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Hi,
I have been reading this forums posts and I would like to share some information that might help anyone with the acid reflux problems. I have had the Acid Reflux problem interment for over 50 years. I have had 3 Hiatal Hernia operations locally and even one other at Mayo Clinic to try to help with the acid reflux problem.
In early 2011, I had one Hiatal Hernia operation that ended up causing me to have a frozen stomach requiring me to now take all my food supplements and medicines through a J-Tube that bypasses my stomach and goes directly to my small intestines. In late 2011, Mayo Clinic tried to help with the problem and have determined I have no Hiatal mussel therefore I have a straight shot from my mouth directly to my stomach, so stomach acid can flow freely from my stomach to the esophagus causing the acid burn.
Since 2011, I been sleeping on my back with my upper body elevated approximately 30 degrees in a hospital type bed. This has helped but I still get the night time acid reflux burn. Naturally my regular Gastroenterologist has me on Nexium 2 times per day to help reduce the acid but that doesn’t always help. I still get the reflux especially if I accidently slide down a little in the bed while I am sleeping.
Now for what I have that seems to help with the nighttime Acid Reflux.
While I was in the hospital about 6 weeks ago getting a new J-Tube replacement in my belly, the hospital Gastroenterologist was visiting me and I told her of the acid reflux problem I was still having. She said, “you have the same problem my husband has had for years and he has been taking a non-prescription pill and he swears that it has helped with that problem”. She said, “I don’t remember the name of it but if you call me, I will find out and let you know”. I called her a couple of days later and she told me “it is called EsophaCool by LifeExttensions.com. At LifeExtensions, the price was $9 for 60 tablets. I purchased a bottle of it from Amazon.com Prime for a little over $10.50. That costs about $0.17 per tablet. I bought it at Amazon because I have Amazon Prime and that gives you 2 days free shipping and I could get it faster. I have tried using EsophaCool for about 3 weeks. When I chew 2 tablets at bedtime, I have never had acid reflux at night. I tried just taking one chewable tablet at night and I woke up during the night feeling I was starting to get the reflux problem and then I chewed another and went right to sleep the rest of the night. From now on, I’m not going to skimp on chewing the 2 tablets. After I chew them, I usually sip a little water to wash them down. They have a medium licorice taste, so if you don’t like licorice after taste, you may not like them. Somewhere, I have read that taking black licorice helps people with acid reflux problems and this tablet doesn’t say it has any licorice extract in it, but it tastes like it. Anyway, you might give it a try if you want. Maybe it will help.
I do have a lot of medical problems and take lots of medications. I guess it comes with being 83. I also have IPF and I am trying to take Esbriet for that. Starting Esbriet ended up with my having a bleeding stomach ulcer, so I have stopped for it to heal for 30 days. I think I am a Guinea pig for the company that makes Esbriet as I must take it crushed and inserted into my intestines. Esbriet doesn’t know if it is possible to be taken that way. All they know is it must be taken uncrushed and with food. I can’t eat food, and the crushed Esbriet bypasses my stomach, so Esbriet doesn’t know what that may cause. My Pulmonologist wants me to try again shortly anyway but to take the recommended doses at a slower rate. He isn’t sure if I can ever work up to a dose that will do me any good. Time will tell.
I hope any of this helps. Good luck with whatever you try.
Ray King