Hi,
I am a 30 y.o. male from London, UK. For quite some considerable time I have been suffering from acute, intense acid reflux and indigestion which brings with it a host of other symptoms.
The day normally begins with me waking to a tight acidy feeling in my chest - what I can only describe as someone tugging on my food pipe from inside. When I stand up right, although apparent and aware, I can feel the tightness run up and down my middle. Its when I move about
, like to bend over to pick something up off the floor, that the 'pressure' feeling becomes too alarming and unbearable, so I result to having to kneel down to floor level. Sitting on the floor to play with my two children is totally out of the question!
Eating breakfast usually consists of cereal, yogurt and fruit. I drink mostly milk throughout the day as my stomach can not tolerate drinking water alone! During most of the day I am conscious of a sharp, intense and 'protruding-like' pain in the upper left chest area. It comes on in waves and when it does, I go through a series of anxiety attacks. The pain radiates to my left shoulder and upper back. I have a sour taste in my mouth, which comes with the indigestion. I am constantly bringing up wind, mostly with small amounts of bile and undigested foods. My stools are solid, no undigested foods, but are mucusy. I eat healthily with at least 4 different fruits and veg's a day. Yet, I am slightly constipated. My bowl movements are not regular and I can go up to 3 days without having passed stools. When I do, it is painful. Every evening, from about
4pm onwards, I begin feeling a heavy sensation run through me starting from my shoulders down to my lower-abdo. this brings on heavy bouts of tiredness and fatigue.
This is the routine of my life, everyday. The good news is that I am at last able to control the daily anxiety attacks. Oh yayy! I am receiving counseling for, what my doctor describes as, 'stress related illness'. I can not count how many times I have been to see my GP over the last 3 years alone. I have been prescribed countless meds including beta-blockers and acid represents such as Nexium, Lansoprazole, Naproxen and Sucralfate. All of which I have taken for 3-4 months at a time, as prescribed, but only ends up bringing on severe stomach cramps and sickness. I have resulted to taking Gaviscon acid soother liquid every time I feel indigestion come on, along with 2-3 Zantac (Ranitidine) tablets. This is not only proving expensive, but I am not even sure if any of this actually does anything otherwise I wouldn't be using so much so often. I have also had 2 endoscopy's - the latest diagnosing I have swelling in the duodenum, which is consistent with a constant feeling like my stomach is tender, sore and inflamed. I have had various blood tests, ultra sounds and xrays. All of which have proven to be 'normal'. But, gee, what's normal right???!
So there you go! Work that one out if you can! Would appreciate any advice, recommendations and tips
