ferrishmatt
09-25-2007, 05:55 AM
This is very long but its a very complex problem. Please read this if you think you can help or have similar symptoms as listed below
---------------------------
Hello,
I've been searching the internet for the last year about my problem and can't find any answeres. I've been seeing a doctor for the last year or so and have been on Aciphex (which worked for awhile, and cost me $150/mo), and Nexium (now has no effect). I tried Prilosec, Zantac and other OTCs which I get migraines from and have no effect.
This started out as happening about once every 3-4 months (4 years ago) and has increased to happing 3-4 times a week, with the most frequent time a month ago with 7 days back-to-back-to-back.
If any of you have taken a bad fall (like being thrown off a horse onto the rocks, and on bedrest for a week), I equate my pain on almost every episode to 3 times that amount.
Symptoms:
- Severe Bloating -- Stomach bulges 8 inches on average
- Moderate abdominal pain on both sides
- Moderate Mid-back pain along the spine
- Severe pain underneath the left shoulderblade
- Back stiffens as hard as a rock -- like a charlie horse in my back
- Sometimes accompanied by severe chest pain
- Severe weight gain (60+ lbs) in the last year, withotu change to diet or normal routine
- Episode onset typically occurs in the late evening, regardless of time I eat dinner (even if I don't eat dinner)
- Episode is sporradic, there is no pattern as to when it happens based on activity or diet.
- Episodes seem to happen more frequently if I drink regular coffee (2-3 cups) on more than 2 days in a row.
Relief:
- After burping nearly nonstop for 2-3 hours bloating starts to decline
- Doctor has prescribed Baclofen (muscle relaxor) and Vicodin (Hydrocodone/narcotic)
Per episode I take 15-30MG of Hydrocodone and 20-40MG of Baclofen
I start out with 10MG hydrocodone and add 10MG per hour until I reach a maximum of 30 MG, and start out with 20MG of baclofen and add 10MG per hour until I reach a maximum of 40MG. I do not take more for safety concerns. This typically lowers my pain level from a 10 to an 7.
Other Important Notes:
- I am a smoker, quit for a while yet still had episodes as frequently
- I drink no more than 2 beers a week (if any), no hard liquor
- Episodes are now happening at least 3 times a week (once a week if I don't have any caffine for at least 7 days)
- I am a 23 year old male
- I now weight 300 pounds
- I usually eat three meals a day, totalling no more than 1750 calories per day
- My father has this problem, although it has lessened over the years to once-monthly
- My newborn son is showing similar symptoms (distension, stiff back) but it is relieved by constant burping for about an hour
- I have seen a doctor about this and been to several ERs a number of times and all have assured me this is not life threatening.
I know there are other people out there that suffer from this. If you are one of those people, talk to your doctor about a prescription for Vicodin + Baclofen as it does help manage the pain.
This is not simple GERD, IBS or any commonly diagnosed problem. My doctor has never heard, seen, or learned anything involving all these symptoms.
If anyone knows how to fix this or even what this is please, PLEASE help!
---------------------------
Hello,
I've been searching the internet for the last year about my problem and can't find any answeres. I've been seeing a doctor for the last year or so and have been on Aciphex (which worked for awhile, and cost me $150/mo), and Nexium (now has no effect). I tried Prilosec, Zantac and other OTCs which I get migraines from and have no effect.
This started out as happening about once every 3-4 months (4 years ago) and has increased to happing 3-4 times a week, with the most frequent time a month ago with 7 days back-to-back-to-back.
If any of you have taken a bad fall (like being thrown off a horse onto the rocks, and on bedrest for a week), I equate my pain on almost every episode to 3 times that amount.
Symptoms:
- Severe Bloating -- Stomach bulges 8 inches on average
- Moderate abdominal pain on both sides
- Moderate Mid-back pain along the spine
- Severe pain underneath the left shoulderblade
- Back stiffens as hard as a rock -- like a charlie horse in my back
- Sometimes accompanied by severe chest pain
- Severe weight gain (60+ lbs) in the last year, withotu change to diet or normal routine
- Episode onset typically occurs in the late evening, regardless of time I eat dinner (even if I don't eat dinner)
- Episode is sporradic, there is no pattern as to when it happens based on activity or diet.
- Episodes seem to happen more frequently if I drink regular coffee (2-3 cups) on more than 2 days in a row.
Relief:
- After burping nearly nonstop for 2-3 hours bloating starts to decline
- Doctor has prescribed Baclofen (muscle relaxor) and Vicodin (Hydrocodone/narcotic)
Per episode I take 15-30MG of Hydrocodone and 20-40MG of Baclofen
I start out with 10MG hydrocodone and add 10MG per hour until I reach a maximum of 30 MG, and start out with 20MG of baclofen and add 10MG per hour until I reach a maximum of 40MG. I do not take more for safety concerns. This typically lowers my pain level from a 10 to an 7.
Other Important Notes:
- I am a smoker, quit for a while yet still had episodes as frequently
- I drink no more than 2 beers a week (if any), no hard liquor
- Episodes are now happening at least 3 times a week (once a week if I don't have any caffine for at least 7 days)
- I am a 23 year old male
- I now weight 300 pounds
- I usually eat three meals a day, totalling no more than 1750 calories per day
- My father has this problem, although it has lessened over the years to once-monthly
- My newborn son is showing similar symptoms (distension, stiff back) but it is relieved by constant burping for about an hour
- I have seen a doctor about this and been to several ERs a number of times and all have assured me this is not life threatening.
I know there are other people out there that suffer from this. If you are one of those people, talk to your doctor about a prescription for Vicodin + Baclofen as it does help manage the pain.
This is not simple GERD, IBS or any commonly diagnosed problem. My doctor has never heard, seen, or learned anything involving all these symptoms.
If anyone knows how to fix this or even what this is please, PLEASE help!
Sponsor
juleskim1
09-25-2007, 11:42 PM
Hi - my name is julia. I've had what you've had however I drink alcohol nightly. I started with severe heartbearn after taking a medication for bone density. Although I stopped taking the drug, the heartburn continued for over 2 years, took aciphex, allergic to some of the other drugs you mentioned (Zantac, Prilosec) so I supllemented with Pepcid Complete. I also had an endoscopy with nothing but inflammation found. I smoke.
I stopped drinking coffee, orange juice, ate earlier at night. I only got heartburn in the a.m. Intense pain. Had to lie down semi-reclined, took the Pepcid and about 20 min later it would go away, only to return sometimes right after lunch but never at night.
They also put me on a liquid drug used by people with ulcers (creamy white) can't remember the name.
Suggestion: don't take any inbuprofin products AT ALL, no anti-inflammatory drugs. The pain killers you mentioned are not going to help. Try probiotics. Your caloric intake doesn't matter as much as what you eat. No fried foods. Take Pepcid before you eat or drink anything. No peppermint or anything with mint. No sodas although sometimes the burping did relieve the heartburn.
I'm now suffering from intense bloating at night. Going to have some medical tests. I get the back pain and difficulty breathing, side pain on both sides, very uncomfortable - look and feel pregnant.
Feel better!
I stopped drinking coffee, orange juice, ate earlier at night. I only got heartburn in the a.m. Intense pain. Had to lie down semi-reclined, took the Pepcid and about 20 min later it would go away, only to return sometimes right after lunch but never at night.
They also put me on a liquid drug used by people with ulcers (creamy white) can't remember the name.
Suggestion: don't take any inbuprofin products AT ALL, no anti-inflammatory drugs. The pain killers you mentioned are not going to help. Try probiotics. Your caloric intake doesn't matter as much as what you eat. No fried foods. Take Pepcid before you eat or drink anything. No peppermint or anything with mint. No sodas although sometimes the burping did relieve the heartburn.
I'm now suffering from intense bloating at night. Going to have some medical tests. I get the back pain and difficulty breathing, side pain on both sides, very uncomfortable - look and feel pregnant.
Feel better!
juleskim1
09-25-2007, 11:54 PM
Hi - my name is julia. I've had what you've had however I drink alcohol nightly. I started with severe heartbearn after taking a medication for bone density. Although I stopped taking the drug, the heartburn continued for over 2 years, took aciphex, allergic to some of the other drugs you mentioned (Zantac, Prilosec) so I supllemented with Pepcid Complete. I also had an endoscopy with nothing but inflammation found. I smoke.
I stopped drinking coffee, orange juice, ate earlier at night. I only got heartburn in the a.m. Intense pain. Had to lie down semi-reclined, took the Pepcid and about 20 min later it would go away, only to return sometimes right after lunch but never at night.
They also put me on a liquid drug used by people with ulcers (creamy white) can't remember the name.
Suggestion: don't take any inbuprofin products AT ALL, no anti-inflammatory drugs. The pain killers you mentioned are not going to help. Try probiotics. Your caloric intake doesn't matter as much as what you eat. No fried foods. Take Pepcid before you eat or drink anything. No peppermint or anything with mint. No sodas although sometimes the burping did relieve the heartburn.
I'm now suffering from intense bloating at night. Going to have some medical tests. I get the back pain and difficulty breathing, side pain on both sides, very uncomfortable - look and feel pregnant.
Feel better!
I stopped drinking coffee, orange juice, ate earlier at night. I only got heartburn in the a.m. Intense pain. Had to lie down semi-reclined, took the Pepcid and about 20 min later it would go away, only to return sometimes right after lunch but never at night.
They also put me on a liquid drug used by people with ulcers (creamy white) can't remember the name.
Suggestion: don't take any inbuprofin products AT ALL, no anti-inflammatory drugs. The pain killers you mentioned are not going to help. Try probiotics. Your caloric intake doesn't matter as much as what you eat. No fried foods. Take Pepcid before you eat or drink anything. No peppermint or anything with mint. No sodas although sometimes the burping did relieve the heartburn.
I'm now suffering from intense bloating at night. Going to have some medical tests. I get the back pain and difficulty breathing, side pain on both sides, very uncomfortable - look and feel pregnant.
Feel better!
ferrishmatt
10-08-2007, 06:37 AM
Thanks for the post sorry it took so long for me to reply.
I've gotten the epsiode recurrence to go down by improving my diet, drinking less coffee, still have to have it once or twice a week (doesn't seem to co-incide with any days I have episodes). For the last three weeks been staying away from all fried foods, been eating really healthy. I've been out exercising (splitting wood as its that time of the year, for 1-1.5 hours a day), and I'm still gaining weight, up to 305 now. No change in diet. Not starving myself, my appetite isn't growing or shrinking. I'm really running out of ideas though, let me know how your tests go Julia.
I've gotten the epsiode recurrence to go down by improving my diet, drinking less coffee, still have to have it once or twice a week (doesn't seem to co-incide with any days I have episodes). For the last three weeks been staying away from all fried foods, been eating really healthy. I've been out exercising (splitting wood as its that time of the year, for 1-1.5 hours a day), and I'm still gaining weight, up to 305 now. No change in diet. Not starving myself, my appetite isn't growing or shrinking. I'm really running out of ideas though, let me know how your tests go Julia.