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Esophagitis Nightmare

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/28/2013 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
I've had an intense sore throat with a constricted feeling for the last 2 months (one or two weeks of remission between). I'm no baby with pain and I've had strep many times, so I know what a sore throat feels like in comparison to this. Been to the ER three times in the last four days because I haven't been able to swallow any solids and, at a point, no liquids either. I was spitting into a cup because I couldn't swallow my own saliva without tremendous pain.

The doctor at the hospital gave me some oral lignocaine which makes me gag, puke saliva and cough for about an hour (extremely uncomfortable, especially when you haven't eaten in 6 days), and this is the best solution they can come up with. If I don't do this 3-4 times a day with the whole gagging, vomitting, coughing each time for an hour, it's back to the intolerable pain. Also, it's not practical to do it after my medications because I'll throw them straight up and won't get better.

They think my condition is candida esophagitis caused by Prednisolone and antibiotics, so I have to take an antifungal, fluconazole to combat the yeast infection. I can break the capsule in apple juice and take that after near puking for an hour on the lignocaine.

Today I woke up with swollen joints all over my body, a swollen eyelid and a rash all over, but they just sent me home again.

I wish they would actually give my esophagus a rest by putting me on some IV fluids, pain relief and the antifungal, but I guess they're short on beds. I've just been apalled that they didn't take me seriously - someone who can't drink half a cup of water or get any pain relief is sent straight home.
Posted 8/28/2013 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
What antibiotics were you taking and why?
Posted 8/28/2013 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Antibiotics were prescribed by my GP for the throat when it first started out 2 months ago. First penicillin, then amoxycillin, and a couple of days on cephalexin.
Posted 8/28/2013 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Your docs are probably correct in their diagnosis but you should try and get another scope done of that area as painful as that sounds. My friend had symptoms like yours and her GI did a scope with biopsies and found nothing and she continued having trouble swallowing and pain. She went to a 2nd GI with newest equipment and he found cancer in the esophagus.

Not trying to be alarmist to you but you need some relief and answers. Can you get another GI to do an endo? Best wishes.

edit to add: this friend had UC but had a total colectomy years ago. She is very health vigilant and always has good docs or finds them.

Post Edited (imagardener2) : 8/28/2013 9:13:39 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/28/2013 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
Geez!! What do they expect you to do for nutrition? Is tube feeding with formula an option? My son has a disease called eosinophilic esophagitis and a lot of people with that use tubes for feeds. Also there must be some sort of liquid pain reliever they can give you. There is an rx called Carafate that coats the esophagus and stomach and it come in a liquid suspension.

Please consider calling your GI and reiterating the miserableness of your condition and asking for additional assistance for your recovery.
Posted 8/28/2013 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
My GI got pretty alarmed when he finally understood that I could not swallow my meds. I had an upper GI scope done and he did a balloon dilation of my esophagus, which gave me instant relief. I spent the next four years on ppis to prevent it from happening again and thank goodness it hasn't.

Get to your GI ASAP.
Posted 8/28/2013 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Get to a good doctor right away. I understand what you are going through. 10 years ago I had similar pains, could not eat, could not swallow my own saliva and felt like I was dying. My doctor sent me for an immediate MRI to rule out a thorasic anneurysm or other major issue. Luckily, I was rushed through the system and finally diagnosed with serious esophagitis caused by the use of Fosamax, a drug used to strengthen bones. I now get a yearly infusion.

What helped me before I was sart enough to get an emergency visit to my D was spraying a sore throat relief in the back of my throat and suing Sucrets.

Much Luck and move quickly, try a Doc in a Box or the ER if necessary.
Posted 8/29/2013 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Woke up with further spreading of the rash and epidymitis(!) last night and almost freaked out, but as my body had finally started feeling a bit better overall I thought I'd just not stress, get some sleep and see how I was in the morning. I'm glad I did, because the swelling subsided a lot overnight and I'm feeling a bit better still.

I can take the painkillers and antifungals dissolved in juice slowly without the lignocaine for the first time in a few days, which is a good sign.

Now, in a way, this whole episode with the esophagitis has given me some hope that all of my random flu symptoms with swollen joints (and genitals!) over the years that doctors can never explain, could all be caused by candida. When I'm better, I want to start on a really, really top quality probiotic.

@madabs, they gave me some soluble painkillers which I can finally take, but there were a number of days that I couldn't. The lignocaine, as horrible as it is, probably enabled me to take them. I haven't eaten anything since last Saturday but don't feel too bad other than looking like a skeleton, haha! I'm going to try soup later today. They did give me Somac for the acid, but said the antifungal is the main priority at the moment if I can't take more than that.

Sorry to hear of your son. I'd not heard of that condition and hope he's in good health at the moment.

@ledaebel It's nice (or not nice) that you can relate to this situation, haha. It seems like your medical system really supported your needs; I'm a bit underwhelmed by my hospital. Glad you are able to prevent the condition from coming back. Take care!

@kazbern, imagardener2, I'm booked in for an endoscopy on Monday. Hopefully they can tell me what's going on.

Post Edited (jc_ferrero) : 8/28/2013 7:12:04 PM (GMT-6)

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