Managing nighttime acid reflux

Wedges are suggested so you can sit up, well-supported, even though in bed….it really is about letting gravity help carry your food/drink down through your digestive system…laying down too soon after eating can bring on reflux and/or mucus…time varies, but i have heard don’t lie flat for about 1 1/2-2 hours after eating..seems to help.

@nycmusic
I use wedge I bought on Amazon plus2 pillows to keep me high, but I slide down. I don’t lie flat at all. I wonder if blocks under bed legs would be much better or not.

Hi @pza - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad to hear you got a diagnosis at Mayo Clinic in 2008 so you know you are dealing with IBS due to non-typical acid reflux. Nice that you've been fine till a year ago with diet and meds, too.

Since you are now having acid reflux during the nighttime, I moved your post here to this existing discussion so you can connect with others with similar experiences:

- Managing nighttime acid reflux https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/suggestion-fudiplication-new-medical-intervention-first-question

Hoping that other members here can make suggestions on what may have helped them or a loved one with bringing up mucus in the middle of the night and feeling acid. Please meet @ripley @bebold @shooei @dancing1 and others in this discussion.

pza - Of the head elevation, famotidine (Pepcid), aluminum hydroxide and magnesium carbonate (Gaviscon) you've tried, did you get any relief at night from your symptoms? Have you had a chance to try the polyethylene glycol 3350 - PEG 3350 (Miralax) 2-3 times per week your doctor suggested?

@lisalucier
Pepcid hasn’t helped yet but will try again. Need to try Gaviscon again. So far, MiraLAX hasn’t helped but need to do longer. Have used wedge and pillows for head elevation for a year, but hasn’t helped with the nighttime mucus.

Wedges are suggested so you can sit up, well-supported, even though in bed….it really is about letting gravity help carry your food/drink down through your digestive system…laying down too soon after eating can bring on reflux and/or mucus…time varies, but i have heard don’t lie flat for about 1 1/2-2 hours after eating..seems to help.

I bought a whole mattress wedge. I love it more than any other "trick" ive tried.
My husband didnt mind.
I do still slide some, but im still at an angle all night.

@nycmusic correct, as a nurse I advised many patients to eat a lighter meal for supper or early to let the digestion begin before bedtime, if you do eat late try sitting up for awhile before laying flat or else use a wedge or 2 pillows if you can’t purchase this item.

@nycmusic correct, as a nurse I advised many patients to eat a lighter meal for supper or early to let the digestion begin before bedtime, if you do eat late try sitting up for awhile before laying flat or else use a wedge or 2 pillows if you can’t purchase this item.

@mauimayes2021
I take a teaspoon of Reflux Gourmet every night before bed and have recommended it to everyone I know with reflux issues. I get it on Amazon. It comes in two flavors and I really like the vanilla caramel. It’s a bit pricey, maybe, but it works for me and my friends.