Months of discomfort

[RSco]

All this actually started several months ago. My symptoms are rather scattered as well. I was drinking a lot for a while and I switched to bud light lime. After drinking that for about a month I woke up in the middle of the night and had some weird sort of attack. I was sick to my stomach, had horrible heartburn, shoot I can't even remember all the symptoms. It was just bad.

I started having very runny stools and that continued for about a month strait along with increasing belching and severe bouts of heartburn before I finally went to see a doctor. Initially all the symptoms pointed to gallbladder issues... well in my mind. I hadn't been able to eat greasy foods or tomato based foods for years without having heartburn. The reaction to those things had been slowly increasing over the years and getting worse.

The attack I had at night was very similar to something I read about concerning the gallbladder on the internet... Anyway, the doctor felt it was just acid reflux. He told me to take prilosec and recommended a doctor who charged on a scale if the prilosec didn't clear things up. Having no insurance means I don't go to the doctor unless I'm pretty much feeling on deaths doorstep...

So... after two weeks of taking prilosec I stopped taking it and within two days it was all back with a vengeance. Belching, heartburn, runny burning stools shoot... I can't even look at food of any sort without getting heartburn if I don't take prilosec and that's not an exaggeration in the slightest. I've been taking prilosec for about six months now hoping either the problem would magically go away (hahaha yeah right) or I would get better enough financially to go see a doctor.

I'm actually a little scared now because this seems like it might be more than just acid reflux or gallbladder. I really don't know what to do here, but I know I can't just keep taking prilosec and hope it goes away. Six months time has finally shown me that's just not going to happen this time. I'm tired of being uncomfortable but I just really don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

[selmaS]

Hi....I am glad I was able to give u some info u could use to help.It is unfortunate that drs assume we know what to do when they tell us we have acid reflux.

There r so many that were not informed to change their lifestyle and food and bef intake.....and no one likes to talk about how our boewl issues r directly related to our acid tummies.....

I have delt with this since I was in grade school....I went thru times where I didn't need meds, but it always comes back.

So, if we continue to watch what we eat....and change our lifestyles in order to feel better....many get a false sense of I am better and go back to eating and drinking like normal and bam...it starts all over.....

Use moderation on the trigger foods so u can enjoy them...but do not overdo, or the process can start all over.

I do hope u keep us posted on ur progress.

"selma"

[RSco]

Hi. Thank you for your response Selma. I do appreciate it. The answer to all your questions is no. I haven't followed a special diet, I haven't avoided foods that create more acid in my system, and I haven't done a lifestyle change at all really. As a matter a fact I had no clue I needed to.

The doctor I saw gave me no real explanation as to what acid reflux was, how it changes my life, and what I needed to do. If anything I've been enjoying being able to eat some things I haven't been able to touch in years, like pepperoni, because as long as I remember to take my prilosec that stuff doesn't seem to effect me anymore.

However, if I do forget to take my prilosec I am extremely careful what I eat that day... if I eat at all... because really no matter what I eat on a day I've forgotten to take it I'm almost guaranteed to get heartburn. Dairy products have been off my list for years. I can't touch yogurt at all. I have an occasional bowl of cereal but that's about as much milk as I can tolerate no matter what time of day. Even with prilosec.

I found out another interesting fact this morning before I logged in to respond to your message. For years I have had nausea before and during bowel movements. I hate it. Well I never talk about it to anyone because it's kind of embarrassing and I never thought to look it up on the internet for some reason until this morning. Most everything I read said that was another sign of acid reflux.

I did notice an increase in this actually once I started trying and eating some of the foods I haven't eaten for years. It might have been all good that day while I was eating it and even afterwards, but wow, sometimes the next morning I was holding a bucket in my hands while sitting on the toilet. Just never made the connection until now.

They say ignorance is bliss... and I guess it can be in some circumstances but what I want to know is does ignorance in a case like this cause more problems in the long run? I am a beer drinker. I love my beer. I don't drink every day, but I do enjoy doing it when I can, like on the weekends. I did figure out liquor and wine are both a big no no for my tummy. There's a high price to pay for even just a shot or two the next day!

Honestly though most everything that's been happening now makes sense and I appreciate that. As well as having a better understanding of what I can do to make my life more comfortable. Thank you so much for your help. I really do appreciate it!

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the GERD forum.

May I ask, do u follow a special diet?...do u still avoid the foods that cause discomfort?
Did u make lifestyle changes?

Most do not realize that taking meds alone will not help u feel completely better, and that u must, even tho u r feeling better to continue to avoid the foods that create more acid in ur system.

Alcohol is on the list to avoid.....as well as dairy products later in the day......

If u have done all this and continue to do all this and still have issues...go to ur dr.

As  suggested it could be ur Gall Bladder or a hiatal hernia....

keep us posted on ur progress
"selma"