So, I wake up at 3AM w/acid reflux.

March 10, 2025, 08:30 AM

Biker_dude

I assume that's what it was. I was afraid I was having the beginning of a heart attack but, no matter, the discomfort was keeping me awake regardless.

So I got up to do some googlefoo. I thought I maybe had stretched a pectoral during workout, but that would have been on Saturday and, nope.

Best I can figure, it was because of my nighttime "snack." Large salad, copious quantity of blue cheese, copious quantity of shredded cheese, diced up leftover T-bone steak.

Google suggests I had all that fatty food, went to bed, and lying down allowed digestive acid to travel up my esophagus. Hence, acid reflux.

At least, that's what I'm thinking. Remind me to never to do that again.

March 10, 2025, 08:36 AM

PHPaul

Yeah, I'd say that was the issue.

I've learned, through painful experience, NEVER to eat without leaving time for digestion before going to bed.

While some things are more prone to causing issues than others, pretty much anything an hour or two before bedtime is a bad idea at least for me.

March 10, 2025, 09:06 AM

Biker_dude

quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
Yeah, I'd say that was the issue.

I've learned, through painful experience, NEVER to eat without leaving time for digestion before going to bed.

While some things are more prone to causing issues than others, pretty much anything an hour or two before bedtime is a bad idea at least for me.

Good thoughts. My problem is that when I'm hungry, I don't consider the consequences. I used to have a dog like that. Stealing food off the picnic table knowing he would get into trouble.

March 10, 2025, 09:45 AM

bendable

Well that's a coincidence,
I also woke up at three,
And
Took two chalky tablet things for a tiny amount of heartburn.

This was the first time in four years for heartburn.

March 10, 2025, 09:56 AM

Fly-Sig

Costochondritis can feel like a heart attack or acid reflux. PDE5 inhibitors (tadalafil, sildenafil, etc) can cause acid reflux.

March 10, 2025, 10:09 AM

229DAK

We quit eating after 6pm. That gives us about a 12-14 hour fast.

_________________________________________________________________________
“A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.”
-- Mark Twain, 1902

March 10, 2025, 10:39 AM

sigmonkey

"...AND STAY OFF THE PICNIC TABLE!!!"

March 10, 2025, 10:47 AM

tatortodd

Mayo Clinic recommends:

quote:
Elevate the head of your bed. If you regularly experience heartburn while trying to sleep, place wood or cement blocks under the feet at the head end of your bed. Raise the head end by 6 to 9 inches. If you can't elevate your bed, you can insert a wedge between your mattress and box spring to elevate your body from the waist up. Raising your head with additional pillows isn't effective.
Start on your left side. When you go to bed, start by lying on your left side to help make it less likely to have reflux.
Don't lie down after a meal. Wait at least three hours after eating before lying down or going to bed.
Eat food slowly and chew thoroughly. Put down your fork after every bite and pick it up again once you have chewed and swallowed that bite.
Don't consume foods and drinks that trigger reflux. Common triggers include alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, fatty foods or peppermint.

March 10, 2025, 12:03 PM

pace40

I cannot sleep on an empty stomach. A PB&J sammich is a staple of my go to bed routine.

March 10, 2025, 12:23 PM

PASig

You may want to also get checked out for sleep apnea here.

I used to think I just had acid reflux really bad until I found out it was untreated sleep apnea causing me to choke in my sleep and choke up stomach acid.

March 10, 2025, 01:05 PM

cas

Our bodies change. I get in my sleep "urps" if nastiness if I eat things like chocolate icecream at night. Also peanut butter and jelly at night does it as well. Didn't do it for the first 50-someting years, but here we are.

March 10, 2025, 03:43 PM

kkina

Answer A: Get checked out by a doctor. Something more serious might be causing the acid reflux (it was in my recent case).

Answer B: Gaviscon (OTC) just before retiring.

March 10, 2025, 04:22 PM

bronicabill

I used to have acid reflux most every single night; it's called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). At one point I had to go to the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack while at my indoor range!

After all the requisite testing, GERD was diagnosed and I was put on Prilosec back then (about 20 years ago), and it worked great for about 5 years before it became much less effective. I switched to Nexium, then Nexium OTC, and as long as I take it daily, the reflux is gone, no matter what I eat!

You can get the stuff most anywhere these days, and the generic form is Esomeprazole Magnesium. The OTC version is half the mg dosage of the original, so I take one in the morning and one at night to equal original prescription strength.

March 10, 2025, 07:10 PM

ZSMICHAEL

See a GI specialist. Long term usage of drugs like Prilosec are not advised. GERD is very treatable without drugs. Behavioral changes work to eliminate GERD.

March 10, 2025, 09:07 PM

Biker_dude

quote:
Originally posted by sigmonkey:

"...AND STAY OFF THE PICNIC TABLE!!!"

That's hilarious!

March 11, 2025, 02:28 AM

bendable

"Costochondritis can feel like a heart attack or acid reflux"

Yeah, I ain't giving up my Costco. So forget that

March 11, 2025, 05:45 AM

Biker_dude

quote:
Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
Costochondritis can feel like a heart attack or acid reflux.

You guys are pretty good. I was checked out by an ortho PA and that's what she said.

Sad, too. Cause on Saturday I did an upper body workout w/seated pectoral extensions. But at my age, it's more like stretching exercises with resistance.

I've been lifting weights since high school. Never even heard of Costochondritis.

Thanks. And thanks to everybody who responded.

March 11, 2025, 08:42 AM

Graniteguy

I have dealt with this off-on for several years. There are some deep breathing exercises that can aid in relieving this.

And keep those pecs loose with post-workout stretching.

March 11, 2025, 10:32 AM

bronicabill

quote:
Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
See a GI specialist. Long term usage of drugs like Prilosec are not advised. GERD is very treatable without drugs. Behavioral changes work to eliminate GERD.

Prilosec is dangerous for long-term use and actually has several class-action lawsuits against it pending. I've been using Nexium daily for nearly 20 years now with the blessing of my GP with no ill side effects, and they have no pending class-action suits against them that I'm aware of!

March 11, 2025, 01:41 PM

Gustofer

quote:
Originally posted by bronicabill:
Prilosec is dangerous for long-term use and actually has several class-action lawsuits against it pending. I've been using Nexium daily for nearly 20 years now with the blessing of my GP with no ill side effects, and they have no pending class-action suits against them that I'm aware of!

They are both PPIs with the exact same mechanism of action and possible adverse reactions.

Not saying stop taking it, just know that there really is no difference between them with regard to the potential for decreased bone density, decreased Mg++, and decreased B12, risk of kidney damage. Those things are caused by the mechanism of action...which is the same.