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What Causes Bitter Taste In Mouth And Difficulty Swallowing?

Posted on Wed, 15 Jul 2015

Question: I suck on lifesavers in bed lying down. And later on during the night I have this bitter taste in my mouth. I have a hard time swallowing. I sit up drink some water, I burp and I am fine. For a good while I didn't

I suck on lifesavers ( peppermint) when I am lying down in bed to go to sleep. Later on during the night I get this bitter taste in my mouth. I have a hard time swallowing. I sit up take a drink of water I burp and I am fine. What is causing this. Can stress do it? For a long time it didn't happen. Until just recently here. What foods can't I eat at all?

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Acid reflux or GERD; suggestions listed

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. From the information provided, it sounds like you could be suffering from a problem related to either:

1. Simple acid reflux

or

2. Condition involving acid reflux mainly due to the dtysfunctioning of the upper esophageal sphincter called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

I have the following recommendations:

+Avoid over eating
+Have 5-6 smaller meals instead of 2-3 larger ones
+Drink plenty of water
+Avoid spicy, fried, fatty food
+Avoid carbonated drinks
+Avoid smoking
+Avoid alcohol
+If you are obese or overweight, try losing weight
+Do not have anything to eat at least 90-120 minutes before bedtime
+Avoid stress
+Anytime you have these symptoms use antacids like ranitidine, omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole, etc.
+Get a 24-hour acid pH monitoring test and upper GI endoscopy conducted for a more accurate diagnosis

I hope you find my response and suggestions helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (2 hours later)

How does a person get acid reflux? How do you take the test ( the 24- hour acid ph monitoring test. What causes gerd ? ( gastroesophageal reflux disease) is it curable?

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Nothing too serious, it can be well controlled and suppressed

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again.

Acid reflux can take place due to various causes like:

+Poor eating habits
+Increased acid production due to an abnormal reflux
+Hiatus hernia
+Increased alcohol intake or smoking (Especially on an empty stomach)

Yes, the 24-hour pH monitoring test will help diagnose GERD. GERD can be well controlled and treated, it depends on your lifestyle and the changes you make to help prevent increased acid production.

Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am here to help.

Best wishes.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar