Posted 1/27/2014 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi applesteach,
Ah, yes, school can be stressful, and can do a number on your stomach. I generally don't stress in an upper GI way, but recently did, and I felt that stomach acid increasing! I doubt it's caused by the new bra, but hey, stranger things have happened!
At two years post-op, certain things would irritate my wrap. Especially salad and raw veggies. I think things that may not chew completely and scrape through the wrap, can cause some irritation. Once the wrap has been irritated, it'll take a week or so to calm down, so treat it gently, and choose your foods carefully.
Sometime between two and four years, my wrap adjusted (maybe loosened a little), and I can eat dinner salads and even entrée salads without a problem.
That said, even at 5 years post op, my wrap can become irritated for some random reason. I see it like this; my wrap was created out of my stomach, and my stomach is very sensitive, so it makes sense that my wrap will be as well.
There's one thing I keep on hand for my temperamental stomach, and that is Carafate suspension. If you get some esophageal irritation that is painful, the Carafate suspension can coat it. My GI doc said to avoid water for 10 minutes after taking it, so that it can adhere and not all get washed into your stomach. It's a prescription drug, and pretty pricey, but if you have good insurance, it's well worth getting.
Just baby the wrap. Maalox will also help, but just doesn't have the ability to adhere the way Carafate does.
Interesting that Advil helps. With my sensitive stomach I don't take anything...Advil would be more likely to cause more problems for me. You haven't lifted anything heavy, have you? I did have just plain pain before when I lifted a box of books (I'm a retired second grade teacher). That pain lasted three or four days.
Hope you get feeling better soon!
Best wishes,
Denise