How long does acid reflux usually last for a first-time flare-up?
Just for context, I’ve never had acid reflux before (at least not that I’m aware of), so this is completely new to me.
I’ve been experiencing what I believe is acid reflux pretty consistently for the past 5 days. It started on Saturday evening when I suddenly felt nauseous for about 30 minutes while drinking black tea with milk, then it went away. At first, I thought it might be a stomach bug since I work around kids and there’s been gastro going around, but neither my mum nor sister (who both work in childcare) have had it.
The next day I woke up slightly nauseous, but it passed quickly and only came back after dinner for about 30 minutes, then again briefly before bed. The day after was similar, mostly fine during the day but nausea and discomfort after eating.
At that point I started questioning whether it was actually a stomach bug, because the main symptoms have been nausea, a pressure feeling in my throat/chest, and constant burping. It didn’t really match how I’ve seen stomach bugs present before.
After dinner that night (spaghetti bolognese - which I now regret), the nausea became much more intense and constant, and I struggled to sleep. By that point I was fairly sure it was acid reflux because the symptoms matched closely.
On day four, I started being more careful, only drinking water and eating bland foods like toast and crackers. The nausea, burping, and throat/chest pressure were pretty constant throughout the day, and often worse after eating or moving around. I ended up going to the doctor, and they said it could still be a stomach bug that hasn’t fully shown itself, but also suggested reflux and recommended Gaviscon after meals and before bed.
I started doing that and it has helped a bit. I was able to sleep last night and today is slightly better, but the symptoms are still definitely there.
I just want to know how long something like this usually lasts for a first episode, and if there’s anything else I can do to help. I dont do well with nausea and vomiting, so I’m pretty miserable rn and am hoping this is a one-off thing. Has anyone else had it be a one-off thing? How long does a flare-up like this typically last? And is there anything else I can do to help?