Kunle had been drinking antacid syrup like water for 10 months — it worked for an hour, then the burn came back. Mascot Healthcare diagnosed GERD, started him on the right medication, and gave him a lifestyle plan that finally broke the cycle.
Sales director, Ikeja. Presented with 10-month history of daily heartburn, regurgitation of bitter fluid, throat soreness in the mornings, and waking at night with chest burning. Overweight (BMI 30.1). Heavy tea/coffee consumer. H. pylori negative.
Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)Kunle kept a bottle of Gelusil on his desk, in his car, and at his bedside. He considered heartburn a consequence of his job — the working lunches, the late dinners, the four cups of coffee needed to sustain a 12-hour working day. His wife had been telling him for 6 months to see a doctor. He came to Mascot Healthcare when the night-waking started affecting his performance at work.
The doctor took a careful history and asked about alarm features (dysphagia, weight loss, vomiting blood) — all absent. An H. pylori breath test came back negative. An upper GI endoscopy was arranged — which showed oesophagitis grade B (mucosal erosions consistent with GERD).
The diagnosis was clear: gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. The antacids Kunle had been relying on neutralise acid for 60–90 minutes — they do not heal oesophagitis or reduce acid production. He needed a proton pump inhibitor.
GERD occurs when the lower oesophageal sphincter fails to prevent acidic stomach contents from refluxing into the oesophagus. Lifestyle factors and central obesity are major contributors.
Burning pain behind the sternum — present after nearly every meal and at bedtime.
Waking 2–3 times per week with bitter fluid rising into the throat — sometimes reaching the mouth.
Hoarseness and throat irritation every morning — from nocturnal acid reaching the larynx.
Frequent belching after meals; persistent upper abdominal fullness.
Symptoms reliably triggered by coffee, fatty foods, and lying down within 2 hours of eating.
Antacid syrup (Gelusil/Maalox) — multiple times daily; neutralises acid temporarily; does not heal oesophageal inflammation.
Avoiding pepper and tomatoes — partially helpful; incomplete trigger management.
Sleeping on extra pillow — helped slightly with nocturnal symptoms; not a substitute for head-of-bed elevation.
Reducing portion size at some meals — appropriate; not consistently applied.
An acid-suppressing medication was started, taken before breakfast. For the first 8 weeks a stronger twice-daily schedule was used given the grade B oesophagitis. Kunle was advised on the lifestyle changes that directly reduce reflux: no eating within 3 hours of bedtime; head-of-bed elevation 15–20 cm; lose 5–10% body weight (significant independent effect on reflux); reduce coffee to 1 cup daily; avoid fatty/fried foods before bed.
He was counselled on the step-down approach: once the oesophagitis healed (after the initial 8-week course), the aim was to transition to the lowest effective dose or as-needed use — not lifelong high doses.
Repeat endoscopy was arranged at 8 weeks to confirm mucosal healing.
GERD — Grade B Oesophagitis (endoscopy confirmed); H. pylori negative; lifestyle and dietary triggers identified; contributing overweight (BMI 30.1)
Acid-suppressing medication for 8 weeks (then a lower maintenance dose); lifestyle modification; coffee reduction; meal timing adjustment; weight loss target; head-of-bed elevation
At 8 weeks: heartburn reduced by approximately 80%; nocturnal waking stopped by week 3. Repeat endoscopy: mucosal healing confirmed. Stepped down to a lower maintenance dose.
Kunle's heartburn resolved within 3 weeks of starting the PPI and lifestyle changes. Night-waking stopped. He has lost 4 kg and maintains the bedtime eating restriction consistently.
GERD is not just "spicy food heartburn." When symptoms occur daily, wake you at night, or produce morning hoarseness, medical assessment and endoscopy are appropriate.
Antacids treat symptoms for 90 minutes. PPIs reduce acid production for 24 hours. For established oesophagitis, the latter is the correct tool — and lifestyle change is equally important.
Daily heartburn with night symptoms needs a PPI and lifestyle change — not another bottle of antacid syrup.
Walk in to Mascot Healthcare, Akoka — same-day consultation, transparent pricing, 4.9★ rated.