Things Could Be Looking Up.

[brandyburl]

Mornings have been the roughest time of day for me. My head, neck and back are usually killing me and I wonder if I can make it to work at all. Well this morning I woke up and my pain is a lot less. Not sure why. I've been gluten free since Wednesday. I've been avoiding processed foods as well. This could be a fluke and I could be speaking too soon, but things may be looking up. 

I have been googling my symptoms like crazy all week and have discovered that they could be caused by so many different things my head is spinning. I'm wondering if it all boils down to stress. I didn't know stress could cause hypoglycemia! 

We've been snowed/iced in since yesterday so this is my second day of no work. I was thinking that maybe the reduction in stress of not having to work is why my pain is less, but I don't know. I was pretty stressed yesterday with being home with 4 kids with cabin fever and my husband stuck at his work and not thinking he would make it home. I had a lot of pain yesterday too.

Also starting yesterday my ulcer pain started. That one is totally my fault though. I went to refill my script for protonix on Sunday and they said the refill had expired the day before so they'd have to call the dr on Monday. Well my dr had been out sick a few days. Don't know why that's why the pharmacy never called to say it was ready or what. With my forgetfulness I've been dealing with lately I kept forgetting to go pick it up or call about it. I finally remembered on Wednesday and it was ready. Of course by the time I got off work I forgot to pick it up again. Yesterday I couldn't get out with the weather and apparently missing that many doses is bad. That's when the pain started. That got me wondering and reading online about ulcers. When I presented with the stomach pains a few years ago my doctor just said it sounded like an ulcer and prescribed prilosec. I've since been switched to protonix. But everything I've read says that ulcers are usually caused by H Pylori bacteria and are normally treated with antibiotics and acid reducers. Then they usually go away. Is my doctor failing me by not doing that treatment and just treating my symptoms? I'll be asking him about it at my appt today. If ulcers can be healed I'd sure like to do that. I don't want to have to take the med forever. I'm on enough other medications for my thyroid and bipolar disorder. 

Sorry if I am rambling. I just have a lot on my mind.

[nvsmom]

Ulcers can definitely be healed. My husband had some sort of antibiotics for his (20 years ago) and it's never come back.  I agree that you should talk to your doctor about fixing it rather than just relieving a symptom.... Plus gluten intolerance pain can be mistaken for an ulcer...

 

My back pain is linked to stress. It is always much worse over the holidays or when I have too much on my plate.  I read a book, I think it was simply called Healing back Pain that addressed the whole mind pain connection. I personally found it helpful even though i do have identifiable bulging discs (one which burst and caused some paralysis... paralysis helps with pain too -  LOL  ).  Stress reduction doesn't help all pain go away, but it did help a fair bit for me.

 

I hope you continue to feel better over the weekend.

[brandyburl]

Thank you. I hope I continue improving too. My mood has improved a lot since I'm not in as much pain and my energy level has increased too. Hopefully this all continues.

[GFinDC]

You are right, H. pylori causes most ulcers, not stress or spicy food or working too many hours, or a type of personality or all those other things doctors used to tell us.

 

You can take some natural treatments for H. Pylori that are much cheaper than things your doctor will prescribe, and better for you.  DGL, mastic gum and Betaine HCL are all helpful.  Betaine HCL increases stomach acid, so you might want to wait on that for a while until the DGL and mastic gum are working.  If it is H. Pylori those should help. If it is gastric irritation from eating gluten then it will take staying off gluten a while for that to clear up.

[brandyburl]

Thank you for the natural suggestions! I had read online that some people's ulcers had been healed with cayenne pepper and apple cider vinegar. Has anyone else heard that?