Inhaling acid whilst asleep - Acid Reflux

Hi I'm sorry you all have this curse like I do. It's a horrible thing to have especially when it hits you while you're asleep and feels like you have a hot piece of coal in throat which causes you to uncontrollably start coughing if you haven't already threw up on your blankets trying to crawl out of bed first. Usually first thing I grab is my puke bucket run to the fridge grab the milk and ms butterworth's syrup then run to the bathroom coughing my head off and spend about 30mins to an hour in agony!!! I'm 39 now and I got blessed with this curse the night of the day I had a barium swallow test my rheumatologist ordered because he diagnosed me with systemic schleroderma and wanted to check my throat which made no sense to me because I have never had any issues with heartburn what so ever! So I went in and had the test done. Little did I know 3 idiots messed it up and made me keep drinking barium which I could not keep down or swallow this went on for an hour! Never ever again would I redo this test even if I was dying! I drove home which was an hour drive and 2 hours later I had the sharpest pain above my heart but in my throat and breathing was excruciating so I sat in my recliner all night I couldn't hardly move. Well after that I was put on prilosec but it didn't help but I'm still on and off of it because it after so long on it I get severe bouts of diarrhea from it so I quit for a few weeks or months.Last night it hit at 1:30am then again at 3:41am and now I've been coughing and hacking all day I feel like I've got strep throat from the acid burning my sinuses and throat I can feel fluid in my lungs. I just wish there was a cure other than sleeping upright and that isn't even foolproof. I just wanted to share my story with you that share my problem.

It is 1:00 AM and I am wide awake after aspiring stomach acid while sleeping. I ate at 6:30, yet it still happened. This is happening way too often.  I am now going to have phlegm in my lungs and coughing and wheezing for the next week or so before it finally clears up. I have been told this is the body's defense mechanism to the acid in the esophagus. I am now sitting propped up in bed afraid to go to sleep for fear that it will happen again. I would LOVE for this to stop. I need to lose weight, which I'm sure would help. But any suggestions on what I can do would be greatly appreciated! 

Help!

Ok, I am a professional singer whose career depends (and has been harmed) by this malady. The reason some are unable to speak or breathe for a brief period is laryngospasm, the vocal folds closing tightly to keep the foreign substance out. I hope the moderators will allow me to recommend a product, as I found all the proton pump inhibitors to be ineffective. The problem isn't excess stomach acid - it is that we are having stomach and abdominal muscle spasms in our sleep, effectively causing us to throw up. The following works for me, though last night I ate the wrong thing for dinner (a food to which I am allergic) and woke up with the old nasty crud in my throat.

1. As some have mentioned, no food and little water within 3 hours if bedtime. I have actually sat up all night for this reason.

2. It is possible to train yourself to wake up if your stomach is churning. If you have this problem and wake up.in the middle of the night, trust your body and take a dose of antacid, then sit up until the tum stops churning.

3. The magic antacid I take is called Pepcid Complete in the States and Pepcid Dual in the EU. Take two at bedtime with just enough water to wash down the chalkiness. The secret to this medication is the texture of the tablet, as well as the fast acting nature of the famotidine. No other product, and no generic, has this combination of qualities.

4. God forbid that I might suggest that it is all right to take a second dose of said medication in the night if you wake up with issues. I would never say such a thing!

5. If you wake up with the full on laryngospasm or with acid in your throat, recognize that some of the acid may have gone up into and might be dripping down from your eustachian tubes. Gargle for some time, as deeply as you can, with warm salt water, then brush your teeth with regular fluoridated toothpaste.

6. Use bottled water to drink and gargle with, if possible, especially if your local water is highly chlorinated. A water filter is also a great idea.

7. If your stomach is still churning, a dose of pink bismuth salicylate coats, soothes, relieved. Drink a few sips of water after taking it.

Feel better!

I did the same thing lastnight scared me to death

it might as well be, , I think mine comes up o my larynx and I am dreading into my lungs. You need to sort it out , medication, acid reflux diet, loseweight. I became vega and loving it, I lost s much weight. you can take Gaviskon before you sleep without drinking or eating anything after, or even all day when you go through agrevating periods. Sleep on 2-3 pillows etc. It will cause lung damage otherwise. Review meds. I am petrofied too. Good luck. Anthi

If you do any research you'll see that most of the acid inhibitors have really nasty side effects if used long term. And as other commenters have mentioned, most people's issues are not well resolved, because the medicine treats the "wrong" problem. It's not too much acid, it's too little. I have had pretty severe problems with aspirating acid while sleeping. What has worked for me (and it's not perfect) is 1) propping myself up to sleep 2) avoiding carbs generally but definitely 6 hours before bed 3) having unsweetened applesauce every day.

Some people might just prefer to eat an apple (which works too) or add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to your salad or food. Works like a charm! If you are consistent, it will eliminate 97% of your symptoms. If you forget, you can always use it to STOP the acid from forcing its way up your esophagus when you're having an "attack". (It also soothes the throat).

I've recommended this to a bunch of people and you would be amazed at the people who have zero symptoms of something they thought was "incurable"

People have said "It will never work". Okay. But you know an apple is full of fiber and vitamins --so adding one a day to your diet couldn't be a bad thing--and if you stick with it--after about a week--voila!! NO MORE ACID REFLUX 😆😆

Hi!  I am up at 1am because of the same thing that's going on with you.  Right now it feels like thin layer of liquid stuck in my throat.  Sometimes when I lie down or asleep, it feels like a bunch is quickly coming up and I gasp for air and then my heart rate starts racing then I get anxiety. I don't get the burning sensation yet thank god (just once or twice in a long time).  I have tried pepcid, zantac, mylanta, picot, and protonix.  I am schedlued to see my gasteronologiist soon.  I have to sleep wtih my head propped up and it gets frustrating trying to get comfortable.   I believe I'm inhaling acid into my lungs and that's why I get broncitis easily.  Went to ER and saw the crap in my lungs. There was a study that linked GERD and pulmonary diseases.  I Hopefully there is a prognosis for this.  

This has just happened to me for the first time, I'm 17, tall and thin. I have absolutely no idea what was going on, it was the worst feeling ever. My first reaction that my body had was to dope out of bed and make noice hopefully waking someone. I did but by the time they got to me and I got to them, I could breathe again. I pray to god this never happens to me again. It's the worst and most frustrating feeling I've come across, a specially coming from someone with a choking phobia. Thank god I have been able to find something about this. God bless!

I am new to this problem and didn't know I had reflux until I was diagnosed with an inflammation nodule in my lung and developed asthma (no allergies)  I, too, was waking up at night and solved the problem with a mouth guard device that is used for people with sleep apnea.  The device makes me breathe through my nose and I sleep well now.  I will have a 24 hour endoscopic exam next week.  I had been on Koufman's alkaline diet, but it led to excessive flatulence, which is a problem in public places.  I am going to try to add ph drops to my water and coffee.  I guess I am learning as I go along and it is helpful to hear peoples' solutions.

Sitting here at 2:45 in the morning reading this thread.   This has just happened to me for the first time, was sound asleep and jolted awake, choking, could not breathe, with a burning and sour taste in my mouth.  Scared is putting it mildly.  It's been 45 minutes, and i have a bit of a cough, a bit of a headache, sore throat, and very wary of lying down. 

This is all a bit concerning, as this is my first episode of this.  I so very rarely experience any type of heart burn or reflux, I honestly cannot think of a time in the last year where either have happened.  

This article helped put my mind at ease a bit.  I am going to attempt sleep again, slightly elevated, and making a doctor appt in the morning.