PLEASE HELP!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2004
PLEASE HELP!!!
2
Sat, 10-02-2004 - 12:09pm
Hello...New to this board. I have been suffering from very mild swallowing problems off and on for a few years now. Recently I have been in a state of panic as about 2 1/2 weeks ago I starting having an unusual sore throat which I thought was due to a minor cold. A few days after that the sore throat started subsiding and I started to have severe belching (like every 10 minutes even without eating) and some regurgitation. I do recall having a big meal than had a very strenous workout about an hr after around the time this symptoms started. That night I also had very bad hurtburn, which I typically don't suffer from. I also noticed a small pouch right above my belly button, like a bloat pouch (it's possible that I had this pouch for a while just never noticed it). My doc prescribed prevacid and felt relief about 7 days later. He indicated that my pouch was nothing and seemed like a herniated area. My stomach feels strange.....constant hunger feeling (I don't eat due to my worries about all this), in the last week, my bowels have been unusual....goes from a feeling of going and having very small soft bw (sorry if too graphic), to not having any at all. I lost 4 lbs in the last 2 weeks, I don't eat, can't sleep, and can't concentrate due to my worries. About 3 days back I started having difficulty breathing and having to take very deep breaths, I have also started feeling slight pressure in my upper abdomen as well as a very full feeling shorlty after I start eating. This is causing causing tremendous stress with my family, my husband constantly tells me to snap out of it as I've become very reserved and don't want to interact with anyone........just wan't to be left alone! All my worries started after my researching gerd and the complications if left untreated. I went to see a GI dr. on Friday, this is how I knew I lost 4lbs and my blood pressure was up at the time, again due to my agitation when I went to see him. He first indicated that I needed to relax and based on my symptoms there is nothing to worry about, but I can't help it. I am scheduled for an endoscopy next week. Any advise would be very helpful. Thanks.
Community Leader
Registered: 10-01-2002
Sat, 10-02-2004 - 7:57pm

Hi there and Welcome to the board and iVillage..

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2004
Sun, 10-03-2004 - 8:04pm
Hi.

I've been having similar symptoms for approximately 8 weeks now. I also have a burning in the stomach, and my stomach often makes a rumbling noise like I'm hungry, but I have very little appetite. When it first started, I couldn't eat much. About 5 weeks ago my GI doc put me on Prevacid, and so far its helped. I've had the upper GI test done and a abdominal & pelvic ultrasound, all of which came back normal. My doc says Prevacid often takes a while to really work its magic...he said its normal for it to take 1-3 months. I have started feeling better, although I'm not back to my old self yet. I just wanted to let you know that I understand what you're going through, and wanted to offer some advice.

The advice about doing something to releive the stress is excellent advice. I know sometimes its hard to take a walk when you aren't eating much, but even a short walk helps. Or, if you like tea, some herbal tea and a bath works well too with music to distract you. I also agree about keeping the journal and writing down what you ate at what time, when you felt pains, where the pains were and for how long they lasted. It might also be good to note any changes you see in bathroom habits or sleep habits.

As for food, when I first started feeling sick I barely ate anything...I've lost 16 lbs in the past 8 weeks, and I only weighed 125 to begin with, so I'm often low on energy and can understand not wanting to eat. However, I would definitely suggest trying to eat something just so you don't lose to much more weight. I drink something called Ensure twice a day, and that has helped. They have 250-350 calories per bottle and lots of vitamins and minerals. Some also have some protein. A couple of weeks ago I was eating cans of baby food because I found it easier to digest. Also, I've found things like wheat toast, applesauce, cream of wheat cereal, and plain pasta don't cause too many problems for me.

I hope some of this helps, if you have any questions or if I can offer any more advice, let me know. Hope you feel better.