Heartburn Support - Is this still heartburn?

Author

Is this still heartburn?

jmc

2004-12-23, 7:08 pm

I've been taking 15mg lanparazole for bad reflux for a good while now.
Just lately, I'm having worse and worse problems. Usually, my
heartburn is just below my sternum, radiating to my back when really
bad.

Last couple of weeks, I had some sort of stomach virus - Dr isn't sure
which one, but I was sick for nearly 3 weeks, half of which included a
continuous stomachache. I've had two probably-reflux breakthrough
attacks since recovering, neither responding to anything I could take.
I went to the doc as I thought it could be my gallbladder (I have
stones) but she said "probably just reflux" and just doubled my med to
30mg.

Tonight, it's something completely different. After the most recent
attack (Tues), I stayed sorer than usual at and below my sternum -
like I'd been kicked. Now my entire stomach is sore - and *really*
hurts if I press on certain bits, or stretch, and the pain is still
radiating to my back. When standing straight, it almost feels like
there's a knot or ball in my stomach.

Anybody have a clue what this could be and what I could do to try to
make it go away? With the holiday season, it'll be next week before I
can see the doc again, unless I get desperate enough to go to the
emergency room.

jmc
usenet [at] jodi [dit] ws
Any day you learn something isn't a total waste.

Howard McCollister

2004-12-23, 7:08 pm

"jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
news:0qbms0tfitk9m0tforoeaq894lh5v466e2@4ax.com...
> I've been taking 15mg lanparazole for bad reflux for a good while now.
> Just lately, I'm having worse and worse problems. Usually, my
> heartburn is just below my sternum, radiating to my back when really
> bad.
>
> Last couple of weeks, I had some sort of stomach virus - Dr isn't sure
> which one, but I was sick for nearly 3 weeks, half of which included a
> continuous stomachache. I've had two probably-reflux breakthrough
> attacks since recovering, neither responding to anything I could take.
> I went to the doc as I thought it could be my gallbladder (I have
> stones) but she said "probably just reflux" and just doubled my med to
> 30mg.
>
> Tonight, it's something completely different. After the most recent
> attack (Tues), I stayed sorer than usual at and below my sternum -
> like I'd been kicked. Now my entire stomach is sore - and *really*
> hurts if I press on certain bits, or stretch, and the pain is still
> radiating to my back. When standing straight, it almost feels like
> there's a knot or ball in my stomach.
>
> Anybody have a clue what this could be and what I could do to try to
> make it go away? With the holiday season, it'll be next week before I
> can see the doc again, unless I get desperate enough to go to the
> emergency room.
>

Sounds to me like you need to have your gallbladder removed.

HMc

jmc

2004-12-23, 7:08 pm

On 23 Dec 2004 16:17:05 -0600, all of a sudden, "Howard McCollister"
<nospam@nospam.net> exclaimed:

>
>"jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
>news:0qbms0tfitk9m0tforoeaq894lh5v466e2@4ax.com...
>
>Sounds to me like you need to have your gallbladder removed.
>
>HMc
>
>
Possibly, but why specifically are you suggesting this? Many people
have gallstones with no symptoms, and my Dr. doesn't seem to think
this is gallbladder related. Are you responding simply to the
prescence of stones (which to me isn't a good enough reason), or is
there something in the symptoms I've described (what?) that makes you
think this is a gallbladder problem.

Incidentally, I dug up some OTC Zantac from the depths of the medicine
cabinet, that and a couple of Ibuprofen have cured this particular
attack - tho my stomach, 'specially along the midline, is still tender
to pressure.

jmc
usenet [at] jodi [dit] ws
Any day you learn something isn't a total waste.

Howard McCollister

2004-12-23, 7:08 pm

"jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
news:kiims0ptr96r70s03lq7vebnqf8aqtouee@4ax.com...
> On 23 Dec 2004 16:17:05 -0600, all of a sudden, "Howard McCollister"
> <nospam@nospam.net> exclaimed:
>
> Possibly, but why specifically are you suggesting this? Many people
> have gallstones with no symptoms, and my Dr. doesn't seem to think
> this is gallbladder related. Are you responding simply to the
> prescence of stones (which to me isn't a good enough reason), or is
> there something in the symptoms I've described (what?) that makes you
> think this is a gallbladder problem.
>
> Incidentally, I dug up some OTC Zantac from the depths of the medicine
> cabinet, that and a couple of Ibuprofen have cured this particular
> attack - tho my stomach, 'specially along the midline, is still tender
> to pressure.
>
>

You have gallstones, and you are describing midepigastric abdominal pain
(below sternum) with radiation to the back, and significant tenderness to
palpation and pain on stretching (localized peritonitis). And the pain
occurred while you are on therapeutic dose of a very effective proton pump
inhibitor. If I were to present that exact history to a class of 2nd year
medical students, every single one of them in the top half of the class
would call that symptomatic cholelithiasis, with concerns of acute
gangrenous cholecystitis and possibly pancreatitis.

I agree that asymptomatic gallstones can be watched. Your's don't appear to
be asymptomatic. Personally, I think you should go to the hospital.

HMc

jmc

2004-12-24, 7:08 pm

On 23 Dec 2004 17:31:04 -0600, all of a sudden, "Howard McCollister"
<nospam@nospam.net> exclaimed:

>
>"jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
>news:kiims0ptr96r70s03lq7vebnqf8aqtouee@4ax.com...
>
>
>
>You have gallstones, and you are describing midepigastric abdominal pain
>(below sternum) with radiation to the back, and significant tenderness to
>palpation and pain on stretching (localized peritonitis). And the pain
>occurred while you are on therapeutic dose of a very effective proton pump
>inhibitor. If I were to present that exact history to a class of 2nd year
>medical students, every single one of them in the top half of the class
>would call that symptomatic cholelithiasis, with concerns of acute
>gangrenous cholecystitis and possibly pancreatitis.
>
>I agree that asymptomatic gallstones can be watched. Your's don't appear to
>be asymptomatic. Personally, I think you should go to the hospital.
>
>HMc
>
>
Hal:

Thanks. Everything seems fine at the moment (mild tenderness but no
reflux or stomach pain at all, thank [diety of choice]), but I do wish
I could convince a dr. here that maybe my problems warrant further
investigation. The socialized medicine here sucks, and has mainly a
wait-and-see (until you end up in the hospital) attitude, near as I
can tell. Only procedure that's been done since I first visited my
doctor for this was a barium meal ("no significant findings") which
took 2 months from the time it was requested 'till I received my
appointment date. Fairly normal here. A flyer was recently posted
that boasted that 90-odd percent of patients received hospital
appointments within 6 months (!!) of the initial request. Boasted,
like that was a good thing!

Also, one source said that symptomatic cholelithiasis happens within
minutes of a meal, and these happen hours afterwards. I'm not
doubting you, just asking questions to clarify what you're saying. I
drive my doctor(s) crazy too

'specially the ones here, they don't
seem to like patients who actually research their symptoms or
illnesses.

Fortunately, I'm neither male nor a drinker, so the chances of
pancreatitis seem fairly low.

Likely, with your alarming suggestion, if this happens again I will
hie myself to the hospital (if I was still in pain I'd already be
there). I'm already planning to try to find a private clinic/doctor
next week. I'd go back home to the US to get this diagnosed properly,
if I could afford the airfare.

jmc
usenet [at] jodi [dit] ws
Any day you learn something isn't a total waste.

Howard McCollister

2004-12-24, 7:08 pm

"jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
news:kvros0hgbl97um9mfe2t351mf6rcfd2ti9@4ax.com...
> On 23 Dec 2004 17:31:04 -0600, all of a sudden, "Howard McCollister"
>
> Thanks. Everything seems fine at the moment (mild tenderness but no
> reflux or stomach pain at all, thank [diety of choice]), but I do wish
> I could convince a dr. here that maybe my problems warrant further
> investigation. The socialized medicine here sucks, and has mainly a
> wait-and-see (until you end up in the hospital) attitude, near as I
> can tell. Only procedure that's been done since I first visited my
> doctor for this was a barium meal ("no significant findings") which
> took 2 months from the time it was requested 'till I received my
> appointment date. Fairly normal here. A flyer was recently posted
> that boasted that 90-odd percent of patients received hospital
> appointments within 6 months (!!) of the initial request. Boasted,
> like that was a good thing!
>
> Also, one source said that symptomatic cholelithiasis happens within
> minutes of a meal, and these happen hours afterwards. I'm not
> doubting you, just asking questions to clarify what you're saying. I
> drive my doctor(s) crazy too

'specially the ones here, they don't
> seem to like patients who actually research their symptoms or
> illnesses.
>
> Fortunately, I'm neither male nor a drinker, so the chances of
> pancreatitis seem fairly low.
>
> Likely, with your alarming suggestion, if this happens again I will
> hie myself to the hospital (if I was still in pain I'd already be
> there). I'm already planning to try to find a private clinic/doctor
> next week. I'd go back home to the US to get this diagnosed properly,
> if I could afford the airfare.
>

Pain from gallbladder attacks can happen minutes to hours after a meal. Very
common for patients to present to the ER at 2 AM after pizza or bratwurst
the previous evening meal (or both - worse would be a bratwurst pizza...).

Gallstones are a far more common cause of pancreatitis than alcohol.

If a patient presented to the ER here with your symtoms, ER steps would be
CBC (elevated white cell count for bacterial infection) and chemistries,
including liver enzymes, amylase/lipase ( for pancreatitis) alkaline
phosphatase (biliary tract obstruction). Probably an ultrasound of the
gallbladder looking for stones and signs of inflammation, although that
might be foregone in someone who was already known to have gallstones. If
those tests weren't revealing, an EGD would likely be scheduled the next
day.

The diagnostic sequence would be far more rapid here than in your particular
health care system, but ours is also more expensive. So far, the people of
the USA have been willing to pay for that convenience, but there are
increasing indications that they wouldn't mind the runaround that you've
been getting and they would rather move toward a less expensive alternative,
such as the UK or Canada. Time will tell.

Good luck.

HMc

jmc

2004-12-24, 7:08 pm

On 24 Dec 2004 14:55:04 -0600, all of a sudden, "Howard McCollister"
<nospam@nospam.net> exclaimed:

>
>Pain from gallbladder attacks can happen minutes to hours after a meal. Very
>common for patients to present to the ER at 2 AM after pizza or bratwurst
>the previous evening meal (or both - worse would be a bratwurst pizza...).
>
>Gallstones are a far more common cause of pancreatitis than alcohol.
>
>If a patient presented to the ER here with your symtoms, ER steps would be
>CBC (elevated white cell count for bacterial infection) and chemistries,
>including liver enzymes, amylase/lipase ( for pancreatitis) alkaline
>phosphatase (biliary tract obstruction). Probably an ultrasound of the
>gallbladder looking for stones and signs of inflammation, although that
>might be foregone in someone who was already known to have gallstones. If
>those tests weren't revealing, an EGD would likely be scheduled the next
>day.
>
>The diagnostic sequence would be far more rapid here than in your particular
>health care system, but ours is also more expensive. So far, the people of
>the USA have been willing to pay for that convenience, but there are
>increasing indications that they wouldn't mind the runaround that you've
>been getting and they would rather move toward a less expensive alternative,
>such as the UK or Canada. Time will tell.
>
>Good luck.
>
>HMc
>
Actually, I AM American, so I'm aware of our healthcare systems costs
and problems. Fortunately I have decent, non-HMO insurance. Which
does me little good here. Trust me, Americans in the know do not like
the UK system. None of us here do, except for minor stuff. When you
make a doctor's appointment, you get 10 minutes. Only. How can a
doctor make any kind of reasonable diagnosis in only 10 minutes? At
home, it takes that long for discussion of my symptoms...

I know one person who, when he goes back to the US on business, brings
the whole family back with him, so the kids can have checkups with US
doctors. Apologies to any UK readers, but NHS has some serious
problems, if you're used to a different system.

Only thing I like about it is when you FINALLY get your appointment
for an ultrasound (3 months) or barium meal (2 months) or whatever,
the hospital is well-organized, your appointment is on time, handled
quickly and efficiently, and after you're done you just walk out, no
paperwork.

ok, rant over. All I (and my doctor!) know about the ultrasound is it
showed "multiple cholesterol stones" - no indication of size or number
(5? a dozen? tiny, or golfballs?). Also said it was, I think,
"slightly contracted" - might have that wrong - and that there were no
stones in the common bile duct. Except for occassional slips, I keep
to a highish-fiber, low-fat diet.

They did take a stool sample last weekend to look for bacteria or
virii to explain my 2.5 weeklong stomachache and diarrhea, but nothing
was found, so I was told I'd had a stomach virus. She blamed my rapid
attacks on that, said it would "take some time for my system to calm
down" or somesuch. Could be right, I guess. If I get through tonight
without a problem, it'll be the first time in 4 weeks that I've gone
over 24 hours without some sort of digestive upset at one end of my
system or t'other.

I want a new digestive system for Christmas!

Thank you for the information and your advice. I'll definitely go
private if my symptoms come back, and I have some other options (much
more difficult logistically and financially) if that doesn't work
either.

Anyway, Happy Holidays to all, and here's hoping that our stomachs
and LESes behave themselves tomorrow (and tomorrow night)!
>

jmc
usenet [at] jodi [dit] ws
Any day you learn something isn't a total waste.

jmc

2004-12-27, 4:07 am

Howard McCollister

2004-12-27, 4:07 am

jmc

2004-12-28, 7:10 pm

News Reader

2004-12-29, 11:11 am

"jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
news:kiims0ptr96r70s03lq7vebnqf8aqtouee@4ax.com...

> cabinet, that and a couple of Ibuprofen have cured this particular

can't ibuprofen irritate the stomach even more?

jmc

2004-12-30, 7:08 pm

On Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:08:01 -0500, all of a sudden, "News Reader"
<SLCUUVKKQKKI@spammotel.com> exclaimed:

>"jmc" <NOnewsgroupsSPAM@NOjodiBODY.HOMEus> wrote in message
>news:kiims0ptr96r70s03lq7vebnqf8aqtouee@4ax.com...
>
>
>can't ibuprofen irritate the stomach even more?
>

I don't know. It's never particularly bothered me. Tylenol didn't
touch the pain though, so I had to try something else. I *know*
asprin can irritate the stomach, so I avoided it.

jmc
usenet [at] jodi [dit] ws
Any day you learn something isn't a total waste.

quietguy

2005-05-06, 9:02 am

Are you taking any statins?

David

jmc wrote:

> I've been taking 15mg lanparazole for bad reflux for a good while now.
> Just lately, I'm having worse and worse problems. Usually, my
> heartburn is just below my sternum, radiating to my back when really
> bad.
>
> Last couple of weeks, I had some sort of stomach virus - Dr isn't sure
> which one, but I was sick for nearly 3 weeks, half of which included a
> continuous stomachache. I've had two probably-reflux breakthrough
> attacks since recovering, neither responding to anything I could take.
> I went to the doc as I thought it could be my gallbladder (I have
> stones) but she said "probably just reflux" and just doubled my med to
> 30mg.
>
> Tonight, it's something completely different. After the most recent
> attack (Tues), I stayed sorer than usual at and below my sternum -
> like I'd been kicked. Now my entire stomach is sore - and *really*
> hurts if I press on certain bits, or stretch, and the pain is still
> radiating to my back. When standing straight, it almost feels like
> there's a knot or ball in my stomach.
>
> Anybody have a clue what this could be and what I could do to try to
> make it go away? With the holiday season, it'll be next week before I
> can see the doc again, unless I get desperate enough to go to the
> emergency room.
>
> jmc
> usenet [at] jodi [dit] ws
> Any day you learn something isn't a total waste.

jmc

2005-05-06, 9:02 am

Suddenly, without warning, quietguy exclaimed (5/6/2005 5:04 AM):
> Are you taking any statins?
>
> David
>

I don't think so, but I'm not sure which drugs are statins. I now take
30mg lansaparole (sp?) for the heartburn, and I'm on atenolol, which I
know as a beta-blocker for the HBP.

Fortunately, since she upped my meds, I haven't had another attack.

jmc

me@privacy.net

2005-05-06, 11:53 am

>> Are you taking any statins?[vbcol=seagreen]

Why?

can statins cause this type of stomach pain?

quietguy

2005-05-18, 9:23 am

I am not saying that is the case, but when I was attempting to lower my
cholestrol with them I got all sorts of strange pains - back and stomach
etc, and wondered if others had a similar experience.

David - who is not one of the statin haters, but finds they do not suit
him

me@privacy.net wrote:

>
> Why?
>
> can statins cause this type of stomach pain?

me@privacy.net

2005-05-18, 9:24 am

>I am not saying that is the case, but when I was attempting to lower my
>cholestrol with them I got all sorts of strange pains - back and stomach
>etc, and wondered if others had a similar experience.
>
>David - who is not one of the statin haters, but finds they do not suit
>him

I'm 47 yr old male.... taking stains for abt 5 years
now (lipitor)

I seem to have the SAME kind of strange pains .....
back, stomach, etc

That's why I asked abt it

quietguy

2005-05-18, 9:24 am

Ok, it was just that I didn;t want to make a definitive statement, but just
relate my experience.

Ezetral have recently been put on the $4.60 pharmacy scheme, so can now
begin trying them - so far so good. They were recommended to me last year
but I couldn;t afford the $70 a month cost when they were not on the scheme.

David

me@privacy.net wrote:

>
> I'm 47 yr old male.... taking stains for abt 5 years
> now (lipitor)
>
> I seem to have the SAME kind of strange pains .....
> back, stomach, etc
>
> That's why I asked abt it

B C

2005-05-18, 9:24 am

sit up in bed and sip water, this is the oldest remedy. so the
hydrocloric acid in your stomach can wash back down to the stomach. the
spinctor muscle at the bottom of your esophagus where the stomach is
attached to it is leaking, the somach could simply be too full of acid
from fruit, wine, wisky, beer, etc...remember sugar and fruit is your
enemy. the meds might even be bad for you, like tums or rolaids or
malanta, you can not take them forever. the more you neutralize the
acid, the more acid your stomach will produce. you have become
dependant on the drugs. without them you will have an attack. sit up
in bed and see if the pain goes away, then thats heartburn. sleep on
your back, ot your stomach. put 2 cement blocks under the legs of your
bed to elevate your head so the acid can go back down while you sleep.
eat bananas and ice cream.

me@privacy.net

2005-05-18, 9:24 am

quietguy

2005-05-18, 9:24 am