Breathing, nausea, pain and worried

Bilbobeth · 04-13-2006, 08:39 AM

Several months ago, I started to get the odd bit of heartburn. I also got odd days when I felt a bit breathless. About three months ago I started to choke on my food, feeling it wasn't going completely down but getting stuck for a while. This was a bit scary and made me change to sloppy foods. Then the nausea started along with increasing heartburn (behind breastbone). I have lost 18 lbs in weight in the last 6 weeks. I can't eat any more. Firstly I feel I can't swallow properly and secondly there is hardly a point in the day when I don't feel nauseus. I wake up with nausea and gingerly get out of bed as I feel shaky and weak also. The first thing I would like to do is vomit but I can't. I also have a very hot feeling in my tummy and feel as though it is bubbling!
The pain, nausea and this increasing breathlessness is really getting me down and I feel so weak. I am taking cartons of medically prescribed ensure plus so I get a few calories each day. I am on valium and have just been put on lansoprazole. I get very bad shaking episodes where my whole body wobbles like a jelly(is this connected?) I had a barium meal about three weeks ago and its come back ok though they still treating me for acid reflux whilst I am waiting for an endoscopy.

I am at a loss as to know what to drink. I know coffee and tea etc are out. At the moment I am so very nauseus it's hard to get anything past my lips. I do not vomit but gag a lot. All I want to do is curl up into a ball and sleep until its diagnosed and I am given appropriate treatment. Can anyone relate to this increasing breathlessness, nausea and abrupt weight loss?? I am fearing the worst methinks!
Many thanks
Bilbobeth

MaureenA · 04-13-2006, 12:57 PM

I never had the trouble swallowing/ But I have reflux/ esophageeal spasms & hiatal hernia. So I know how you feel. Try gingerale & see ifyou can drink that. Or popsicles to keep hydrated. I know before I had meds I was in bed miserable & sick for a months. Then after having tons of tests done to rule out cardiac problems I got a more specific diagnosis w/ a gastro Dr.
When I was @ my sickest I lost 15 lbs in 4 weeks!! I didnt want to eat because it made me sick.
But you have to eat to make your self stronger. I hope you feel better soon. Do you have to wait long for your endoscopy?

Bilbobeth · 04-13-2006, 02:40 PM

Hi
Many thanks for that. I feel slightly less worried already. Do you mean flat ginger ale as opposed to fizzy?? I ate a little thin porridge this afternoon so thats something. Does anyone take anti emetics to stop them feeling sick. My doctor has just given me some but I am on so much I am not sure I should be taking any more. He has also given me stuff for itching! I forgot to mention intermittent itching. I read some of the other boards today and saw itching was common in menopausal women???? Has anyone had any bad reactions also to prevacid??
My endoscopy has been requested as urgent. In the Uk that probably means 2-3 weeks!
Thanks everyone.

MaureenA · 04-13-2006, 03:12 PM

I drink the gingerale fizzy/ Its the only soda I can drink.
I never had a bad reaction to prevasid. I used that first & it didnt help me. Then I went to Nexium & that helped more.
I had to go for an edoscopy & had a wait just like you, I ended up in the hospital . But I had esophageal spasms that created severe pain in my chest.

Bilbobeth · 04-13-2006, 04:22 PM

Hi Maureen

That sounds just like what I have just experienced in the last hour. Out of the blue, the pains got very severe and have now spread to my collar bones, accross my whole rib cage and both lung areas. I have taken a diazepam to relax me as it frightens me when it gets this bad along with finding it hard to breathe. I have climbed back into bed and hoping I can fall asleep for an hour soon. I find coming onto the internet a good distraction though. many thanks for all your input, I appreciate it.