Asthma or heartburn? 10wks pregnant

[BlinkAndMiss]

Odd question and I feel so daft not knowing! But I'm feeling rotten so could do with some advice.

I have very mild asthma, it usually only affects me in the early summer when I need to use a preventer inhaler twice a day for about a month. I'm currently 10 weeks pregnant with my 2nd DC and my chest feels quite tight about 3 or 4 times a day. It eases when I've had my inhaler but then comes back a few hours later.

It seems to coincide with my nausea, I get the feeling in my chest and then I start to feel sick (haven't been sick) but my nausea is always linked to smells and I can't be anywhere near anything perfumy, scented candles or similar things. I'm just wondering if my sense if smell is heightened then maybe my asthma triggers are too and that's why I struggling?

Eating Rennies seems to help me, so could it actually be heartburn? I suppose the uncomfortable feeling might be the same as heartburn, and I'm not sure if the taste of the Rennies is helping or if it's because they're soothing the heartburn. I haven't left it long enough without my inhaler to see if the Rennies get rid of the feeling, I'm a bit scared to let asthma take hold if that's what it is.

I should add that this did not happen with my 1st pregnancy and I don't think I've ever had heartburn except for the last few weeks of my 1st pregnancy so I'm not really experienced with either. I'm not sure if heartburn would even be affecting me so early?

I'm going to make an appointment with my GP, my next midwife app isn't until the end of December and it's starting to become an issue now. I was just wondering if anyone else is finding this too?

Tia x x

[croon979]

Hi blinkandmiss - afraid I don't have any answers for you but I am 11 weeks pregnant, a bad asthmatic and also suffering from bad indigestion. My asthma has been terrible over the last couple of months and I am not sure whether this is due to the weather (I am never good at this time of year) or whether it is bad due to my condition.

There appears to be a link between asthma and indigestion, see this link for example which also gives some tips for trying to ease it:

//www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/heartburn-asthma

So, not convinced this answers your question but I am having same problem as you x

[BlinkAndMiss]

Thank you croon that does make things clearer - it makes sense that my asthma has ramped up a notch actually. Basically I've been eating non-stop to combat the nausea (not working!) and I've been eating stodgy food - it stands to reason that this is causing some kind if acidic reaction in my stomach and throat, I'm convinced it's GERD. As that's increased then so has my asthma, it has to be linked because I was fine until my eating habits changed.

I've started taking my preventor which I've seen a huge difference in today, I haven't had to use my blue inhaler at all. I've been eating Rennies too which are helping the heartburn and they help to stop the nausea. I'm staring to think that the eating is actually contributing to the nausea because it causes the reflux issues.

I hope you start to feel better soon, I can't believe how early things are happening this time around. With DS I was pretty much as I always was as this point, no real changes. This time it's awful!

[croon979]

I have only ever felt sick during this pregnancy AFTER I have eaten something and generally at night. For me it is definitely the eating which causes the reflux issues and nausea. Rennies are good And I also find Gaviscon Advance and peppermint tea also helps a little. Best of luck in conquering it.

I have actually had to go to doctor today as I have a cold and I can feel it going down to my chest which would not be good. I can't have the usual steroids due to pregnancy so have got something different. Sigh...

Looking forward to getting over cold, asthma improving and more energy in the 2nd trimester! Pretty miserable right now!

Take care