I recently read this article:

A Quick Freeze That Saves Lives: Preventing One of the Fastest Growing Cancers - NBC News

Now I'm freaking out because I get really REALLY bad heartburn, especially when I'm trying to sleep. It's actually worse when I don't eat anything for a few hours before laying down. Maybe the acid is more concentrated from having no foods and/or beverages to dilute it? It's so bad I sometimes throw up. Not fun.

Well, the article says those with bad Acid Reflux are at a higher risk for developing esophageal cancer, which is the fastest growing cancer around, or one of them. I think the rate is 10% greater or something like that.

The worse part is that we only have one esophagus and living without it is kind of complicated. I know surgical removal of an afflicted organ is a worse case scenario, but I tend to make mountains out of molehills really quickly.

Anyways, I would consult my doctor, but I have no GP, as the one listed on my insurance card won't take me as I've not been in a decade or so and they don't take new patients. I can't get a new GP cause I have to go to the one listed on my card. Catch 22, eh?

Any ideas on how to fix this problem so I can get to a doc who can look at me and ease my anxiety ridden mind?

In the meantime, I'm open to any ideas on how to ease my reflux problem. Like I've said, I've already tried not eat a few hours before bed to no avail, and have been using antacids like Tums and Pepto Bismol nearly nightly. I don't want to rely on them all the time (that really can't be all that healthy to constantly take antacids every night for weeks on end). Plus, they only give me a reprieve from my symptoms for about 30-45 minutes. If I don't fall asleep within that time, I'm back to square one. Heartburn central.