Acid Reflux Pillow

Q: I haven't seen a specialist yet because my GP is dealing with me for the time being but refuses to do an endoscopy! I think juicing has triggered a flare-up now for the past 3 days and I am suffering. I took 20mg Nexium this morning but tonight the acid has come back twice as bad so I had to take a Prilosec 40mg because I just can't put up with this burning sick/dull ache in my stomach. It's so bloated tonight and I haven't had a flare-up this bad in months! I feel SICK with my stomach tonight. I'm sorry for complaining but I just feel like crying because I'm in so much pain with this and sometimes I wake up and there's blood on my pillow and I told my doctor who is a specialist in the stomach but he didn't seem too concerned and I had a check up from the dentist and it's not due to a tooth/gum problem. So can anyone here help me with my acid reflux pillow?

A:Hydrochloric acid is the potent acid the body produces in the early stages of digestion in the stomach. It has a PH of 1.5 and is strong enough to corrode metal. It is the first agent used in the digestion of protein. Hence, it is easy to understand how it can damage tissues not specifically protected against it's corrosive effects. As the term 'reflux' suggests, GERD refers to the return of acidic stomach contents back into the lower esophagus (the swallowing tube), which connects the mouth to the stomach. Such acidic contents will literally scald the tissues of the esophogus and produce heartburn. If repeated often, this process will cause scarring and puckering of the esophogus so severe that food may not pass without obstruction or pain. In these cases, the esophogus can require dilation to stretch it. Continued reflux can lead to Barrett's esophogus, a pre-cancerous condition. Failure to stop the damage can lead to esophageal cancer, a crippling and often deadly complication. Obesity, which is increasing rapidly in our society, results in deposits of mesenetric or belly fat, which pushes down on abdominal organs and causes an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. This excessive pressure pushes up on the stomach and forces the acidic gastric contents into the esophogus, This occurs more easily at night when the person is reclining Weight loss is the most

effective method of reducing GERD. Restriction of acid-stimulating substances like caffeine, alcohol, and spicy or fatty ffoods called 'secretaagogues' can also help. Raising the bed head of beds by placing bricks or 2"x4" slices under the bed legs also helps, as does the generous use of Mangosteen. Mangosteen's potentanti-oxidents help repair and protect the lower esophogus. It's acid-supression effects reduce the acidity of stomach contents when reflux does occur, and it's anti-inflammatory effects may reduce the changes that lead to Barrett's and eventually to cancer. Mangosteen has acid-lowering effects, anti-inflammatory effects, anti-oxident effects, and NO major side effects.