trouble digesting, any help?

Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Registered: 12-31-1969
trouble digesting, any help?
6
Sun, 12-12-2004 - 5:46am
hi, me again. :) finally recovered from the gallbladder removal surgery but my indigestion problems are still ongoing. ive already lost 10pounds and i was already quite thin. starting to get a little scary. swallowing is not the problem. what i do swallow gets stuck in my esophagus (not throat) more towards the upper chest area. ive been only able to digest oat bran (made very watery), broth with egg whites, jello with some soggy crackers and water for over 4 weeks or so now and a great deal of praying. im vegeterian 15yrs now, no fried foods, no dairy foods, no whites(potatoes,rice, white bread). i have acid reflux and gastritis and dealing with constipation(which is a long time promblem of mine, even more so since the surgery). medicines the doctors told me to take does not work well with my system(pepcid and prilosec otc---they affect me in a terrible way strange hearbeat, faintness, dizziness). so i am trying to help myself through diet and herbs. i am drinking this tea called GINGER AID by traditional medicinals company and it seems to be helping a little. can anyone offer any suggestions possiblys on different medications to try, herbal or over the counter type that are not so intrusive on my system. foods that i can digest. any any help would be heartfully appreciated. thank you so very much
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Sun, 12-12-2004 - 3:48pm

HI Maggie!


Have you talked to your doctor about this??

 
Community Leader
Registered: 10-01-2002
Sun, 12-12-2004 - 4:09pm

Hi and Welcome

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Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Sun, 12-12-2004 - 6:48pm
thank you ladies for your advice. very much appreciated. i have been seeing a doctor and he is quite confused being that the upper GI both tests came out showing nothing serious like obstructions or anything abnormal besides the acid reflux and gastritis. he has a theory that is might be spasmatic esophagus. it seem as though it contracts erratically and decides to relax when it wants to. he said that he has medication but it isn't proven quite effective. it is a medicine that relaxes your esophagus along with your veins and other things but what is scary is that it drops your blood pressure and i cant handle that physically. even if i was in a more "stronger" state i don't believe that i can handle a drug as such. it is kinda scary but i told him no thank and he understood and complied with my wishes. what makes things bad is that i don't have insurance anymore and i have to go to a state assisted hospital where there are very very young drs. and interns. so, it is kinda rough. but they do their best. i told the drs. everything that i had and he told be to force myself to eat and work through the discomfort being that i am losing too much weight and it won't be until jan. for the next upper GI and feb. for the next appointment. needless to say it has been interesting. by the way, does stretching your esophagus painful? how does one go about it? and how were you diagnosed for this procedure? please any info. would be appreciated. and i thank all who responded and responds. thanks so much and God bless. :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2003
Mon, 12-13-2004 - 10:19am

About stretching

thflowers-hahd23222.gif picture by Wren53B

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Tue, 12-14-2004 - 7:23pm

Hey Maggie,


The only thing painful about having your esophagus stretched is the sore throat from the endoscopy.

 
Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Wed, 12-15-2004 - 7:07pm
oh gosh lynn! that sounds rough! im a gigantic wuss when it comes to discomfort. im so sorry that you have to go through that, my problems seem not so important; im a little embarrased now mentioning what i am going through to what you have to go through repeatedly. i do wish things would improve for you and you wouldn't have to go through such things. im trying to find different things to digest, i love apples and found it very difficult to digest so this morning i made applesauce; very easy and very tasty, especially warm. believe me after such bland foods for over a month now, that was a welcomed treat. :) please do take care and thank you so much for the info. God bless