**Attention Jules **New Here- Question re: GERD and Pregnancy

Hello all- I'm new here. Was diagnosed with GERD 9 years ago and have been able to manage it with PPIs (first Prilosec, then Nexium and most recently generic pantaprazole- switched medications because of insurance changes; had good luck on all three). Anyway, I am currently 10 weeks pregnant, and my OB did not feel comfortable allowing me to continue on the PPIs during pregnancy, so she had me switch to Zantac (150 mg 2X a day) and Tums as needed (and I need a LOT!).

My problem is that I am VERY uncomfortable. Every food gives me heartburn and I wake up frequently in the night from it as well. I eat EXTREMELY plainly now as even bland foods give me problems. Fruits and vegetables are almost completely non-existent from my diet and most meats seem to give me issues as well. I sleep sitting up, avoid all GERD triggers and eat small meals throughout the day, but nothing helps. Plus, when you combine the acid reflux with the usual nausea of pregnancy, I'm really struggling. And, as some oh-so-helpful relatives and friends keeps reminding me, heartburn gets much worse as pregnancy progresses.

So, does anyone here have any tips? Are there any other moms or moms-to-be on here who have found ways to manage GERD without PPIs in pregnancy? Or, have any of you been told that PPIs were okay if absolutely necessary in pregnancy (they are a C-class drug). I have another OB appointment this week, and I plan to revisit the issue with my doctor, but I would love to go in armed with suggestions rather than just asking for help.

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 10/7/2009 12:28:40 PM (GMT-6)

I would just like to say that I know how you feel. I suffered from Gord so badly that it inflamed my gullet and I could not eat or drink at all. It also gave me so much of a dry cough that I ended up having my lungs x-rayed and had to inhale steroids for more than a week so that I could stop coughing. I also had such a bad sore throat for so long that I was tested for glandular fever. I too had a problem eating fruit, white rice tomatoe and onion. I used to eat really bland food little and often just in order to be able to eat. The reason I have acid so bad is that I have a hiatus hernia. This means that the valve does not close properly so that acid leaks out of my stomach into my throat. The hospital can not do anything to help. I am on Lanzoprozole and ranitidine but I still have acid. The hospital have said that I am already on the highest dose and that is all they can do. They have also told me that it is safe to take this medicine during pregnancy.

The only thing that has helped me is chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. I too am worried about what will happen if I have a baby. The pressure of the baby on your stomach makes the acid worse.
All you can really do is try to relax as much as possible with your pillows raised. You will need to take some vitamin and calcium supplements. You will need to take the vitamin supplements especially for pregnant women as I think that it is vitamin A which you are not allowed when you are pregnant.

hello.....

I completely understand what you are going through! I had my daughter 4 yrs ago and never really had bad heartburn until I was pregnant with her.

It was to the point where I stopped eating at drinking at about 5pm so I wouldn't wake up vomiting in the middle of the night!  I became so dehydrated because water even gave me heartburn I visited labor and delivery weekly after getting kidney stones at 28 weeks. You don't want that to happen to you!!

I LIVED on tums! To the point where my dear husband asked my OB if I could OD!!! (very cute)  I should have been put on something, but I was stubborn and did not explain how severe my problem was....Until afterwards when I got bleeding ulcers and had to have a nissen fundoplication this past January!!! 

I know several women that have stayed on rx medications during their pregnancy.  If you are unable to keep up your nutrition....the benefit of medication will outway the side effects!  Especially since you will only get bigger and there will be LOTS of pressure on your stomach....(I'm currently 9 months pregnant!)  If you have a short torso or carry high, you will have LOTS of problems.  I would talk to your OB and a GI Dr......

I wish you all the luck....You are already doing what you are able to do....eat small meals etc....I wish I had an answer for you!!!

Allison

Hello Kitt, do you have any idea what happened with both of the nice women...As in I saw no updates on their topics...

The questions lingering on my worried mind- are-

Will the surgery be affected during pregnancy.......will the valve re-weaken because of the babys pressure on the stomach...during delivery , might the hernia move from its fix place...

I wonder if we can switch to zantac when we have such a severe 24-7 reflux......during pregnancy too


Jules

HELLO!!!!

Hi Jules!

I had NO problems with my pregnancy after the nissen, EXCEPT for extreme nausea. Since I couldn't vomit it was pretty rough. I was on both phenergan and zofran the entire time. I had a C-section, due to having one prior.....and I didn't think pushing would be ideal since I had had the hernia repair. Now that my baby is 10 months old....I STILL have NO problems! YEA! I have NO reflux, NO pain!!!

As for your Zantaz question, I'm not really sure. I DO know of women who were on meds when they were pg, but not sure which ones.

Hope that helps.

Kitt, thankyouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu so much for your efforts, you are ALSO wonderful too...

Alli, thankyou sooo much, I feel Muuuuch Better noww....IF i have the nissen, I can still have a baby in the future...woah, that helps alot...and I'll of course take the nausea- meds...phenegran and zofran okay....

Alli, you also had 360 degree wrap I assume...I don't want to have the 270, they said 360 is more effectiveee

thankyou again........it helped alot!!!
Jules