Acid reflux + cough

[crazylady2013]

Was wondering if anyone else is/has experienced this. I'm 26 weeks and have been experiencing acid reflux (totally normal I know). I only seem to have a problem with it at night when I sleep. So I'm trying not too eat too late as well as watching what I eat (though avoiding chocolate is my downfall). The acid reflux doesn't burn, I just get woken up with a lot of liquid in my throat which makes me feel sick so Gaviscon (and sitting up)seems to do the trick and after a while I can go back to sleep. The thing that is worrying me is that I now have a mucus cough (with no other cold symptoms). The problem is at night the more I cough the more acid comes up and the more acid the more I cough. My question is (1) can the acid be causing the cough (damaging my throat) or is it just coincidence that I have both. (2) If yes is there anything I can do about it or is it just one of those pregnancy things. (3) If yes who do I see, my midwife or GP. TIA .

Hi

I suffer from reflux and have done for two years pre pregnancy. My first symptom was a persistent cough, which was originally mis diagnosed as asthma. A cough is a very common symptom of reflux as the acid irritates your throat. Definitely worth mentioning it to your midwife though even just for some reassurance

Your GP can prescribe a PPI to control the reflux and/or it's often helpful to prop the head of your bed up (e.g books under bedposts) - if you Google 'silent reflux' you'll get lots of info xx

Thank you both for your messages. It is great to know that I'm not just imaging it. I will give it a few days to make sure it definitely isn't a cold and then speak to the GP. I do already sleep on a pile of pillows but I will try the books under the mattress trick (feel a bit like the princess and the pea ). Thanks again.

When not pregnant I was put on a PPI because of the risk if acid damage. I've been told not to take it when pregnant (but know that some doctors will prescribe it), but am making do with rantidine. You can get it over the counter and take it before the problems rather than waiting until you need gaviscon.

Midwife wouldn't be able to prescribe a PPI (I assume?) so I'd go to the GP.

ive just gotten over horrible chest and throat infection..made it 10x worse! the only thing thays working for me is glass of milk every so often...ive tried gaviscon, peptac rennies the lot! only milk works, and i get it more at night its so annoyin i struggle to get sleep! constant burnin in ma throat n chest! x

Omeprazole is a safe PPI to take in pregnancy have you have to xx

I asked a consultant if I could continue to take Omeprazole and he wouldn't let me. I wonder whether you need to demonstrate you've tried all the lesser measures first? Practice seems to vary.