Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

I was surprised to find in this paper no mention of the effects of
posture on GORD.Admittedly, controlled trials are not possible in this
respect but surely some weight must be given to the experience of many
patients and doctors.
In my own case,I can report on over seventy years of coming to terms with
peptic ulceration and over thirty years of trying to cope with severe
reflux.Gross adverse reactions to the modern acid-suppressants as well as
clarithromycin have forced me to rely on a postural approach which is very
effective when combined with a simple ant-acid mixture taken after meals
and at bedtime.
Sufferers should be advised to avoid bending down especially after
meals.Again, they should be encouraged to sleep in a semi-upright
position.This is achieved ideally by the use of an adjustable mattress but
such beds are very expensive and they are not transportable.
A back-rest is easily improvised but a 'Donkey' is required behind the
knees to prevent the patient from sliding down the bed. Traditionally, a
bolster has been used for this purpose. To prevent it rolling down the bed
it has to be wrapped in a draw-sheet the ends of which are tucked under
the mattress on each side. This works well but may be too
awkward to take on holiday.

What is needed nowadays is a portable, inflatable plastic bolster .
If it were to be coated with or wrapped in a material with a suede finish
the friction generated would stop it from sliding. I have improvised
cushions of this type with success but some manufacturing problems have to
be overcome.

Competing interests:
None declared