Discharge Instructions for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
You have been diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is a backflow of acid from the stomach into the swallowing tube (esophagus).
Home Care
-
Maintain a healthy weight. Get help to lose any extra pounds.
-
Avoid lying down after meals.
-
Avoid eating late at night.
-
Elevate the head of your bed by 6 inches. You can do this by placing wooden blocks under the head of your bed.
-
Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes.
-
Avoid foods that might irritate your stomach, such as the following:
-
Fat
-
Chocolate
-
Caffeine
-
Spearmint or peppermint
-
Talk to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications. These medications can make GERD symptoms worse:
-
Begin an exercise program. Ask your doctor how to get started. You can benefit from simple activities, such as walking or gardening.
-
Break the smoking habit. Enroll in a stop-smoking program to improve your chances of success.
-
Limit alcohol intake to no more than 2 drinks a day.
-
Take your medications exactly as directed. Don’t skip doses.
-
Avoid over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
-
If possible, avoid nitrates (heart medications such as nitroglycerin and Isordil).
Follow-Up
Make a follow-up appointment as directed by our staff.
When to Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following:
-
Trouble swallowing
-
Pain when swallowing
-
Feeling of food caught in your chest or throat
-
Pain in the neck, chest, or back
-
Heartburn that causes you to vomit
-
Vomiting blood
-
Black or tarry stools (from digested blood)
-
More saliva (watering of the mouth) than usual
-
Weight loss of more than 3 to 5 percent of your total body weight in a month
-
Hoarseness or sore throat that won’t go away
-
Choking, coughing, or wheezing
|
Date Last Reviewed:
2/3/2006
Date Last Modified:
9/1/2004