HomeAnswersMedical GastroenterologygerdCould my symptoms like increased hunger, excessive saliva, and dizziness, be related to GERD?

Can taking antacids, and solid foods at night help overcome GERD?

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Published At August 23, 2023
Reviewed AtDecember 8, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 12-year-old girl, I weigh about 103 pounds, and my height ranges from 61.2 to 63.6 inches. One day, not too long ago, I was sleeping, and I had not engaged in any significant activities that day, except lounging around the house and going to the mall in the car, among other things. But going back to when I was asleep, I woke up in the middle of the night with my mouth filling up with saliva. I kept trying to swallow it, but it tasted nasty and sour. No matter how many times I swallowed, it kept coming back. Eventually, I had to spit it out into the sink. This experience was also accompanied by feelings of hunger. I felt like I was starving to death, and I was also feeling dizzy. This was not the first time this has happened to me; it has occurred a couple of times before. Months before this incident, I woke up in the middle of the night with similar symptoms and had a fever. When my fever subsided, I went to the doctor's office for a checkup. During the car ride, I was extremely hungry, and even after eating at home, I still felt incredibly hungry. Nothing seemed to satisfy my hunger. Later, when I weighed myself, I realized I had lost around four pounds (I was about 100 pounds at that time). At that point, I suspected it might be GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and I still believe it could be. However, I would like a doctor to confirm this. What do you think?

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern, and it does seem like GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) could be a possibility. However, to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other potential issues, it is important to conduct further investigations. We should start with a complete blood count (CBC), liver function test, fasting blood glucose test, and kidney function test. Additionally, a GER (gastroesophageal reflux) scan may be planned at a later stage. In the meantime, I recommend taking tablet Pantoprazole (pantoprazole sodium) 40 mg once a day. It's advisable to avoid consuming liquids at night and instead have solid food before bedtime. Elevating the head end of your bed by about 30 degrees from ground level can also help alleviate symptoms. Please review the results of the investigations and feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or require clarification before that.

Thank you for choosing icliniq. I am happy to help you and will always be available whenever you need me at icliniq.com.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Babu Lal Meena
Dr. Babu Lal Meena

Medical Gastroenterology

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