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Posted 1/14/2010 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise, I take it before bed every night because that is when I have the problems. If my stomach is acting up I take it 2x during the day too until things settle down. The dentist suggested water too but that is what I'm trying to clear out of my esophagus from taking the carafate. I suck the candy to get myself to swallow multiple time to clear things out and then I even take 15mg of elavil when I take my sleeping pill so it drys out my mouth at night so the saliva doesn't pool down there and choke me. I can't believe my solution to my stomach/esophagus problems are causing my teeth to rot. I may just be forced to turn back to the sugar free candy. Maybe I'll try sucking on it for just a little bit and then spit it out. I'm glad to hear your well enough to head back to work. I bet the kids really miss you.

Cowboy, I hope things get better for you. Just hang in there. It takes a while after having surgery and I think it also makes a difference if you have other stomach issues also. I have chronic gastritis so that's why I still take meds and have to really watch what I eat and what I take for meds. Denise is right about talking to Bill, He has been through a redo. He's been through a lot. Barb
Posted 1/14/2010 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Brian,
It's wonderful that you have a view of the sea! And you're enjoying summer while we're freezing up here in the north country! It has got to give you a wonderful sense of peace when you look around at the beauty you're fortunate to be surrounded by!

Whoa! You've not even been five months post surgery, Brian! That's not enough to judge how much it's going to help you in the long run. If you can somehow relax and give it the time it needs to heal, it may indeed resolve itself. My surgeon said that the wrap is still swollen, and takes time to settle into place, where it can protect you completely. It is not uncommon to get some reflux until total healing has occurred.

It's clear that your LES wasn't working properly. I've have acid reflux, but in all my problems, I never refluxed food. Your LES must be pretty wide open. Then with the 180 wrap, you don't have tight wrap. Keeping in mind that with healing this may be perfect for you, you do have a "loose wrap", (as I do), which is great for swallowing easily, but more likely to allow some reflux.

A surgeon's dilemma is how to make the wrap tight enough to keep the acid down, without making it too tight to easily pass food through.

You and I have a similar problem. We've both got to have patience and allow healing to occur. The stomach and esophagus have extremely delicate linings (especially the esophagus, which wasn't meant to be doused with acid), so if you've had some acid slipping by, some of your acid sensation may be leftover burn. Part of your stomach was used for the wrap, which is an assult to the stomach, so it's not happy either.

I for one, am thrilled with the improvement I've had regarding my lungs. Therefore I would have a redo without a second thought, should it be required. My time and effort would be placed, instead, into deciding who would do the redo. I would research that decision thoroughly.

So, while I know you are frustrated and want things to improve quickly, your challenge is to be patient. Try to get busy, and start counting your blessings.

I heard something recently that I think is perfect advice. Every morning when we get up, we should look at our hand and think of five (as in five fingers) things that we are grateful for. It is a good exercise, and a wake up call to those of us who can become too focused on our health problems, rather than the multitude of blessings that we have had heaped upon us each day.

Even in the worst of situations, we can still find things to be grateful for.
I'm going to work on making that exercise a daily one in my life!

Best wishes, Brian. I hope that your problems resolve themselves soon.
I'm glad we can share our worries with others here. It helps make them less overwhelming.
I'm so happy I found this forum. It is one of those blessings I'm counting each day!
I'm also glad I made a new friend from "down under!"
Take care,
Denise
Posted 1/14/2010 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,
A stomach bug is roaring through school. All day kids are being sent home because they feel sick, or have actually thrown up. Hopefully the stomach bug that put me under is the same one that's going around. I don't want another one!

I know water is a problem for you. I just thought that sucking on an ice popsicle might not introduce too much water, but would require lots of swallowing. Too bad you can't tolerate artificial sugar. Trust me...I can tolerate it, but refuse to eat it.

Do you take Carafate suspension, or a tablet? I was taking a tablet (the generic form) and mixing it with a little water before throwing it back. My doc just called in a script for the name brand Carafate suspension. I was expecting to pay a $5 copay and ended up with $25. I know he was being helpful, but now I have a huge bottle to lug around with me. Oh well...What're you going to do...I'll adjust.

Well, I've got to go make dinner, than work on my newsletter that goes home tomorrow.
Take care, Barb. Hope things are feeling better all over!
Hugs,
Denise
Posted 1/15/2010 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise, I'll keep you in my prayers. You certainly don't need to get sick again. I take the generic pills. I tried mixing mine with water and it felt like I had stuff stuck in my throat and it made me cough. I gave in and bought some sugar free candy to suck on at night. I hate putting that junk into my body, but I can't have water left in there or I just keep waking up choking on it. I take the small dose of the amitryptaline so that my saliva doesn't pool down there at night or I wake up choking on it. I'll figure something out because I am not going to go through that surgery. I'm just thankful that my stomach is doing so good right now. I don't know how it's going to handle the diflucan I have to take for the yeast infection from the 3 weeks of antibiotics. Right now my biggest problem is my hand pain. It was so bad this afternoon that I felt sick to my stomach. I took tylenol which did nothing for it and after taking that I couldn't take my pain med because it has the tylenol in it too. I don't know how I am going to be able to do my job again by Monday. I guess I'll have to use my left hand as much as possible. I think I over did it by hemming a pair of pants this morning. I'll be glad to put today behind me. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better. Barb
Posted 1/15/2010 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,
I'll second that hope! Best wishes for a pain free Friday! Just think, though...now both your hands are done! Yay! It's behind you...remember how much you dreaded it? If you go back through your old posts, you'll see that you were extremely frustrated and in pain the first time around, too. This too will pass. Your hand will heal (eventually!) and you'll be as good as new.

I'll let you know how the fancy Carafate works. I know he meant well, but my doc cost me twenty extra dollars that I didn't need to spend! I was fine with the generic tabs. They go down fine for me (mixed with water), and I like the way they coat the throat and wrap on the way down.

Have a great day tomorrow. We'll be heading to watch our son's JV basketball game, and checking out what's done on our townhouse. Last week they had done a lot, so I can't wait to see it. The builder said it would be done next week, so we'll be closing the following week. It'll be nice to get into it and start putting things away. We're spending a lot of money to store our stuff, so it'll be good to have out of there. I'll try to get on over the weekend.

Take care, Barb!
Denise
Posted 1/15/2010 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
Denise, it sounds like you'll have an exciting weekend. I want to get to church Sunday and have them pray for me. I wanted to go last week but had problems with the lift on the van and the brakes. Both are fixed for the moment so we can go to church and then off to a family reunion. I'll have to enlist the help of my hubby to make the german potato salad that I always bring. I got the potatoes already sliced and bacon pieces. The only problem will be lifting the crock pot because I can't even pick up my 4 pound dog yet. I almost dropped the little guy today. I'm not real happy about having to still take pain pills for my hand but I'm just going to have to give in and take it so I can get through the rest of this healing process. Well time to go take my bedtime meds. Have a great weekend. Talk to you later. Barb
Posted 1/16/2010 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,
We're in Rochester--stayed at a hotel this time. We're trying not to interfere too much with our kids when we come up so often. They have an extra bedroom, but my son's wife works a lot of hours, and it's nice for them to have some alone time without old Mom and Dad underfoot!

I can't believe how much Carafate has helped me. I think we should be recommending that stuff to more people here. Since I've taken it, I haven't needed Maalox at all. I was taking it like crazy before that. I really think it will help me get my stomach back to normal. My stomach is so bad. I can't believe how much it has bothered me. I wonder how it got this way?!

Well, I hope your hand is feeling good. Have a great weekend!
Denise
Posted 1/16/2010 6:04 AM (GMT 0)
Denise-
I was on carafate for a while and it never did seem to help me much. I didn't mix it with water though before I took it. I just drank a glass of water after wards. Maybe I should have tried it the other way. My insurance wouldn't pay for the liquid. Glad it has helped you.
Good to hear the townhouse is almost finished too. It's been quite a wait for you. Enjoy the basketball game too!

Take care,
Bill
Posted 1/16/2010 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise, I can understand not wanting to be in the kids way. I wish we could have stayed in a hotel when we went out by my son. It would have helped me to get some sleep. Just keep babying your stomach. Take the carafate as often as you can up to 4 times a day. It will make a huge difference. You had a lot of stuff bombarding your poor stomach and it will take some time and TLC to get it back in shape again. I think the carafate is one of the most wonderful things for the stomach. I don't take any antiacids any more. Maybe it just works for things like the gastritis though. I did take it before my surgery though and it didn't help so I know I needed the surgery but it's great having the carafate as a back up. That's exciting about the town house almost being done. That will be great for you to get into your new place and get all settled in. I hope your son wins the game and you all have a great time. I am going to get out of the house today and run some errands and go to the gym for and hour on the treadmill. Barb
Posted 1/16/2010 6:08 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Bill,

Honestly, I don't remember Carafate helping me quite as dramatically as it has this time.  They gave it to me in the hospital when I was in for severe acid/GERD/asthma that was uncontrolled--that was the first time I'd tried it.  They gave it to me as a suspension that time, so when I was later confronted with the pills (huge at that) I figured I'd make my own.  I just put the tabs in a little medicine cup, add some water, stir with a toothpick and throw it back like a shot (not that I'd know anything about shots...).  It works really well, and coats the stomach (and I think esophagus/wrap), protecting it from acid as it tries to heal.

I was upset when I was expecting a $5 copay and got a $25, but it is the cadillac version of what I was taking, and quite nice.  I'm going to go to the pharmacy and get a smaller version of the bottle to put some in, so it's easier to transport.  It's a huge bottle.  I take it an hour before each meal and at bedtime (at least 2-3 hours after any meals).  Honestly, if you ever have a big acid stomach upset, try mixing it with a little water.  It has made all the difference for me.

The game was great.  My son has learned a lot about coaching and is doing a super job.  He doesn't have any superstars, but they're fundamentally sound, and he has the best record in his league.  He's in a big school, too--whatever the biggest category of schools is, so the competetion is pretty fierce.  We'll have fun when we move up here so we can go to all of his games.  We'll be his biggest fans!

The townhouse looked great today when we went there this morning.  They're doing a radon test, which we requested.  They started putting in the hardwood, have the dishwasher installed, bathrooms are pretty much done.  Painting is almost finished.  It's going to be so fun to get into it when it's finished.  We won't want to go home to our little apartment!

Have a great weekend!  Denise

Posted 1/16/2010 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, Denise, sounds like your getting close to the having the new place done.

Joy
Posted 1/17/2010 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy,
Thanks. We are excited about being able to start staying there. Of course we won't have any furniture for the great room yet. We've got to go looking for furniture. We have most of the wood pieces, but need upholstered pieces--the comfortable ones. We haven't started looking yet.
Hope you're feeling well!
Denise
Posted 1/17/2010 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,
We must have been posting at the exact same time! I didn't see you post until tonight. I am babying my stomach...small meals and chewing thoroughly. I'm also avoiding things that are rough on my stomach. We went to a movie this afternoon, and no popcorn! Bummer.
Hope all is well with you. Good for you going to the gym. We're joining the Y when start living in our townhouse full time. Can't wait!
Take care, Barb!
Denise
Posted 1/17/2010 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise, I made it 30 minutes on the treadmill. My stomach was acting up and I almost didn't go but I just took and antidiarrheal and went any way. I had to go out to the drug store any way and the grocery store. I can't wait to be done with these antibiotic pill. 2 more days of them. I got in a good work out. Last night I lifted my hand weights. I go back on the 1st of Feb for my check up with the courage program and I better have some weight off by then. I'm going to try to better this next week for exercise eating and taking my supplements for my heart. I love the gym I go to because they have a pool and hot tub and sauna. I love the cardio cinema where they show movies and they have rows of cardio machines. They also have a womans only work out room and machines with TVs on them and then some you can watch up on the wall and you hear through ear plugs. They have those machines in the main room and then have a huge weight room too. I had a tough time making my salad. I found out I can't cut up onions. Too much hand pain and weakness. I cooked the potatoes a little to long but they still take good. Well time to get to bed. Hope you had a nice weekend with your son's. Try to stay away from beef and pork until your stomach is doing better. I've found it causes more pain and acid as it takes longer to digest. cereal and potatoes are good as well as yogurt and milk. Take Care Barb
Posted 1/17/2010 6:03 AM (GMT 0)
Denise-
It's sure is weird several of us having issues again about the same time. Not even jus newly wrapped, but some of us way past the 6 month mark. Wonder if the things we ate over the holidays had anything to do with it? I know I ate things I hadn't eaten for quite some time and did over do it portion wise several times. I thought I remember you saying you did similar things too.
Anyway..... Hope you and everyone else who is having recurring symptoms heals quickly. Oh, and I can;t wait to hear about you getting everything moved in and making the townhouse a Home!

Take care,
Bill
Posted 1/17/2010 6:21 AM (GMT 0)
I think it's all the Holiday food and drink Bill. Last year I was really sick the whole month of January from all the junk I ate. I can't help but eat stuff I'm not supposed to during the holidays. Well I guess it doesn't matter how long it's been even 9 years when we eat and drink the good stuff. Lol. I'm off to bed. Have a great night. Barb
Posted 1/17/2010 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill and Barb,
Those of us with wraps had them done for a reason! We had angry GI systems to begin with! When I'm out watching people eat all kinds of things that would set me off, I think about how they have no idea how lucky they are. People take that for granted until they get into a situation where eating is a problem for them. I did, too! I don't know where I got this GI tract...my mom could eat anything, even into her upper 70's. I don't know as much about my dad's GI tract...he was always a more careful eater than my mom...maybe that's why!

Yes, Bill, I do think that holiday eating is the culprit. As I told Scarlett (I believe), a new member who has had the Nissen done, those of us who are wrapped will never be like we were before GERD started making our lives difficult. We'll always have our quirky GI tracts, but as for me, I don't regret my decision for one minute. I'm willing to deal with the inconveniences--it's a good trade-off. Now I can breathe!

Unfortunately, I have a stomach that can't handle much. I abused it over the holidays, and now I'm paying. I guess I've got to be more careful in the future. Moderation. Hmmmmmmm. Can I figure out the meaning of that word? I'm back counting points and eating healthy, so that should help things improve. I do think I may be one who needs to continue PPI's and increase the dosage during times when I'm eating more aggressively. My stomach pops into gastritis mode too easily, and the acid kills it. I am also going to ask my doctor about some longer term Carafate treatment. Maybe like Barb, I should take a dose before bed each night. We'll see...

We're going out house-hunting with my younger son today. He's just starting the process and wants to see what's out there. He has been working for nearly four years, and is very frugal (unlike my older son), so has saved a great down payment. He wants us to be there with him as he checks out what's out there. He has a lease until July, but if the right house came along, he'd figure something out.

Have a great day everyone!
Denise turn
Posted 1/17/2010 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Today my best friend got married. When I went her reception she had so many no-nos to eat. I bit my bottom lip and said no to everything but a very small (2x2) piece of wedding cake and a glass of water. To keep from going back I sat and nursed my ice water and talked to people. I said my goodbyes when the water was gone.
It's so hard to be good. :(

Joy
Posted 1/18/2010 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Joy I'm proud of you. I didn't do so great today. I ate all sorts of stuff at the family reunion. Hope I don't pay for it tonight. I go back to work tomorrow and want to get a good nights sleep. I'm going to get every thing ready tonight so I don't have to do so much tomorrow morning.

Denise, I agree I am better off post nissan than I was before. I shudder to think how much worse my asthma would be with out having had that done. I still have flare ups but before my surgery it was an every night thing. I've learned to live with the inconveniences and don't regret my surgery either. I got my stomach from my mom's side of the family. I have so many aunts, uncles and cousins with the same problems. My grandpa stands out the most though. He had to be so careful like I do. That's exciting about your son looking for a home. How awesome that your there to help him out with the hunting too. I got to see my son's house just before he bought it and it was neat to be included like that even though we lived 1200 miles away. Well time to go get some things ready for work tomorrow. Have a good night. Barb
Posted 1/18/2010 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy,
It's so soon after your surgery to have a special event like that. In the future you'll be able to partake in most of the good things you've always enjoyed. Once you've healed completely, you'll be good to go. All of us, though, need to try to keep our eating in control without feeling deprived. Moderation. Not easy--especially at a good friend's wedding! Good job, girl! Enjoy MLK day tomorrow! It's so nice to have another day off. Gotta love those three day weekends!

Barb,
Yes, it was fun house hunting with Ryan. I agree--it's nice when they include us and respect our opinions. After house hunting we all went back to my older son and his wife's house for dinner. My son made us chicken riggies and salad. I had a small serving (still babying that tummy--also trying to lose some weight). I really think my stomach is starting to improve. It's still in bad shape, but not horrible shape! Still, before the surgery, if my stomach was as bad as it has been, I'd be eating a tablespoon of egg custard for dinner--not chicken riggies! I am thankful.

Good luck with getting back to work tomorrow. Hope all goes well!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 1/19/2010 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
I'm glad your stomach is improving Denise. it takes a lot of patience to get it back in shape again. I had a really busy day at work. My hand really hurts to write with it. I saw my allergy doc today and he suggests a cat scan of my sinus and surgery. He didn't order the scan because he said if I have no intention to do surgery it is a waste of money to do it. I was having a hard time deciding so he said he would decide for me and see me in 3 months to see how I'm doing with the allergy shots and if I am leaning more toward the surgery. Well I am off to bed. I've been up since 3:30am. Couldn't sleep. Barb
Posted 1/19/2010 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
Get some rest, Barb! Hopefully with your allergy shots and consistent nasal washings you can avoid another surgery. It's no fun! Sorry to hear that your hand hurt...it's probably to be expected, since you're using it so much more.
Take it easy today!
Have a good one.
Denise
Posted 1/19/2010 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise, how's your stomach today. I'm going to end up messing mine up again because I was up again at 3:30 and had to drink coffee to stay awake today. I don't know what is up with me waking up that early. I even tried taking a benedryl to make me fall back to sleep. I've decided with my hand that if my hand surgeon won't send me for therapy for my hands I am just going to talk to my regular doctor about it because every one I have talked to about this has benefited from therapy greatly and I think it is time at least for the left hand to try something besides everyday things to strengthen my left hand and heal it faster. It might be too soon for the right yet. Well time to get back to work as my lunch is almost over. Barb
Posted 1/19/2010 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,

My stomach is doing MUCH better, but I'm still babying it and taking Carafate 4X a day.  Hey, that keeps me on the straight and narrow with not snacking, because that screws up the Carafate schedule!  I am loving that drug.  It made such a difference for me this time. 

All that panic regarding my wrap being blown I think was premature.  I think my acid stomach was just too much for a loose wrap to handle, and it's doing much better now.  Let's hope I'm right!

I definitely think you need to go for hand therapy.  When my husband had hand surgery, they sent him to a hand PT specialist.  It made a huge difference.  Your hands are too important not to do everything possible to heal them and get them back in working order!

Well, I've got to finish my lesson plans...

You take care and have a great evening.  Lay off the coffee!turn

Hugs,

Denise

Posted 1/19/2010 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Yesterday I was working on my taxes and shredding old junk mail. I did alot of bending while sitting and turning and stretching. I started hurting and thought I was having heartburn. Nothing I took seemed to help me. Out of pure desperation I took some pain medication I had left over from the surgery. The pain I felt stopped. All I can figure is that I'd irritated my diaphragm with all the twisting and bending.

The only plus I got from all that suffering and work is that I found out, due to all of my medical expenses this past year, I'm getting the biggest tax refunds I've ever got. :)

Joy
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