My surgery was 5 years ago and with passage of time, reflux attacks occurred less and less frequently as the years passed. For the last year, l can count on one hand the number of times. The only food l've learned never to have late at night is ice cream or chocolate pudding.

l've recently discovered a great way to deal with the horrid taste and burn from reflux: sucking on a lemon drop (hard candy).

I wish I had an answer for you. I am 5 years since surgery and still have this problem. Was up over an hour just last night. I go in spurts of having good weeks and months and then have an aweful week of it happening. I know eating late is huge and I did have a sandwich for supper that ended up being after 7pm last night That's a no no. I take bile meds and acid reflux meds but some nights it doesn't matter I still have the bile. Unfortunately I feel I will always have this but it's the price I pay for being cancer free. Sorry I couldn't help but know you are not alone with the frustration.

Dancing..I will get some lemon drop candy and keep it handy. Thank you for the suggestion. I don't have as many attacks as at first but simply because I have learned what to eat and what not to eat and even then something will cause me to have one. It is the worst thing I've ever had and happens in the middle of the night or about 1and a half hours after I go to bed...(even elevated at 45 degrees..practically sitting upright.)

Cindy....What might I ask is a "bile med". I am not on or have ever been given Rx for that.....The acid reflux I don't think is helping me one way or another frankly. But I am very interested in the bile medication...What it is and how does it work? I sometimes wish they had taken my gall bladder out but have been told that might lead to more problems.....Thank you for your reply!!!

In my reply I said "the acid reflux I don't think is helping"...that should have read "My acid reflux medication I don't think is helping one way or another"....

My surgery was 6 months ago and I still also struggle with the bile at night. I also sleep in an adjustable bed with the head up high. When I get hit in the middle of the night with acid reflux I grab my box of cheese it crackers and eat a few of those. It coats my stomach and I'm able to go back to sleep with out any more issues. I have cheese it crackers every where in my car, living room , kitchen, bedroom. I found that these have been my life saver when my stomach turns sour.
I also will be seeing a natural path to see if I can do something other that conventional meds to stop my reflux. What I'm using now isn't cutting it. I'll keep you informed of the progress. Good luck and hang in there. Bob

My dr gave me cholestyramine powder. It absorbs bile. Usually used to lower cholesterole. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not.

It's so great hearing from others with problems such as I have (but so sorry anyone has to go through this).

Bob, Mine is not regular acid but rather bile that slips up and into my bronchial tube causing such burning even up into my ears. I have to actually stay up and cup and pound my chest until I produce mucous that helps bring the bile up and out. It takes a long time to get that to happen. I fear it is ruining my lungs as I have a place in my right lung now after 8 years of this plague. They are keeping an eye on it and say it can be scar tissue. Do you have orange bile or acid? I have an adjustable bed also and sleep almost sitting upright....and I was a tummy sleeper all my life!! Thanks Bob for your help...You hang in there too and keep us informed of any natural things rather than Rx's....

Cindy....
I am familiar with the cholestyramine and will ask my gastroenterologist about it....Have never had it but willing to try anything now. Thanks for your suggestions and care!

Cindy....I'm on the same medication......with the same results...ML.

Dancing!!! I took your advice and found Brach's lemon drops at CVS pharmacy store. I have had a couple of "close calls" with the bile coming back and the drops are really great to get rid of that horrible taste and feeling. Thanks so much for that tip.

Yes....I have orange bile come up....why is it orange?...Just got an adjustable bed last week. Its a huge improvement....but last night turned while I was sleeping and had a bad episode....ML.

Martin, I'm not sure why bile is orange but it gets its color from cholesterol and bile salts and bilirubin from the liver. It emulsifies fats we ingest. .Some say it's greenish yellow but mine is pure orange and very very bitter and burns so badly when it comes back. I cannot begin to sleep on my right side and sleep in ad adjustable bed at about 45 degrees. Avoiding fats at night is my best bet to not have an episode of bile backflow from not having an esophagus. I do much better after 8 years of dealing with it but now and then something hidden in my food triggers it....Good luck to you.

Same thing here, orange bile etc. I sleep on my left side, never the left, at a 30 degree angle, and have nexium prescribed. When it happens it usually due to; slipping down in the bed or rolling over to the right, eating carbohydrates before bed (bagels, toast), not being regular as everything now has more direct connection.
When it happens I have either Moose Tracks Chocolate ice cream (unless my wife ate it all), or a hot chocolate drink. I am usually down and out for at least a day afterward with what feels like broken ribs from heaving so much.

I absolutely cannot sleep on my left side....and can only sleep on my right side if I skip dinner completely. I know there is no future in not eating...but if I'm completely empty I'm perfectly fine at night...ML.