the middle of the day was an issue for me. I was going through antacids to the point I kept a large bottle of Tums in the car. My diet choices have remained the same but I notice coffee in particular has become a more constant trigger. I refuse to give up coffee. I don't feel my weight is a contributer; 6' 220 lbs with 14% body fat. Maybe not the recommended BMI but far from fat & flabby.

I brought this up to my GP doctor on my routine visit. He took it as serious but not alarmist. In addition to admonishing me to make better diet choices as to the triggers, he prescribed me a new to the market PPI med. I don't remember the name of it as insurance was going to charge me significantly more for that new med than they would charge for Omeprazole. My doctor subsequently prescribed the Omeprazole as an alternative.

I discussed with my doctor the concerns I had from my research regarding the reported negatives of being on a PPI. The doctor felt strongly that those issues occur only after years of PPI use. His plan is to have me on the PPI Omeprazole for 3 months and than to transition to a daily such as Rantinidine.

I've been taking the Omeprazole once a day now for the past week. So far I have not experienced any heartburn discomfort.

 

[Bamaman]

What ever you do, do not accept that heartburn, acid reflux or GERD is normal and acceptable.

You only have one esophagus, and when it's damaged there's no backup. Don't be a He Man and ignore the problem. See an endocrinologist immediately because he can guide you on how to handle the problem.

My wife recently had hiatal hernia surgery, and she never knew how much she's suffered. After numerous bouts of acid caused pneumonia, her lungs will probably never be the same, however.

 

[SumDay]

If one is able to belch at will...

This is one of my greatest talents!

A friend turned me onto chewable Payapa Enzyme. It helps me a lot, especially if I remember to take it before the offending meal.

 

[TromboneAl]

You might try a wedge pillow too.

I've been talking about this on another thread (LPR or silent reflux). I'll report more later, but so far, my experiments with extra pillows, building a wedge, essentially, have had amazing results.

If that continues to work, I'm going to buy this wedge pillow. I'm hoping the woman is included, because she looks like Audrey Hepburn.

 

[Cut-Throat]

I've been talking about this on another thread (LPR or silent reflux). I'll report more later, but so far, my experiments with extra pillows, building a wedge, essentially, have had amazing results.

If that continues to work, I'm going to buy this wedge pillow. I'm hoping the woman is included, because she looks like Audrey Hepburn.

For the people that get Heartburn while standing up during the middle of the day, how do you utilize the 'Wedge Pillow'?

 

[jdnd9091]

I used Prilosec for years until it was linked to Alzhiemers. Now I drink a fresh squeezed lemon everyday and heart burn is cured. This is from someone who used to wake up gurgling acid in the middle of the night. No side effects to that remedy.

 

[mystang52]

OP here. 7 straight nights without a problem, since I started taking a daily prescription dose of Omeprazole. And that includes a night after eating Italian food (I took a Zantac prior to that dinner).

 

[Cut-Throat]

OP here. 7 straight nights without a problem, since I started taking a daily prescription dose of Omeprazole. And that includes a night after eating Italian food (I took a Zantac prior to that dinner).

Why don't you try a Fresh Squeezed Lemon like the above poster, drop the Omeprazole, and then report back to us..... Let us know how that works!

 

[TrophyWife]

I read a book by the guy who invented the colonscopy- (The Enzyme Factor) he says no water 3 hours before bed. Also if I get the acid in my throat in the middle of the night, I take a sip of water with baking soda in it. Goes away quick.

 

[troutnut1]

Sleep apnea as a potential cause of GERD...

I had this for many years and tried all the standard meds. Kept making my throat sore too. Doctors tested me for a lot of things including strep, mono, etc. My primary said it was because I have a woodstove and live in Montana.

Finally at 65 an observant heart doctor asked me how I slept? I protested that I sleep great! He asked if I wake up refreshed. I sure thought I did. He sent me for a sleep test. I only went along with it because my out of pocket was already paid for the year. So I humored him. Guess what? Turns out I stop breathing 33 times an hour on my back, and 16 times an hour on my side!

This creates all kinds of problems including acid reflux or GERD. Turns out when we stop breathing it creates a negative pressure that can bring up that acid. I’ve been on a machine for a year and a half now and no more acid or sore throats.

An excellent book by Dr. Stephen Park is “Sleep Interrupted”. You won’t believe how many things this can cause. I thought I was ADHD for decades too and took meds for it. It made that go away too (I was being deprived of oxygen dozens of times an hour).

If you haven’t already done so, there is a home test they can send with you to rule it out. But if it comes back questionable most people go to a hospital sleep lab for a full test. Some can do it at home as well.

I never knew what a full nights sleep was. Turns out it helps a lot with those annoying bathroom trips at night too,

Another clue is that being overweight can aggravate this condition. Some people can “cure” it by losing weight. Other people (like me) are just built at the factory with not big enough airways.