LPR and pregnancy

[karenz]

I need help. This is all new to me. i was finally DX with LPR a year ago, and am finally getting my symptoms under control with protonix. I really really want to get pregnant but am so afraid to go off my meds. i just cant deal with the pain anymore. it was 6 months of wheezing and feeling like i had swollen broken glass/ any thoughts or suggestions???? thanks

[Katenyc]

Hi Karen,

I can relate! I'd love to get pregnant again, too -- but I'm also scared! I don't really have my gerd under control yet like you do. I'm taking Prilosec and Zantac. Mine all started in my first pregnancy and it was quite difficult. The gerd came & went, but it was quite severe. At the end, I took Zantac, but I basically just had to ride it out.

I've talked recently to both my OB/Gyn and my GI doc and they are both on the same page as far as staying away from PPI's during pregnancy. They both say that Zantac is "probably" okay if it is necessary. When I get this under control, I'd like to try it [get pregnant] but I am prepared for a bumpy ride, based on my first pregnancy and also the pain of the last couple of months. You might do a search for pregnancy on this site because I know that women have written in before about it [including myself when I was pregnant].

I also did a search when I was pregnant and did find some women who had taken PPI's during pregnancy and the babies were fine. At that time, I was beyond despair and I actually did take Protonix for one week in my 5th month and stopped it when I started to feel better. But I did worry a little about having taken it.

My OB/Gyn said to me that he wouldn't let "heartburn" stop me from having another baby. But it's easy for him to say! It can be downright excrcuiating, not to mention scary.

Good luck -- I'll follow with what you are going to do.

Kate

[karenz]

thanks for your advice and concern. i have checked out some of what others wrote during pregnacny and it doesnt sound appealing. i feel as if i am just going to have to do it and deal with it. taking the potonix 1x a day i feel is so needed right now. i still have break thru symptoms at least 3 days a week. nothing like before but still a bother. I just dont know how i will deal with it for 9 months with nothing but some tums and maalox. what is your currents meds if you dont mind me asking? also i really am unusre what foods i should and shouldnt be eating. it seems hard to pin point my trigger foods. i feel ike some days i can eat whatever and the next day everything bothers me. any advice you have is great. i have only been dealing with this for a year. It came out of nowhere. i was a totally healthy 28yr old and one day i woke up with a lump in my throat and it has been down hill from there until i found my Ent ...

[Katenyc]

Hi Karen,

Well, you're not alone out there because I would love to have another baby, and I did have one and had pretty bad reflux. The good news then is that it didn't start until my 5th month [it was the first time I ever had it in my life] and I was like "what is this?????" I heard that you could get heartburn during pregnancy, but this was out of control! I was put on Protonix by one doctor and took it for one week but by then I was feeling better so I stopped taking it. [Plus a GI doc I saw told me not to take it.] Then I went back & forth with symptoms and then finally in my 8th or 9th month, it was so horrendous that I was out of my head in pain. The doctor put me on prescription Zantac, and he told me that this drug is considered safe in pregnancy. It's been around a long time and been used often in pregnancy to the point where they feel it is relatively safe.

I have a friend who is pregnant now with gerd and she takes 2 Zantac a day. One in the a.m. and one at night. She also said that when she goes out for foods that trigger reflux, like Chinese food, that she takes a Zantac about 1/2 hour before and that helps. The foods that trigger gerd for me are coffee, chocolate, tomato sauce [which I love], and anything spicy. I don't really eat anything fried or fatty, but those are also trigger foods. Also peppermint should probably be avoided.

They say here that you should keep a diary of when you react. For example, I was great yesterday -- no reflux at all -- and then I ate chicken soup that was a bit spicy. I kept eating it because I thought I was all better and I learned a lesson -- I had a very rough night and not having a good day today. So I really need to completely avoid spicy foods, at least for now.

I know that it's a daunting thought, getting pregnant and having to deal with this. You will get through it, though. I am hoping to get it enough under control before I even try. Do you have an Ob/Gyn that you can talk to about it beforehand, so that he/she is prepared for how to help you through a pregnancy? I called my doc last week to talk to him about it.

There are a couple of women that I found on the internet who had to use PPI's throughout their pregnancies -- the babies were fine. That, to me, would be in an emergency situation only. If you can get through the 1st trimester with taking as little as possible in the way of any kind of drugs, I think that is the best. At the end of the pregnancy, I was like "bring on the Zantac", because I knew he was completely developed and that particular drug is considered safe.

By the way, I am also having breakthrough reflux about 2-3 days a week [this being one of the days]. The other days I feel pretty decent. Hopefully this means we are on the mend and it will get better from here on out.

Good luck -- keep me posted. Maybe we'll be going through this together. That would be good.

Kate

[Katenyc]

Hi again Karen,

I'm on Prilosec in the a.m. and Zantac [prescription] at night. I also either drink Maalox or Gaviscon. I stopped eating Tums because I was told by a pharmacist that it could aggravate reflux, and I find that it does. I also notice that when my stress level goes up, I start feeling the burn.

One other thing, I think that it's a good idea to really stay away from the trigger foods as much as possible when you're pregnant. That's hard to do, I know. I wanted to eat all the time, and I'm not a big meal person anyway ... I basically munch on things all day. But Chinese food for me was a killer when I was pregnant -- it would cause a horrendous flare. These days, I avoid it, but tomato sauce seems to do me in as well. Nothing fried, fatty, spicy, coffee, tea, carbonated drinks, peppermint, chocolate. I'm sure I'm missing something.

You do have some time - you are only 28 - although I know the want to have a baby can be very strong. I wish there was a better solution out there for us -- and that they would just cure this stupid thing once & for all. And I know how depressing it can be to have it. I've asked myself "why me?" a hundred times in the last 2 months. I thought it was just a pregnancy thing and you can't believe how disappointed I was to get it again without being pregnant.

Keep me posted!

Kate

[sha]

Gosh, I'm a bit confused with my postings and just in case you all didn't see my reply about trying milk -- here is my suggestion again. I was on organic skim milk and it did temper my acid a bit so you might want to try that when you get pregnant. Sha

[sha]

I better clarify my milk regime. At first I was on lactose-free organic low-fat (1%) milk--that helped temper my reflux. Then I read somewhere that the fat content in milk (and later I learned the lactose also) can exacerbate reflux. So I tried organic skim milk. (I couldn't find lactose-free organic skim milk) I took the skim milk with lactaid pills. I tried 2 different brands but they didn't work for me--I was passing gas like there was no tomorrow! Plus, my reflux was not helped. So, in future, I might go back to the low-fat milk. I even called Organic Valley and they might be coming out with lactose-free skim milk next year.

Sha (moooo......)

[karenz]

thanks for all your advice.. it is good to know we are not alone in this battle. yes not sure about the break through symptoms yet. cant quite figure out what causes them. i keep a log and sometimes things will bother me and other times they wont? i was wondering if vitamins bother you? i feel as if they do irritate me? of course that is another thing you need while you are pregnant so still working on that...i stopped taking tums and bought some maalox the other day so i will try that. taking one PPI a day and then zantac at nite is a good idea i might try that too...keep me posted on your situiton..

[karenz]

i have LPR it had healed pretty much on protnix 2x a day but never 100% now i am on 1x a day with globus symtoms about 2x a week also every month or so i have a real bad flare up that last about 5 days which seems unbearalbe... it will subside but my doc is pleased wth these results.. should i be?? i am only 29 i dont want to have to settle with this the rest of my life.. am i wanting to much or is this normal.. any help would be great!!!

[serafina]

Hello ladies,
I haven't done much posting since my initial freak-out a 7 months ago when I had my first GERD episode and started taking Nexium 40. With my endoscopy they found no damage - only mild irritation and a small hilatel hernia.

I was worried about taking a medication for potentially the rest of my life and on top of it all - I just got married in September and we were then planning to try and start a family right away. I was terrified of thinking I would have GERD while pregnant - so I have kept trying to get myself off the PPIs. I take a 20 milligram dose and that works for about a day and a half and then I breakthrough. I'm going to keep trying though. I have to admit that I have the occassional cup of coffee and chocolate now and then.

ANYWAY - I live in the Netherlands and I asked my doctor/specialist what I could take during pregnancy for the GERD. He and my gyno both said that Nexium and PPIs in general are as safe as anything else (like Zantac) because they aren't absorbed into the bloodstream. I have looked all over the Nexium site and the Internet to see if this is actually true but I can't find really ANY info regarding Nexium and pregnancy except to ask your physician and that it hasn't been tested long enough. I'm wondering if anyone has heard this in the US? So frustrating all the conflicting info from doctors out there.

Personally, I would think it better to try and take Zantac during the conception phase and then the PPIs later on if necessary, but if babies are being born safely - isn't the real concern about the damage done from the reflux? That damage can't be reversed. My doctor says that keeping the damage at the minium is the most important thing to worry about.

[Katenyc]

Hi Serafina,

This is a tough dilemma. There are conflicting feelings about it from the medical community, as you indicate. When I was pregnant in 2002 and suffering with severe on/off gerd, I was actually prescribed Protonix [PPI] in my 5th month of pregnancy. I took it for about two weeks and then started feeling worried for the baby so I stopped. However, my reflux was coming & going then [2 weeks on, 2 weeks off] -- not constant like it pretty much is now. At the end of the pregnancy, things got unbearable and I was put on Zantac -- but to be honest, it didn't do too much for me at that time.

My obstetrician was happily ready to write me a prescription for Prilosec -- but when I saw a GI doc, he had a very strong opinion "not" to take PPI's of any sort while pregnant. He said that the gerd would go away after I delivered and that things would heal there and I wouldn't be left with any permanent problems. My gerd went away for a whole year after I delivered my son, but unfortunately came back a year later [about 5 months ago]. It's been pretty constant since then and I'm also taking Nexium -- and like you, on a good day, I try a cup of coffee but it's pretty pointless to do because it seems to bring my symptoms right back.

I also would like to have another baby, but this issue does concern me. I remember searching the web when I was pregnant, and I did find a few women who were on PPI's throughout the whole pregnancy -- theirs were extreme cases where they were really suffering -- and their babies were fine. As I recall, these women lived in Europe -- and it seems to be more accepted there for women to use these drugs during pregnancy. I also have another friend who lived on Zantach for 9 months, twice a day, and that -- along with diet -- seemed to manage her heartburn.

The bottom line is, no doctor here in the US likes for women to take drugs during pregnancy unless it is absolutely needed. PPI's are still relatively new and there are no pregnant women out there who are willing to submit themselves as treatment subjects for drugs -- so any drug is a tough call, unless it's been around so long that they know it will be okay. [Like Zantac.] My guess is that they probably are okay -- especially after the first trimester -- but that it will take us another 10 years for the medical community to stand up and say that it's relatively safe in pregnancy as they now do with drugs like Zantac.

If I were to get pregnant again, I would probably start on Zantac right away and really watch my diet. If things got really bad later in the pregnancy -- well, I might take a PPI and of course have it approved by my obstetrician first -- but I would have to be in a pretty bad way. I would be concerned about the damage, because I now know that this isn't just a pregnancy thing with me but something that is there and chronic at this point.

One of these days they've got to cure this gerd thing. It's really a pain. I miss my morning coffee like you wouldn't believe.

Good luck -- let me know what you decide to do.

Kate

[tricia]

Hi Guys I thought this would be a good thread to put the FDA pregnancy ratings on and what they exactly mean. All of the PPIS are rated pregnancy category B -- with the exception of prilosec which is rated category C


FDA DRUG PREGNANCY RATINGS

CATEGORY A Adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in any trimester of pregnancy.______

CATEGORY B NO EVIDENCE OF RISK IN HUMANS. Adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women have not shown increased risk of fetal abnormalities despite adverse findings in animals, or, in the absence of adequate human studies, animal studies show no fetal risk. The chance of fetal harm is remote, but remains a possibility.

CATEGORY C RISK CANNOT BE RULED OUT. Adequate,well-controlled human studies are lacking, and animal studies have shown a risk to the fetus or are
lacking as well. There is a chance of fetal harm if the drug is administered during pregnancy; but the potential benefits may outweigh the potential risks

CATEGORY D POSITIVE EVIDENCE OF RISK. Studies in humans, or investigational or post-marketing data, have demonstrated fetal risk. Nevertheless, potential benefits from the use of the drug may outweigh the potential risk. For example, the drug may be acceptable if needed in a life-threatening situation or serious disease for which safer drugs cannot be used or are ineffective.

CATEGORY X CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY.Studies in animals or humans, or investigational or post-marketing reports, have demonstrated positive evidence of fetal abnormalities or risks which clearly outweighs any possible benefit to the patient.

[karenz]

thank you all for that great info. on pregnancy and PPI's. My doc has also said no to them while pregnant. I just dont know what to do. we want to get prego so bad but i just cant deal with the symptoms for 9 months. this past month i tried weaning myself off Protonix and on to znatac or pepcid and they came right back. My throat is so sore and feels like there is a lump in it and my chest burns. and this was only going 2 weeks with trying a PPI in the am and zantac at nite. ( i ussually take 2 protnix a day) i ahve great releif with that. i can pretty much eat whaever i want when i am on 2x a day. but how am i going to go 9 months if icant even get it down to once a day? what are everyone elses symptoms? my are almost always throat stuff. soreness, etc. my hubby is so ready for a baby and i just cant seem to get clear answers from docs on what i should do excpet say take zantac.. which i know wont work.. do i just suck it up and deal with the pain for 9 months. my syptoms are constant when i am off meds. 24/7. they dont come and go.... thanks for anything you can do to help///

[Katenyc]

Tricia,

Thanks for posting the ratings on the drugs.

Karenz, I'm with you here. I was hoping to get this gerd under control myself before I attempted my 2nd [and last] pregnancy. It is a bit scary going into it with symptoms -- knowing that they will most likely only get worse as you get bigger in the pregnancy. I don't know what to do, either. My GI doc says "no" to PPI's, too.

This is a real problem. It's a shame not to have a baby because of gerd, but 9 months can be a long time to suffer and then we have to worry about long-term damage as well. And there doesn't seem to be anyone out there saying anything strong enough about it, advice-wise.

I think that if I decided to have another pregnancy, I would try starting out with 2 Zantac/day. If I was in absolute agony, though, I would have to go for the PPI. Have you tried to do a search on the internet on this subject? I have before, and I did find some women who had no choice but to go back on them and all was okay with the babies. But I only did find a few of them.

Have you thought about having the surgery done, assuming you are a candidate for that? I have thought about it, too, but I am definitely not ready for that. I am still hoping that my gerd will go into a long, if not indefinite, remission.

Good luck -- let's keep each other posted about what we should do here.

Kate

[karenz]

thanks for the thoughts. i have a ob/gyn and Gi appt next month so i will let you know what advice they give me. I tried weaning myself off PPis in the last few weeks to 1x a day and 1 zantac a day. it failed miserbalbe my symptoms are back with a vegeance and now i am having a hard time getting them under control . i went back to 2x a day for like 2 weeks now and i still have that lump in my throat feeling 24/7. i am very mad at myself for doing this becasue i was feeling great on the 2x regimene. no symptoms or anything most days.. now i am back working on getting them under control. so my concern is how will i go 9 months when i cant even go a few days w/o the symptoms coming back? i jsut dont understand. well my doc did mention surgery once but he said that it would only be effective 50/50 for LPR. and really 2 PPI's a day work great for me.. so if it wasnt for having babies i would be happy. please keep me posted on what you decide and we can get thru this together...

[stacybrevin]

Girls, reading this is breaking my heart........I understand the doctors concerns but you want a baby....Dont let reflux stop you. I didnt. Yeah, I suffered a little taking zantac 2X a day. But if I would have eaten low carb like my OBGYN said I would have been a whole lot better. Talk around from other doc...I know plenty of women who took ppis while pregant and the baby was fine. If I had to do it all over again I would have takin nexium in a heart beat......just not in the first three months. I would limit the sugars and carbs. Good luck to you all.

[Katenyc]

Hi Karen,

I just saw my GI doc today. She's pushing the Enteryxx procedure on me. I have to read up about it, and think about it. She said I can talk to one of the people from the company [which created the procedure] and talk to them about having the procedure and then getting pregnant.

She again told me today that she would not prescribe a ppi drug during pregnancy. It's such a tough thing -- it's like we just have to endure it.

Keep me posted on what your docs say. When do you want to start trying -- soon, I take it?

Kate

[Katenyc]

Hi Stacy,

Thanks for your post. I'm sort of "with you" on this one -- I can't sit and wait this thing out too much longer. My severe symptoms started about 4 months ago and I just couldn't get them under control for about 8 weeks. I finally did, somewhat, but the severe symptoms came back this week again.

I'm willing to just go with it -- take Zantac from day one and hope to make it through the 1st trimester. I trusted my Ob/Gyn from my 1st baby -- he was a top doc in NYC and he was willing happily to write me a prescription for a PPI. He said he had done so for prior patients who had severe reflux while pregnant. If I had to do it-- if I just could not bear it, I would strongly consider it.

Thanks again.

Kate

[stacybrevin]

Good luck! I know that if you decide to have a baby you wont regret it. Looking at my 6 month old right now....she was so worth it! Just remember its only 9 months.....try to eat right,exercise, and drink lots of water. Keep me posted!

[susu]

Hey! I have two children and would like to have another one. GERD did not show up until after I had those two. I was wondering if either of you had tried the Xanax or other anxiety reducing meds to see if that would help. Maybe you could do that for a few months and that would help, then you could come off and try to conceive. I'm really new to all of this, and the anti-anxiety meds may not work well for LPR. Just a thought.

[karenz]

thanks for all your advice and support. this has been a very frusterating year and 1/2 for me. it took about six months to even be Dx with LPr and another 6 months to get in under control with PPI's. so I am jsut so afraid to go off them and go back to how it was. Do either of you have any htoughts on the best H2 blocker.. pepcid zantac ??? i thought i oculd start trying to switch over very gradually to something like that, that i could take during pregnancy. I go to my OB in march so hopefully she will have some good ideas for me. I just have to figure this has and is happening to lots of women so it seems like there should be more answers out there. Keep me posted on anything you learn and i will do the same...

[Katenyc]

Hi Karen,

Gosh, I know exactly what you are going through. Exactly. These last 4+ months have been really hard for me, too. All I can tell you to is to try the H2 blocker -- see if it works. Maybe do a trial; take it twice a day. I've only taken Zantac; I took it toward the end of my pregnancy and it really didn't help, but to be honest, I was so hugely pregnant that I don't think anything would have helped. There was a lot of pressure on my stomach, no doubt. Apparently, I must have had gerd before I got pregnant but didn't know it. I remember about 6 months before I got pregnant, I got sick with a very bad flu. I was out of work for like 10 days or more. Since I have asthma, I was living on inhalers and asthma meds at the same time. I ended up with bronchitis that lingered for 2 months. Toward the end of the bronchitis, I kept complaining to my doctor that my lungs felt like they were burning. He would look at me blankly and a bit perplexed, like he didn't know what I was talking about. I also mentioned it at the time to my internist, and he seemed confused, too. One of the docs told me that the lungs took time to heal -- and that from all the coughing and bronchitis, that they were inflamed -- hence, the burning. However, I have had bronchitis before and it never felt like that.

In hindsight, I believe my gerd could have started then. That makes sense to me. It went away and I got pregnant about 6 months later, and again got bronchitis and went on asthma meds [which weaken the LES pressure]. Severe gerd hit between months 4-5 and I had it on & off for the next 5 months. Then immediately it went away from the baby was born. For one year, it was gone -- and 4+ months ago, it reared it's head again and I've been dealing with it ever since.

I don't like it, but I've decided to at least go for it -- I don't like the idea of suffering for 9 months, but I don't like the alternative, either. I spoke with my GI doc about it, and she said we'll do another endo right after the pregnancy [if I do, in fact, get pregnant] and see what the story is. I just hope that I don't do some significant damage during that time, but I'm really going to do my best to stay on a gerd diet. Other than that, and Zantac, that's about the best I can do. If I'm just beyond help later in the pregnancy, I may go to a PPI, but I'd have to be in pretty bad shape to do it. However, I'm not ruling it out. My last OB/Gyn happily wrote me a prescription for Prilosec in my 5th month and felt confident it was fine. I'm not in any way suggesting to you to do that -- I'm just trying to formulate my own plan of action.

I do wish that the doctors would put some more thought into this -- but even if they did, I'm not sure what else they could come up with. Even though it's 9 whole months, I guess they look at pregnancy as a temporary state and it's best to make sure the baby is okay, as long as you can get through it.

Let me know what your doctor says. I find that the Ob/Gyn's are more confident about subscribing PPI's to severe gerd cases than the GI doc's are.

Kate

[Katenyc]

Karen,

You mentioned that you're going to talk to you doc about this. Have you thought of talking to your Ob/Gyn about it? He or she may or should have more experience in dealing with pregnancy and gerd -- I'm sure that he or she has had patients who had gerd coming into a pregnancy.

Kate

[serafina]

This is so true. It seems that doctors in America are too afraid of getting sued. This is a personal decision. You should do your best to take as little medication as possible and to eat and drink in a GERD healthy way - BUT if you can't live without a PPI while pregnant (especially in the later stages) it's ridiculous for a doctor to say uncatigorically "no way."

AND doctors in the US are always pushing surgery - but GERD cases are all so different and many people won't even be helped with surgery (plus all the complications involved with it) and as one woman from Canada wrote - it hasn't been proven to protect against cancer either.

[susu]

Are any of you able to take prenatal vitamins? I am unable to take any "pill" type of vitamin right now. Please let me know if you have any ideas. I'm going to research this myself as well.

Thanks,

Susu

[Katenyc]

Hi Susu,

I do take a prenatal vitamin every day -- I have been on them for quite a while. It may be aggravating things, but I need it -- especially the folic acid. If you're not taking anything, and you want to get pregnant, at least take folic acid every day before and after you become pregnant.

Kate

[susu]

Hi Kate,

I tried taking a B-12/folic acid vitamin and I still had terrible heartburn. Could not keep taking it. I read on babycenter.com about people who could not take them, mainly due to nausea, and their docs recommended Flintstones Chewable Complete. Some took 2/day, at morning and again at night. They do have folic acid in them. I am going to go get those this week. Someone else on that site recommended Gummy Vites. If we definitely decide to try to have another child, it won't be until late summer so I still have some time to get that folic acid in my system.

I have an annual appt. with my OB in early April. I am going to ask about liquid or powdered prenatals. They may be easier to take.

Hope you feel better!

Su

[Jasmine]

Hi,

I'm in the UK and drugs of any kind would only be used in pregnancy if absolutely necessary.

I am 33 and have had GERD since I was 29, just the time I was thinking of starting a family. It hasn't been possible yet because my GERD has been so bad. If I stop Nexium I vomit all the time and am in a lot of pain. I'm not willing to rely on Nexium throughout a pregnancy, especially as pregnancy worsens GERD and so you're likely to need more medication. I am now on the waiting list for the Nissen Fundoplication. After I've healed from that I am very much hoping to finally have children.

Jasmine

Originally posted by Katenyc
As I recall, these women lived in Europe -- and it seems to be more accepted there for women to use these drugs during pregnancy. (snip) The bottom line is, no doctor here in the US likes for women to take drugs during pregnancy unless it is absolutely needed.

[karenz]

Thanks all for all your advice and tips. Kate what type of meds are you on now? also what type of gerd diet do you follow? there seems to be so much conflicting advice on everything. i tried to avoid like OJ and pasta sauces alcohol like wine stuff like that no spicey foods but anything else you follow that seems to really work?. i guess i dont seem to notice any huge difference with anything i do or dont do except taking my protoni 2x a day.
i have done some research on the operations and my doc just said he really doenst feel that they work much for folks with lpr symptoms. He says its like 50-50 and to go thru that risk is not for me. also i am really very well controlled on my meds so the only problem is wanting to get pregnant. otherwise i would have no complaints at all. i have started on my pre natal vitamins and really not much problems with them. i was nauseas for a few days but tnow im fine. i did have problems with other vitamins but these seem to casue no problems. my hubby and i are wanting to start trying like next month we have put it on hold for a full year already so i could at least get Dx with the LPR and we are getting real anxious. kate good luck and keep me posted on what you decide ,we can get thru this togeter. i will see my OB in march so i will ask lots of questions!!!!

[Katenyc]

Jasmine, I'm curious to see what the doc says about pregnancy after fundo. Let me know. I would imagine it would be okay, given a certain period of time for healing.

Karen, I'm going for it, too. I'm taking Nexium now, and when I have more symptoms, I take Gaviscon, Carafate, and sometimes Maalox.

As for diet, I'm avoiding coffee these days. I'm ordering the coffee tamer -- will give it a try at least. I also don't drink tea, I avoid tomatoes & tomato sauces, and I don't put spice on anything anymore. Also, cheese and foods like that which are higher in fat bother me. This a.m., I had a few almonds and I could feel a reaction. I seem to be most bothered by foods high in fat and coffee. I've also cut out any desserts entirely -- which isn't such a bad thing because who needs that anyway?

I have to say, the last couple of days have been better -- I'm not fighting this thing anymore. Just wanting to feel good and get it under control. If I do become pregnant, I know that it will be a challenge and let's just hope that if we get there, that you and I will make it through with our esophagus intact! I remember when I was pregnant in 2002, I had to stay completely away from Chinese food and tomato sauces. They always set off a bad flare. I know better now what to avoid.

Let me know what happens with the doc. I wish you success in this!

Kate

[Jasmine]

Hi Kate

It's great to hear from others considering pregnancy.

The doctors have said a pregnancy should be fine after the fundo, so long as I allow several months for healing.

Jasmine

[Maria Quintero]

Hi Jasmine!

I'm new to the site and I'm facing the same dilema of being pregnant with gerd and a hiatal hernia. I saw a thoracic surgeon last week and he said that I would have to wait at least one year before considering getting pregnant after the surgery. I thought that by doing the minimally invasive surgery, all I had to wait was six months, but he was emphatic about the wait. He also told me that I would have to learn to have some air in my stomach and not to belch every time I feel gassy. You see, I belch like a pig every time I feel this pressure exploding in my sternum and the only way I feel relief is by belching and then drinking lots of water.
The bottom line is that I can't afford to wait one year to get pregnant. Time is against me. So, I spoke to my high risk OB/gyn and she said that I can take Nexium during the pregnancy. She is confident I'll be fine, regardless of the hiatal hernia and the gerd. I will suffer of acid reflux like any other hernia free pregnant woman,
Believe me, I've been putting off this pregnancy for too long because of my fear of suffering more than what I already suffer. I made up my mind and I'm putting myself in God's hands. This surgery is no joke. My Primary doctor strongly adviced me against it, and so did my GI. My cousin, that is a general surgeon, also voted against it. She said:"are you crazzy!!! loose more weight"
I developed my hiatal hernia with my first child 18 years ago; so I may as well undo the surgery during the second pregnancy. In any event, I will consider the surgery after having the baby, and only if the medication doesn't control the pain and the reflux.
You might be in more pain than me and also you may have more time to have a baby. So, in that respect, our situations are different. Do an intensive research and rely on the advice of good caring doctors.
Best of luck!
Maria

[Jasmine]

Hi Maria

I hope things work out well for you. I will be having the surgery soon as my doctors and I believe it is right for me.

What reasons did the thoracic surgeon give for waiting a full year before becoming pregnant? Was it a general reason of allowing the wrap to heal or was there anything else?

Let us know how you get on.

Jasmine

[Maria Quintero]

Hi Jasmine!

The surgeon stated that for the surgery to be a success the longer you wait to become pregnant, the better the outcome. Pregnancy is a tremendous stress on the body and specially on the stomach; thus, on the hiatal hernia. The sutures can break because of the presure. It takes a nonpregnant person at least 10 months to recuperate and feel normal again. Imagine adding another 9 months of pressure on top of that!!
My surgeon is a famous high profile doctor in the US, with many years of experience doing this procedure. He is very confident about the success of this surgery, but you have to stick to the waiting time (something that I don't have).
It seems to me like you are also a good candidate for the surgery, but do yourself a favor, and wait at least a year before getting pregnant. The longer you wait the better the healing, thus, the surgery success.
Besides, you never know if the surgery turns from laparoscopy into open procedure, because of the size of the hernia, your body fat, and if you had had, any other abdominal procedures before, and you have extensive scarring tissue.
So, best of luck to you again and God bless you.
Maria

[karenz]

hi i am back from both my GI appt and ob appt. last week. All went very well. MY OB is fine with me taking protonix during my pregnancy. she says she has lots of patients on that type of medicine and my GI said it was up to my OB so that is my plan right now. I too am having problems with my prenatal vitamins they make me nauseas but my OB says you gotta be on something and my womens one a day wont do since it has a higher level of Vitamin A then the prenatal types. But she sent me home with a bunch of diffeent types some even the chewable types so hopefully one will do. my hubby and i are actively trying so wish me luck. Also my Gi did not recommend surgery for me. I guess becasue i am very well controlled on meds and he doesnt beleive the surgery is neccessary in that case.. which i am totally fine with!!!! maria and Katey let me me know you find out it sounds like the 3 of us are in the same boat.. tired of putting it off and ready to start trying.. keep me posted..

[stacybrevin]

Good luck Karen! I am so proud of you! Its totally worth it! Stacy

[karenz]

well my hubby and i are actively trying so wish us luck. for those of you who have had trouble with pre- natal vitamins i have found those chewable ones have worked wonders for me. i try to have them not on a empty stomach and they havent caused any problems yet. thanks for all your well wishes and please keep me updated on anyone elses progress. also i am trying to wean myself down to once a day for my protonix and subbing a pepcid Ac complete at my night time dose. It seems to be going ok so far. Now that my doc says i can take it during pregnancy im not quite so concerend but i would really liked to get weaned down best i can. if anyone has any thoughts on ways to do this let me know.... keep in touch karen

[Jasmine]

Hi Karen

Good luck, I hope it goes well for you. I'm sure you know that pregnancy can make GERD worse, due to both the extra progesterone and the baby pushing upwards - so it may be that you are not able to reduce the PPIs. If anything, you are likely to need them more. However, I hope you are lucky and that this doesn't happen.

I will be having the fundo even though I've been waiting ages to start a family... because PPIs are only just enough for me (I get a lot of breakthrough symptoms) and I believe my body will cope better if I fix the GERD before becoming pregnant. This is of course very frustrating as I'm well into my 30s, but is definitely the right thing for me personally. Anyhow, I'm glad we can each decide what's best for us, and wish you luck. Let us know how you get on. :)

All the best

Jasmine

[Katenyc]

Hi Karen,

Good luck! I think I would definitely need to stay on PPI's during pregnancy, but I wish I had a doctor who would give me a green light on that.

Best,

Kate

[karenz]

It was my Ob/gyn who gave me the green light on taking the PPI's during my pregnancy. My GI deferred to her decision, and she says there are lots of pregnant women on them. She says of course youwould to take as little meds as possible but she had no concerns of me being on them. I asked if she thoughti should try and wean myself of them and she said if i want to but there really isnt much of a concern from her standpoint. Have you spoken to your OB doc. already and they told you no to PPI's during the pregnancy. I will keep you posted on how i do....

[Laka]

Hello to you all,
I'm new to this board and I found this thread which is already a yr old. Looks like all of us have doubts about taking PPI's during pregnancy. I was diagnosed with GERD last Nov 2003 and I have been with Aciphex 20 mg once a day since then. But I believe what I have is LPR. I don't have much problem with heartburn. What I do have is feeling of lump and phlegm in throat. When I feel the sypmtoms of mucus and lump in throat, I will add 150mg zantac to 20mg aciphex. When I start feeling better again, I will stop zantac but continue on with aciphex. Last Oct 2004 I got pregnant while I was taking just 20 mg aciphex. On my 6th week, I stopped the aciphex because I was scared to take any medication although my obgyn told me that it is safe. For 1 1/2 month without any medication I was feeling great. But on my 9th week of pregnancy, I had a miscarriage. I'm not saying that aciphex is the culprit. Having LPR with the symptoms being on 24/7 you can go crazy. It's not painful because I only have symptoms of mucus and lump in throat and occasional heartburn but it's very annoying. It's been a year that this thread was posted and if you don't mind, I would like to hear from you ladies if you had successful pregnancies taking PPI's before, during and after pregnancy. And if you had a normal and healthy baby. I would appreciate to hear encouraging updates/news or even not so good news. The way I look at it, hearing somebody's experience is a learning one for me and educational too . I already lost 2 pregnancies. The first one is before my diagnosis with GERD. I'm running out of time because of other health issues. This might be my last year to try again and be pregnant and my LPR is not yet under control. There was another lady who told me that her doctor told her that it is safe to take 40mg nexium during pregnancy. This site has been very helpful to me and i hope to hear from you and best of luck to you all! Thank you.

[stacybrevin]

HI i JUST FOUND OUT i am pregnant and I am on a PPi and zantac....my doc told me not to take anything the first trimester but I am taking it anyway..I am taking exactly what you are talking...last pregnancy he told me the same thing and I was symptom free for 1 1/2 months and then boom...I got rebound...and it was painful! My girlfriend took aciphex during her pregnancy and was fine...I am sure you will be fine too! Good luck!

[Laka]

HI i JUST FOUND OUT i am pregnant and I am on a PPi and zantac....my doc told me not to take anything the first trimester but I am taking it anyway..I am taking exactly what you are talking...last pregnancy he told me the same thing and I was symptom free for 1 1/2 months and then boom...I got rebound...and it was painful! My girlfriend took aciphex during her pregnancy and was fine...I am sure you will be fine too! Good luck!


Hi Stacybrevin,
I'm so happy to hear from someone. Thank you for responding to my e-mail. Did you say that with your last pregnancy, you were also taking PPI and the baby was fine. Same thing with your friend? If that is the case, how are your babies? Sorry if I'm being detailed. I'm just scared that if I take the medication that the baby will also have gerd. I read something about babies being born with GERD and that is really heartbreaking for a young child to suffer early. I'm so happy for you and good luck with your pregnancy. If you don't mind can I follow up with you? I would also like to know what pre-natal vitamin are you taking. I had 2 laparoscopy a yr ago for severe endometriosis and that made my constipation worse. And the use of prenatal vitamin made it even more harder for me because of the iron content. I have been taking metamucil since my first pregnancy and I haven't stop since then. But sometimes even metamucil with lots of water doesn't help. I would really like to have a baby and I hope I get pregnant again soon.

[Katenyc]

Hi,

I think I started this post a long time ago. Glad it notified me by e-mail. To Stacy, congratulations on your pregnancy. I know we have talked about this before. I am not pregnant [yet], but I am scheduled for a fertility treatment in April and I'm hoping to be then.

I'm off meds right now [but thinking of going back on since I have some new symptoms happening]. I decided a long time ago that I'm not going to let pregnancy stop me with gerd, and that I'll take it day by day. I'll try to avoid PPI's in the 1st trimester, but if I can't and I'm suffering too much, I'll take one. My Ob/Gyn gave me a prescription for one 3 years ago [Prilosec] and felt it was safe. I ended up only taking it for 2 weeks, until I felt better, but I am reading more and more about women who take them during pregnancy. I think the rule of thumb is to avoid meds, any meds -- if you can during pregnancy but if you are really suffering, then do what your Ob/Gyn thinks is best.

Well, Laka, let's hope that both you and I can come on here with some good news soon -- just like Stacy has.

Best wishes,

Kate

[Laka]

Hi,

I think I started this post a long time ago. Glad it notified me by e-mail. To Stacy, congratulations on your pregnancy. I know we have talked about this before. I am not pregnant [yet], but I am scheduled for a fertility treatment in April and I'm hoping to be then.

I'm off meds right now [but thinking of going back on since I have some new symptoms happening]. I decided a long time ago that I'm not going to let pregnancy stop me with gerd, and that I'll take it day by day. I'll try to avoid PPI's in the 1st trimester, but if I can't and I'm suffering too much, I'll take one. My Ob/Gyn gave me a prescription for one 3 years ago [Prilosec] and felt it was safe. I ended up only taking it for 2 weeks, until I felt better, but I am reading more and more about women who take them during pregnancy. I think the rule of thumb is to avoid meds, any meds -- if you can during pregnancy but if you are really suffering, then do what your Ob/Gyn thinks is best.

Well, Laka, let's hope that both you and I can come on here with some good news soon -- just like Stacy has.

Best wishes,

Kate

Hi Katenyc,
Thank you for responding to me. I also have done fertility treatment but only laparoscopy to take out the endemetriosis helped me get pregnant again. Unfortunately I lost it. If you don't mind my asking, how long have you been off medication and felt better? I have not heard from someone yet that they got better or got cured from their GERD/LPR and are now completely off medication. I'm also scared for myself because I don't want to be taking PPI for the rest of my life. I just hope and pray that there will be another option to cure GERD/LPR aside from medication or surgery.

I wish you all the best Kate and I will keep in touch. And like you said, I hope and pray that we can come up with good news soon.

[angie77]

Hi stacy congratulations on your pregnancy. I am taking 40mg of nexium 2x's a day which is somewhat controlling my symptoms. I am trying to get pregnant also. My GI has told me that nexium is safe to take during pregnancy. YOu said you are still taking your PPI, what is your dosage? Please keep in touch and let us know how your pregnancy is progressing.
Wishing u all the best
angie

[Doximom]

Hi Ladies:

Congratulations Stacy on your pregnancy!
I am wanting to get pregnant in the near future as I am 34 years old, and I feel that the clock is ticking.

I started having pretty bad GERD in Sept. 04, (this followed a miscarriage of our first pregnancy in June) and have been on 40 mg protonix in the morning and zantac at night. Symptoms were getting better until recently when my throat has started bothering me again. I think it was the magnesium citrate I had to take to prep for a colon exam on the 12th. It had citric acid in it, and I felt it burning as soon as it hit my stomach. But I'm rambling.....

But I know I can't possibly go off the PPI now. My OB seems to think herbs might help me get to that point, and she mentioned that nexium would be better than protonix. My GI would want me to do all zantac.

I am just happy to hear that some women have gotten through pregnancy with gerd. I was feeling bad about the whole situation, you know...should I even be thinking about getting pregnant.

Marty

[stacybrevin]

thank you all for your support..I am on 1 PPI in the morning and zantac at night and it seems to do the trick! Gerd wasnt going to stop me from having a baby....although this is my fourth...unplanned...if anything I worry about the baby and the meds I am on...but God is in control! I am going to pray daily! Like I said my friend was on aciphex her whole pregnancy and her baby is totally fine....research it on the internet! See what it has to say!

[Katenyc]

Hi Laka,

Just wanted to answer your question to me about gerd. I have episodic gerd. It remains a mystery to me. I get sick with it and it lasts a number of months -- longest was 6 months. PPI's don't seem to help me at all. I burn and feel lousy for months. Then, as quickly as it came, it goes away. And I'm good, even great -- for months again. Drinking my one cup of coffee every morning. Can have a piece of pizza, no problem. [I don't each much fried or fattening foods, or spicy foods anyway.] Then -- I take an antibiotic for something, or asthma medications [for my mild asthma], and it comes back again.

I have something going on with my throat right now -- can't figure out if it's gerd or not -- it's not burning but rather pains there, kind of stabbing. Comes & goes. It could be gerd returning in another form other than burning.

I've been to a few GI docs. My main & initial doc thinks I have episodic, hard-to-treat gerd [when I'm in a flare]. The other 2 docs think I have non-erosive reflux disease, which means it isn't causing damage but I have an over-sensitivity to pain in my esophagus. It's complicated. I wish I knew the answer.

When I was pregnant in 2002, my gerd was horrific. It was downright excruciating at times. I avoided meds then, but I won't again. The problem is, it's easy for me to say I'll take a PPI but I've never had one work for me -- and I've taken them all. So not sure what I'll do. But I would definitely at least try meds. Anyway, it's not going to stop me from trying to get pregnant.

Best wishes to you -- I see lots of responses here and that's great.

Kate

[Laka]

Hi Laka,

Just wanted to answer your question to me about gerd. I have episodic gerd. It remains a mystery to me. I get sick with it and it lasts a number of months -- longest was 6 months. PPI's don't seem to help me at all. I burn and feel lousy for months. Then, as quickly as it came, it goes away. And I'm good, even great -- for months again. Drinking my one cup of coffee every morning. Can have a piece of pizza, no problem. [I don't each much fried or fattening foods, or spicy foods anyway.] Then -- I take an antibiotic for something, or asthma medications [for my mild asthma], and it comes back again.

I have something going on with my throat right now -- can't figure out if it's gerd or not -- it's not burning but rather pains there, kind of stabbing. Comes & goes. It could be gerd returning in another form other than burning.

I've been to a few GI docs. My main & initial doc thinks I have episodic, hard-to-treat gerd [when I'm in a flare]. The other 2 docs think I have non-erosive reflux disease, which means it isn't causing damage but I have an over-sensitivity to pain in my esophagus. It's complicated. I wish I knew the answer.

When I was pregnant in 2002, my gerd was horrific. It was downright excruciating at times. I avoided meds then, but I won't again. The problem is, it's easy for me to say I'll take a PPI but I've never had one work for me -- and I've taken them all. So not sure what I'll do. But I would definitely at least try meds. Anyway, it's not going to stop me from trying to get pregnant.

Best wishes to you -- I see lots of responses here and that's great.

Kate


Hello Kate,
Thank you for respodning to me. I'm new to this board and I'm still figuring out other ways to search for pregnancy topic with GERD and I stumbled on a not so old post from Jules who I believe was also pregnant. I believed she stopped taking Nexium. I have read that Nexium and Prilosec are like sister drug but do you know why Nexium is category B and prilosec is category C.

[Katenyc]

Laka,

I have no idea why Prilosec is category C. Yet, Prilosec is the very drug that my Ob/Gyn prescribed -- this is the one that he uses with his pregnant patients. No idea on that one; I have wondered it myself.

Kate

[tricia]

Hi Kate and Laka . :) What distinguishes prilosec from the other PPIs is a dose related increase in miscarriage and still births in some animal studies-- which is why it is listed in pregnancy category C, while the other PPIs are listed as category B.

Prilosec has been around years longer than the other PPIS , so it could be just that more studies have been done on it... or maybe it is less safe, in animals anyway.

[Katenyc]

Hi Tricia!

Long time no see! LOL.

Always good to hear your words of wisdom here!

Kate

[Laka]

Hi Kate and Laka . :) What distinguishes prilosec from the other PPIs is a dose related increase in miscarriage and still births in some animal studies-- which is why it is listed in pregnancy category C, while the other PPIs are listed as category B.

Prilosec has been around years longer than the other PPIS , so it could be just that more studies have been done on it... or maybe it is less safe, in animals anyway.

Hello Tricia,
Thank you for the clarification. I just started with Nexium 40mg once a day yesterday and this morning after I took I felt tingling and my tongue tased funny. It's only been 2 days and I have not felt any relief from my LPR. I used to take 20mg aciphex and 150mg zantac but after I stopped taking both for 1 1/2 months, the relapse is worst. Both medicines are not working anymore. My doctor also made me try taking 2 20mg aciphex both in the morning but I think my body cannot take high dosage at one taking because I'm feeling pressure in the chest. I don't know if I will give Nexium little more time. I'm afraid to try Prilosec knowing that it is category C.

Hi Kate,
Did your obgyn tell you if he had patient with successful pregnancy while on prilosec? BTW, have you heard from Jules? How is he doing with her pregnancy?

Laka

[WVgirl4]

When I was pregnant my doctor was an old fashioned doctor and instead of taking medications which he did not like for you to take while pregnant he told me most people did not have enough acid in their body and so he had me to take 2 tablespoons of vinegar when this started to come on and within a matter of 10 to 30 seconds it really stopped. Recently a book came out titled Things They Don't Want You To Know and guess what this book has the same passage about the vinegar. Thought it might be worth a try and sure wont hurt you or the baby.

[WVgirl4]

My doctor had me to try this while pregnant and it really works. Take 2 or 3 tablespoon of vinegar when the symptoms start. Worth a try and wont hurt the baby.

[angie77]

This is really strange, vinegar is acidic it should cause more acid. However, I have heard about this before, may be I should try it too (eventough I am not pregnant yet). Did you have LPR symptoms though or just classic heart burn symptoms?
angie

[TK-KS]

Hi All,
I just had a Nissen Fundoplication to treat my GERD b/c I know I want to get pregnant in a year. My primary phys. was the first to suggest it. She may have been more willing to suggest it to me b/c I have a bad family history of esophageal problems, but I'm glad I got it done. My thought was since I have reflux b/c of physical reasons (stomach/esophagus junction is too loose or hernia) it would never get truely "under control" with out meds so...surgery makes sense. There are certainly people that have not liked the outcome of the surgery on this website, but other definitely do and my primary and surgeon both said most everyone they knew who got it was glad they did.

Not taking ppi's and sleeping with my head propped up and actually being able to drink acidic juices is totally new to me, and I'm loving it.

with that said, i've yet to hear of anyone that had the surg. and then got pregnant on this website, but that doesn't mean they are not out there. It might be worth looking into.

-Tarra

[Laka]

Hi All,
I just had a Nissen Fundoplication to treat my GERD b/c I know I want to get pregnant in a year. My primary phys. was the first to suggest it. She may have been more willing to suggest it to me b/c I have a bad family history of esophageal problems, but I'm glad I got it done. My thought was since I have reflux b/c of physical reasons (stomach/esophagus junction is too loose or hernia) it would never get truely "under control" with out meds so...surgery makes sense. There are certainly people that have not liked the outcome of the surgery on this website, but other definitely do and my primary and surgeon both said most everyone they knew who got it was glad they did.

Not taking ppi's and sleeping with my head propped up and actually being able to drink acidic juices is totally new to me, and I'm loving it.

with that said, i've yet to hear of anyone that had the surg. and then got pregnant on this website, but that doesn't mean they are not out there. It might be worth looking into.

-Tarra

Hello Tarra,
How long did you suffer from GERD, how long have you taken the PPIs and when did you have your surgery done? If you don't mind, did the doctor say when is it safe to get pregnant after surgery? I mean, can you say in how many months time. I'm happy for you that you've had a successful surgery and now enjoying the result of it. After the surgery, what are the do's and don'ts?

Best regards,

Laka

[TK-KS]

my pre-fundo situation: for the last 5 years, bad reflux, leading to severe "lump in throat feeling" all the time, slept on top of 3-5 pillows for the last 3 years, the feeling in my throat was constant although changed in severity, but the actual heart burn feeling was intermitent and definitely worse under stress or with acidic foods/drinks. Prilosec was first prescribed but after a few months my stomach/intestines felt all out of wack and my stomach was tender to the touch, so doc told me just to double up on Zantac. Used Zantac and Pepcid (complete) most of the next 4 years...sorta just putting up with the 'lump in the throat" feeling, burning feeling and food coming back up stuff and staying away from things I know triggered it. I'm also lactose intolerant and probablly have mild IBS, so gas and bloating are a norm for me.


Fundo: talked to family practice doc (after finally getting decent insurance) and she recommended a surgeon to me immediately, surgeon put me on 1xday prilosec for a month, did a manometry and a EGD (endoscope), manometry revealed very poor contractions in my esophagus and EGD just reveal a small hernia and some irritation, since my motility was so bad, the surgeon wanted to see if I upped the priolosec for one month to 2xday, if my motility would improve. It did. So he felt safe doing the surgury.

Post-fundo (I'm only in week 3 postop): first 2-3 days mostly liquid diet and there's pain b/c of the gas from the laproscopic procedure is trapped in odd places my collar bone!, then soft solids (soups, jello, mashed potatoes, eggs, tofu) until you feel ready to try things like crackers, soft fruit, ground meat. You can start eating basically anything after 2-3 weeks but you definitely will have to SLOWLY introduce unground meat and breads...I suspect this can take people quite some time. I have tried bread and it seems fine as long as i go slow. Meats seem to get stuck and then its sorta like a constricting feeling and i think it must make quite a bit of mucous/saliva while its trying to go down. As long as I don't freak out, it eventually goes down. Drinking and eating don't seem to mix. Take small bites, slowly, one at a time. then drink later.

Activity wise, i was at work within 4 days of the surgury, but they restirct heavy lifting for awhile. Because you might not be able to burp, no soda/beer/champaigne for a long long time (maybe ever). I think i can burp..i definitley can hick-up. Gas and Bloating are common, but I always was like that! (dont leave home w/o gas ex has been my moto for years)

As far as pregnancy, my surgeon explained that after 3 months you are 80% healed on the inside and the other 20% healing takes a long long time (years), as does healing from any wound/incision/etc b/c the tissue is continually being replaced (cells are growing/dying/replacing). That's just the way the body works. Its not like you have to wait for that last bit to be just like all your other body tissue, it will hold up just fine. He did NOT give me a certain date/month to wait before getting pregnant, just just explained that wound healing issue. I will ask if he wants to be more specific next time I go for a check up, but I had initally phrased it as "in the next 9 months -year my husband and I would like to start trying to get pregnant" and he said that was fine.

The things unanwered for me are 1. if morning sickness occurs, will I be able to throw up or just live with the nausea, 2. seems like some people say their wrap has "slips" over time (years) and I bet its possible that with pregnancy this might be more likely to occur.

sorry this was so long of a message!

[Doximom]

This is really strange, vinegar is acidic it should cause more acid. However, I have heard about this before, may be I should try it too (eventough I am not pregnant yet). Did you have LPR symptoms though or just classic heart burn symptoms?
angie

i've heard this as well, but I'm nervous about trying it because I have mild gastritis and non-erosive esophagitis (endoscopy Dec 04). I'm thinking for me the vinegar would be too irritating.

Also, I don't have heartburn very much. Mainly throat irritation and mucus.

[russ]

Hi Russ:

There are a few threads about pregnancy and GERD in different forums here that you can search for.

There is a fairly current one on the LPR board. Good luck to you. I am in somewhat of the same boat, except I'm in my 30's so the clock is ticking loudly.

Marty
Hi Marty, thanks for the info I checked out the other threads....this may sound wierd but two of doctors have to told me to get pregnant as they say it might just take care of my acid reflux!!....i find that hard to believe though but acording to them the body goes through a total hormonal reshuffle during pregnancy and that could just end up fixing my problem....plus if u really do want to concieve and only holding back because of the GERD....just go for it..the GERD is going to be there forever...you're eggs aren't...a friend of mine who also suffers from GERD is expecting these days and so far shes doing ok with swigs of gavascon, which is ok to take during pregnancy...one thing thats helped me aswell is taking gavascon or malox 1/2 hour before my meals and 45 mins after and also before going to bed, along with my 20 mg nexium twice a day taken an hr before lunch and dinner....the malox coats my stomach protecting it from more exposure while the nexium inhibits the acid production....i feel its helping keep the GERD under control.....

[Doximom]

Hi Marty, thanks for the info I checked out the other threads....this may sound wierd but two of doctors have to told me to get pregnant as they say it might just take care of my acid reflux!!....i find that hard to believe though but acording to them the body goes through a total hormonal reshuffle during pregnancy and that could just end up fixing my problem....plus if u really do want to concieve and only holding back because of the GERD....just go for it..the GERD is going to be there forever...you're eggs aren't...a friend of mine who also suffers from GERD is expecting these days and so far shes doing ok with swigs of gavascon, which is ok to take during pregnancy...one thing thats helped me aswell is taking gavascon or malox 1/2 hour before my meals and 45 mins after and also before going to bed, along with my 20 mg nexium twice a day taken an hr before lunch and dinner....the malox coats my stomach protecting it from more exposure while the nexium inhibits the acid production....i feel its helping keep the GERD under control.....

:D Pregnancy as a cure for GERD huh?

I am trying to see how I do by taking protonix every other day instead of daily. I'm hoping my OB would let me take it as needed. She didn't seem to have a problem with nexium--but I haven't tried that PPI. So far I'm doing ok, but I have used some mylanta off and on the past few days.

We are going to go ahead and start trying. Am I nervous? Absolutely. But I'm trying to just go with the flow.

Marty

[Katenyc]

Karen,

I spoke with a high risk Ob/Gyn the other day and she said that Protonix and all the other PPI's except Prilosec are okay during pregnancy. [She'd prefer it in the 2nd & 3rd trimesters, but if an emergency, she would prescribe it in the 1st as well.] I'm hanging onto this notion -- I'm taking Protonix 2x/day right now myself. My symptoms are not gone but are better controlled. I'm trying to go for a pregnancy this spring. Then I'll figure out something to do with this reflux afterward. Maybe they'll perfect the Enteryx procedure by then, or something else.

Let me know what you decide to do. Best wishes!

Kate

[Kyla]

I'm not too sure if anyone checks this tag anymore, but if you do I would love to hear if any of you ladies have gotten pregnant and how it has been going with the GERD symptoms. Are you taking PPI's?

I have awful nausea and heartburn off of the PPI's and take Pantoloc (which is Prontonix in the states) daily and would like to start trying for a baby in about a year, my rush is that my GI is suggesting the fundoplication for me as he figures I will have to be on PPI's for the remainder of my life and therefore surgery would be a good option for me. Having it and not having to suffer the GERD symptoms while pregnant would be great....however the side effects of the surgery scare the pants off of me! So I am interested to find out about the whole PPI/Pregnancy debate as the PPI's do a decent enough job of managing my symptoms and if I could take them during pregnancy I may not have the surgery then.

If the recovery time after the surgery is long, that would also deter me from it as I really want to start trying next May...and I will likely have to wait about 6-8 months for the surgery here in Canada since it is elective.

Anyway, if any of you ladies are out there could you let me know???

Thanks
Kyla

[Laka]

I'm not too sure if anyone checks this tag anymore, but if you do I would love to hear if any of you ladies have gotten pregnant and how it has been going with the GERD symptoms. Are you taking PPI's?

I have awful nausea and heartburn off of the PPI's and take Pantoloc (which is Prontonix in the states) daily and would like to start trying for a baby in about a year, my rush is that my GI is suggesting the fundoplication for me as he figures I will have to be on PPI's for the remainder of my life and therefore surgery would be a good option for me. Having it and not having to suffer the GERD symptoms while pregnant would be great....however the side effects of the surgery scare the pants off of me! So I am interested to find out about the whole PPI/Pregnancy debate as the PPI's do a decent enough job of managing my symptoms and if I could take them during pregnancy I may not have the surgery then.

If the recovery time after the surgery is long, that would also deter me from it as I really want to start trying next May...and I will likely have to wait about 6-8 months for the surgery here in Canada since it is elective.

Anyway, if any of you ladies are out there could you let me know???

Thanks
Kyla

I was taking a combination of Aciphex (PPI) and Zantac for a year when I got pregnant last Oct '04. Although my doctor told me it was safe to take the PPI or H2 blocker, I stopped it on my 6 weeks of pregnancy. On my 9th week I had the miscarriage. But during the time that I stopped the PPI and zantac, I was doing ok. I don't have any symptoms. Maybe because I was taking it for over a year already and my gastritis had probably gotten better. I'm not saying that the miscarriage was due to the medication. My GERD symptoms came back on Dec'04 after being fine for 2 months. When I went back to my medication on Dec'04, the symptoms were hard to control and I'm getting new symptoms. I realized that my body is not reacting to the PPI anymore and I was getting worse taking it. So I stopped all medication last Mar '05 thru May '05. Without medication I was still with symptoms but not so bad. I can survive the day. So for the last 2 months I tried not to take anything. But just last 2 weeks ago, I cannot tolerate the symptoms anymore so I went back to 150 mg zantac (H2 blocker) and I'm not taking the aciphex anymore. Hopefully I can survive just with zantac. I'm also trying to get pregnant and I will continue to take zantac even if I get pregnant. . One thing I've learned from this experience is that when I stop the medication it takes a long time for it to work again. In my case, it took 6 months before I start seeing some improvements.

About the surgery, personally speaking, it depends on your priority. If it's me, at my age now pushing 40 and I have infertility issue, getting pregnant is my priority so I will not do the surgery at this point. Some people had successful surgery and some still ended up taking the PPI. What I also learned, if I stop worrying and try not to be anxious about everything it helps not to aggrevate my acid reflux. My previous complain with my acid reflux is the feeling of lump in my throat. So I bought a wedge pillow and it helped me a great deal to ease the symptom.

Talk to your obgyn about your condition and your option of taking the drug during pregnancy. And do not be afraid if you have to take the PPI or H2 blocker during pregnancy. Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Protonix and Zantac are Category B. My doctor told me it is safe to take these drugs. Prilosec is Category C and I don't recommend taking it during pregnancy. I have already read about some women who had successful pregnancy while on PPIs.

Best of luck to you Kyla ( and me included ;) ). Keep us posted on your progress and take care.

God bless
Laka

[Kyla]

I glad you are out there Laka, it was great to hear your story. The more thought I give this, and the more research I do, I am coming to think that I will put off the fundo for now and try my first pregnancy and see how it goes. I am continuing to research PPI's in pregnancy but hopefully if I can make it through at least my first trimester on zantac the chance of side effects for the baby will be low...god forbid they wouldn't be! Its a huge risk...so I am hopeful that the Zantac would be enough...but I know right now I tried to back off of my PPI and go on 300 mg of zantac a day, but I would have had the same results if I'd of swallowed an m&m...it did nothing! But I think its just too premature for me to do the fundo...and who knows if I wait it out a bit, there may be more less evasive options that present themselves in the future.

I wish you all the best in your journey and keep me posted...I would love to hear how you are doing. Thanks for the advice....and happy baby making!

Blessings,
Kyla