Hi Johno! I have had gastritis for 20 years. I have had a case manager at BCBSTX tell me to eat every night before bed. I have a new gastro doctor because we changed insurance and my old gastro was not in network and my new Gastro says DO NOT eat 3 hours before bed. BUT I am like you, I eat small meals thougthout the day so I keep something on my stomach because I produce so much bile. The bile is extremely painful. I am on the phone with my gastro doctor or her office weekly, right now. She has found that my bile is entering my esophagus now by doing some xrays because I had an EGD last year by another good MD. My stomach has gotten worse since my previous Gastro. Anyway, back to the subject. Right now I have to eat before I try to sleep. As soon as I'm not in the distress I'm in; I'll do what the doctor asks. If I don't eat I am in major pain all night and days after. Please remember I have had a bad stomach for 40 years and I have serious stomachs issues. The good thing is my Gastro's office is working with me weekly right now to get me well again. I also have Lupus and a serious different form of MCTD and that complicated different parts of my body. I am very complicated health wise but have get MDs helping me make it through a day. Take good care of that stomach. I have never been able to eat anything hot or spicy. If the doctor says don't eat (example) black pepper, please don't eat it. The other DS members will really be able to help out too. How long have you had gastrisis? I hope this helps.

Thanks for the reply gail. Yea, if I don't eat I find the hunger pains tend to hurt while I'm trying to sleep. I've been dealing with this stomach pain since I did antibiotics for h pylori about 2 months ago. Been having a constant burning ache ever since. Currently taking pantoprazole and amitriptyline for it.

H pylori seriously! Ouch! I am prescribed carafate 4 times daily, RX nexium, and amitriptyline. Carafate is an excellent Rx for the stomach. It could help if you have a good relationship with your gastro. I will have to take it for life but I told you my stomach is the pits. I lost my stomach in 1969. I got sick when I was a little girl and hospitalized. The doctor ordered 18 asprins a day for a week. Later he order another aspirin like drug 6 times a day for arthritis for a year. I ended up with a little loss of my stomach lining. Today, I don't have much of a lining. If I knew now what I now. Beef boulon (spelling?) cubes help coat the stomach. Today I'm starting a new diet because my stomach is so bad right now. It will be: warm oatmeal for breakfast, warm beef cube for lunch and baked chicken and mashed potatoes. Beef cube in between. I should be better in a day or two. Hope this helps.

Have you tried sleeping with three or so pillows making a wedge? Being slightly propped up can ease the discomfort. It is a hard one to juggle though.

Excellent point! I have a bed that raises up and down. Before that I did the pillow thing. I had many years of success doing that. Right now, I am having serious issues w/ my stomach so it's not working for me but the Gastro doctor, PCP doc and I are working my current situation. Yes, please try. Praying for ya! Gail

I've been sleeping on several pillows at night to try and keep my head raised. Haven't noticed too much relief in the morning tho.