GERD - part III

Pink,

It never ends does it?   I hope they can work something out for you, I know you want this test done. 

I think out system sucks when it comes to medical care!......and to make it worse, the doctors seem to forget that it is US that are going through the tests and all the stress!

 

Yes it is very important.  I haven taken lower pay at a few of my jobs in the past just because I needed good medical coverage.  The years my husband was ill, it was a life saver.  At that time, the company paid the entire premium and the coverage was fabulous!.......no HMO, even.

Yes, when accepting a position, the benefits are so important and equal out to your salary being a lot higher than your hourly rate, etc. 

The secret for you is to find a great company while you are young and stay there along time, then your salary increases along with getting all the perks! 

Hi Chris,

Good to hear from you ;)......yes this IBS idea came when I was doing more research, actually it can be either way or both.  When I read the symptoms, I thought wait a minute, this sounds like me.

Then I remembered 4 years ago when I also got very thin...but I had no distress in my digestion.  I thought again and realized that was when I was taking Xanax for anxiety (very small amount), and the articles I read about IBS said that anxiety drugs are sometimes prescribed for it.

Well, duuuuh, wish I had some of that drug stil so I could try it out and see if it would help. ??..........I intend to discuss all of this with the Dr. tomorrow, just to get his feedback.  I know he will want to do the colonoscopy, uck!......oh well, I have to do it.

Are you saying that the girl from college is actually the doctor you are going to see????....omg that would be something!

 

Gail, yes my new ENT doc is my long lost friend from college. In fact, she just evaluated me and talked to me for like 2 hours, catching up but also discussing my health situation.

She put a scope through my nose and diagnosed me with Rhinitis (sinus/nose inflammation), caused by seasonal allergies. She says that I am severely inflamed in my sinus mucous membrane and I have post nasal drip. She was also able to see my throat and was surprised to see that I am not as irritated as she expected, based on how much I was complaining about the lump in throat sensation. So she believes that the throat irritation is from the Rhinitis and allergies rather than acid coming all the way up from stomach. The best thing she did for me was giving me another piece of information that says I have no major issue (tumors, cancer, wink wink) in my throat area.

She also believes that anxiety and health worries can really, really affect people in the worst way. Since this is coming from a trusted friend, I know she is not trying to blow me off so I guess I need to stop worrying and just focus on getting better.

She prescribed something called nasonex which is a steroid based nasal spray to combat the Rhinitis so I am going to give that a try.

I need to get off my ppi's. Just waiting for the right opportunity.

Pink,

You seem to really have your head together ;)

The job I mentioned was the one I eventually got laid off from.  ;(

In 2011 (fall) when this happened I really thought I would have no problem finding another job, but here it is 2013 and no job in sight.  I know it is the economy and the area where I live has no Aerospace manufacturing at all!......thus more stress.

I have always had a good job, and this has been pretty devastating for me.

Yeah, I know I am older, but it doesn't affect the experience I have.  Oh well.

Sew, that is exactly why I stopped taking zantac, my appetite was awful.

But, I have to admit, it is not much better without it.  I am anxious to see the GI today . Who knows, maybe I have an ulcer or something????  I am taking my notes with me.

Chris.

Wow, that must have been an experience for you!  A little weird, but probably more comfortable than with someone unknown.   The comfort level would be worth it.

Wish I could find someone I know, what a relief that would be.

I know from personal experience that anxiety can put your stomach in literal knots!

I would not want to go back on meds for it, but if it turn me around, I would.

I will let you know what the new doc says today. 

 

Viv, her practice also does cosmetic surgery and I could have sworn that her nose looked a little bit different, but I think that would have been rude for me to ask :)

Gail, big hugs. Let me know how the GI visit goes today.

Roah, yes good jobs and good benefits. With a chronic health condition, it is really important that you look at the stability of the company and the company culture too, not just the immediate starting pay. Working while being not 100% is really hard. Did I tell people that I have a 1.5 hours commute each way? My right calf and knee are starting to bother me a little bit from all the stop and go commute driving (you know, acceralate brake, repeat 100X). So it's even harder for me to work. BUT, my boss has been really understanding and that's the only way I am surviving at work until I get back close to normal. I guess it helps that I have 17 years of equity at work and they know what kind of person I am. BTW, the lump in throat is kind of getting better as my sinus is starting to get better too. Maybe I had multiple things going on and the whole lump in throat was not caused by GERD but post nasal drip? Who knows? Anyway, hope you are having a decent day.

EJ, Sew, good day to you guys too.

Roah, I don't have the ph tester just the strips. One thing I was reading about testing foods like canned goods is that you can just look at the individual ingredients and judge from that. Like my green beans are just green beans, water and salt. Nothing in there that is off limits to me. Watch out for the ascorbic acid being used as a preservative. -- Awe you are so sweet. Glad I helped you. I learn just as much from you guys. Oh, I almost forgot. I have already started looking at espresso machines. Something to look forward too always picks up my spirits. For now I am staying away from the coffee.

Chris, I'm hope that appt brought you some peace. Most likely you will have to stay on the ppi's while the gastritis heals???? If so, have you considered carafate to speed things up? I definitely attribute liquid carafate for the healing of my gastritis and esophagitis. I didn't even take it but once or twice a day because of the interference with other meds. Have you ever been on an H2 blocker? Maybe it would be enough. I just don't know. When do you see your GI again? I have a whole list of questions for my GI tomorrow. Hang in there.

Gail, How did your appt go today? I can't wait to be off the Zantac. I think I am making good progress. If I can behave myself and not sabotage my efforts, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later.

Viv, I've been doing fine. It has been a crazy busy day. I was even able to eat at a Mexican restaurant today by choosing very carefully. My dh wanted to go and I hated to let him down. That's progress. I'll take all the little baby steps I can.

Hi EJ!

Oh Gail, I feel for you as I was literally where you were mentally just few weeks ago. It's ok to worry but you do have to also convince yourself that if the tests come back with acceptable results (like you have no cancer), then you have to also prepare yourself to move on and commit to getting better physically and mentally. You worrying about the sedative is a big warning sign to me that your anxiety goes beyond you worrying about your health. You need the sedative to get the tests done so please look at them as something that will help you rather than something to worry about.

Sew, my GI Doc is a jackass. There is no other way to put it. He's convinced that everything has to do with h.pylori and that since I did the antibiotics, I should be ok now. If I told him otherwise, then I am just a headcase to him. He wants me to do a stool test to confirm that the h.pylori is gone. If the test says it's gone, then he is done. If the test says that it's not, he is just going to put me on even stronger antibiotics, which I will refuse.

At any rate, my gastritis is getting better. I am no longer nauseated after eating and the stomach feels decent as long as I eat the right kind of food (bland while limiting sugar and refined carbs). I am taking dgl licorice and marshmallow root extract to aid in the healing of gastritis per my naturopath's suggestion.

Finally, I think there is a chance that I might be Vitamin B12 and/or magnesium deficient. (A little research indicates that deficiency in either could cause many of my non GI symptoms, such as anxiety, fatigue, muscle weakness, tingling of my hands, legs going numb more than usual. I might not be absorbing enough B12 because of the gastritis/intestinal issues and magnesium because PPI's can do that. I tried some B12 vitamins but they didn't seem to help. I tried magnesium supplements but I got major runs (magnesium has a laxative effect.) So I actually bought some Vitamin B12 patches on Amazon (like nicotine patches) and put one on yesterday. I have to say, the difference might be subtle and maybe just in my head, but I do feel more energetic today than i have in a long time. As for the magnesium, I read that you can make a magnesium spray by buying your own magnesium and making a spray out of it. Then you can spray it on your skin instead of orally consuming it so I have ordered a jar of magnesium chloride and can't wait to try that out as well.

Post Edited (Chris K.) : 5/2/2013 2:43:48 PM (GMT-6)

WHERE IS EJ??? I am worried! I hope she is going to be back soon it's been two days if I am correct?? Hahaha we all know if one of us goes missing we all become worried, I hope we hear from her soon O:

Gail: Awnn gail, gosh I can relate with you on that, not having job really hurts things, especially when you are sick, it just helps sometimes you know? Are you currently working? darn, that just sucks that all your skills and experience is being wasted at the moment. //shakes head, and that's my biggest fear because I am taking out all these loans and hoping i have some type of job when I graduate but you know I have plan a, b and c, just incase. I am really glad that you guys are in my life because when it comes to graduation time I am going to come back for advice before taking just any job. Best thing about being surrounded by the wise, well aside from that does the San Diego area have economy problems right now? Also what was your job before, gosh i hope you find something soon, and i really thing age shouldn't be a consideration, why must people be so picky about things? You know what's sad now it's like so much pressure, I started looking at grad schools and stuff just in-case I can rack up an outstanding masters so I can have better. Oh gosh grilled cheese and coke will do some bad things to your stomach, speaking of stomach what's sad is my sister has gastritis as well, and she has been getting worse and worse she currently attends college in Philadelphia so she is like 3 hrs away from virginia and finals and like how she is eating as "college student" is making everything worse, and I really hope you do not have ulcer but if you had it wouldn't you be bleeding? so what tests do they want you to have?

Viv: thank you I pray everyday I make it to where I need to be but gosh I have long road ahead me because medical field is no joke, and also I hope I have job after because I am trying to be a dietitian/nutritionist they don't get payed a lot I think like 40k-59k but I think the whole thing is so fascinating and if it has to come down to it I can always be cheap by getting cheap apartment/car haha I have it sort of planned out, right now I just need focus on my classes, how is your daughter and you? Gosh speaking of my tests, my insurance called me today and said I have to pay 600 dollars for a down payment on my 24hr impendnce testing and I am like gosh I am college student where do you expect me to pay it?? But I am going to pay it with my school money because I need the test done, and I am not taking anything until I follow up with ENT which should be after may 7th which is when my test is.

Sew: Hahah you are welcome budd, oh yeah that's good because with cans I bought some organic white navy beans in can and I think it said water salt so I guessing it's okay? I feel like me and you can be chemist if we keep testing our foods like this, I find the whole thing fascinating no wonder why I am going into med field haha!

Chris: I am glad you have such an understanding, it's hard to find some people in the work field like that I was on another forum and one of the guys had raspy voice from LPR and his boss did not care what was happening to him when he tried to explain to him his condition, it was sad situation to read about. I do not know if I will even have job after because becoming dietitian/nutritionist is kind of hard thing, you can either find a really good job or regular kind if you know what I mean :) but I will def come to you for an advice when commencement/internship comes around which another 2 years haha. Oh wow you have to commute outside san fran to get to work?? must be hard on you and also I am glad you are getting better, its been long time coming haha! are you in business/marketing/? oh yeah so the starting pay is not everything you mean?

Gail, I know I recommended liquid magnesium supplements to you for your constipation issue before. Yes, magnesium in your GI tract will help with bm because magnesium draws in water to your colon, which is exactly what someone suffering from constipation needs. Unfortunately for me, my problem is the opposite as yours so magnesium makes me opposite of constipated.

Well, if it's a new doctor, they kind of have to weigh you to get a baseline. So don't be too tough on them. I know weight is sensitive issue for you and me but do take it easy. By the way, I have not weighed myself in over a week. I know I lost more weight but that's because I cut out refined carbs and reduced sugar. No point in getting on the scale and presenting myself with just another mental huddle to get over. I am just going to concentrate on how I feel you know. I am surprised that you were able to handle the grill cheese, fries and coke. It would set my gastritis back a full week.

Roah, I am an engineer and work with computer chips. What I meant by starting pay is that if you were given a choice between Job A and Job B, don't automatically pick Job A because it pays you more. If the pay is relatively in the same ball park, you should consider other factors too. That was what I was trying to say.

Chris: Oh wow, my sister wants to do that, she is only in high school and in 10th grade but already knows what she wants to do with her life, I told her you know sometimes you go into college thinking you might want to do something but once you start taking the classes it's completely different then what you expect, thats what happened to me on my first semester, I wanted to do global affairs, and don't get me wrong I wanted to do it, but I got sick but I thought there is no point in trying to become a foreign service officer because if I am need to eat and be near doctors, then it's best to find a job that will allow me to stay close to home but I can always travel during vacations, so it's a compromise, but you know what's funny my current major offers this really cool minor it's called public health and it gives an opportunity to like travel with people such as red cross medical camps and stuff, so I am not completely giving up my dream I just need to find ways to get around, but I am not planning to do this until later on towards maybe 2015, but sorry for going off topic, but basically I told her def take your time and if you find out it's not what you want to do don't be scared sometimes you will find it, I mean look at how I closed one door and found another dream. I had a lot of things I wanted to do open healthy bakery/cafe (well I didn't have to give this up since I am still going to be dietitian), publish books, and become a foreign service officer. But yeah I totally understand what you mean, I am def looking into the company background, longstanding, retirement, health care, benefits, time off, life insurance, etc. Wow but engineering is hard huh? I am horrible at math I am more of science and history person it's such weird mix right? Usually people are either math & science, or English & history also know as the war of 'arts vs. the brains" but I believe people can be of many talents.

It's nice to talk about something besides our illnesses for once haha //smiling//

Pink,

You have the right idea for sure!  ;)

They wanted me to go into outside presentations and stuff and I said no way!

I liked taking care of my accounts and solving their problems. Boeing was one of the hardest and also Parker Hannifin, but a challenge., which kept me from getting bored.

I worked along side of our engineers and they do have to understand all the math.

A fascinating breed, engineers.  A lot of the young ones, fresh out of college don't apply themselves and upset the experienced engineers, there was always a lot going on in that department ;)    I had my favorites, and they were always the senior engineers that took their job very serious and were so helpful showing me a blueprint or drawing or better yet, finding a blueprint/drawing.......I miss all that.

Chris is in a special niche too and more than likely will stay in his field in one capacity or another for years to come.  The money is there and he will have all his tribal knowledge to take with him.

Yes, it is amazing how we change......BTW, my daughter was going into the medical field at first, then she took some classes and decided it was not for her afterall.  Then she knew that the law field was the one and has been working in it for over 23 years now.  Smart cookie she is.  ;)

 

Chris,

Have you been watching the fires??? the one in Banning is just 30 minutes north of me.

The one in Camarillo is so sad, those beautiful home in danger.  I love Camarillo, but too expensive to live there ;(

It is 97 degrees here today, I heard it was hot in SF also????

Do you  work in Silicon Valley??