Woke up at 1am choking on stomach acid

raynes · August 2014

Well THAT sure wasn't pleasant. I must have aspirated a little at least down my esophagus, because I could not stop coughing and had a hard time catching my breath. H ran down and got me a glass of milk, I had a few Tums and added a second pillow below my head, which helped for the rest of the night, but still today I'm feeling like heart burn'y/reflux'y crap. I'm thinking it might be time to give the ol' Zantac a try.

Has anyone else dealt with something like this? I have to say, this was probably the worst/scariest thing I've had to deal with between both of my pregnancies. I was scared to go back to sleep.

Syllessa · August 2014

Pretty much every night. Pepcid and tums live next to my bed, along with a bucket in case I need to spit out a mouthful of acidy crap (I'll never make it off the bed and to the bathroom in time lol.) Feel better!

colacrock · August 2014

It has happened to me a few times. DH thought he was going to have to take me to the ER one time because I could not get any breath for a good minute. So scary! I asked my Dr. what was safe and he said to take a Pepcid in the morning, before eating anything and then another in the late afternoon or right before dinner. I haven't done it yet, I need to go to the store for more tums so I will be picking up some Pepcid and seeing how it does. I'm sorry you are going through this too, hopefully you find something to work for you.

archi35 · August 2014

This happens to me every now and again. I have to sleep with two real pillows under my head or else - not a big and a little or something more comfortable. If I roll off the stack I wake up with acid in the back of my throat and/or feeling like I'm choking/coughing. Its def. scary!

raynes · August 2014

Ugh, I'm sorry other people are dealing with this crap too. I don't know if my heart burn is worse today than normal or if it's just residual from last night. Sounds like an excellent reason to get ice cream at lunch....

bitsybubbles7 · August 2014

Yep. All the time with the first. This time around, my ob prescribed Zantac, it stopped after about 3 days and hasn't happen since.

christied954 · August 2014

Yes, it sucks, to say the least. I've had this now for months. I started out with Tums, that was a joke. Then moved on to Zantac, stopped working after a month or so. Now I take Prevacid every night at dinner. I also have to sleep with a bed wedge and several pillows. Tums live next to my bed. Even with all of that, it still happens a couple times a week at least. Oh, and usually I cough so hard I pee my pants. Fun times I tell you, fun times.

miss.brittany · August 2014

Oh my goodness, yes!! It's happened to me on 3 occasions now. It was scary and annoying! I never had this experience with my first pregnancy so it took me by surprise this time. I am relieved to hear that others have experienced it too. I thought it was so strange.

Saragoeswest · August 2014

Ew, labor buddy, that is scary and pretty gross. I'm sorry that happened to you! My heartburn has been a bear, but that takes the cake. Please treat yourself to some ice cream!

TheOtherJacobsons · August 2014

It's happened to me twice in this trimester. Both times it was due to eating too large a meal for dinner. Try snacking more instead of eating regular meals.

Arctic_Seal · August 2014

I woke up coughing on water coming back up a couple of time times with my daughter. After that I slept (with the help of a pillow stack my husband helped build) basically upright. I think it was only for the last couple of weeks though.

KingsDaughter76 · August 2014

This is why I sleep in a recliner chair with several pillows every night. I got sick of choking on stomach acid every night! My husband got me a nice comfy recliner chair and put it near our bed in our room. I get great sleep now every night. Bonus- I can use the chair after baby is born to nurse in etc...it rocks too. :-)

atraveller · August 2014

Has happened to me at least a dozen times. Scary thing is its happened when I fall asleep on the couch in a much less reclined position than in the bed. One of the PPs said it happened after a big meal and yes - it does seem to happen when I'm over full - so have been keeping meals to smaller more frequent eating than larger meals. That seemed to help.

heathera1979 · August 2014

Happened to me several times in the 2nd tri. When I talked to my Dr about it she okay'd prilosec and I never did it again. If I forget to take it one day I'm super refluxy, but as long as I take it I don't even get heart burn.

ashleym373 · August 2014

Almost nightly for the past few months. It doesn't matter what I eat either. I just started taking Pepcid, 3 days ago, and so far no more incidences...lets hope I didn't jinx myself by saying that.