Is this a symptom of pregnancy or an illness?

[sarahscot]

I went to my GP yesterday, mainly to ask for a giant bottle of gaviscon. Along with horrendous and constant nauseau I have a 'broken' digestive system. By this I mean every time I eat anything it feels like it's stuck in my throat, then bloats up in my stomach. My whole stomach from ribs downwards feels raw and scrubbed inside. I can feel big bubbles of gas working their way through. I've not exactly got diarrhoea, but it's certainly not healthy. All of this basically amounts to constant discomfort and a bit of pain when it all build up. Anyway, the GP said it couldn't be anything to do with being pregnant as I am only 9+4. These sysmpptoms started at 6 weeks at the same time as the sickness. Surely it must be PG related? And if not, why didn't she suggest further investigation seen as it's been going on for nearly 4 weeks?

Have any of you had similar symptoms? I have my first MW appt tomorrow so will ask her, but thinking about it has got me kind of worried. I've put it all down to being PG, but maybe I'm just broken!?

It is normal to feel nauseous, and to lose your appetite (making it difficult to swallow).

If you get out of synch, then you can feel bloated.

Are you inhaling a lot of air when you are sick?

As for the other end, it is far more likely that you get constipation rather than diarrhoea, as the progesterone just slows everything down. Heartburn (that you ahve to treat) usually kicks in a bit later, although it is possible at the early stages.

My advice would be to find something you can eat, that you feel appetising, and stick with that. Have small meals when you feel like it - you don't have to stick to old mealtimes.

I had awful digestive troubles in the first 3 months; I did last time but this time was worse because in the meantime I have had my gallbladder removed. I am sure it is pg related. What might be helpful is keep a food diary for a couple of days and see if anything triggers it, or if it's just all food, which would be bad luck.

I had to cut out high fat dairy again and meat as these would trigger severe cramps. And I was either constipated or had the runs (lots of people have either of these or both), and had lots of bloating and wind. No heartburn, but that's not something I have ever suffered from. It was all much better by about 13/14 weeks I think, and have been fine since.

You could try taking probiotics. Peppermint can help.

manuka honey is expensive but really helped me with symptoms like that. google it - there is lots of info about its effectiveness. When I have that kind of feeling when not pregnant slippery elm capsules also really help, but I don't think you can take them when pregnant.
It sounds like visceral hypersensitivity which is when your whole gut from top to bottom just becomes really irritated and uncomfortable causing all the symptoms you describe. They prescribe really low dose amitriptyline which works to know it on the head, but I wouldn't take that when pregnant personally. It is caused by a reaction to something like a bug or a virus usually, but I bet the massive rush of hormones in early pregnancy could cause it too. It will settle down I am sure.

it could be a symptom of pg. I have had bad guts since becoming pg, including gas, nausea, bloating, heartburn and some diarrhea. I also had a few episodes (after eating greasy foods) of sickness and diarrhea all night, after that I stuck to plain low fat foods.

I think the gut does become more sensitive. Try eating bland simple things- I also found peppermint tea helped a lot.

I've also had that raw/scrubbed stomach feeling and feels like you're full after eating a tiny amount- I think it's an inflamed stomach lining and should pass after a few days of tlc. (avoid chocolate, caffiene, high fat foods) Of course I don't know if thats what you've got but sounds just like what I had- was worried I had an ulcer.

good luck- hope your tummy calms soon. (am an ex IBS sufferer so really sympathise with tummy trouble- it's horrid!)

I used to suffer from IBS too, and although you def sounds like you've got PG related digestion issues there are some trigger foods which make it all worse!
Avoid apple skins- random i know, but apparently quite a common trigger. Obviously anything spicey or spiced (so not necessarily hot) and anything too acidic (like pineapple). Make sure you drink/eat some good probiotic yogs to give your stomach a fighting chance against the stuff it has to neutralise. Think about what you consume on an empty stomach, you dont want anything to harsh to be the first thing your system has to deal with...

The scrubbed inside feeling sounds like it could be acid, and easily caused by your Morning Sickness. I'm baffled he dismissed this as an option. I know if i vomit my insides feel raw!

Good luck!

PG definitely. I had exactly the same with hyperemesis. Bloated, bubbly, farted like a cart horse.
Eat small meals little and often, plenty of water (with lemon in if you like it), mint tea which should help.