Discussion
Have started suffering a little from heartburn at night. That will occasionally wake me up!
Often will wake up needing to belch and then experiencing a mild irritation in my chest. Or simply with that chest burn feeling, no acid though.
I put this down initially to spending more time laying down when it was cold as I was off work on holiday and spent a lot of time in a bedroom laying down or under covers to keep warm, whereas I would normally be at work or at home sat upright at a desk.
I am careful to not eat late at night, a habit I used to have, I do not drink coffee late or fizzy stuff, but I do not eat well, don't eat enough veg etc.
I am going to try and restrict eating to tea time only, then nothing, I usually will have another warm drink, usually decaf tea at about 8/9 with a biccie or two, I am doubtful that starts heartburn!! But clearly I can change that for water or something else
Anyone got any remedies, do not really want to start gulping stuff every night
Often will wake up needing to belch and then experiencing a mild irritation in my chest. Or simply with that chest burn feeling, no acid though.
I put this down initially to spending more time laying down when it was cold as I was off work on holiday and spent a lot of time in a bedroom laying down or under covers to keep warm, whereas I would normally be at work or at home sat upright at a desk.
I am careful to not eat late at night, a habit I used to have, I do not drink coffee late or fizzy stuff, but I do not eat well, don't eat enough veg etc.
I am going to try and restrict eating to tea time only, then nothing, I usually will have another warm drink, usually decaf tea at about 8/9 with a biccie or two, I am doubtful that starts heartburn!! But clearly I can change that for water or something else
Anyone got any remedies, do not really want to start gulping stuff every night
Could be any number of things, apple cider vinegar can be very effective for some people, as is not drinking any liquid for about 15 minutes after eating a meal, these are only remedies, finding the cause should be the priority,
Also changing the angle of your bed can help.
Also changing the angle of your bed can help.
Edited by mcelliott on Wednesday 4th January 10:46
In ascending order of intervention:
Avoid meals within 3 hours of bedtime
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, smoking, spicy food
Lose weight if you are carrying any extra
Put books or bricks under the feet at the head of the bed to tilt upwards
Simple antacids- Rennie or unbranded equivalent, or alginates like gaviscon.
PPI- tablets that turn off acid secretion in the stomach. Esomeprazole is available over the counter it GP can prescribe.
Surgery to tighten things up
If you are over 55 and there has been a sudden change or other symptoms like weight loss etc see the GP as we might need to stick a camera down. A bit of reflux is incredibly common and rarely serious though.
Avoid meals within 3 hours of bedtime
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, smoking, spicy food
Lose weight if you are carrying any extra
Put books or bricks under the feet at the head of the bed to tilt upwards
Simple antacids- Rennie or unbranded equivalent, or alginates like gaviscon.
PPI- tablets that turn off acid secretion in the stomach. Esomeprazole is available over the counter it GP can prescribe.
Surgery to tighten things up
If you are over 55 and there has been a sudden change or other symptoms like weight loss etc see the GP as we might need to stick a camera down. A bit of reflux is incredibly common and rarely serious though.
Thanks guys
I have tried trimming down snacking later at night, that has helped, but I still get it at times, only heartburn, no acid. I am reluctant to take anything yet to see if I can remedy it myself, but the big issue is that I sleep on my side as a norm and that seems to make it worse. I will wake up say 2am with heartburn.
I can sleep on my back but it is fitful sleep I keep waking up.
I do not drink, I do drink tea and coffee but decaff, and I do not eat spicy food. I do carry a bit of timber and am trying to lose that.
I might try something under head area of bed to tilt how heigh? About an inch? Or more? Sounds like a great cheat!!
I have tried trimming down snacking later at night, that has helped, but I still get it at times, only heartburn, no acid. I am reluctant to take anything yet to see if I can remedy it myself, but the big issue is that I sleep on my side as a norm and that seems to make it worse. I will wake up say 2am with heartburn.
I can sleep on my back but it is fitful sleep I keep waking up.
I do not drink, I do drink tea and coffee but decaff, and I do not eat spicy food. I do carry a bit of timber and am trying to lose that.
I might try something under head area of bed to tilt how heigh? About an inch? Or more? Sounds like a great cheat!!
A quick google brings up this - something that helps me when I have issues with heartburn.
Due to gravity, the shape of the stomach, and the angle of the connection between it and the esophagus, sleeping on your left side can greatly reduce reflux.
Not to be all sensationalist but when I was diagnosed with cancer my consultant said that persistent heartburn was a common indicator (Non Hodgkins lymphoma) so even if you think it is not serious it is worth getting checked out.
Due to gravity, the shape of the stomach, and the angle of the connection between it and the esophagus, sleeping on your left side can greatly reduce reflux.
Not to be all sensationalist but when I was diagnosed with cancer my consultant said that persistent heartburn was a common indicator (Non Hodgkins lymphoma) so even if you think it is not serious it is worth getting checked out.
Lol bloody hell that is a bugger!
I will add I do not get heartburn at all until i want to go to sleep and lay down. I am presuming it is a mixture of getting older, diet and a bit overweight. My diet is not great, I do not eat enough veg and stuff, but never really have, I eat in moderation usually.
I will also add that I have a very different bowel movement pattern to most people, this has been checked and is perfectly fine according to GP's but that could also explain if a fuller intenstine than most people could lead to issues. But this has been the case since childhood, so odd that it affects me now in early 50's.
I will add I do not get heartburn at all until i want to go to sleep and lay down. I am presuming it is a mixture of getting older, diet and a bit overweight. My diet is not great, I do not eat enough veg and stuff, but never really have, I eat in moderation usually.
I will also add that I have a very different bowel movement pattern to most people, this has been checked and is perfectly fine according to GP's but that could also explain if a fuller intenstine than most people could lead to issues. But this has been the case since childhood, so odd that it affects me now in early 50's.
Mastic gum might help - see if ths guy's experience matches yours WRT night time indigestion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbRKiH8Jf3M
If it doesn't improve make sure you seek medical advice. Long term reflux can cause barretts oesophagus, whereby the esophagus starts to become more like your stomach lining, which is more resistant to acid. Sounds OK, but barretts "can" in some cases morph into cancer. Not what you want in your esophagus.
Sounds like you are a very long way from having to worry about that, but it's not a condition that should be ignored long term.
I had an operation for reflux 3.5 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did.
Meantime as others have said, don't eat within 3 hours of bedtime, sleep on your left hand side and propped up if you can. I slept on a a large wedge pillow for a long time. Just make sure it's not just your head that's raised but your torso too - so inclined from your waist up.
Sounds like you are a very long way from having to worry about that, but it's not a condition that should be ignored long term.
I had an operation for reflux 3.5 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did.
Meantime as others have said, don't eat within 3 hours of bedtime, sleep on your left hand side and propped up if you can. I slept on a a large wedge pillow for a long time. Just make sure it's not just your head that's raised but your torso too - so inclined from your waist up.
You can get them on Amazon - here is one example - there are many others
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