Any advice to relieve digestive discomfort please?

[SamoyedFan123]

Hi ladies

Can anyone offer some advice to help me relieve this discomfort please - it's making me so miserable! The only way I can describe it is like heartburn but without the burn, instead it's a massive pressure in my chest that feels like my stomach is sitting up towards my throat and everything I eat or drink feels like it gets stuck there and adds to the pressure. The nausea is horrendous but I can't seem to be sick anymore. I'll be thirteen weeks tomorrow and I don't remember feeling anything like this in my last pregnancy (which was twins) until much later on. I know it's a comparatively minor issue but it's really affecting my ability to do anything except lie on the sofa and it's been non stop for days now.

Thanks xxx

Sorry if this seems obvious but have you tried things like rennies/gaviscon? Also are you constipated? That can give a feeling of fullness. Going through this at the moment, also 13 weeks, and it’s utterly hideous. Have just been prescribed lansoprazole by the GP and hoping it helps.

@Thedot90 thanks for replying - I'm sorry you're going through it too, but glad to hear it's not just me so must be normal!? No, no constipation at all - it's normal for me to suffer with quite the opposite in early pregnancy, and things have only recently slowed back down to 'normal' 😂 All the discomfort is in my chest, not abdomen. I don't have any heartburn, just pressure, so presume gaviscon, etc. won't do any good?

Given you are pregnant, although indigestion remedies are generally safe, they shouldn't be the first line of defence. I'll assume you done the obvious - avoid spicy and fatty food and caffeine, and eat several small meals across the day instead of big ones. If that hasn't helped, try (if you can) lying /sleeping propped up on pillows - the higher the better. Lying down makes it worse. A pint of milk, one third of it in the morning, one third at lunchtime and a third in the early evening. And an odd one but it works - have a few almonds after eating.

[quote SamoyedFan123]@Thedot90 thanks for replying - I'm sorry you're going through it too, but glad to hear it's not just me so must be normal!? No, no constipation at all - it's normal for me to suffer with quite the opposite in early pregnancy, and things have only recently slowed back down to 'normal' 😂 All the discomfort is in my chest, not abdomen. I don't have any heartburn, just pressure, so presume gaviscon, etc. won't do any good?[/quote]
No, it does sound like acid reflux (which causes heartburn) and you don't need to have heartburn for it to be stomach acids. And it's really common in pregnancy - consider yourself lucky it didn't happen last time!

Thanks @Moondust001, I didn't know about the milk and almonds - will give that a try! It doesn't make any difference what or when I eat or drink (don't drink caffeine anyway tho) - the discomfort is constantly there when I feel hungry (which isn't often) but it does get worse after eating. Yes, sleeping propped up, particularly as I've also been struggling with covid so have nasty sinusitis and congestion. I think the post nasal drip from that is making things worse to be honest 😭

Peppermint cordial & soda water, it will make you burp & relieve the pressure, make some up & keep sipping, have some after every meal.

Ah - you have had confirmation that you have had covid? How long ago?

@Moondust001 thanks so much for your knowledge! I didn't know it could be indigestion without the acid burn. I did have it in my last pregnancy but had the heartburn and was prescribed ranitidine for it eventually, but was much later on than this. I was hoping a singleton pregnancy would go easier than my twin pregnancy but apart from vomiting less often, so far it's been much worse!

Peppermint tea

Yes I tested positive for covid - I've been unwell with it for fifteen days now, but started feeling a little better yesterday at last 😊

Thanks for the peppermint tea and cordial suggestions too!

In that case I want you to ignore everything (well, you can try the non medical stuff, but don't take any medication) and speak to your GP or another doctor. I am going to emphasise that this is a very small risk, but Covid puts pressure on the heart and lungs (other things do too, but we know you have Covid) and these organs are also under increased pressure during pregnancy. It is this combination of the two that slightly increases the Covid risk for pregnant women. I am emphasising the fact that it is a very low risk. I don't want you worrying unnecessarily. It probably isn't the case at all. But I would prefer that you speak to a medical professional and check that there is definitely nothing more to it, please.

I was also going to recommend peppermint tea, sounds like it could also be trapped wind?

@Moondust001 thank you - I was struggling very badly with breathlessness, but that eased quite a bit yesterday, while the chest discomfort is still there so I presumed the two were unrelated. I do have asthma but this doesn't feel like asthma either. GP is closed today but I have my dating scan and antenatal clinic on Monday so is it worth me telling the midwives what is going on then or would the GP be a better bet? Do you mind me asking if you are a medical professional?

Yes, midwives on Monday will be fine, unless it very suddenly worsens, in which case, your practice should have a doctor on duty. It really is a very small risk, which is why I don't want you worrying about it, but I would prefer that it's an over-reaction than an under-reaction! And yes - I am not in practice any more, but I am a qualified doctor. Although my specialism was in "hotspots" - I managed medical services in areas hit by war and natural or other disasters. But I like to stay up to date with my reading, and there has regrettably been a lot of that around this last year!

@Moondust001 thankyou so much. I'll try the milk and peppermint over the weekend and talk to the midwives on Monday if I'm still feeling unwell xxx