Hi NY1-
I'm sorry you were feeling worse. That sucks, but hopefully things will turn around for the both of us soon!
I understand wanting to share your meal experiences, it's not pathetic because our GI tracts have temporarily hijacked our lives! Right now I'm unsuccessfully attempting to muscle my way through a 1/4 cup of oatmeal, so I do know what you mean about feeling pathetic :).
Interesting tidbit about the UTZ sourdough pretzels. I recall reading somewhere that sourdough may help ease GI distress, I just don't recall where I read that.
I agree that the wiped out/washed out feeling is disturbing, especially when it lasts for a frick'n month! And I totally relate that everything feels too complicated and overwhelming. It is what I call zombie brain. For me zombie brain is like when I take a daytime cold/allergy medicine and my brain feels like a drank a pot of coffee and I'm completely drugged and disconnected (which is why I HATE and cannot take allergy/cold medicines). The more my GI tract revolts the worse the brain fog.
4 weeks ago this all started with what I thought was a normal stomach bug (diarrhea, fever, nausea, no appetite). Now I'm feeling worse that I did when I had the actual stomach flu. I have to admit that I'm getting more than a bit worried that I still feel so bad. I was so convinced I would have been better 3 weeks ago! I had that great window of feeling somewhat normal on Friday, but haven't felt that way since. The only real major improvements are that I don't feel nausea 24/7 and the anxiety has simmered down.
My husband has reached full on compassion fatigue. The first 3 weeks he was sweet and concerned because he witnessed the stomach flu first hand, but now he has lost all patience, so I completely relate to what you are going through. It's tough, because I don't have an official diagnosis and he thinks I just have a stomachache and doesn't understand why I can't just push through a stupid stomachache. Well, you and I know it is more than just a stomachache. He also doesn't understand when I try to describe the zombie brain fog and how I find everything so difficult...it sounds ludicrous to him. He also expects me to appreciate the progress and not focus on the lingering symptoms. What I can't seem to convey to him is how terrible I really feel despite my efforts to push through and that when he sees my tears I'm not wallowing, but frustrated because I have a ton of work to do and I'm backlogged because I am not functioning on all cylinders.
I understand your frustration with doctors. They are great for routine checkups, but they are less effective with diagnostic issues like ours. I learned a long time ago not to blindly follow a doctor's advise and I always research the prescriptions and discuss with pharmacists before I agree taking them. My doctor that ordered the ultrasound wants me to take Prilosec. After reading the side effects from actual users I'm EXTREMELY reluctant to try it. Over the weekend I researched alternative natural remedies for gastritis such as (1) organic apple cider (2) slippery elm (3) DGL. I read good things on all of them and may give one or all a shot, because my GI tract feels inflamed again and I don't want to take any drugs.
Lov4k9s
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Oh my god!!! I totally empathize with everything you are saying!!!
Yeah, I had a great day on Saturday and since then, it has been back to my usual crappy symptoms. I'm back on the BRAT. Oatmeal sounds like a good idea - in my healthy days, I used to have it every morning.
I totally agree with you about the doctors. Look up a guy named Chris Kresser - he has written a bunch of articles about gastritis and it turns out that H Pylori thrives in stomachs with low acidity - not the other way around. So people who have gastritis don't have enough stomach acid!!!! I think that's why all of the homeopathic remedies involve getting more acid into the stomach. When doctors prescribe these antacids, they create a vicious cycle. It's really screwed up.
I'm also a bit leery of the homeopathic route because it seems like there are a lot of quacks? My sister goes hog wild into the homeopathic world - she has self-diagnosed herself with an allergy to all grains (not just gluten)....hmmmm.....no comment....
BTW: did I mention that my strep culture came back negative? My ENT said I should take the Z-pack anyway...hmmmm....not sure I want to randomly subject my stomach to an antibiotic right now if I don't need to. AND, I tried to call my Internist's office yesterday to see if they had any blood/stool results but they informed me that their computer system was down - REALLY????
LOL!!!!! Can you make this stuff up??? Needless to say, I'm at my wits end and wondering if this is just my new normal....can't accept that.
NY1
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All my blood tests and stool sample came back normal. I am going back for another throat culture because I found out that the first one might have been invalidated by the ENT not asking me if I used Listerine mouth wash and the fact that they didn't send the swab out until the next day!!!! I have no words.....thinking of going to one of those walk in clinics today - maybe they can do it without f*****g it up.
My new internist apparently does not communicate by phone - all done on the computer. She sent me a 2 sentence message about the tests being fine and saying if the throat culture was negative again, I needed to go to a gastroenterologist. WTF??? I guess after the usual blood panel, she just is plum out of ideas???? WOW!!!! REALLY???? BTW: she shares an office with her husband who is a..... gastroenterologist - could she have just consulted with him and done a few more tests? No, this way, I can go see him now and they can bill the insurance company again. If I do go to a gastroenterologist, I can tell you, it won't be him!
I can't even tell tell if I am feeling any better, to be honest....I had to go out yesterday to do a cat sitting job and I was really light headed just walking down the street - so bizarre.
Still waking up with anxiety. I am really getting scared and depressed by this. I feel like my life has come to a standstill - can't work or exercise or socialize, and scared to make plans.
How are you coping these past few days?
-NY1
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My ultra sound came back normal. Good news is that there is nothing going on with the gallbladder or pancreas. so doctor is convinced I have gastritis. Unfortunately, I still feel like total sh*t. How on earth a stomach flu could cause such GI distress and wreak such havoc on me is beyond my comprehension. Sounds melodramatic I know, but the suffering is real.
I too feel like my life has come to a standstill. Unfortunately, no significant improvements to report since my last update.
I am still dealing with:
*no appetite
*limited to eating very small portions
* stomach upset, especially after eating
* Sinus feels inflamed after eating (maybe I have "silent reflux"?)
* headaches
* brain fog, lack of focus, inability to multi-task
* Sleep disruptions. Still waking at 3am.
* I'm down 15lbs.
I wish I had better news.
Lov4k9s
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Checking in to see how you are doing. Hopefully you are back to normal.
My ultrasound came back normal. However, I'm still struggling...no significant improvements since my last update.
Lov4k9s
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I'm really glad the ultra sound is ok! We don't need anything else wrong, right??? LOL!
I couldn't remember, did you say that you were tested for H Pylori? I am starting to wonder if that is what I have. I've started to look for a holistic oriented doctor to investigate this because it is really common and the symptoms are eerily the same as what we have. I have always had trouble with traditional antibiotics and I've heard that the standard treatment for H Pylori is horrible.
It's curious reading you last post - I currently have a sinus infection going on (it's a chronic one that I don't usually treat with any drugs - allergy related).
I'm still really having bad anxiety upon waking, as well as the waking at 3am etc. and stomach aches after eating. Do you have heart palpitations as well? Sometimes, out of the clear blue sky, I feel like my heart is fluttering.
Hang in there!
-NY1
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I have not been tested for H Pylori. I asked for the test, but my doctor wanted me to get the ultrasound first. I went ahead and asked for a referral to a GI specialist for a consult and maybe he will do the test. The first GI doc choice wasn't available until June, I found another GI doc that had availability the end of March and booked it in case I still wasn't feeling well. I'm hoping I'm better by then!!
I do get a strange sensation after eating, but not sure I would describe as heart palpitations. I hate it.
Lov4k9s
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Just went to an Urgent Care place and got another throat culture taken. They did a urine sample (normal) and they told me that they can test for H Pylori with a stool sample! I will drop that off tomorrow morning. I will let you know! I'm glad that H Pylori can be tested so easily - but the doc didn't think I had it for some reason. I have no idea why the internist didn't add the H Pylori to the stool sample I did last week - WHATEVER?! I got more from them than my own doctor.
That's my story today. Yeah, hate it too!
Keep me posted on your status....I'm here.
-NY1
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What symptoms do you still have?
Are you getting sleep and feeling rested?
How are you coping?
I called my doctor earlier today and asked for H Pylori test. She has called in a blood test, but I'm not sure how reliable that really is. I sure hope I don't have it, the treatment sounds like a nightmare. I really have to stop Googling, it is not helping me anymore. This whole ordeal is a nightmare for me. I just want my life back.
Lov4k9s
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My symptoms have abated slightly in that I can eat more foods - I graduated to oatmeal this morning and had some yogurt for lunch. My appetite is still non existent but once I start eating, I can eat about 1/2 of what I normally would when I was healthy - that's an improvement! Mornings are the worst still and then by about 9pm (ha!), I start to feel much better until bed. I also have the really lightheaded feeling when I'm up and about, as well as feeling totally wiped out and shaky. It really feels like a bug has invaded my body and is sucking the life force out of me.
I think both the stool and blood test for H Pylori are very reliable in that they show if the body has made antibodies for the H Pylori. If not, I guess that there isn't and never was an infection. That really would be the best outcome! Yes, I've heard that the medicine is really toxic. I'm looking for a gastroenterologist with a more holistic approach than the usual - guess we are the types that will need such a person going forward?
I think you are doing great and you have really helped me to cope with this - so don't despair! We have to keep looking out for our own bodies and doing our own thinking. I know that leaving this stuff up to the doctors never ends well for me. I can't tolerate antibiotics at all so I'm hoping it goes away before I get to that point. I have one of those bodies that falls apart like a house of cards if any medical intervention happens to me......ahhhh!!!!!
Keep breathing and keep me posted...
Your friend in suffering
-NY1
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Hi NY1-
I am so happy to hear that things are improving for you! I haven't heard back from Wisconsin in a while and take that as a good sign the she is doing well.
I relate to this statement of yours sooo much! -------- "I also have the really lightheaded feeling when I'm up and about, as well as feeling totally wiped out and shaky. It really feels like a bug has invaded my body and is sucking the life force out of me."
This exact feeling is why I want more tests. It no longer feels like I have lingering stomach flu symptoms or that I'm just recovering from the stomach flu. I want to know why my GI tract is still so out of whack and why I have no appetite. Why do I feel so utterly and completely out of sorts and drained?
I'm trying to maintain a good attitude by telling myself that there have been improvements and that my body will heal in time, but admit that it is a challenge and I'm not always successful.
Our posting daily makes for a good journal for us to follow our progress.
Your friend in healing
Lov4k9s
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lol!!! Yes, we are 'friends in healing'! I totally relate to your post. I really hope that Wisconsin is all better too and out in the world again!!!
Meant to tell you that my symptoms have changed a bit. Now feels like chronic heart burn/acid reflux (which I've never really had before). It hurts in my upper chest/lower throat when I breath in deeply, and sometimes I just have a dull ache there. Also, still feeling some gas symptoms. Sometimes, if my stomach is a bit empty, it hurts. Sometimes I get random lower abdominal pangs that come and go. WTF???? Basically, I'm very aware all the time of my GI track - it just doesn't feel comfortable anymore.
Continuing with the panic early in the morning....
Started shopping for a gastroenterologist - but now I feel less hopeful that I'll find one who takes a more holistic approach. I found a practice about 40 min away AND they don't take insurance....hmmmm.....not very realistic.
Hey, have you tried any of the natural remedies yet? I got some fennel and licorice tea - supposed to do something for the stomach. I also got some apple cider vinegar but not sure what to do with it? LOL!!!! At least we can try to hold onto our sense of humor!!!!
keep me posted on your status when you can....
Your Friend
-NY1
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When do you get your test results back? I had blood test just now. Not sure when I will get the results.
I feel so bad that I'm tempted to try the Prilosec my GP doctor wants me to take. I just don't know if worth the side effects I keep reading about.
Your frustrated friend.
Lov4k9s
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NY1~
FYI
I decided against Nexium and Prilosec after checking out user reviews online.
The side effects were scary! I'm sensitive to drugs and wouldn't want to risk it.
Lov4k9s
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Oh great about the test - I'm not sure when mine will be back - a few days? I will definitely let you know first -LOL! Are you having reflux and heart burn type symptoms too?
I'm really worried about having the H Pylori: I read more about it today and I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to do the treatment if I have it. I guess we will both see.
I have not been offered any Nexium/Prilosec - I think my doctor has given up on me and not interested in figuring it out. I got an appointment with a Gastroenterologist for the end of the Month - long wait!!
Yeah, I might not take that stuff either - I've been toughing it out...tried the Licorice tea today and I liked it....I've heard that you can make a hot "lemonade" with the apple cider vinegar and some honey - might try that tomorrow. Seems counter intuitive to combat the upset stomach with more acid but it's worth a try for sure!
...to be continued....
-NY1
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