Thank you doctor for the reply,
I will try taking Gaviscon advance three times a day. In the past, I had only been using it after my final meal, and when I did not see results after a night or two, I would switch to something else. This led to me taking it only about twice a week at night. However, as you mentioned, the results might take weeks to become apparent. So, I will follow your advice and continue using it for a full eight weeks. I also have a history of left vocal cord paralysis from a few years ago. I could not move the cord, making it very difficult to speak. An endoscopy confirmed the paralysis. My first nasopharyngoscopy was five years ago, and at that time, they prescribed twice-daily PPIs for three months to address hoarseness.
After experiencing the paralysis, I underwent a CT scan, which did not detect any tumors or abnormalities. Paralysis in some cases can be related to tumors near the left recurrent laryngeal nerve, but in my case, this was not the cause. Fortunately, the paralysis gradually improved after about four months. My ongoing issue with hoarseness may also be attributed to the vocal folds not approximating correctly. I have not had a follow-up larynx endoscopy in several years. Recently, I experienced chest pain, leading to another CT scan and gastroscopy. The results showed evidence of reflux, and as a result, I was prescribed PPIs and sucralfate. My doctor also recommended adopting a lower acid diet.
I have become more mindful of my diet and have been trying to identify foods that trigger stomach discomfort. Coffee, in particular, is a significant trigger for stomach pain. I have switched to herbal teas instead of standard black tea, as I found that excessive black tea consumption also irritated my stomach and caused dryness in my mouth, possibly due to its high tannin content. I quit alcohol 13 months ago. I used to consume two beers once or twice a week, but it would occasionally make me feel tired. Wine used to cause stomach pain, so I switched to low-alcohol beers. However, despite quitting alcohol, I still wake up feeling unwell every day, with a terribly dry, bitter mouth, and burning, irritated eyes.
I appreciate your recommendations, and I am considering undergoing some of the tests you mentioned. If Gaviscon does not provide relief, I am open to trying other treatments. Some people have suggested using a prokinetic like Domperidone, while others believe that stress could be a contributing factor and recommend Baclofen. I had a basic sleep study conducted, which revealed that I have very mild sleep apnea. I have learned that using a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine may not only help with sleep apnea but also alleviate reflux symptoms.
Anyway, thanks again for your help.