? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I have taken three types of OTC medications for acid reflux under my doctor's orders. Nothing is helping me. I am doing everything my doc said, don't lie flat at night. Eat your bigger sized meals in the day and small sized meals at night. No fried or fatty foods and I STILL have the burning and now I am choking even in the middle of the night which wakes me up. My doc is now suggesting that I see a specialist.

Trust me, I would love for the burning in my esophogus to go away as well as the choking , but what can a specialist do for me, except charge my insurance company?If the meds aren't working and there is nothing else I can take bc of the pregnancy, what would a specialist do for me?? KWIM?

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I have used Tums, Malox and Pepcid AC. Malox worked best for in the moment and Pepcid seems to be working in the long run. Maybe there is a precsription that the specialist can prescribe that the OB cannot, but is still safe for you and the baby. There are planty of drugs out there that they normally don't give PG women, but in extreme circumstances, the benefit outweighs the possible side effects. I would see the specialst and see what they say. Hope you feel better soon

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I would also see a specialist. I know the discomfort you are talking about because my husband has severe AR, and I would just see the specialist based on the hope that they will know of something that can help. My husband's primary care did NOTHING for him, but the specialist has helped a lot. They also may have some experience that your OBGYN doesn't have in this area. Good luck to you!

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I have servere Acid reflux and was on prescribtion medication before getting pregnant. Once I found out I was pregnant I was taken off of them and we tried a few different OTC ones. The ONLY one that works for me is Prilosec OTC. I take one every morning. Good Luck!!

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I would definitely see a GI specialist. I take prescription Pantoprazole for my acid issues (I experience reflux & terrible chest pains). I told my doc that we were TTC & he said it's safe to continue taking when I got pg (it's a class B med). Feel better

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I agree, I would totally see a specialist, if your insurance will cover. There may be prescription stuff you can take or other things that s/he will suggest that you could be doing. Its worth the trip.

I do hope you feel better

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

Hi
I have had severe acid reflux for about 5 years. I was on Nexium 40mg twice a day and then before I got prego I was taking omeprazole twice a day. When I found out I was prego I stopped taking the omeprazole. The acid reflux was so bad that I couldnt keep anything down and I was vomiting pure acid which was causing my throat to bleed. I am sorry if TMI...My OB told me I was able to take Zantac150 twice a day but that didnt help at all. So I went to my Dr and he told me to go back on Nexium 40mg and it is completely safe for the baby because it is a B drug. I hope I helped you

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

Posted by PuppyLove143

Hi
I have had severe acid reflux for about 5 years. I was on Nexium 40mg twice a day and then before I got prego I was taking omeprazole twice a day. When I found out I was prego I stopped taking the omeprazole. The acid reflux was so bad that I couldnt keep anything down and I was vomiting pure acid which was causing my throat to bleed. I am sorry if TMI...My OB told me I was able to take Zantac150 twice a day but that didnt help at all. So I went to my Dr and he told me to go back on Nexium 40mg and it is completely safe for the baby because it is a B drug. I hope I helped you

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I had it bad with my last pregnancy and nothing helped. Stay away from acidic foods. Eatting bland food helped and not eating late.

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I have it very bad too. It got severe when I was pregnant with my DS and I'm sure it will get there with this one. I take PepcidAC 2x a day but that's the extent of meds. I keep the acid reflux diet as much as possible. No citrus juice, carbonated beverages, caffeine, tomato sauces, spicy, fatty or fried food. I eat frequent small meals and I prop myself up on 3 pillows to sleep. Sorry you are feeling so badly. Hopefully the GI doc will help

Message edited 9/8/2011 9:51:31 PM.

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

Posted by Shelleybean11

I have it very bad too. It got severe when I was pregnant with my DS and I'm sure it will get there with this one. I take PepcidAC 2x a day but that's the extent of meds. I keep the acid reflux diet as much as possible. No citrus juice, carbonated beverages, caffeine, tomato sauces, spicy, fatty or fried food. I eat frequent small meals and I prop myself up on 3 pillows to sleep. Sorry you are feeling so badly. Hopefully the GI doc will help

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

ive had acid reflux issues for well over 10 years... so of course i knew pregnancy would make it even worse than it already was.

i took pepcid ac each and every night before bed. i also took tums as needed and drank milk as well.

good luck!

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

Message edited 9/9/2011 8:37:38 AM.

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I Just called my Dr yesterday about this cause I have it BAD, he said not to take zantax, but to take maylox-(cherry) is the best one, and put it in the refrig so its not so bad when you take it lol I'm gonna try it!

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

Go to the specialist. EVen if they can't help much now they will after baby is here. I take 40mg Prilosec in the morning followed by 150mg Zantac at night before bed. I lay propped up and still have to take another Prilosec or Zantac at night. For me NOTHING makes it better except throwing up when it's really really bad and I do that anyway. After baby I will get scoped and we'll go from there. Nexium used to work for me, but my insurance said no and won't cover it anymore

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I have had severe reflux since I lost my gall bladder over 10 years ago. I took Nexium prior to my first pregnancy and after as well. When I was pregnant with DS, the reflux was worse and I tried tums and pepcid and they didn't help. After seeing my GI, he and my ob decided that I could take prevacid and that helped! I buy it in bulk at costco. With this pregnancy it's back and I took the prevacid only when I felt the relfux and one night I woke up coughing on the acid and wound up vomitting. I now take it every day. Good luck!

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

The specialist put me on prescipt. nexium while p/g

Re: ? for those with severe Acid Reflux

I don't know why your doctor wants you to see a specialist when they could just write you a script for protonix.

I've been prone to heartburn for about 10 years, and I swear the day I got my BFP it was on like Donkey Kong. I started with Tums and worked my way up to Prilosec. When that started to lose it's effect my OBGYN just wrote me a script for Protonix and told me there's no reason for a PG woman to suffer more than she has to. Its class B and worked up until my last week or two, when I would get reflux in the middle of the night, but the acid was neutralized.