Sleeping after removal of lower esoph sphincter

Lanse Brown · New User Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

Does anyone out there have a good way to sleep inorder that gastric jucies do not flow up at night causing coughing and retching. I sleep in a recliner, but "cheat" and slide down at night which allows stomach acid to creep up into my throat. Thanks for any ideas. Lanse Brown--4 years clean after removal of 1/2 of stonach and 5 inches of the lower esophageus. Ivor-Lewis procedure.

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 633 Location: UK

Horrid, isn't it?

I was advised to sleep in my bed with the head of the bed on risers so that the head was between 4 and 6 inches higher than the foot. Unlike a recliner, your head should never drop below the thorax if you follow this advice.

Lanse Brown · New User Joined: 16 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

Thank you, that makes sense since then no matter how far I try to slip down I will never be able to be horizontal.

James Sutherland · New User Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 1

[quote="Lanse Brown"]Does anyone out there have a good way to sleep inorder that gastric jucies do not flow up at night causing coughing and retching. I sleep in a recliner, but "cheat" and slide down at night which allows stomach acid to creep up into my throat. Thanks for any ideas. Lanse Brown--4 years clean after removal of 1/2 of stonach and 5 inches of the lower esophageus. Ivor-Lewis procedure.[/quote]

Hi Lanse, I had the op 3yrs ago and was bothered like you, and now I have it under control. I sleep in an ajustable bed with the top part at 30-45 degrees, and the bottom raised about four inches, this makes a concave shape in the mattress which holds my bottom and inturn holds me in an upright position with little slippage during the night, my knees used to get painful, because my feet were suspended in mid air because of the angle but a pillow to support my feet stopped that problem.

I am of the opinion that the sleeping position is only part of the problem, the other and in my opinion and the most important part is your diet, I have stopped eating anything processed, ie. made in a factory, or with addatives in it. Also processed stocks like Knorr or Bisto etc, tomato based products all cause reflux at night even if I ate them at lunchtime, I think it must have something to do with chemicals in our food reacting with the acid in our stomach which causes the acid to bubble up our throat when the gas is escaping naturally when we sleep. Hope this helps, mail me if you require any more info.

TheGoat · Regular Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 10 Location: London, UK

Hi Lanse, these are all good advice. I had the op in June 2006 suffer VERY badly with acid at night. In addition to having a multi adjustable bed I also take PPI's (proton pump inhibitors) to reduce the production of acid. In the UK the brand I take is omerprazole. Not sure what it is in other countries but it might be worth discussing it with your surgeon/physician.

ALSO an observation from my wife/carer is that I often don't crank the bed high enough. It is easy to think that you are well inclined but some slippage and turning during the night can reduce this to ALMOST flat.

Hope this contributes to you finding solutions.....

regards Larry

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