July 2013 Moms

WWYD: ER or Wait it Out

One night around week 7 I woke up with horrible chest pains that caused tightness and pain up my neck and down my right arm.  I seriously Googled heart attack symptoms because that seemed to be a likely candidate.  But after taking my own blood pressure and realizing that I was still capable of sitting at my computer and Googling heart attack symptoms, it was probably just heart burn or just weird hormone craziness or something.  I went back to bed and all was fine... until last night.

At about 8PM I started having the same symptoms.  Only this time they didn't go away in a couple of hours.  I barely slept (1-2 hours at a time at most) and was in pain and uncomfortable all night.  Today I was fine, but when I went to take a nap it started again the moment I laid down.  This seems like a weird heart burn, right?  It's getting worse as the night goes on and I'm worried I won't be able to sleep again.  There are no weekend hours at my midwife's office, they just have you go to the ER if there's an emergency.  But bad heart burn just seems like a lame emergency, but I'd really like to get something to help with this so I can sleep.  Tums, milk, bananas, and 20 other home remedies I've tried don't work at all. 

So, WWYD?  Go or wait it out and hope it gets better?

B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17


I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.

Re: WWYD: ER or Wait it Out

  • imageAlicia0817:
    Does it only happen when you lay down?

    It starts when I lay down (as quickly as 5-10 minutes).  Then takes about an hour to go away after I stand up again.   I've tried numerous positions for sleeping, including partially sitting up and even in a downward dog-like position and no go. 

    B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17


    I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.

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  • imagejennuinne:
    Is there anyone you can call first?  Does your insurance have a nurse line?  I would do that first.  Otherwise, I don't know.  You know your body best; go with your gut.

    I called last night.  They said "bad heartburn" and gave me some home remedies to try.  They said to go in if it gets worse.  Well, it hasn't gotten worse, just not better.

    B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17


    I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.

  • The fact it is directly related to laying down I would probably wait unless the pain became unbearable. But I would want to be seen as soon as possible on Monday sorry it makes for some sleepless nights.

     

  • imageAudrey1787:
    I had super bad chest tightness and pain in my neck and throat and I took a benedryl. Turns out I'm allergic to melon and I'm more sensitive to it now than I was before because I ate watermelon a lot before I was pregnant. I totally thought it was heart burn or I was going to throw up but when  tums and a popsicle did nothing I thought a benedryl would just help me sleep. It ended up making feel better in 5-10 minutes.

    I actually did try taking an allergy med!  The nurse recommended it when I told her I had allergy induced asthma and had been around a cat earlier in the day, but my allergy meds did nothing.  But I also took a Claretin, not a Benadryl.  Maybe I'll make H brave the cold and buy me some and give it a try.  I'm just about desperate to try anything someone wants to suggest (as long as it's safe).

    Popcicles also sound like a great solution!  Maybe I'll make H get some of those, too!  :)

    B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17


    I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.

  • This happened to me pre pregnancy and it was acid reflux. The only thing that helped me was going on Zantac for 2 weeks. I still get the pains if I have anything with tomatoes in it.
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  • This reminds me so much of what happened to me a few nights ago, but I didn't have the arm pain that you did. My mom has sworn that her reflux and heartburn have been so close to mimicking a heart attack that I can definitely see your symptoms being attributed to that.

    When I woke up with my heartburn I took two gaviscon right awaymy dad who is a dr recommends this for reflux and they took care of it. I looked at the label and there weren't any warnings to not take when pregnant, but I probably need to check again and make sure it's ok to take. Thankfully I haven't had to take anything since that night. For me, I realized that I had such bad heartburn that night because of some dark chocolate I had eaten. So, I would bet there is a food or foods that are triggering this for you. It really sucks because when you're pregnant you get hungry before bedtime or even in the middle of the night, but I can't really eat anything substantial before lying down since I will pay for it. I try to have light snacks with a glass of milk if I absolutely have to eat closer than two hours before going to bed. Also my mom has a wedge pillow that she puts under her other pillows and she has the head of their bed elevated. I'm sure you know most of these tricks, just thought I'd tell you what's helped my mom and I!

    Sorry this was so long!!!! Hope you feel better!
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  • My nursing judgement says always to go to the ER with chest pain... BUT it does sound like reflux. I have actually been to the ER for this before and it was reflux. If the pain is not brought on by exertion, if you aren't short of breath, nauseous, sweaty and it is relieved by interventions like sitting up, belching, tums, etc then it probably isn't cardiac but I still err way on the side of caution with chest pain. I would get a PCP appointment for first thing Monday morning and in the meanting I would probably start Zantac twice a day because if it is reflux or gastritis it will take a few days to start helping and definitely won't hurt in any scenario. I had severe reflux/gastritis for my first 13 weeks where I literally couldn't eat anything. Eventually the Zantac started helped (but only when I took it twice a day) and now that I have been symptom free for almost 3 weeks, my midwife still wants me on it at least once a day.

    Good luck and feel better. Update too!

     

    DD1 7/10/08  DD2 8/11/10  DS 7/2/13

  • imagekmc217:

    My nursing judgement says always to go to the ER with chest pain... BUT it does sound like reflux. I have actually been to the ER for this before and it was reflux. If the pain is not brought on by exertion, if you aren't short of breath, nauseous, sweaty and it is relieved by interventions like sitting up, belching, tums, etc then it probably isn't cardiac but I still err way on the side of caution with chest pain. I would get a PCP appointment for first thing Monday morning and in the meanting I would probably start Zantac twice a day because if it is reflux or gastritis it will take a few days to start helping and definitely won't hurt in any scenario. I had severe reflux/gastritis for my first 13 weeks where I literally couldn't eat anything. Eventually the Zantac started helped (but only when I took it twice a day) and now that I have been symptom free for almost 3 weeks, my midwife still wants me on it at least once a day.

    Good luck and feel better. Update too!


    All of this. I'm a pharmacist and your post had me worried!  I agree, it's probably heartburn.  I woudl probably skip the ER for now, but I would definitely get an appointment with your OB or Primary Care Doc for early this week.  They can start you on something like zantac or prilosec etc for reflux.  If it keeps recurring, I might consider the ER
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  • Is it your right shoulder or just your right arm?

    It could be gallstones. My attacks started after I had DD. It was pain and tightness in my chest and around to my back at the same level and my right shoulder. It was the worse pain ever. Way worse than labor. I handle pain very well and kept telling DH that something was wrong and I was thisclose to going to the ER. Gas pills seemed to help, they kept the attacks to about 15min. DH is a pharmacist and at first thought heartburn and gave me stuff for that and it did nothing.

    I started Googling bc I'm not one to run to my Dr for stuff and was pretty convinced it was gallbladder issues. Made an appt with my PCP and when I told him my symptoms he said he was 90 percent sure it was my gallbladder and he was right. Sent me to a surgeon, got an ultrasound and then had it removed. Surgeon said it was very common during or after pg and that even if my symptoms went away, there was a very high chance they would come back with subsequent pgs.

    You can avoid fatty food to try to help for now. I know during pg they will do the surgery in 2nd Tri. I don't think there is much the ER could so so try making an appt with your PCP if you think that is what it is.
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  • imageJCWhitey:

    imageAlicia0817:
    Does it only happen when you lay down?

    It starts when I lay down (as quickly as 5-10 minutes).  Then takes about an hour to go away after I stand up again.   I've tried numerous positions for sleeping, including partially sitting up and even in a downward dog-like position and no go. 



    Also, one symptom is how you can't get comfortable in any position. It is your body trying to work the gallstone out and it is getting stuck so that's the pain. I paced around when I was having an attack.
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  • Have you considered your gallbladder? This seems very similar to my experience. 


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  • Thanks everyone for your advice!  I didn't go in, mostly because I spent the whole day around a ton of people at a bridal show and was already feeling like I might be coming down with something and didn't want to go to the ER already sick.  I ended up having a pretty good night!  I was exhausted from the day and fell asleep, only waking up once but was able to find a sleeping position comfortable enough to fall back asleep.  This morning all of the pains are gone.  But since this is the second time it's happened I am going to try to get in to my doctor tomorrow and see if they can figure it out. 

    I'm really hoping it's not gallbladder!  I remember a friend of mine lying on my bed in tears talking to a doctor during a BBQ party because her gallbladder was making her so miserable.  Her husband took her to the ER thinking it would just be a couple of hours... two days later we were still watching her baby (who we agreed to watch while they went to the ER) as she underwent surgery.  She was so miserable I remember wishing I'd never have to go through that!  But thank you all for putting it in my mind so I can question the doctor about it!

    B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17


    I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.

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