That happens to me too! I've found that if I eat too close to bedtime, especially. The other thing that causes it to happen (especially the acid coming up through my nose, down my throat, etc., and waking me up) is not getting enough sleep.

I finally figured that out when I realized it was happening a lot when I'm out of town. I have a hard time sleeping the night before I leave every month, and by the time I get to wherever it is that I'm going, I've usually been awake well over 36 hours. So I go right to bed but I've usually eaten recently and bam! It comes up and burns the hell out of my esophagus, throat, even gets into my sinuses.

I HATE that feeling! I've discovered that ice chips help calm the burning throat a bit, and after I take a pepcid or zantac, I try to eat some saltines. For some reason, it helps me with the acid. I also can't sleep laying down when this happens, I pile as many pillows as possible and lean on them, or if REALLY bad I get up and try to sleep in the chair.

There's one other component to my acid reflux attacks- constipation. If I'd badly constipated, it affects the acid reflux attacks. I can't really figure out what all of these things have in common - no sleep, eating recently, constipation. But they all contribute to almost exactly what you described.

If not for ice chips, cold, cold water, and saltines, I don't know what I'd do. And as I write I realize that I have a 5:45am flight tomorrow morning, I'm constipated, and will HAVE to eat on the plane b/c I need to eat with my meds or risk getting even sicker. I can't take anything for the constipation b/c I'll be on 2 planes with a 3 hour layover in between, and can't face having something go wrong.

Do you notice that this happens especially after eating a large meal or eating too close to bedtime? I've been lucky in that it hasn't happened in about a month, but the last time I thought I was going to die! I was sleeping so deeply that I'm just lucky the gag reflex worked and I woke up.

Good luck- I hope you find a solution. It's scary and it hurts- that stomach acid can be devastating. It burns like crazy!

I have nothing to offer but great sympathy..
I know how ya feel..enough ought to be enough..

Oh...and, try raising your headbard..or the head of your bed..
A few inches..

Really sorry, BL...that sucks..
Luv n hugs..jc

I have to take something stronger than pepsid i have to take prevacid a proton pump inhibitor since i have gerd-acid reflux disease and it sounds like it's what you have. I would suggest seeing a dr since only a dr can diagnose acid reflux. Good luck

Im so sorry. that would be horrible. i agree with mikeey and would see my doctor. sometimes, there is much more going on than eating related issues. sometimes a chronic condition , hiatal hernia, intestinal ulcer or blockage etc. in support!

Yup. BTDT. Flaring now too. A GI specialist dx GERD. I take Prevacid. My dd has had GERD since infancy. She takes pepcid and pepcid complete. Before that we both took Zantac (didn't work). I've also failed on Aciphex. It's impt to get the proper dx. Sometimes there is a problem with h. Pylori bacteria. A GI dr may also rx a higher therapeutic dose for a short time to llet the esophagus heal. Not trying to scare you but left unchecked for too long, acid can erode the esophageal lining and cause bleeding plus a risk for Barrett's (a kind of cancer). Pain meds can aggravate the stomach. I am on a Mobic hiatus now for that reason. I have to use Flector patches instead. Small meals, limit caffeine, soda...lots of tips - google GERD for the basics. Btw, my reflux is also responsible for some nasty reactive airway flares. I was afraid it was my heart - good to get checked - but now I know the familiar V pattern of burning... I second the saltines - or any other food with sodium bicarbonate - it sops up the acid. Constipation is a problem bc the stomach empties into the intestines so if it can't then it backs up. Having had an infant with both GERD and anal stenosis, I've learned a lot :0 I'm having a rough time of it too, actually puked acid in my sleep the other day. Ugh. Sore throat for days :( So I know how horrid this feels... But do get a checkup to set your mind at ease. Puking can raise ur heartrate -does mine anyway- and when anxiety kicks in it's a vicious cycle. Of course stress is a big factor in GERD. I've been under extra stress lately, which weakened my system, then it couldn't tolerate the Mobic any longer, and the Dilaudid brings it's own issues to bear.... Blech. And they think we opt for this lifestyle?!?!?! Btw a severely injured esophagus takes weeks to heal so get to a dr bc all that puking is reinjuring it. Ruling out other stuff is impt too. Sad you feel so bad :( hang in there! Raggedy

sorry for you, do you take a good probiotic? that would really help, I had some major "gerd" issues and I tried everything, then my uncle(chiro) made me try this metagenics product called glutogenics, it helped, I dont know if you can buy these products or a chiro has to? I dont believe in shutting down our acid pumps, we need them to our digest food. Take care.

I tried some peppermint tea - someone here suggested it. At first it made it worse, but I just realized that I have not had that in a long time.

Hope you feel better

Hey guys thanks for the info, hugs and sympathy!;-)(luv ya jan!!). I'll have to try the ice chips and crackers thalia, never tried those before. And I have thought it may be time to upgrade from the pepcid to the previcid like Mikey and Superduck recommended.
And Raggedy I do also get constipation. I take miralax which works great but does upset my tummy a lot so I try and not take it more than I absolutely have to.

My mom had bleeding ulcers so I know enough to watch for it and after years of being on anti-inflamms, I did end up puking blood but that was years ago. I had a horrible experience with an upper endoscopy and will not have one again unless I am puking blood again!

I'll also have to try some probiotics honor, LOL I give them to my dog but not to me!!!

And Sunny, love peppermint in tea! Just the smell makes me feel better!!

Awww, Boxer... that sounds awful, sorry, not much help for answers... Just sending hopes you can settle these challenges down...
Huge Hugs....

PLEASE go speak to your doctor and ask them to put a scope down your throat to see what is going on. I didn't have as many symptoms as you have except the stomach pain and I ended up being diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus. Please look up the site for Gerd and Heartburn, and then look up Barrett's. If you do have the test done, would you please let me know the results? Your symptoms worry me. However, I don't mean to scare you or worry you! I just don't want you to wait too long because there are medications that can help you feel a lot better.