need some answers hope someone can help me

Hello Pamela, and welcome to our neck of the woods! LOL. First, I have a question for you, if you don't mind...your signature mentions you were taking Effexor XR for anxiety and panic attacks but you switched to Zoloft 2 days ago...can I ask what was your Effexor dosage, and why did you switch? I am on that too, 150 mg and I am not thrilled with it. It makes me SOOOOOO tired. Like, about an hour after I take it, I have to go to sleep. I have been on it for 2 months. I hate it. It helps my anxiety and panic attacks, along with Klonopin, but I can't stand being so tired. Anyway, onto you now... You mentioned your stomach on the right side hurting. How long has that been going on? Also, have you had your gallbladder looked at? That is a common issue with that kind of stomach pain. As for the burning in your throat, what I recommend MOST for that issue is a liquid antacid. They tend to coat your throat and comfort the burning. Are you going to be seeing a GI anytime soon? I would treat you right now as if you have GERD. You can eat smaller meals, taking small bites, chewing a lot, if you smoke, try to quit...(for many reasons :) ) Uh, don't lie down right after eating, yet don't be too active right after eating. Also, I will pull up some posts that give some good advice on how to try to comfort the pain you are in. Seeing a GI or maybe even an ENT is probably a good start though. Wishing you all the best. I do hope someone comes along with more thoughts for you hun!

 Hi Pamela,

   My husband has the same thing you have. He was in Reno playing in a poker tournament, he made it to the final table, but what this really meant was he hadn't eaten for hours, he was really hungry. When he got eliminated he went to the restuarant to get something to eat, it was almost 10 o'clock and the restaurant closed at 10, but they told him that they had Manhatten Clam Chowder (red sauce), the soup of the day. Well this pot of soup had been simmering all day and it had simmered a lot of the water away and it was thick, acidic, tomato soup with some clams. He got a bowl full and downed it really fast and they gave him more and he ate more. To make this blunder even worse, he then went to his room and laid down. He wasn't laid down for long when felt the burning and gurgling in his throat. The doc said he probably burned himself from his throat all the way out the other side. He could only eat boiled rice and chicken for over two weeks. For a little change I boiled fish, halibut and rice. He ate bland for two months, and he didn't improve much at all.

    It is almost 3 years later, he still can not have onions, garlic, lemon, cooked tomatoes, chocolate, or caffiene. He can eat other foods now, but he still has to wait at least two hours before he lay down. He takes prevacid once a day, but the doc told him he damaged himself and may not get any better than it is now. He sure regrets eating that soup now, he still reflects, "even if I had eaten bread with it, maybe I wouldn't be this bad." But he can not "take it back" now. The doc said at his age (52) things just don't heal themselves anymore.

    I have tried to be creative with the menus, but it's hard to squeeze flavor out of food when you can't use onions, peppers, garlic, lemon, or tomatoes. But he has changed what he likes and has found desserts that he enjoys, but still misses chocolate.

   Don't know how old you are, but it is possible to still enjoy life, just give it the needed time at the beginning to clam things down a bit. It will get a little better. By watching what he eats, the colitis "spells" of diarrhea and gas, are few. Sorry, it's not fatal, just a bummer.

Gremma, has your husband tried Slippery Elm?

It is supposed to coat the esophagus and stomach. Might help ease the worst symptoms?

Gramma, would he try the apple cider vinegar and honey drink? I have had such good luck with that. I don't think the doses would vary from bottle to bottle of vinegar. And none of it could hurt him. It tastes sort of like sour apple juice.