GERD makes my apnea worse

I have noticed that when my GERD acts up my nights are worse. I always have higher AHI readings on those nights. Last night I had spaghetti for dinner and woke up with bad chest pain around 12:45 a.m. I took some medicine and was able to get back to sleep. However, this morning I noticed my AHI was 2.0 and it almost always runs anywhere from 0.2 to 1.0. I have noticed nights that my GERD is acting up make my AHI numbers go up. Has anyone else experienced this? The last time this happened a week or so ago my AHI was 3.4 and I was having a GERD episode. So strange how eating better helps with my AHI.

Eating too much (of anything), or just eating too late will also worsen GERD.
Many doctors recommend preventing GERD, since it doesn't have to be noticeable to cause damage.
I'm not fond of taking a PPI, but if I skip one, I certainly feel it!

Chunkyfrog, I tried two different PPI's and they both made me noticeably worse. They brought down my vitamin D levels (to 11) and my magnesium. They also gave me pains in my lower legs. So I had to stop taking those and take supplements to get my vitamin levels back up. I now watch what I eat, I drink only water and I usually eat at least 2 to 3 hours prior to going to bed. However, I have really been slacking off on my routine and I can tell you I definitely have noticed it in my apnea and just day to day in how I feel. I know my AHI numbers are still in good range but I do notice when they are above 1.5 I can tell my sleep is not as good. I started out with 25 episodes an hour prior to CPAP so I know it is much improved. I guess I just need to get back to being a little more strict with my eating habits. I can also tell a difference when I sleep laying flat versus sleeping on the wedge pillow.

Renee71 wrote:... I tried two different PPI's and they both made me noticeably worse. They brought down my vitamin D levels (to 11) and my magnesium. They also gave me pains in my lower legs. So I had to stop taking those and take supplements to get my vitamin levels back up. I now watch what I eat, I drink only water and I usually eat at least 2 to 3 hours prior to going to bed. However, I have really been slacking off on my routine and I can tell you I definitely have noticed it in my apnea and just day to day in how I feel. I know my AHI numbers are still in good range but I do notice when they are above 1.5 I can tell my sleep is not as good. I started out with 25 episodes an hour prior to CPAP so I know it is much improved. I guess I just need to get back to being a little more strict with my eating habits. I can also tell a difference when I sleep laying flat versus sleeping on the wedge pillow.

Interesting comment about the PPIs!!

Carb loading at night - well I do tend to do this on the weekends. It does affect sleep.

What comes to mind as I consider your comment about PPIs is that using one would affect digestion and the microbial content of the gut.

Perhaps you would do well to eat more fiber (which tends to be both pre and probiotic (pro when raw or fermented). And seek out fermented foods as well. I like Kimchi and knowing that it is a source of literally hundreds of kinds of microbes, that it is known for its healing powers (in spite of the fact that it is basically cabbage) and that the fibrous structure of it is likely to help get the microbes all the way through the gut makes me think that the healing powers of Kimchi are most likely related to its microbial content along with it being a good delivery vehicle as well.

Healthy gut, healthy you, better sleep.

Spaghetti sauce is the worse if you have Gerd! You have to learn what you can personally tolerate or you WILL suffer. Take it from one who would not be convinced at first.

I take 200 mg Omeprazole everyday for about the last 7 years. I do worry what that might do long term but I am so sensitive to so many things I develop burning and that scares me more.

Learn about the triggers for heartburn cut back a lot on carbs and if you haven't yet visit your Dr

Could it be that your worse nights are aggravating your GERD?

I say this because part of the apnea process, when the airway collapses, a vacuum in the airway is created. When you struggle to breathe, that vacuum can bring up stomach contents into the esophagus.

Just a thought.

tattooyu wrote:Could it be that your worse nights are aggravating your GERD?

I say this because part of the apnea process, when the airway collapses, a vacuum in the airway is created. When you struggle to breathe, that vacuum can bring up stomach contents into the esophagus.

Just a thought.

This was certainly the case for me when my apnea was still undiagnosed and untreated.

Sclark08 wrote:I take 200 mg Omeprazole everyday for about the last 7 years.

Did you mean 20?

Yes 20!

Sclark08 wrote:Yes 20!

Thanks for clarifying -- I asked because one of my docs was suggesting I might need a higher dose of omeprazole. She didn't say how much more, so when I saw "200 mgs" I thought OMG! I'm on 20 mgs also and would rather not increase due to the same long-term concerns I'm sure you have.

Renee71 wrote:I have noticed that when my GERD acts up my nights are worse. I always have higher AHI readings on those nights. Last night I had spaghetti for dinner and woke up with bad chest pain around 12:45 a.m. I took some medicine and was able to get back to sleep. However, this morning I noticed my AHI was 2.0 and it almost always runs anywhere from 0.2 to 1.0. I have noticed nights that my GERD is acting up make my AHI numbers go up. Has anyone else experienced this? The last time this happened a week or so ago my AHI was 3.4 and I was having a GERD episode. So strange how eating better helps with my AHI.

My experience with GERD is a little different. While I accepted that GERD can cause sleeping problems I was surprised to discover that snoring caused my GERD. They put this scope into me and told me that my stomach was inflamed. The doctors didn’t try to solve or discover what the source of the problem was. They gave me Omeprazole. I read about PPIs and was dismayed to find that the drug companies will not comment on what happens to you when you take them for longer than 8 weeks. Instead of reducing the acid I increased it with apple cider vinegar. It works if you take it just before eating. Then I got an APAP and I found out that when I snore I get GERD. You wouldn’t by any chance had snoring a few nights before the GERD?

I never snored !?

Thanks for all the replies. I do not snore. I have heard that spaghetti sauce is bad but I had tried it once before and didn't have any problems. Guess that is not the case anymore. I woke up with chest pain. I do wonder what is aggravating what. It could be the other way around, you never know. I did have some heart palpitations last night but not too bad. I used to wake up with heart palps all night before I knew I had apnea. I also take magnesium now and I think that helps. Of course the CPAP machine is probably what really helps.

I've had GERD for over 10 years and it always seems to be worse after eating anything with a tomato sauce.