HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

argh...rant

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/19/2010 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
So I just moved away from home for grad school last week. Guess who's already sick? For the past couple days, I've had chest tightness or pain after swallowing or eating. Even if I touch my chest, it starts to hurt. On top of that, I have my period, and additional nausea/vomiting/diarrhea.

I can't get a doctor to see me. The nearest clinic that has primary care/internal medicine and GI won't see a new patient right away (they don't have appointments until the end of September). They won't even let me speak to my new GI's nurse, whom I will see in two weeks and they have my records. They won't even fit me in for a sick visit, which I've had doctors do previously if I wasn't a regular patient. ARGH.

Luckily, I got hold of my GI back home and he told me to take Prilosec and to keep him updated. He said that it will take a few days to work. Um, first day of grad school is Monday!!!!! I'm not even eating solid foods right now and my diarrhea is starting to act up again (probably need to take more Imodium). I feel okay when I don't eat, but obviously I need to.

Ironically, my UC symptoms started right before college. Now, I get some new symptoms before grad school. I HATE MY STUPID BODY!

Posted 8/19/2010 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry to hear you're not well and I don't want to alarm you in any way (do you have asthma or gastritis?) I don't know what some of the drugs in your sig are for?
My brother (who also has UC) had the exact same symptoms last year. He went to four different emergency rooms and was told he had everything from a flu to a heart attack (!!)
Turns out it was pulmonary embolisms (and many of them). He was given a course of coumudin. He also was diagnosed with asthma and now takes a puffer for this. He's don much better. If it continues or worsens, I'd go to the ER just to be sure.
Hope you're better soon.
Posted 8/19/2010 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds the norm to me with the stress of the school year beginning and moving away from home. I'd be a wreck.

Please call your old GI again and see if he can prescribe you rectal meds...or go to the hospital and get them to prescribe them for you if you can..or a walk-in clinic?

He's thinking you have reflux that could be causing the upper chest symptoms. It could be....

Are you on any meds for asthma?

q
Posted 8/19/2010 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
i have been dealing with upper chest symptom since i was dx. It pains like hell nearly after 20 minutes of eating food...especially at night - had it yesterday as well...but somehow it decided not to spoil my night and went away after i had 2 tums (surprisingly) What helps me: walk..walk ..walk... try taking small amount of food at a time, avoid oily food/onions...this gives me worst pain. i m very careful at night... living on salad/smoothie at night ..that's it. Plus i keep popping medicine for digestion whenever i see that pain coming. ...all this helps but once pain decides to stay- NOTHING can stop it...i sit on my bed with pillows under my back....try to burp! burp!burp! (it helps) ...and then go off to sleep with that pain... i sleep sitting whole night as the pain increases if i lie down. I feel as if my chest will burst open....it even spreads to my back..my teeth/gums!
As quincy suggested try to get rectal meds....
Posted 8/19/2010 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of the responses. It's nice to have other people who "listen" and understand.

Funny thing is, I'm not even stressed out or worried about school/being in a new place. I am a little stressed right now due to these symptoms...

No, I don't have asthma. My allergies are under control at the moment. And I don't have breathing problems.

I have some leftover Canasa that I'll start again tonight, even though my GI didn't think it was a flare.

I'm still hesitant to start regular foods...I might just stay on the crackers/applesauce/tea diet for at least today. And I have a migraine right now.

 

Posted 8/20/2010 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
How about plain boiled white rice to counter diarrhea? I think you'll feel better when your Big P passes. The hormonal fluctuations can really mess up one's intestines. Try to think positively and distract yourself from UC blues. Are you now living in a different state from home? Maybe you can find an IBD support group nearby. Best wishes & keep us posted. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 8/20/2010 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh, I had rice the night before I got sick...so not appetizing due to negative association.

I don't think the symptoms are due to my period...if my period is going to affect my bowels, it'll happen the first two days--I'm on my sixth day.

The migraine and nausea lasted all evening, and the diarrhea and dry heaving started before bed. And when I woke up this morning, diarrhea, nausea, and dry heaving again.

I don't know what to do! If I have a cold/sinus infection/period/food posioning, the associated GI symptoms only lasts a day or two. I'm going on my third day of horrible symptoms, and those symptoms were mild on Monday and Tuesday.   shakehead

Posted 8/21/2010 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Went to urgent care and ER yesterday, and heard back from old GI. Urgent care and ER both gave me fluids, and I got a CT scan done for my migraines. The only thing the dr recommened for the migraine was vicodin, which I'm hesitatn to take but I'm desperate.

My old GI initially recommended Rifaximin, which I've had HORRIBLE experience with in the past, as in it made my flare much much worse. So then he prescribed Cipro or Flagyl...I don't know what to do!

Posted 8/21/2010 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
My son was prescribed Flagyl this last spring for a UC flare.......we think it helped.
Posted 8/22/2010 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Bookworm, sorry to hear about your body acting up at a most inoportune time! At least it's the beginning of classes and not during exam time. I'd make sure to send notification to your profs about the situation if you won't be able to make it to the first day of classes.

Feel better soon!
Posted 8/22/2010 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Poor thing! I have been dealing with awful migraines these past few days and I have flare symptoms that are starting to get pretty unbearable. I recently started a course of Flagyl and I haven't seen any negative side effects (to my UC - I feel poor in general, dizzy, headache...) but I also don't notice anything good coming of it so far. I am still hopeful. I really want to situation to GO AWAY ASAP! I hate how quickly these things come on, one day a little under the weather, the next day full on flare up!! I really hope you can get this under control quickly. It is so strressful and on top of it, starting classes.. I feel for you. I was up all night with a pounding migraine. I couldn't move around because my whole body hurt. Today, major back pain and multiple bathroom trips... Ill spare the details but let's just say, I'm sorry you feel awful.
Posted 8/22/2010 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Couldn't Turmeric cause upper GI pain? Also, I have heard of others on Asacol with chest pain, and I have experienced it myself, had every possible test with no results. Even heart tests. I read on another forum about joint pain (from arthritis) in the sternum where the ribs join-I know it's wierd but I have had this disease for 28 years and nothing surprizes me anymore! Joint pain is typical with this disease.
Posted 8/22/2010 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
See post 10/24/08 pain behind sternum or something like that-UC Dude I think is the poster, talks about this kind of pain.
Posted 8/22/2010 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Zamba, do you have gallstones? That is exactly how I was before I had an attack of them and had my gallbladder out. I have UC as well of course.
Posted 8/22/2010 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Yesterday was much better. The migraine was downgraded to a headache, which was actually controlled with Tylenol and let me sleep. I had some D in the morning yesterday, but didn't have to go at all the rest of the day. And no dry heaving/vomiting and very mild nausea!

I have some loose D right now, but hopefully it's just the virus or whatever clearing itself out and will only happen in the morning like yesterday. Maybe I should restart fiber?

notsosicklygirl, I hope you feel better soon! Migraine + GI symptoms is awful.

HeartMe, I don't think the chest pain was Turmeric or Asacol...I've been on both of those for a couple years with no problems.

Posted 8/22/2010 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Bookworm-do you have GERD/reflux?

Also I really hope it IS just a bug and it goes away. Migraines suck, I don't get migraines per say but I get regular headaches and when I was younger I used to get them bad enough to throw up.

YAY GRAD SCHOOL! What subject are you studying?
Posted 8/22/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
I have been doing quite a bit better the past couple days but I am worried it is just a fluke and I will go back downhill quickly. The last week has been very rough but this morning is the best so far and yesterday was pretty mild - maybe something is helping. I keep forgetting to use my rectal meds in the morning which can't be helping things...

I hope you continue to improve. Since starting Flagyl, I have been feeling generally crappy but my UC seems to be a bit more dealable. Are you taking anything? I know you said the ER prescribed antibiotics.

Posted 8/23/2010 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
Ahhhh, I have to keep running to the bathroom! I only have a half hour before I have to leave for orientation!!!! shocked I wish I was a healthy person...
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply