I finally got the results of my endo yesterday. But instead of hearing it from the GI, it was simply referred back to our family doctor to discuss it with me. I wasn't too pleased, because I had wanted to go over the details with the GI. But maybe you folks can offer some advice instead.
The results didn't show anything too serious - mainly some redness around the stomach lining and base of the esophagus (diagnosis: chronic gastritis / acid reflux). The biopsy for H. Pylori was negative, so that confirms that it has indeed been eradicated. I actually found that kind of surprising, because I don't consider myself anywhere near being better. Prevacid keeps my heartburn at arms length, but it creates problems of its own such as gas and lack of appetite. In general, I'm in about the same state as I was six months ago; eating very little, and still having lots of trouble with gas and overactive saliva glands. I'm really just left hanging at this point, and I don't know where to go from here. I'm afraid to try eating any more, because the last time I tried that (by very little) it just led to increased gas and nausea. Maybe Prevacid is part of the problem, but I'm afraid to stop taking it for fear of my heartburn returning.
I really don't know what to do at this point. I suppose I should be glad there were no ulcerations or anything like that, but honestly the diagnosis doesn't give me any hope either. It's not like it said "this is what's wrong, and this is what we need to do to get you better". The way I see it, it basically means I'm going to have live with these symptoms for good. As I've said before, I just cannot go through life suffering like this. I can't eat any of the things I like; I haven't had things like peanut butter, chocolate, ice cream, cake, or cheese literally in years! It's agony to have to watch other people eat this stuff, and it's getting to the point now where I won't even put up with it at all anymore. I tell them to get it out of my sight or don't even bring stuff like that into the house. I won't go into bakeries at all anymore because it's such torment to see and smell all the goodies. Even going to the cookie aisle of the grocery store (to buy the most blank cookies / crackers I can find) makes me upset; I'm sure the folks watching the security cameras must think I'm nuts, when they see me clenching my fist or flipping the bird at the inanimate boxes of cookies on the shelves. Sometimes I just feel like going crazy and knocking everything over. Not surprisingly, I usually get someone else to do my grocery shopping these days.....
I have very little quality of life at this point and I refuse to go through life constantly burping, spitting, starving, and being generally miserable, not to mention being a burden to others. I still don't really know what's wrong or what to do, and it appears that the doctors don't even care at this point. Well maybe they'll care if they see my name in the obituaries, but it'll be too late then now won't it.
That's the latest anyway.
In regards to the Prevacid - I was put on prevacid recently, and had terrible bloating and gas as a result. So I asked my doctor and he said to try Zantac, which is available over the counter. I did and it didn't cause the gas/bloating. I also haven't had the heartburn, so I guess its working well. Perhaps this could could be a viable solution for you? I'm not a doctor, so you will want to ask him first.
(Harry wrote):
I am certainly Sorry about your problems and the way you've been treated-- not vert Professionally.
I think when you have an Endoscopy Exam run the Gasstro Doctor owes and has the responsibiity to give you the result and tell you what he saw. It should not be second hand from another doctor. You paid the Doc for the Exam and that includes a personal report. I would not accept anything less. I have had some harsh word with some of these GI Doctors that I have gone to -- they can't be that incompetent not to tell me the results of the test you conducted and more.
With a meeting --You then have the opportunity to Question him about -- the next moves to solve your problem. In the last 10 years I have seen have seen 7 different GI doctors and most tried to put me off on somebody else. All they want to do is conduct the Scope procedures, get paid and let someone else solve your problem. I don't like it and I certainly let them know. I would notify my Insurance Co. about that practice.
You now have to get another appointment as a follow up -- what a SCAM-- who is going to pay.
--snip--
Not sure if you're familiar with the Canadian health care system, but I'll try to explain it for those who aren't. Here, we don't pay up front for most health services, such as doctors visits. The doctors are paid by the health care system, which of course is funded entirely by our tax dollars. It was a great idea in the beginning, but in recent years the system has become grossly overburdened. As a result, we now pay some of the highest taxes in the world, and it still isn't enough to appease the systems growing needs. Many people in this country go undiagnosed or untreated, not because they can't afford to pay, but because they have to wait in line sometimes for months or years. People are actually dying as a result of this. There just isn't enough money, nor enough health professionals, to meet this countrys needs. Take my doctors appointment yesterday for example - there was only one GP working that day, and in addition to his own regular appointments, he had to take care of those from two other doctors who were absent. In the four hours he was in, he had to see more than 30 patients including myself! It's pretty hard for a doctor to discuss anything in great detail, when they're on a schedule like that. The clinic of course was closed for the rest of that day simply because no other doctors were available.
For some years now, politicians have been toying with the idea of a two-tier ("American-style") health care system, a subject which has drawn great controversy. It was a major issue in our recent federal election, the outcome of which I was sorely disappointed with. But it's just the way things are going, and there's little anyone can do about it. I can see I'm getting off topic here so I will move on now......
Now let's discuss your symptoms:
I think you probably have Gastritis and I went to an alternative doc(MD) that gave me Mastica and in 2 weeks it cured my inflamed stomach.
I think you need to take a Calcium/Magnesium supplement 3 times daily to increase absorption. Every cell in your body has and needs these minerals to function properly--- reduce spasms and cramping and just work right.
It cured your inflammation in two weeks? Sounds almost too good to be true. What benefits did this give you?
What do you mean by increasing absorption?
Also, make sure you get 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily --- you may have to take a water soluble fiber supplement so that your gastrointestinal system functions properly. I take Equate from WAl Mart-- like Metamucil.
I've had a lot of trouble with constipation in recent years, do you think that's part of the problem? I don't eat a lot of fiber, but I really never have, and years ago I didn't have nearly as much of a problem. I think there are other factors involved.
You also mentioned something about the antibiotics causing gastritis, I can believe it considering how strong those were (the last one was 2 weeks of Flagyl+Biaxin+Losec). Does this mean my stomach may be permanently damaged?
As for the subject of probiotics, I tried taking one such supplement and it actually seemed to make my gas problem worse, so I stopped taking it. As for yogurt, I don't dare eat anything like that because I believe my stomach is much too sensitive (yogurt contains citric acid).
I will check into that link you gave me. Thanks for the advice.
Hi mr music,
Gee what a health care system!!! I had no idea.
To correct your intestinal problems you have to intake enough fiber to have regular gentle BMs w/o straining. A person needs 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily for your intestines to function properly....
There is NO fiber in all meat, seafood or dairy products. So you have to get it from fruits, veggies and grains.
There are basically 2 types of fiber --- the kind that absorbs fluid and the kind that does not absorb fluid. They need to be balanced for good reular BMs.
Oats, rice, potatoes and psyllium are examples of soluble fiber and nuts, green beans, wheat bran and some fruit like bananas, apples and most fruit peeling do not absorb water.
Insoluble fiber just passes through unchanged but soluble fiber bulks up your stool. When you are young, your system is very forgiving about what you eat. But-- As you age it is less forgiving --- constipation can cause alot of problems. As I said you probably do not get enough fiber in your diet> So I think you need to start taking a water soluble fiber supplement daily-- It's safe and it will make you regular. I have used it for 24 years and it works.
You need some minerals so that your intestines function right as well as all muscles in your body --- calcium and magnesium are just 2 you probably need. If you take a Cal/Mag supplement once daily you only absorb 2 to 8 percent but by taking it at least 3 times daily it will increase the absorption to 35 to 40 %..... It's cheap and about 70 of the people are lacking magnesium because of poor diet.
Antibiotics not only do in the bad bacteria but also KILL the good type as well. Just ask your Druggist. The two antibiotics you mentioned are very strong and will clean out your intestines of the friendly bacteria so your system is really mess up and can't hardly digest anything.
It is known asa candida infection or yeast infection when it gets so out of balance. You need to re-balance the friendly bacteria. The best way is to starve the yeast out and replace them with the proper friedly kind. Yeast thrive on sugary foods. Just search for an anti candida diet. It limits your sugar and simple carbs intake-- basically.
Nystatin is the drug of choice to kill the candida overgrowth but there are some good OTC remedies that will work. Just go to a health food store and ask.
Yogurt is cultured from milk using 2 cultures and does not contain citric acid. Most makers add additional active live cultures. There are very few people that I have met that cannot eat yogurt--- they may not like it but they can eat it and it is a healthy food.
I suggest you take a probiotic supplement that I suggested --- if they effect you then it is a sure sign you have a candida/yeast overgrowth.
Inflammation of the stomach is gastritis -- that is what is making your system so sensitive to regular food but it is treatable. Most doctors treat it with a Proton Pump Inhibitor(Prilosec, Prevasid, Nexium) but they did not work for me-- So I used Mastic Gum that has been used by the Greeks(it is grown in Greece) for hundreds of years to cure stomach problems -- You can buy it online -- I took 2 --500mgm pills twice daily and my cure was verified by an endoscopic exam only 2 weeks after I started take the Mastica. The benfit was I could eat anything I wanted to without burning, belching or pain!!!
I believe all your problems are treatable and cureable. Drinking alcohol with you problems will make your stomach worse.
I now think your health care system is making you sicker but you can be pro-active and get support on boards like this!!! Please search about all that I have said on Google---
So if I understand correctly, this is what I need to do now:
-Take mastic gum (2 x 500mg daily) for two weeks
-Take probiotic supplement or add yogurt to my diet
-Increase fiber intake
So, you mean your stomach functions normally, and you no longer need the aid of mastic gum or PPI's?
Increasing fiber intake is pretty hard for me. Fiber intake is something I've always been kind of slack on, mostly because I don't like many fibrous foods (I don't eat any fruits or veggies). Can constipation be responsible for stomach upset such as gas?
I didn't think I had a problem with candida overgrowth. Since my last antibiotic treatment, my sense of taste has pretty much returned to normal. I thought that once the taste perversion was gone, that meant everything was back to normal??
Thanks once again, I will look into the mastic gum. The capsules aren't hard to swallow, are they?
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