Severe heartburn attacks :(

Since pregnancy I have been having severe heartburn attacks (2 years). Before pregnancy I had never experienced it. Ever. It is excruciating. My hands start to tingle because I'm pretty sure I start to hyperventilate. They started lasting around 20 minutes, grew to 45 minutes and this last one a few days back lasted 5 hours and landed me in the 24 hour clinic doubled over in pain :( I can't move or talk in the peak of it.
I am having some tests done, first lot came back negative a few months back. But after last weeks marathon of pain I am investigating further. Don't think it's GERD because I only seem to be having them every 3 months or so. And theres nothing in particular that sets it off either. I'm so confused.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? And was it after pregnancy?

I have also read it could be related to gallstones.....

Hi Tasha, it sounds a little like gallstones, which can be tricky to nail down. Has the dr done liver function tests & an ultrasound? Also, they should do a hydrogen breath test to check for tummy ulcers. If all of that comes back clear, ask about biliary spasm, which be a bit random but can also be set off by medications like codeine among other (random) things but behaves very much like gallstones. When I was having gallstone attacks they always felt like bad reflux at the start before getting worse.

I also had GERD for a while and found gaviscon to provide the best immediate relief. Longer term the dr might put you onto Zantac or nexium which reduces the amount of acid in your tummy. But if they find any evidence of liver/gallbladder issues, and especially if the attacks have a squeezing or spasm sensation with them, try taking buscopan, it works better than any kind of painkiller for gallbladder attacks.

Hope you get some answers soon :hug:

Also - gallstones are very common in & after pregnancy. Risk factors: 4Fs - female, fertile, forty or fat! LOL

Thanks Marydean. I did a breath test a few months back and it was negative, but I am doing another one. This time it's with Melbourne Pathology rather than at the GP. They explained that you need to be antacid and antibiotic free for the test to be accurate, which I don't think i was for the last test. The GP didn't mention that part. I'm also having a stool test and I think an ECG. In the meantime I'm freaking out it's going to happen again. I do have spasm sensations too so got some buscopan after my last attack.

So many issues since pregnancy! All these weird things keep happening to me argh :(

I had my investigated with a gastroscopy, I gave a hiatus hernia, it's very common, I use nexium if I get an attack.

Olive, I have Nexium at home, but don't take it daily. It doesn't seem to work on easing an attack :(

My understanding is that you need to take it daily for a number of weeks,

Yeah, nexium (and similar) work based on taking it regularly rather than busting it out if/when you have an attack. You might want to check the best way to use it with your dr or pharmacist,

Have you had an ultrasound Tasha, especially of your gallbladder, it does sound like gallstone pain

I developed severe gastritis in my second two pregnancies. So painful that I ended up in hospital on morphine. Had gallbladder tests etc and it was def not that. Nothing (that doctors suggested) worked... but then I changed to a low GI diet and started taking really good quality probiotics to try and address other things and I never had another attack. Well worth a try - even if they don't do the trick for your pain, both can only benefit you and bubs!

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Have you had an ultrasound Tasha, especially of your gallbladder, it does sound like gallstone pain

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No I haven't minniemouse, my GP appointment is next week so I will def mention it. I'm kinda hoping it is just so I can get some answers! lol



Santosha, glad the low GI has worked for you. I have already omitted refined sugar out of my diet (well mostly anyway) and it is sooo hard. But I might look into low GI too. Ugh, just want to eat whatever I want! :lol:


I am terrified of having another attack :( I am barely eating anything but toast. And I am cutting out dinner in fear of eating 'too late'. No tomato, no spicy, no alcohol and so on. Especially because I can't take anything until I have these tests done.

I got diagnosed recently with gallstones and it was excruciating pain that led to the ultrasound, I'm on a waiting list for surgery now, hope they can sort out what is going on with you !

I had similar painful "attacks" over the last 16 months which, towards the end, were lasting up to 10 hours each time. I would only get the attacks every few months or so. I ended up having an ultrasound as the GP was concerned at the intensity of the pain, and the ultrasound revealed a large gallstone. I survived on fruit and salad for a month before surgery could be scheduled, had a very fast recovery time and am now pain free.

Mistyfying I am scared of the surgery, in fact I haven't sent the papers in yet, I had surgery last year on a broken finger but gallbladder removal seems far more complicated, were you just in overnight ?

Part of me hopes it is gallstones just so I know once it's gone, it's gone! My sil has similar stomach issues and has to take Somac every single day. She can't eat certain everyday foods either. I'd really hate to have to rely on tablets. Like minnimouse, I too am interested in the surgery....how was it?

I've had my gall bladder out. It was quick and easy and I had minimal pain levels. I was only in overnight and only needed Panadol/neurofen for pain relief. Some people seem to have issue with shoulder tip pain from the gas (it's keyhole) but I didn't experience this. I had experienced recurring heartburn issues as well, but I think mine was my undiagnosed coeliacs.

It was keyhole surgery so usually in for one night only. Unfortunately my gallbladder was very inflamed and had become a lot worse in the two weeks from ultrasound to surgery. So it was a longer procedure and they kept me in an extra night to monitor my blood pressure and recovery (both fine). I didn't need any pain medication after the first day, and just took it easy with heavy lifting etc for a couple of weeks. The discomfort of a day with a drain in (don't know if they do that to everyone or just mine as it took a bit longer) was well worth it compared to the pain of the gall attacks.

thanks Amaunet and Mistyfying, that makes me feel better :) the surgeon scared me with risks and possible complications !

I didn't even have a drain. Being in hospital overnight was actually really restful (compared to the chaos at my house) and I joked I'd be back in the next week for them to take something else out [emoji16]

I spent 2.5 weeks in total in hospital last year due to gallbladder issues.

If this is the case, get it out sooner rather than later.

I left mine as I had work pressures - and was in hospital for six nights, (two before and four after the operation) and it was done as an emergency one. It would have been much easier if it were planned. And if I hadn't left it so long that it had become a complicated removal.

I felt awful for months beforehand but better afterwards.

I also have post cholecystectomy syndrome. They don't generally tell you about that. Google it.

The sooner it is out, the better.

Amaunet haha I wish I could have that attitude about it :)

Divvy that sounds awful, at the scan mine wasn't inflammed but had a 'fair few' stones in it, my surgeon did tell me about all the complications which is partially why I'm scared, at the moment I'm not having much pain but I'm scared of another bad attack like I had but part of me thinks that might not happen again for a while and I have time to procrastinate about it.

My biggest concern is leaving my (15 month old) baby for an indefinite time, it was a real struggle to conceive him and then he had life saving surgery at 4 days old so I have a lot of anxiety about being away from him :( and he is still breastfeeding so that's an extra complication

Get it done before it gets worse. Do you have PHI? The right hospital may let DS stay with you.

No PHI and this hospital definitely won't let my bubba stay with me :(

*UPDATE
I just had an ultrasound and I do have gallstones. Have to wait for doctors report to confirm anything though. I'd like to request an endoscopy (??) to double check it's not reflux or GERD. I am having a hard time trying to work out which one it is. What do you think?
Reasons I think it could be heartburn:
*attacks happen every 3 months or so
*Always happen in the afternoon/evening
*Has happened once after drinking cider
*has happened once after eating lunch and then having a nap on the couch.
*Occasionally have had fizzy burps that sting my nose and I don't drink softdrink

Reasons it could be gallstones:
*attacks are not frequent
*attacks are severe and lasting longer (from 20 min to 45 min and now 2-5 hours)
*can't pinpoint any particular foods causing it
*have never experienced heartburn/indigestion before pregnancy.

I don't want unnecessary surgery so this is driving me insane! But I am so scared of having another attack that I am losing weight because I am scared to eat things. I have a tiny dinner (as to avoid over eating) and then nothing until next morning.

Ah I thought they would find gallstones, that is the most likely cause then of your symptoms, why do you think it could be something else ?

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Ah I thought they would find gallstones, that is the most likely cause then of your symptoms, why do you think it could be something else ?

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Apparently you can have gallstones with no problems/symptoms. You would never know you had them. I think the doctors can see if they have moved or are moving?? Something along those lines.
I had read on google on a few forums that people had their gallstones removed and still had pain. I really don't want the surgery if I can't be sure.

My gallstone attacks always started feeling like reflux but then progressed from there. Taking Gaviscon normally sorts out reflux in about 30 min, but when I was having the gallstone attacks it made no difference, except for making my vomit all fresh and minty LOL (because gallstone attack always progressed to vomiting and writhing around in pain). And yes gallstone attacks can be intermittent, but they tend to be set off by either fat/oil or alcohol. So no fish and chips.

I think if you're still concerned about GERD, your dr will suggest getting onto a GERD medication. If you've been taking that regularly & then you have an attack that would suggest the symptoms are caused by gallstones.

Marydean my doctor prescribes me Nexium, but I seem to be getting headaches and feeling a bit foggy. Plus I NEVER remember to take it every day. My mind is completely fried after having dd, not joking :( I used to be sharp as a tack! But I will try and take it every day and see if I have another attack.
Haven't vomited so far, but the attacks leave me unable to carry on a conversation or do anything other than rock back and forth.Plus the last attack I must have drank 1/2 a cup worth of antacid and it did nothing. But I am sure it has eased it in the past, maybe 30-40 min later. So confused! :(

Hmmm, tricky. I remember being concerned about a similiar thing (ie, what if the symptoms aren't really from the gallstones) but in the end, the surgeon told me it was the total picture, eg, the blood tests, the symptoms, etc that made him confident that was what the problem was. So your doctor will also have a clearer diagnostic picture than what you can determine by googling (LOL).

Yes I hope so! I have another appointment on wednesday.