Is there hope for me and my reflux?

I'm super super exhausted and irritable. All I want to do is sleep. But I feel like I'm starving - i believe it's because of my constant acid reflux problems. It's keeping me awake. I ate dinner at 8 pm and planned to go to bed around 9 or so. I got side tracked and didn't make it to bed until 10:30, but by the time I laid down for a while, I was feeling really "hungry". I took my 2nd dose of prilosec around 8 when I ate dinner. It's 12:00 am now, and I got up to have a snack which helps with the problem of feeling hungry/acid, but this cannot possibly be a long term solution.

I've been able to control it during the day for the most part by sipping all day on shakes and what not, but the night time stuff is kicking my butt.  My frequent protein shakes are sending my calorie in take closer to 1000 cal/day which is making me nervous/anxious. I have a lot of anxiety at bed time because I'm afraifd to go to sleep and wake up with my throat burning and all that other fun stuff. I don't know if I need to file a complaint with Kaiser for not listening to me and adjusting my treatment. I was told that the acid reflux was my problem for going 2-3 hours without eating/drinking and that I was basically non-compliant with their program so they would not be changing my meds at this point.  (i'm on 20mg prilosex 2x day). Maybe I need an anti-anxiety pill? Maybe I need to suck it up and pay more for a PPO and get rid of Kaiser? Im at a loss for what to do.

I can't freaking wake up every hour to eat something or sip on a protein shakes during the night. That's ridiculous, but im waking up in the middle of the night (even though i take the PPI before bed and a narcotic sleeping pill for general insomnia (which isnt even insomia, it's acid reflux waking me up)).

I'm just so frustrated. I just want to sleep. I want to feel better. I want to be happy. When I saw my surgeon last week and asked for his opinion, his only response was a revision to RNY (to whichI told him I'd have to be on my death bed before I consider that).

With my never ending acid reflux, constipation issues, general fatigue issues and random other pains - i find myself having a  lot of anxiety/panic attacks. I dont want to go get anti anxiety pills because my other issues are still going to be there, but its contributing to my lack of sleep.

What to do? Im sooo tired of being exhausted, and having an upset stomach all the time, and dealing with all my other issues. I refuse to give up and go off my plan, but it's getting to be a little too much for me. Sorry for the whine fest - i'm just really miserable tonight.

Ask your doctor about Carafate..It really helps my acid reflux issues! It is supposed to relax the esophagus..its kinda expensive tho..I paid $62 for a month's supply and that's after insurance.

my cousin had the lapband and she has terrible reflux issues as well.  She recommended that I take 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar before I eat. she said that really helps.

Good Luck!

You need to see a gastroenterologist and fast. Those constant hunger  pains along with severe reflux is probably an ulcer. I can't believe your doctor or surgeon didn't suggest this.  Gnawning hunger pains is the number 1 symptom of an ulcer.  Unfortunately you are on over the counter strength PPI and that is part of your problem.  20mg isn't full strength prilosec. The prescription prilosec is 40mg and you should be taking that 2 times per day with symptoms as bad as yours.  You can do this by taking 2 of the over the counter Prilosecs 2 times per day and see if you get any relief.  The other option is to try Prevacid - this is also over the counter and is usually the medication of choice for ulcers - it is also a PPI but stronger than prilosec.   I am not sure what the over the counter strength is but you want to take 30mg (prescription strength) and take that 2 times per day.  Make sure you avoid all caffeine products, spicy foods, cinnamon, acidic foods and fruits - dairy products/  Also, no aspirin or NSAIDS -period.  If you dont' already have an ulcer, you will get one with the combination of those meds with all the acid you are producing.

Make sure you get an Endoscopy ASAP - an ulcer needs to be treated properly - it also needs to be biopsied for hpylori which is a bacteria that causes ulcers and if that is what caused yours, you need a Prevpac -combination of 2 antibiotics and prevacid - without this it will never heal and continue to get worse. You will also need to take after the 14 daysof the prevpac is Prevacid and carafate for atleast 8 weeks to make sure the ulcer heals and redo the endoscopy.

Unfortunatley, reflux is very common with sleeve patients and many times it is hard to treat which is why your surgeon recommend you revise to the Gastric bypass - we have the lowest incidence of reflux of all the surgeries.

I had reflux so bad back in 1998 that I had to have surgery to correct the reflux.  Itwas great, I was reflux free.  Then I wanted the gastric bypass and I was told that my reflux surgery had to be reversed in order to have it done but thre was a good chance it wouldn't come back since most people dont have trouble postop.  Well, I went along with it and I am reflux free. 

In addition to what the other posters have said, I will say that drinking water at night, and a while prior to bed is better than shakes. Also, I find that if I lay down too soon after eating (couple of hours), I tend to be waken up more with the reflux. I had a lot of reflux early on. I was taking Prilosec daily. It's only occasional now and I only take something when I need it. It's always best to check w/ your doctor though.

So sorry you are going through this.  I don't have much advice, but wanted you to know I'm thinking of you and hoping this gets resolved soon.  Maybe a switch to Prevacid for a week and see if it makes a difference?  I think following up on the ulcer possibility is a good idea too.  Good luck!

 I'm having big reflux problems myself, and like you, it's hard to go to sleep because the minute I lie down the acid starts getting worse. It's the first thing I notice when I wake up and is my constant companion. It does help to only drink water. While milk seems to have soothing effect, I learned on here that dairy actually causes more acid production so it's really making the problem worse. 

I think you've gotten some good advice, and I think you need to see a different doctor about the reflux. Obviously your surgeon is not listening to you. 

I'll be calling my doctor on Tuesday. In the meantime, I doubled my Aciphex on my own, and I carry Pepcid Complete with me at all times. I do take a couple of those right before I climb into bed and it does seem to help.

Good luck to us both!

Can you call me?  I am going to send you my Phone Number via PM

I'm not understanding something, is your Dr refusing to try another med for your reflux? Is it an insurance thing? If I ask my dr for something, he generally provides it without question (if appropriate for my needs.) Some do not get relief on Prilosec and need something else - Nexium, Prevacid, etc.. Also, take PPIs on an empty stomach, at least an hour before eating for best effect. I have GERD, and never needed to sip or eat constantly to control it- I will PM you some addl info that may be helpful..

according to her post they say is is noncompliant with their program cause she won't eat every 2-3 hours to control the acid. since she is "noncompliant" they won't change/adjust her meds....ignorant ********

you should definately filee a complaint and don't wait another minute. Doesn't CA have some kind of board that oversees ins co, making sure they are treating patients appropriately?

it is absurd for your surgeon group to think that anybody should have to stay up all night to sip a protein drink or et every 2-3 hours all night to void reflux. The can and SHOULD adjust your meds. it is ridiculous. continued acid reflux can cause Barretts esophagitis a pre cancerous condition. It is,so serious,in fact, that having it is a comorbidity for WLS in the first place.

You need to see a gstroenterologist or your PCP or someone  who can help you out with this. You need some Nexium or one of its cousins that shuts off the pump that maakes the acid to start with.

At the very least take 2 of what you are taking twice a day as another poster suggested or get the OTC prevacid and do the same. There is help for this and IMHO it is criminal that they are treating you this way.