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Regurgitation: Do you also feel food coming to your mouth at night?

Posted by sclnz @sclnz, May 22 5:36am

Hello everyone, my mother had a McKewon esophagectomy 6 months ago. She does not eat or drink anything after 10 pm. She sleeps on a high pillow. She eats small meals. Some days after sleeping at night, she fills her mouth with food and wakes up coughing. Are there others experiencing this? Does this go away? I am not talking about reflux, I am talking about more ground food. She coughs and coughs and I am afraid she will aspirate. An endoscopy was performed 2 months ago and no stenosis was seen, the pylorus was working. But her complaints continue. Is there anyone who has experienced this and solved it, please help

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | May 22 6:56am

What time does she lie down in bed. I wonder if she needs more time between last food and water and lying down. My doc said having a high pillow was not adequate to combat acid reflux. I know that she is experiencing food regurgitation but ......

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1 reply
sclnz | @sclnz | May 22 7:16am
In reply to @gravity3 "What time does she lie down in bed. I wonder if she needs more time between..." + (show)
@gravity3

What time does she lie down in bed. I wonder if she needs more time between last food and water and lying down. My doc said having a high pillow was not adequate to combat acid reflux. I know that she is experiencing food regurgitation but ......

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It's not from acid reflux, food comes into his mouth. It's not like vomiting. It comes into his mouth on its own during his sleep. He sleeps on 2 pillows and has a reflux pillow.

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sclnz | @sclnz | May 22 8:52am

regurgitation. Do you also experience food coming into your mouth at night? My mother had a McKeown esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis 6 months ago. Now, after sleeping at night, food comes into her mouth and she wakes up coughing. Is there anyone alive?

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1 reply
suensteve | @suensteve17 | May 22 6:01pm
In reply to @sclnz "regurgitation. Do you also experience food coming into your mouth at night? My mother had a..." + (show)
@sclnz

regurgitation. Do you also experience food coming into your mouth at night? My mother had a McKeown esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis 6 months ago. Now, after sleeping at night, food comes into her mouth and she wakes up coughing. Is there anyone alive?

Jump to this post

Sadly it happens to most of us. Elevating the head of the bed about 30 degrees helps. Won't completely stop it but it gets better over time

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manuelo | @manuelo | May 23 9:52am

I try not to eat after 7pm.
Eating at 10pm is too late and keeps your digestive system working through your sleep. Maybe a nutritional doctor can offer better advice.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 4 11:23am

@sclnz, you might be interested in this related discussion:
- Adjustable bed frames: Acid reflux after esophageal cancer treatment https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/adjustable-bed-frames/

@manuelo makes a good point about seeing a dietitian specializing in oncology and esophageal cancer.

How is your mom doing?

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