How can I manage my severe acid reflux problem?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

It looks like your acid reflux has flared up again quite badly this time. The way you describe the anxiety, fear of eating, and poor sleep, which usually happens when the reflux starts affecting both the stomach and the mind over time. When medicines that worked before start becoming less effective, it usually means the acid irritation has persisted too long, or the stomach lining is quite sensitive now.

This combination of long-standing gastritis or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), poor acid control, and stress/anxiety aggravates stomach acid release. Irregular meal patterns or eating late at night can worsen it, too.

I suggest you do the following tests

1. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (to see if there’s esophagitis or gastritis)

2. H. pylori test (stool antigen or breath test).

3. Basic blood tests (Complete blood count, liver function, thyroid test).

For now, continue one proton pump inhibitor (like Pantoprazole 40 milligrams once daily before breakfast) regularly for at least four weeks, not on and off. Avoid combining too many acid medicines, as it confuses the system and makes it harder to assess the effect.

You should avoid the following:

1. Tea.

2. Coffee.

3. Spicy or fried food.

4. Late dinners.

5. Lying down within two hours after eating.

6. Try elevating the head end of your bed slightly.

If anxiety and insomnia are too severe, it is worth discussing short-term non-habit-forming anxiety relief or counseling that alone helps a lot in breaking the reflux-anxiety cycle.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.