Silent Reflux, Loud Complaints

They say every pregnancy is different, and boy, are “they” right. I’d be terrified to be Michelle Duggar, because I’d be afraid that by my 10th pregnancy or so, my babies would learn how to reach out of my belly button to wave hi or some such ridiculousness. When I got pregnant, I was so excited. But since my second pregnancy was noticeably more difficult than my first — like way more acid reflux during pregnancy and random pains — I wondered what I’d be in for. But I was determined to enjoy it to the fullest because unless there is a big “oops” in my future, this is my third and final kiddo.

Of course, the pelvic pain started again, which I was expecting. It has since “subsided” to a stabbing knife-like pain in my left upper thigh whenever I stand up from bending over, but hey — it doesn’t hurt all the time and I’m dealing. Then I got hit with two colds — two colds that gave my family a day of sniffles but wiped me out for days. And then I had a really bad sore throat set in once my cold was going away, which is kind of the reverse of how you want it to go. So I gave it a couple of weeks, and when the throat didn’t even show a hint of improvement, I headed to the doctor because my mom wouldn’t stop hassling me about going. Seriously, she kept calling me until I made an appointment. (Thanks, Mom!) I got an antibiotic, which did wonders for my sinuses but nada for my throat.

And more days passed. And when my ob/gyn basically shrugged her shoulders because she doesn’t really care about my throat, I made an appointment with an ear, nose and throat doctor. I figured I’d go straight to the experts — even though I had already diagnosed myself via my friend in health, Dr. Google. The ENT was super thorough and reassured me that I didn’t have cancer — yay! — and that it was either residual from my sinus infection or most likely, acid reflux.

And here’s where it gets interesting. Because while I’ve had some mild heartburn a few times, I’m nowhere near the middle-of-the-night, acid-in-the-throat stage that I’ve dealt with later in pregnancy. Fun fact: There is a fun condition called “silent reflux” wherein you have bodily awfulness — sore throat, coughing, throat clearing, that “lump” feeling in your throat — but few of the typical heartburn symptoms. So while I’m glad I’m not dealing with the actual feel of acid in my throat nightly, I have the terrible sore throat that assures me it’s there. It explains why I can’t stop coughing at night, why I’m always clearing my throat, why a good cry makes it feel like I got punched in the throat, and why I feel like I’m being choked at random times.

If you’ve got reflux or think you might have the silent variety, don’t suffer in silence! Head to your doctor — multiple ones if you need to — to get to the bottom of it. I’m no expert, but later today I’ll share a few of the ways I’m coping with it to try to get rid of the sore throat for good. And if it doesn’t get better, well, I just hope it’s one of those pregnancy symptoms that disappears like magic as soon as the baby arrives!

Have you dealt with silent reflux before? —Erin