NB. We are patients rather than health care professionals and these tips have been found to be useful by many oesophageal patients, in the UK and elsewhere. However, oesophageal patients are all different. Taking these facts into consideration, we advise checking with your doctor before trying any of our tips. • Have your bed head raised about 4 to 6 inches. Planks of wood or even piles of old magazines have been used for this purpose. If you are away from home, ask for extra pillows and put them underneath the mattress to raise your head. If you can afford it, an adjustable bed is a wonderful solution. It is also possible to buy a wedge shaped pillow. The most effective have 'egg box' construction. This helps to prevent you slipping down. Warning! Most of us suffer occasionally from very bad night time reflux that leaves the throat burning for up to an hour afterwards. It is very important to try to avoid this. Acid can be aspirated into the lungs, causing serious damage. • When, in spite of your efforts to avoid it, you do suffer from this, we have found that the only things to relieve the throat pain are a warm cuppa, and/or a sore throat pastille. An adjustable bed seems the best solution or see the DIY bed frame designed by a member of the EC Group. Please be sure to make some sort of adjustment, even if it is only to raise your bed head on blocks. Some of us have found that the shaped pillows designed to keep the spine in correct alignment, also keep the head from 'lolling over' to the side during sleep. • Alka Seltzer can often cure those awful abdominal cramps. • If you suffer from occasional hypoglycaemia (dizzy spells). These are caused by food rushing too quickly through your digestive system. Take two Dextrose/Glucose ‘sweets’ (available at the well-known High Street chemists). These will shorten the attack and lessen the symptoms. • Natural bio (live) yoghurt replaces the natural bacteria in your stomach (which you’ve lost during treatment) and helps with digestion and acid problems. • Add ‘Build Up’ to Angel Delight or other whips. • Don’t eat anything for about four hours before bedtime. Click here for more tips.