Help - acid reflux becoming unbearable

[Cinai]

31 weeks pregnant, I struggled with acid reflux on and off since about 24 weeks, but it usually subsided soon enough or could be eased by a glass of milk, only twice so far I used Gaviscon.

however, tonight is something else…for the past 6 hours, I have the worst acid reflux. It makes me vomit, my stomach cramps, my entire upper body hurts, it’s unbearable. I’ve tried all the usual including Gaviscon, no luck.

Anything else that worked for you?

Is it definately reflux? Have you seen a gp?

Live yogurt. Have it for breakfast, have it for supper. Extra pillow to raise up shoulders.

Omeprazole...

It takes a little while to build up but it is amazingly effective.

If it's come on so suddenly though then it might be something else like a stomach bug?

Omeprazole was a miracle worker for me and my awful acid reflux. You can buy it over the counter.

As others have mentioned, Omeprazole 10mg. If you're UK based, contact your GP and you can get this FOC under your NHS maternity exemption certificate.

Another vote for omeprazole. Couldn't survive without it!

I was misdiagnosed with acid reflux when it was actually gall stones. They can be diagnosed with a blood test and scan. The pain of gall stones is on another level from acid reflux (which is also awful).

My reflux is what can only be described as projectile. I’m on 40mg of omeprozole (20 morning and 20 afternoon) and have to restrict what I eat - especially after lunch. When it’s bad nothing touches it. But if I stick to my safe foods I can take gaviscon or rennie and it’s bearable. I’m into week 3 now. No pain or anything just reflux. With the pain you’re having I’d speak to a dr just to check

Thanks all, it finally has eased off…I only seem to get it in the evenings. I’ll contact my midwife now about omeprozole. Those who take it, do you take it every day whether or not you’re having symptoms, or as necessary? Do you take a OTC one or do you have a prescription? I googled it and saw that there are both options.

Mine was on prescription and my GP put me on a low dose of 10mg and was happy to increase if needed (10mg was fine for me).

You take one tablet every morning 30 mins before eating or drinking. Make sure you take one every day for the remainder of your pregnancy. The moment that little bubs cones out, your reflux will disappear instantly!

It works better if you take it regularly so it builds up. I know that if I don't take it I will feel terrible. When I first started taking it though I took it less regularly, once every two or three days maybe.

I'm not in the UK so can't advise on what is the difference between otc and prescription. I take 20mg capsules if I'm remembering correctly.

Have you tried the gaviscon extra strength? It is absolutely disgusting as it’s thicker but it was the only thing that slightly eased things for me. Feel for you it’s horrible x

I bought mine as I needed the relief and getting a GP appointment can take days! If you want it on prescription you’ll need to see your GP, your midwife can’t advise or prescribe. I then took it everyday till the baby was born and the odd day I forgot it I really knew about it!

Almonds work a treat. Some have almond milk is just heat them whole. And Gaviscon the max doae.

Careful with Omeprozole it can affect absorption of Iron and other important minerals. I can't take it as on Iron supplements.

Thanks all. I ended up not taking omeprazole because it seems to impact the effectiveness of my thyroid medication…I didn’t know it also impacts iron absorption, definitely good to know because I’m borderline low. Happy to say that my acid reflux got better! I still get it a few times per day, but it now eases off again (if I’m careful with what I eat and take some gaviscon) and isn’t as severe as it was. It also doesn’t keep me awake anymore all night. Hope it stays that way🤞

Make sure you have Gaviscon after every meal. Milk is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to being effective as it actually causes your stomach to produce more acid in response to the alkaline, so ultimately it has the opposite effect. I was guzzling bottle after bottle of Gaviscon when I was pregnant but I managed.