Roll Call.........How is Everyone Doing?

Happy Trails to you too Kitt, Thanks for being so open about your illnesses. I deeply admire your perserverence and your thoughtfulness to all on this forum.

CordeliaGray

CordeliaGray - thanks for the bone graft info. I asked my surgeon about what he generally uses and the answer was donor bone, but I've got a HUGE problem with that concept. I'll ask for my own hip as it seems like a better alternative - I'll take the discomfort and the small scar. I chose "HappilyWrapped" a few days after surgery when I found this board and needed to enter something to become a member - that was the best way to describe the way I felt that day and it continues to be true a year later.

Alycarr00 - It seems like just yesterday you were debating whether to have your wrap just before the holiday season and traveling with a toddler. I totally remember how all of us said "don't do it". So glad everything is now working out as you hoped. Best wishes on the new addition to the family.

SouthernStar - After the wrap surgery I had excruciating pain that turned out to be Sphincter of Oddi and a narrow bile duct; it was not gallbladder at all. All gallbladder tests showed it was fine. A test of the Sphincter of Oddi showed it wasn't opening and closing properly as well as the duct was narrowed - that meant bile backed up causing pain just like if a gallstone was blocking the duct. The pain was pretty much under where my bra strap would be in the front. Mostly left side, but sometimes a bit of the right side and back into the area between my shoulder blades. The pain was so bad I could barely breath and sometimes lasted hours. My gastroenterologist suggested this and it worked amazing - ibuprofen. I needed instant relief, so I purchased children's Motrin - the liquid because it would work faster than a pill. I figured out an adult dose for me - which was the plastic cup provided filled to the top. I chugged one of those cups and within 10 minutes I had relief. The gastroenterologist stated it should work within 15 minutes so I was lucky with quicker relief. Give it a try - it won't hurt anything if it doesn't work but it's worth a shot. My permanent solution was a biliary sphincterotomy - another amazing procedure that was very much worth doing. Good luck.

Southern Star
Childrens motrin is what I lived on post-surgery!, and if I remember correctly it was either 35 or 40 mll equals 800 mg of real motrin. The real motrin is more expensive than the generic motrin, but the generic has a burning sensation that the real stuff doesn't have.

Kitt, I just learned I've herniated both L5 and S1; the pain is incredible...no fun!!!

LdyJane

I am so sorry you are blessed with the back pain.  ugh!  I have trouble cleaning the house as pushing and pulling the vacumn don't work, I get down  on the floor and then laugh wondering how I am going to get up.

My MRI showed degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 includes a disc herniation with predominant right sided characteristics and impingement of the right S-1 nerve root. A small associate caudally migrated disc fragment and a left paramidline location is also present.

So I can have pain on both sides at the same time.

Anything where I have to bend from the waist such as ironing, making the beds will really cause pain.

I know how your back feels.............bless you and remember to pamper that back.

Hugs

Kitt

Hi everyone. I really don't know what's going on now. Yesterday eve. I took some Aleve for the pain on my left side, (no I haven't been to the store yet to buy some liquid motrin) and very shortly after I had just a TERRIBLE burning in my esophagus, it felt like it was on fire! I took an antispasmodic to see if that would help and it did ease just a little but didn't go away. It still has been burning all day today not as bad as it was right after the Aleve but I can still feel it so I took a Zantac this morn. another anitspasmodic and another Zantac this afternoon and can't seem to get rid of it. Also I feel stuff coming up, I'm not nauseated it's just VERY uncomfortable. I did get my app. with my dr. moved from the 21st to the 11th that was the earliest I could get in there. I'm so scared that something has come undone in there. My dr. didn't think that would happen and for sure not so soon after surgery but I really wonder what's going on. I guess I can't find out until Tues. and maybe not then, I think he's gonna want to do an endo. So probably won't know anything till then. Has anybody else on here heard of the surgery reversing itself so soon?

In honor of all our Veterans today 11/11/2008, thank you.  You are truly appreciated.

My day is fine, my feet are freezing but it is only 24 degrees outside.

May your day be blessed.  Let's hear from some of you.  Newbies hop on board and let us know how your are.

Hugs,

Kitt

Hi got back from the dr. have to be at digestive health at 8:30 in the morn. for a barium swallow and a gallbladder ultrasound. Then back to see my dr. next Fri. He didn't really give me any ideas what he thinks might be wrong so I guess we'll see. I'll let ya'll know. Have a good eve.

Hi Everybody!  I haven't been around lately, sometimes tho I would read some posts, but wasn't feeling up to posting. 

I was not able to take the preacid, as I had so many bad side-effects going on.  Doc then switched me to prilosec for awhile (even tho I told the doc I had been on it previously and it made me feel sicker the more I took it,  and that was effecting my breathing.  Not only my breathing, but my stomach and ribcage were so very sore and seemed to me to be swollen. 

Sooo she said, just try taking Pepcid AC whenever you feel the heartburn.  Well that stuff made my ears start to ring something terrible, and I couldn't sleep that night.  Called the company and they are sending me my money back.  I was shocked, as I would rather been told what caused it.  I did read where the main ingredient was an antihistimine. 

Sooooo I am using the apple cider vinegar and honey after each meal.  That was doing fine, until a night or two ago when I had to take an extra does of the mixture.  I guess that is OK tho.

I hope this contiues to work for me, as I have never felt better since I had been started on the prevacid and the prilosec. 

One very big plus is, I never have that feeling of something in my throat.

I still am very careful of what I eat, and need to find some more variety, but for now, I am taking it easy.

By the way, I changed my regular doctor too, she's fired!

I was reading some old posts here, and saw where some stay away from carbs and sugar.  I have very little sugar, but do eat an occasional baked potato and have always eaten oatmeal bread.   I have lost a lot of weight, and  DH is always trying to get me to eat some noodles.  Noodles were not agreeing with me at first, but they seem to be OK now.  I think.   I have been cooking the yolkless noodles.

What kind of nuts do some of you eat?  I would think they would be difficult to digest, any info would be appreciated.  Thanks!

Kitt, my new doc is having me take Zoloft, a weak dose to get off of the ativan.  I was afraid to try the weening by  myself.  I was afraid of failing, and I have to go to FL for Christmas, and I couldn't take the time to fail on my own.  I probably need the Z anyway.  What do you think?

Anyway, I feel more like my old self, at least 3/4 of the way!  I need to get stronger and gain some weight tho.  I feel I am a lot stronger than I was several weeks ago tho.  When I was on the Prevacid, I was horribly zoned out, and my brain felt like I was going nuts. 

Well that's all Folks, for now!  Probably most disorganized as I feel I just rambled! 

Sending my hopes and prayers for all of you to be able to feel better and rise above this Monster!  It is a monster! 

Think Happy Thoughts

 

stkitt said...

mary love,

Many people taking benzodiazepines long-term have also been prescribed antidepressant drugs because of developing depression, either during chronic use or during withdrawal. Antidepressant drugs should also be tapered slowly since they too can cause a withdrawal reaction (euphemistically labelled "antidepressant discontinuation reaction" by psychiatrists). If you are taking an antidepressant drug as well as a benzodiazepine it is best to complete the benzodiazepine withdrawal before starting to taper the antidepressant.

It sounds like your physician is savy about the weaning off the Xanax.  I  agree that taking it easy through the holidays.

Bless you and take care

Kitt

Kitt thank you for your reply!     At this point if the Zoloft works, I will not be tapering off of it.  I probably need it.  I took it years ago and it made me feel relaxed and I did fine on it.  When I decided to ween off of the Zoloft years ago, it was a smooth sailing.   

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love the acv/honey drink.  It WORKS!  It works better than any of the meds they had given me. I had bought it months and months ago and was afraid to try it, till one day I had heartburn so bad, I was desperate.  WOW in a few minutes the heartburn was completely gone.  In addition, I beleive it helps in digestion, and I no longer feel like something is stuck in my throat.  That part took several days, but what relief!

The best part is, I take no meds for the Gerd. They made me sick.  Occasionally if I feel something coming on I will take 2 rolaids, that's it!

Take a look here and read about the acv/pH/alkaline content:  by Ted

http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html#ACIDREFLUX

 

Well got back from the doctor.  He took a look at my motility results and said he knows why I am having chest pain.  He said I have very strong esophageal spasms while swallowing.  Now all I have to do is complete the 24 hour nasal catheter ph probe.  It is not as bad as I thought it woud be however it is not something that I would want to do again.  Everytime I swallow i can feel the line in my throat and when i swallow food i can feel the spasms pulling at the probe.  I tell myself it is only 24 hours and there are far worse things than this.  No pain just discomfort.  My poor pups are going to be so upset tonight but I fear I will not be able to allow them in the bedroom tonight

MJ

Hi everyone, went to my surgeon this morn. and still don't really know any more. He said the barium swallow looked excellent and the gallbladder ultrasound showed that there might possibly be a gallstone but with the pain totally on my left side and and into my left shoulder, he didn't really think it was my gallbladder, he said he didn't want to rush and take it out when he wasn't convinced that's what it is. He put me on Raglan and I'm sposed to go back on the Levsin he prescribed me earlier. Then he'll see me back in 6 wks. So in the mean time I guess I just have to live with this pain.

Southern Star

Sorry to hear you are having to wait so long.  I understand how you feel.  I have been having pain so long I never thought I would get to the point where I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

My GI just called me with the reuslts of my tests.  He said the nasal catheter showed excessive acid reflux.  He is setting me up for another endoscope and a nuclear delayed emptying test since my last ones were over a year ago.  Just love eatting those radioactive sandwiches.  He is also setting me up with an appointment with a surgeon.  After 3 years of suffering it is finally nice to know I have a doctor who not only listened but is going to get the problem fixed.  I don't understand why we have to endure pain for extended periods of time.  I wish you luck and will keep you in my prayers.

MJ