Best wedge pillows and probiotics for GERD/LPR?
April 5, 2018 12:00 PM Subscribe
I have had GERD off and on for years now, and it's flaring up again. I am trying to do everything I can to settle it down - seeing a doc (who prescribed prilosec 2x a day [I take the OTC name brand stuff; I also have access to generic omeprazole via prescription]), eliminating my stomach triggers (I miss you kimchi), not eating before bed, etc.
However, there's two points where my GERD/LPR treatment is failing - the wedge pillow I've had for years is falling apart, and I don't know what probiotic is best. I've taken 'Align' for a while now, but I stopped when I ran out. Please recommend to me your favorite wedge pillows and probiotics for GERD/LPR. I'm sick of being sick, and having acid in my throat when I wake up. Bonus points if I can get reimbursed by my insurance for them (I have a Kaiser Core Gold plan from the marketplace, in WA State.)
I know that seeing a Gastro and potentially using heavier drugs are in my future; I'd like to do what I can to solve the problem on my own first. Thank you!
However, there's two points where my GERD/LPR treatment is failing - the wedge pillow I've had for years is falling apart, and I don't know what probiotic is best. I've taken 'Align' for a while now, but I stopped when I ran out. Please recommend to me your favorite wedge pillows and probiotics for GERD/LPR. I'm sick of being sick, and having acid in my throat when I wake up. Bonus points if I can get reimbursed by my insurance for them (I have a Kaiser Core Gold plan from the marketplace, in WA State.)
I know that seeing a Gastro and potentially using heavier drugs are in my future; I'd like to do what I can to solve the problem on my own first. Thank you!
Seconding the raising the bed, I stuck a couple 2x4s under the head of my bed and it was a miracle. The wedge pillow was a waste of my time.
Probiotics, well, I just eat a lot of yogurt.
posted by Sternmeyer at 12:21 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Probiotics, well, I just eat a lot of yogurt.
posted by Sternmeyer at 12:21 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Another thing that has helped me is drinking a few glasses of water right before bed, and also upon waking.
posted by answergrape at 12:25 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by answergrape at 12:25 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
My gastro doc recommended Culturelle but it didn't make as much of a difference as adding a second and different sort of antacid in the evenings before bed.
posted by poffin boffin at 12:36 PM on April 5, 2018
posted by poffin boffin at 12:36 PM on April 5, 2018
The best (and only really effective) probiotic I've ever found happens to be made in the Seattle area: Britt's pickles.
They're a 'living' pickle, and once you finish all the pickles, you can use the juice to pickle things like canned olives. Get the I. P. O. (Initial Pickle Offering, but I promise they aren't as pretentiously chi-chi as that makes them sound) variety.
They're sold at PCC community markets, and probably Whole Foods as well, though I never go there.
posted by jamjam at 1:17 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
They're a 'living' pickle, and once you finish all the pickles, you can use the juice to pickle things like canned olives. Get the I. P. O. (Initial Pickle Offering, but I promise they aren't as pretentiously chi-chi as that makes them sound) variety.
They're sold at PCC community markets, and probably Whole Foods as well, though I never go there.
posted by jamjam at 1:17 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Get yourself to Whole Foods or a good health food store and buy some refrigerated probiotics capsules, with live cultures. If you do go to Whole Foods, the employees will probably be able to tell you which brands seem to be best of the ones they carry. The brand I like is Bluebonnet, but not all Whole Foods stores carry the brand. Sprouts is worth checking, too, as they often do carry Bluebonnet.
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:52 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by MexicanYenta at 1:52 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
May not be relevant but Isuffered from GERD for several years with antacids and wedge pillows. Last fall I wan’t sleeping well at all and went to see a sleep specialist who prescribed a CPAP machine for me.
The CPAP solved my sleep problems AND my GERD as well. Apparently the slight positive air pressure in my airway helped hold the closure to my stomach closed preventing that acid backflow. I asked my primary physician and he agreed with my observation.
Just one case but I am on vacation and eating rich food every night and very late (last night we closed a restaurant at 11:00 having eaten pasta and cannoli with wine, all GERD triggers in the past.) - No GERD for the past six months.
Good luck.
posted by leafwoman at 2:52 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
The CPAP solved my sleep problems AND my GERD as well. Apparently the slight positive air pressure in my airway helped hold the closure to my stomach closed preventing that acid backflow. I asked my primary physician and he agreed with my observation.
Just one case but I am on vacation and eating rich food every night and very late (last night we closed a restaurant at 11:00 having eaten pasta and cannoli with wine, all GERD triggers in the past.) - No GERD for the past six months.
Good luck.
posted by leafwoman at 2:52 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Not to threadsit, but I don't know if I'll be able to raise the bed. I live in a furnished microapartment, and the bed belongs to the rental agency/landlords. I'll write my Building Manager to see if there's a way to do this without potential damage to the bed/carpet. I'm also prepared for that answer to be 'No'.
Consequently, something like a wedge pillow/CPAP machine would be better for me.
posted by spinifex23 at 2:56 PM on April 5, 2018
Consequently, something like a wedge pillow/CPAP machine would be better for me.
posted by spinifex23 at 2:56 PM on April 5, 2018
Best answer: So then don’t raise the frame, just the mattress. Most mattresses are flexible enough that you could shove a few regular pillows under them to get the right angle.
Please, please read the latest literature about PPI usage. The stuff is dangerous. Significantly increased cancer risks, cardiovascular risks and bone loss have all been revealed within the last 4 years or so. I am genuinely worried for my child who was on a PPI for years.
You might want to check out something called the Fast Tract Diet. There’s a book, an app and a very active and helpful FaceBook group. People seem to feel relief very quickly. I had my son kinda doing it for SIBO (another charming side effect of PPI use), but since he’s 7 it’s hard to get compliance.
I wish you luck! If you can get the inflammation around your LES healed up, then you’ll be on your way to recovery.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 8:34 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Please, please read the latest literature about PPI usage. The stuff is dangerous. Significantly increased cancer risks, cardiovascular risks and bone loss have all been revealed within the last 4 years or so. I am genuinely worried for my child who was on a PPI for years.
You might want to check out something called the Fast Tract Diet. There’s a book, an app and a very active and helpful FaceBook group. People seem to feel relief very quickly. I had my son kinda doing it for SIBO (another charming side effect of PPI use), but since he’s 7 it’s hard to get compliance.
I wish you luck! If you can get the inflammation around your LES healed up, then you’ll be on your way to recovery.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 8:34 PM on April 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
Bed risers are a thing that exist. You just stick them under the legs of the bed.
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:04 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:04 PM on April 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you all so much for the information! I found some mattress raisers on Amazon, and I ordered them. I am trying to get off of PPIs, hence the raising of the head, and the probiotics.
posted by spinifex23 at 10:51 PM on April 5, 2018
posted by spinifex23 at 10:51 PM on April 5, 2018
Response by poster: Update - that mattress riser is working like an absolute charm. So glad I got it; I wouldn't have known they existed without posting this question. I also got probiotics, and was able to reduce my PPI usage to 1x a day, down from 2x a day.
I'm still having issues, but it's definitely helping!
Thank you again!
posted by spinifex23 at 11:58 PM on April 22, 2018
I'm still having issues, but it's definitely helping!
Thank you again!
posted by spinifex23 at 11:58 PM on April 22, 2018
Just wanted to add a quick something to try if you haven't already... I've had a lot of digestive issues lately, including acid reflux, and these deglycyrrhizinated licorice tablets have been really soothing if I chew them after dinner. Apparently licorice is nature's antacid, and DGL licorice removes a particular ingredient that causes other issues.
posted by iadacanavon at 11:55 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by iadacanavon at 11:55 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: One last update - the combo of mattress wedges, Pantoprazole, and a bland diet, has helped tremendously, and my stomach and I are on the mend! I marked this as Resolved. Thank you all again.
posted by spinifex23 at 2:40 PM on May 21, 2018
posted by spinifex23 at 2:40 PM on May 21, 2018
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posted by answergrape at 12:05 PM on April 5, 2018 [4 favorites]