Acid Reflux and GERD...

[time4latte]

With my last pregnancy I had horrible acid reflux after weeks of morning sickness. TMI warning - I was puking up bright orange bile it was so bad. I am pregnant again and the morning sickness hasn't been so bad, but I feel like the acid reflux is starting earlier than last time. Before my CNM put me on Prilosec after trying a couple of other drugs ... tums, pepcid ac, and another one that did nothing and potentially had side effects I wasn't comfortable with. Prilosec is a category C drug ... not so great. She had tried getting a prior authorization for my insurance for Previcid (pregnancy category b) but with no luck because the prilosec was mostly working.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to cope/handle acid reflux during pregnancy? I have my first prenatal with a new CNM (because we moved) within a week, but I can't afford to be so ill feeling in the meantime.

[bella99]

Last pregnancy I was able to handle the reflux/heartburn with diet and over the counter stuff.

This time, not so much, and I was desperate.  I tried everything, diet, natural, over the counter, etc.  My midwife put me on Protonix, which is category B, but not all insurance companies will cover it and it can get pricey.

It's been a miracle.

[time4latte]

Prilosec isn't working anymore. The acid reflux has been much worse with this pregnancy. I can't touch any type of cooked tomatoes, garlic, definitely no onions or anything spicy. I called in to my midwife and didn't get any response. I'm probably more forgiving than most when it comes to not getting a call back from a medical professional, unless I feel like it's some thing that I'm trying to figure out if I need to head to the emergency room, but that is rare.

She mentioned once about papaya enzymes.... read mixed things.... anyone have any personal experience or a particular supplement they are comfortable with??

[2moms3kids]

I have had HORRIBLE GERD for years. With my first pregnancy, I took zantac and dealt as best I could, which was not great and I suffered severe pain for much of the time. This pregnancy, I was already taking Prilosec (20mg in the AM and 20mg in the PM) and it has been wonderful! I have ended up in the ER on a few occasions when it is not controlled (it causes nausea and severe chest/stomach pain) so I am comfortable taking the Prilosec while pregnant. I am 37 weeks pregnant and baby is happy and healthy. I would suggest either finding a new PPI or upping your dose if that is an option. Good luck!

-Sarah

[geekgolightly]

I had horrible GERD for almost 20 years, worsening as the years went by and culminating to a point where I took the strongest dose of the strongest PPI, slept on an incline pillow nightly nad still was up multiple times a night choking on my own bile and up vomiting as well.

I started a diet totally unrelated to my GERD issues, but after about six weeks, I noticed that my GERD symptoms were totally gone. Completely gone. I was grain free for this diet I started but I didn't really make the connection until I would do something like eat a piece of cake (on a cheat) and the GERD would come back with a vengeance. Come to find out, I have a gluten intolerance and my only symptom (that I know of!) is severe GERD.

I know that my GERD was always exacerbated during pregnancies and it's no surprise that I am having some issues this time, too. I take tums though, and it works. No PPI's. I do use an incline pillow if I eat before I go to bed though. But to just take tums and sleep on an incline pillow and not worry anymore is amazing!

I am throwing this out there because, never, in a million years, would I have suspected a gluten allergy, and only stumbled upon it. I have since learned that many people who follow the paleo diet come to find that their GERD symptoms clear up as well.