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Even eating BLAND foods give me heartburn--and pain on my right side! WTH?

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Posted 10/19/2007 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
I am sooo stinkin' frustrated!  This has been going on since MAY---I had gall bladder ultra-sound AND hid-a-scan done--supposedly, "normal" (whatever that means).......My MD thought I gave myself an ulcer worrying about all of this back/chest pain (that was in August)----

I really didn't have heart burn problems until (I think) they put me on the meds for it.  I started getting "hot breath" on 20 mg of Prilosec, then 20 mg of Aciphex, now, 40 mg of Protonix!

BUT---the past few days---I have started getting major heartburn, EVEN IF I EAT THE BLANDEST FOODS---rice, a piece of bread, cheese, cracker.  I am NOT eating all they say:  NO caffeine, no acidic fruit/veggies, spicy stuff, nothing...... and I still get this tight/hot/painful feeling in my sternum, back and right side!  It hurts to swallow---like tight!  I also get headaches after I eat!

I don't get to see the GI specialist until the 30th (only taking me two months to see the guy as a "new patient"---- confused )  I am so frustrated and down.. help!

Posted 10/20/2007 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
no one eh? 

confused  

Posted 10/20/2007 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there Hope. Sorry for the delay in response. I am trying. Anyway, I am sorry you are feeling so lousy. I am also sorry that I have no real suggestions for you on this. I don't understand what could be going on with you, especially if you are eating everything you are told to, and avoiding everything you should be avoiding. I would suggest things I have heard like taking 2 teaspoons of honey, a lot of people say that helps, and others say sipping on cold milk will also help with the burn. Do you smoke? If you do, quitting now is a great idea, because the smoke will definatley irritate you and make the burn worse. Other tips that may help you are... avoid tight clothing. sleep with your head elevated 6-8 inches if possible. Do not take asprin, or products that contain asprin. For pain relief take tylenol. Maintain a healthy weight. Avoid stress at all costs! (easier said than done, I know.) I hope some of these tips help you out until you meet with your GI specialist. I look forward to hearing the details of your appointment, and I wish you all the best. I hope you can find a bit of comfort until then. If you need anything else, let me know. Best Wishes hun.
Posted 10/21/2007 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
Tammy--thanks for responding!

i don't smoke
i do 'suffer' with some anxiety and panic--but, I have what's called, "health anxiety" and "anticipatory anxiety"----so, being sick like this---and having problems with my health make me very anxious and stressed! (SIGH)!

I just can't believe that stress would make me feel this bad! I don't know....

I will post after meeting with the GI specialist! Only 10 days to go! (SIGH)!
Posted 10/21/2007 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Hope. I am very familiar with the health anxiety, as I truly suffer with that myself. It is hard to deal with, I know. I also have antipciatory anxiety. So, yes, I know exactly what you are feeling right now. Stress can seriously do a number on your health. It is strange how that happens. I definately look forward to your GI update. Feel free to post before then too, if you feel you need support. I know I get very nervous at doctor appointments. It is hard for me to make it there sometimes. Do you take anything for your anxiety? I wish you all the best...and I am here if you need support!
Posted 10/22/2007 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder if you have a stricture, where the food is getting stuck on the way down and irritating your espoghgus. I eat bland too except for my coffee, with a lot of milk, and I have reoccuring esohgitis which gives me spasms in my chest...been in the ER twice for it. Took me so long to get into my regular gastro doc even though I'd been in the ER and I was an established patient, I went to another doctor. Oh, and I've been on a zillion PPI's for years.

If I could get all the nutrients I needed from ice cream....I'd just eat that for the rest of my life :)

I see my gastro Nov 2. I'm going to ask him about my surgical options.
Posted 10/22/2007 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi doghouse. Thank you for your thoughts. I wanted to wish you well on meeting with your doctor on November 2nd. Please do tell us how that goes.
Posted 10/22/2007 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

What a rough few days it has been. Last week I started having very bad pain in the middle of my stomach and right side under ribs. Pain would travel. Let me tell you that brought me right to a high level panic attack. So far my gall bladder looks ok from the test. Dr, also thinks it could be my ulcer is getting worse. So back for test I go. I am to call this morning to set that up. I also have GERD,Hiatal Hernia, and Anxiety and Panic, over coming agoraphbia and have come a long long ways with that. Thought I had my anxiety under control, until this weekend.

I am having so much trouble eating the last week. Even my mild diet is getting to me. I watch what I eat very closely.But the last few days have been the worse. I have had to sleep sitting up in a chair as well. Burning and pain that seems to travel.

The last few days I don`t know what is worse the pain or the panic.
Posted 10/22/2007 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Mammamia--

I understand about what you said in your last sentence! I don't know what's worse--the pain, or the panic! I am the same way!

do you take anything for your anxiety/panic? I take Klonopin (as needed) .5 mg, b/c I had a bad reaction to Lexapro and Celexa (oh my)! I am feeling that I am taking Klonopin more often these days---and when I don't--feel worse....and that's just with .5 mg! I hope I'm not "addicted" to it! ;(

Doghouse---I hope you are OK. I also hope I don't have a 'stricture'--I have never heard of that? what is it? I was just looking at some "old" GI notes from a previous doctor I saw (2 years ago)---and when he did the endoscopy---he noted that my esphogus is unusually "LONG" for a person of my height!? What does that mean?

Only 8 days until I FINALLY get to see another GI specialist? What can they tell me in a consult? Nothing---except---let's have an endoscopy done, how about right before "thanksgiving"? the last endoscopy I had-----it was such a bad experience---I am anxious about that too! And panicky!

Oh, the joys of life......
Posted 10/22/2007 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hey hope... To answer your question, an esophageal stricture is a gradual narrowing of the esophagus, which can lead to swallowing difficulties. They are caused by scar tissue that builds up in the esophagus. People with GERD are likely to have this problem. Some of the most common symptoms of having an esophageal stricture are as follows: Difficulty swallowing Discomfort with swallowing A felling that food gets stuck in the esophagus Regurgitation of food Weight loss There are usually 2 ways of diagnosing this... A barium swallow. Patient will swallow barium and x-rays can be taken to show the narrowing of the esophagus. OR An endoscopy exam. This narrow tube is inserted into the esophagus and it can show any narrowing of the esophagus. If you have a number of the above symptoms, I would bring this up to your doctor, and see what he thinks. As for your long esophogus...never heard of it, but if you are seeing this on notes from 2 years ago, I can assume it is nothing to worry about . You could ask your new GI about it when you meet with him just so you know. Hope this has helped you. Good luck in 8 days!
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