Reflux is killing me! How do you get through this... I'm not sleeping

I'm 5 days post op, feeling good, some gas, Gas X strips help that... but the REFLUX is killing me! Only when I sleep, or shall I say not sleep because it wakes me from sleep... last night may have been the worst night of all, actually woke up to spit out the Reflux. Not vomit, but awful!

Nexium was denied by my insurance company, they subsitituded Omerprazole 20mg 4x per day. I've been taking the Rx according to directions, and yet, last night, awful!

Someone wrote that they're taking meds for Reflux too and that it takes a few days for it to work into your system.
Any others out there experiencing the same?
Have you tried Nexium, Omeprazole or Prilosec?
How long until you experience relief?
I cannot sleep at night due to this issue. I'm sleeping sitting up, nearly, and it's not a good sleep, keep waking from the reflux. No reflux during the day, just gas, but the nighttime is terrible!

I think I may be consuming too much liquid before bed, although my liquid intake isn't up to where it should be. Last night, my husband ordered sushi take out, I had a nice mug of Miso soup. Maybe it was too much liquid before bed.

I woke up and after the bad bout went to the cupboard and found some small crackers All Bran Multi Grains. 5g of fiber per 18 crackers, 120 calories. They're tiny crackers, 18 pieces equal an once or 30g. They are thin and easy to chew. I don't think I ate 18, maybe 10.

The crackers are the first thing that I have chewed since surgery. They liquify in my mouth by taking nibbles and chew chew chew!

Would appreciate your experiences and opinions on ways to cope with this!

I am taking famotidine 20 mg twice daily on an empty stomach. Its the generic for previcid from what I understand. I also use tums with calicium. Good luck!

If you search the forum for this issue you'd see this is a common complaint, usually handled w/ Pepcid or Prilosec. Personally I think Prilosec is stronger but try both (available OTC) and see what works better for you. You shouldn't expect either to work right away, though, it does take some time for them to build up in your system although there are these pills called Pepcid Complete that are chewables and work pretty much on impact...you DO need to be careful about taking these pills together so I'd ask your doctor what s/he thinks is best for you as well.

In the meantime I'd avoid anything that might cause more acid, tomato sauce, anything acidic, etc.

Are you eating according to your post op diet? Only 5 days out, just wondering if you are maybe eating things that are too challenging for a freshly sleeved tummy.

I just had my band removed and although that is considered minor, I had queasiness and other after effects more then a week after.

I have the same problem. I am almost three weeks post-op and had reflux since the surgery. It is not as bad now as it was. I had to go back into the hospital because it was so bad. One of the reasons it was so bad is because I was dehydrated. Once they hydrated me it has gotten better. They also gave me a medication called Protonix that I take every morning and another medication called Carafate that I take every three hours while awake. I make it a point to drink as much water as possible now so I don't end up in the hospital again.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

thank you all!
Maybe I added too much lemon to my water yesterday, didn't think that was a factor, but certainly could have been since lemons are acidic!
Had Miso soup, a nice mug of that. Been eating Laughing Cow cheese wedge and tried a little yogurt again yesterday, first time I tried yogurt, didn't feel so good, but yesterday was fine.
Trying to be conscious of getting enough water in, maybe a little short on that, so thought adding a couple of crackers for absorption of the liquids may help, and maybe did last night, but not sure.
Only been on the meds for 2 days, and thanks for pointing out that it may take time to take effect.
Taking the Gas X strips also and chewed a few Tums during the night just to get the feeling to subside, it's been awful!
Love you guys, thanks for the tips and support!

I know how you feel! I still have it. Have you tried previcid? and sleep on an incline,thats what really helps me,I pile my pillows up and I don't lay completely flat.
good luck hang there!

I am taking Omeprazole DR, which is prescription Prevacid. I actually take the capsule apart and just shoot the little balls inside with a little water. I had bad reflux before surgery and it got much worse after. I try not to eat anything to acidic before bedtime or drink too much. My doctor said to give it a good two months for my stomach to settle down. And by then I will have lost a lot of weight which helps.'

It is a horrible feeling to wake up choking like that. I hope you find something that works.

I looked this up after the pharmacist was kinda rude about explaining the differences to me... maybe give this a try? Omeprazone is same as Prilosec..

"Prilosec Prevacid, Aciphex are proton pump inhibitors (PPI), drugs that are very effective in shutting down acid production by the stomach. Prisolec interrupts acid production later in the process by blocking already-produced acid from being secreted. Prilosec and other PPI drugs are most effective during the day, especially after meals. That is why they are taken just prior to meals. However, PPIs don't work as well at night.

Ranitidine (Zantac) is a H2-receptor-blocker that decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach by blocking the work of receptors that trigger acid production. Generally H2-receptor-blockers are not as effective as the PPI drugs in suppressing stomach acid production. However, Zantac and other H2-receptor blockers work particularly well at night.

Therefore maximal round the clock acid suppression is achieved by using a PPI such as Prilosec two or three times a day before meals and a H2-receptor-blocker such as Zantac at bedtime."

Gina, I had really bad acid reflux one time and that was when I took my Rx meds on an empty stomach, well with tea. (WHAT WAS I THINKING???--my bad) What I found to make my tummy feel good AND I can take my meds is Premier Protein from Costco. It is already pre mixed and to me tastes JUST LIKE RICH CHOCOLATE MILK!!!! Also has 30 grams of protein and counts as 11 oz of liquid. I am sorry to hear you are not sleeping well, (Grace says mint tea is good for upset stomach). I think that you are on the right trail by dropping the lemon in your water. Who knows the RIGHT answer---remember---DR's are in PRACTICE--using US as the guinea pigs. (NO I AM NOT DISSING DR'S) They are good for direction but since we all react different it is trial and error for us too. Keep us posted---Blessings to you- Connie

Lansoprazole = Prevacid
Famotidine = Pepcid

I currently take Lansoprazole capsules (for 15+years) but not sure I can swallow a capsule after surgery?? Its a medium size capsule. There is a dissolvable Prevacid, prescription strength that I will have to go to if I have to. Not sure if there is a generic for that yet.
For me, the Lansoprazole/Prevacid works far better than Pepcid or Nexium. I failed on both of those. You can even take TWO Prevacid prescription strength caps so you may want to go to that if your doc will approve. If not, just suck on a couple of tums before bed... and when you wake up with the reflux, suck on another. Good luck!

Are you able to swallow the Carafate TABLETS (they are large) following the surgery? or are you taking Carafate liquid?

I LOVE YOU JUDIE---WAY TO SEEK AND FIND!!!! I too take Omeprazone early in the am. Have for years. Hope that works for you---but when I first got on it --if I remember correctly it did take a little time. OH---it worked pretty fast for Splendaaa, and she had BAD acid reflux.

Omeprazole is the generic for Prilosec... Lansoprazole is the generic for Prevacid... Both are the same type med but different folks respond differently. The OTC version is usually about 1/2 the strength of the prescription strength. I LOVE Prevacid but failed on Prilosec (Rx and OTC), and Nexium.

If I didn't say I Love You today, let me say it now... I Love You!
Don't know what I would have done without this forum, before during and post surgery, you guys are just the best!
Judie, WOW! that's great research! I will buy Zantac today and only take 3 of the 4 doses of the PPI Rx... seems to make sense!
JanieLou, i have been experimenting on the best ways to get all those little balls in the capsule, on the spoon, into liquid, and into my mouth, it's fun!
Connie, the Rx does say to take 1 hr before meals, my question is 'what meals'? LOL! I haven't really consumed anything that could be considered a meal yet...
had about 8oz of a premixed pro shake at which took me about 4 hours to drink, but started it as breakfast. Had two wedges of Laughing Cow cheese, it's smooth and goes down easy, one at noon and one at 3pm, cup of veggie broth at 5pm, 1/4c of yogurt at 7pm, and Miso soup at 8pm... woke up with the Reflux (thought I was going to vomit, but didn't produce anything more than a few tsps of foam) and ate about 8 All Bran crackers, pulverized in my mouth into very fine meal, and that may have helped.
today, i woke and had 9 crakcers and a laughing cow wedge with the Rx, now having a cup of Miso with the Rx, let's see how it goes!
xoxo
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