One of my most recent worries, aside from the usual Covid-19 concerns, financial thoughts, and life goals, has been my health.
Since Thanksgiving, I have had stomach problems. I have lost 18 pounds without trying. I've no appetite, and have terrible reflux with most foods. About the only thing I can eat without much problem are eggs, ham sandwiches (no cheese), chicken, rice, peas, and Baked Lays potato chips.
Everything else causes me much aggravation. Not only that, this issue involves a weird mouth reaction - burning tongue, a sensation in my entire mouth at times that feels like I am chewing on molten glass, and a citric acid taste.
According to the GI doctor I saw last week, this is the result of reflux. He changed the timing of my medicine (a PPI), and sent me on my way with instructions to give it three weeks.
It has been one week and I've not seen improvement.
The weight loss is not a complaint, although my nutritional needs are a concern. My primary care doctor several weeks ago wondered if I would soon notice malnutrition issues due to not eating much, or only eating the same things.
To combat that, I drink a Boost every now and then, and I take vitamins.
Other things I have to deal with: bad TMJ (my jaw literally locks in place and can stay that way for most of the day, and it hurts like hell), high blood pressure, obesity, a bad heel, asthma, constant sinus issues, poor eyesight, chronic pain in my lower abdomen for multiple surgeries, a bad back, and general aches and pain due to aging. Add to this the fact that I cannot take pain medication because of my history of multiple ulcers, and well, you have a recipe for me. Or some of me, anyway.
I try not to write too much about my health on here, but this is the prompt for February 11, and I switched the one for today with tomorrow's, so I could use today's for Thursday 13.
February Journal Prompts. Join up at Kwizgiver's.
You described exactly what happened to me, and I was taking two Omeprazole daily, taking them properly like they told me... 15 to 30 minutes before I ate breakfast. They did a procedure where the GI doctor looked at the inside of my esophagus and stomach... no ulcer. But my doctor put me on Sucralfate, 1 gm for two months. It fixed my problem. You might want to check and see if it's something that would help you. It's sort of difficult to time it with meals because I think it's 2 hours after a meal that you take one, so I was setting timers on Alexa all the time. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI feel for you. Both my husband and my daughter struggle with reflux. I know how awful it can be for them. As for the mouth stuff, that sounds a lot like what I was going through a few years ago and no one could figure it out. Then my mom had a problem with her lip and chin going numb and it took a while but the doctors figured out it was caused by something in whitening toothpaste. A lightbulb went off for me and I stopped using toothpaste with any whitener in it and sure enough, all that burning pain went away. I don't know, but it might be worth trying to see if it helps you at all.
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry you are having such a hard time concerning your health.I hope they find you some answers. As if the pandemic isn’t enough enough to deal with, not feeling well or being able to eat and enjoy what you eat on top of everything just... well sucks!
ReplyDeletewow praying you feel better soon. I also have asthma, pulmonary hypertension (High blood pressure in the lungs) I get TMJ and it is so painful, it stinks getting older with all our aliments prayers you get some relief soon
ReplyDeleteI hope the doctors can figure out what's what and treat it. Thinking positively for you, Anita.
ReplyDeleteI had a real bad bout with acid reflux 2 years ago. I also had to make a lot of changes. I too had that tongue thing going on and pain from the acid. I had to sleep upright and luckily they have a pillow that helps with that. I had to give up so many foods like you. Favorites like coffee, chocolate, citrus, fried food, red meat and mint. I was drinking 2 cups of it close to bed time. I also stopped eating 3 hours before bedtime. I lost a lot of weight. It took a year, but it helped and I could slowly add a few things back except citrus. I drink 1 cup of decaf. a day. As my dad once said, "growing old sucks!" Well as far as it comes to health issues. I hope you improve soon.
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