Super Cranky, Terrible Day. Thinking Of Hunger Striking

[user001]

Ever have one of those days where you are sick of everything, sick of it all and just want to go on a hunger strike?

 

I have had a stomach ulcer for over a month from using NSAID drugs like Advil and sleeve for the terrible arthritis I have developed in my back at the tender age of 29. So I have been taking prilosec otc for it. I went to the doc 3 weeks ago and the nurse practitioner said to keep doing what I was doing for 3 more weeks. So yesterday was the last dose and today I wake up in horrible pain. Better than it was, but still not better. I just wanted to talk to the doc to know how to proceed and I got a whole run around. Finally after an entire day of going back and forth with the office, the real doctor calls me. She says to continue the prilosec for another 2 weeks. Continue gluten free diet (duh) and continue eating bland food(not even a freaking sweet bell pepper)Oh and she tells me to cut dairy out totally. So the tablespoon of sour cream I enjoy in my morning eggs, no more. 

 

So I did a little shopping, treated myself to some soy yogurt and udi' s cinnamon raisin bread. But I'm currently still afraid of my toaster, so I'll be makimg it in my oven.  

 

I'm just so irritated with everything today and I'm so fed up with everything taking forever to heal. It has gotten better since going gluten-free 4 months ago, but still not "normal" sick of feeling like the sickly girl that I've always been  

[beth01]

Right there with ya woman.  I am 37, look like I'm 27 thanks to all the weight loss, and feel like I'm 97.

 

Just takes time to heal, so I'm told.  I was thinking today I need a vacation.  You know of any islands out there that are 100% gluten free, soy free, dairy free, egg free, corn free, garlic free.... Where pain isn't heard of, and doctors don't think your insane or a hypochondriac?  If you find one let me know. 

 

This all as I sit here bawling from so much pain.

[user001]

Some days I just can't tell the difference between the physical and emotional pain. You would think dx would make me feel better, but I think it actually brought out more anger, because I don't think I'm crazy anymore because I know I'm not. I know they were the stupid wrong ones all these years, not me! I now know it wasn't my fault all these years, but theirs. 

[beth01]

I have days like that too. It's so hard not to fault the doctors since they are the one's that have given us crap for years - IBS, depression, anxiety, chronic constipation, slow moving bowels, Grave's, Arthritis, Bell's Palsy( this is one of my favorites), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, chronic vaginal itching, urinary pain, joint pain, mediastinal masses, migraines, anemia, vitamin deficiencies, broken bones, miscarriages, problem pregnancies, diverticulosis, bowel obstructions, vomiting, Chronic nausea ( another favorite of mine) it actually says that in my chart, and I know there is a lot more, my brain is fried.  All the CT scans, MRI's, blood tests, EEG's, endoscopies, colonoscopies, mediastenoscopies, bronchoscopies, X-rays, radioactive iodine, all the different drugs, all crap we had to jump through hoops to be pooh-poohed by someone who thinks it's all in our heads.

 

Rant over lol

[user001]

The arthritis shows up on an xray in my back, I wonder if t will ever get better? I have noticed if I make a tincture of ginger, water and honey it is the only thing that helps the arthritis. Ginger is a very powerful anti inflammatory. It seems to last for a few days if I make it strong.

 

My fave was when I was eating super healthy and the doc runs tests and yells at me because I was deficient in a few things. Says I need to take better care of myself and learn how to eat. Sends me to a nutritionist who, apparently? Just puts everyone on a diabetic diet. With all those great whole grains! Diabetic diet, when I never had a blood sugar issue...riiiight. 

 

So over modern medicine. 

[beth01]

I am starting to think we could be doctors ourselves lol.  I know about being over doctors.  I am in so much pain right now but don't even want to go. I would have to go to the ER and I don't know how many times they have treated me like I am a drug seeker even though I am allergic to damn near every narcotic. Bastards

[abqmalenurse]

Think we can all relate. Tiring, frustrating, depressing. There are times you feel like the pain and distress will never end. It will get better, though. I had chronic GERD for years, from the time I woke up and nonstop through the whole day. Once I was away from gluten for a while, it finally went away. Unless I eat something really greasy, then I deserve it.

 

There are days I feel like there is nothing at all I can eat.

 

However, don't worry. Better days will be ahead.

[FruitEnthusiast]

Definitely can relate! At times I wish I could do away with eating all together.

 

Sorry to say a lot of people have to give dairy a break a least while they're still healing. I've given it up permanently since I used to have stomach sensitivity. It was one of my favorite things though and I'm amazed that I don't even miss it. If you can have gluten-free baked things, count yourself lucky on that one. I haven't had grains for two years. Somehow I always manage to have one or two foods in my diet that I really like, thankfully.

 

Yes I've always been the sick or sensitive one in the family so I relate to that too. I was the kid who always threw up after eating junk after going to Disneyland as a kid… all the other kids were fine. I was the carsick, seasick, sunburned one, the only one with food intolerances, blah, blah, blah.

 

Never had an ulcer though… ouch   I used to take Prilocec and Zantac for acid reflux - that went away when I lost weight from not being able to eat anything anymore… the only positive thing about being gluten-free.

 

I gave up sodas years ago, and found that helped my stomach problems a lot… actually I don't get stomach problems anymore.

 

I used to have such bad cramps every month I had to take sooo much ibuprofen. I'm convinced it is what caused my intestinal permeability and in turn my gluten-intolerance and other food intolerances.

 

Hope you feel better It does get much easier... just give yourself some more time to heal.

[NatureChick]

Loved the rant. They always make me feel better, living vicariously through other people's venting.

But while I'm commenting, you may want to do some more research into ulcers because I don't think your doctor has you doing the right thing with the bland diet.

For starters, I'd research foods that are natural anti-inflammatories - berries, garlic and onions, beets, ginger, and spinach, etc. (I'd avoid eating foods that had seeds if I had digestive damage.) Perhaps you could find some berry juice?

Then I'd look up foods that are supposed to be helpful at getting ulcers in check. Broccoli and cauliflower, cabbage, honey, green tea. There are more, but those come to mind. 

And I'd also research acidic vs. alkaline foods. You might be better off drinking lemonade than taking prilosec.

But that is me. I'd try anything I could think of before taking pharmaceuticals.

How about some green tea sweetened with honey for starters? Get the clover honey if you don't have any in the house already.

[user001]

Nature chick- I have tried so much other things to heal this ulcer, with no luck. Because of the arthritis in my back, ginger is a regular thing for me. I have read about all the items you listed. I was at a steampunk convention a couple weekends ago and I was so happy to find all different kinds of honey sticks! They made it alot easier to get through the weekend. The honey REALLY helps. I have been eating garlic regularly and also my own homemade coleslaw with cabbage, onion and carrot, cider vinegar in the dressing. I have not read anything about green tea for ulcers. I have actually been avoiding caffeine because i was told it was bad for the ulcer. and coffee does make it hurt like crazy.

 

I am really afraid i did alot of damage. Before going gluten-free, back in jan or feb, I was having a similar pain and it was really hard to determine what was pain from something like an ulcer and what was regular everyday pain for me. I did a course of prilosec then (2 weeks) and it seemed to help, but then it came back and I wasnt sure what was happening. I was taking apple cider vinegar in jan-feb because apparently when you dont absorb nutrients, you are always hungry! It was the only thing that quell that insane appetite. I stopped taking it when i thought i had an ulcer because im thinking it was acidic. Well now im reading that its actually good for the stomach and ulcers. I actually had it in the house because it was one of the many things in my arsenal to help my daily tummy aches. Duh, i should have trusted myself. So Ive actually been trying all the natural remedies for an ulcer along with the prilosec and still not complete healing, there is no bleeding so that is good. There has been some healing, i can tell, its just so slow going. I have read that panax ginseng is helpful to healing so ive been taking that also. I have been reading that ulcers take like 3 months to heal completely, so i guess i just have to be patient, even though im just sick of being sick!

[user001]

Oh and bananas!, ive been eating those at least 1 a day, which i was always told they will make you constipated if you eat more than 1 a day.

[NatureChick]

Great to hear that you've already done so much research and aren't just relying on a doctor's advice. But the fact that honey helps makes me think that the problem would have a bacterial factor as well. I presume your doctor has already tested you for h pylori.

Getting gut flora in good shape can be difficult but the good news is that it can change drastically in just 24 hours based on what you are eating.

Just an idea, but how about trying some rotation diets using a food diary to track results? I would definitely try going without meat, dairy, or other animal products because that can have an immediate and drastic effect on gut flora. Then I'd do some days where I avoided simple carbohydrates (no sugar, pasta, etc.) You could try adding things as well such as mushrooms (fully cooked to avoid negatives). I'm sure you could come up with other food groupings to experiment with. You could probably see results after just three days at a time so it wouldn't be so hard-core as an elimination diet. But it could have drastic effects on the bacteria in your digestive system that could have more lasting effects. For instance, I notice that if I've been eating meat regularly, I'll start to get gassy, but a couple days without any, and I can return to consuming it without problems for weeks or months at a time.

I probably wouldn't start messing around with taking probiotics in pill form in your situation because they can contain more bacteria than your gut could handle, and possibly also contain some "bad" ones that you don't want. But once you're feeling up to it, they also make yeast supplements that are also supposed to help keep bacterial overgrowths in check. I know that my current gluten-free diet is way low on yeasts and so I go out of my way to eat foods that contain it here and there. 

Sorry I don't have any new ideas for you that you haven't already tried. I presume that you've also been tested for vitamin and mineral deficiencies already, that being the only other thing that comes to mind that can slow down the healing process.

[user001]

I have been taking probiotics for years, I credit that with my ability to tolerate dairy the little bit that I can tolerate. The doc says dairy is acidic, so i should cut out the little bit that i do eat. I know what aggravates the ulcer. Mostly just stuff like coffee, but avoiding coffee still doesnt change the fact that its still there, and still hasnt healed. I drank 1 cup of coffee this month! I have been eating such bland food and alot of fruit and veggies. Just so frustrated, ya know?

 

I am asking my uncle for money to have the endoscopy done, to rule out anything really serious with the ulcer. I am honestly worried about something more serious at this point.

[GFDonna]

I take macula honey from New Zealand for my acid reflux and I understand it can help ulcers as well. You need medicinal grade fifteen or above and I believe you can find it at most health food or better grocery stores. It doesn't look like regular honey but it does taste similar, maybe sweeter. Do not heat it I am told it changes the amino acid properties. I put it in my morning smoothie...yummy! A dose is a tablespoon but I see relief with a half tablespoon. Also something to consider, most of the acid reflux medicines out cause me terrible stomach pain almost immediately. I have developed an intolerance to nexxium so I am down to one 20 mg a half hour before dinner and I also take Zantac. I wish you luck and my thoughts are with you.

[FruitEnthusiast]

I am honestly worried about something more serious at this point.

 

I know it's hard but try not to start thinking and worrying too much. It's easy to do, I've done it many times myself, but it doesn't help. It just takes time to heal, and the process is extremely frustrating. Reducing stress as much as you can will help your stomach as much as anything right now.

 

I really believe that the mind has great power over the body. It helps me to breathe deeply, and consciously make an effort to tell my digestive system to relax. I direct positive thoughts toward my digestive system, like, "you're healing and getting better every".

 

It's hard to feel happy when you feel so bad, but try to do extra things that cheer you up and lift your spirits, whether it's getting outside, watching a movie you really like, being around animals, aromatherapy, doing a project, buying magazines you like, or whatever it is that you enjoy. Treat yourself with something you enjoy doing when you are going through so much

 

I've had gastritis several times over the years, and it's not anything serious, but is is surprisingly painful and debilitating. Stomach pain has a way of affecting the whole body in such a negative way, it would make me want to just roll up into a ball. I imagine an ulcer feels worse, so just that would be enough to make you feel so miserable.

 

I always found taking Zantac as an acid reducer helped so much more than Prilosec (which gave me no relief at all really), especially if you take it 30 min before you eat. Maalox liquid gave me relief especially mixed with some milk, if you're still having dairy at this point.

 

I hope you start to feel some relief soon. Even a small improvement can go a long way toward lifting my spirits, and give me hope.

 

Hang in there

[user001]

Thank you Sara. I have been really trying the past few days to get my mind off things, but with little results. I find it so hard to stop worrying, its nearly impossible sometimes.

 

I had been taking zantac and it helped when I just had heartburn, but then it started wearing off and stopped helping. Zantac is an H2 blocker which is effective for regular heartburn, prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor which is more effective when it comes to healing things like ulcers.

[beth01]

The road to celiac is paved with ups and downs.

 

The ups are our good days.  We feel well, eat well, and live well those days. 

 

The downs are our bad days.  We feel like crap, don't eat well, and try to live. We rant a lot on here.

 

I think the first year is the worst.  We just have to make it through that year. That's what we have each other for

[FruitEnthusiast]

Yeah, there are some days that are so challenging, all I can do is be alive and get through the day, especially when the symptoms are psychological and get a grip on me. I do have days when no matter what I do anxiety plagues me and no matter how much I tell myself it's a symptom of my illness, it still feels just as real. Some days I feel like I am actually going lose my mind... but I don't.

 

I had really bad anxiety and irritability especially for the first six months. That gets a lot better. Now I have random days like that but nothing like in the beginning. On bad days I keep reminding myself... tomorrow is another day... all I have to do right now is get through today.

 

Having this site for support and as a learning source is how I have kept my sanity and figured out how to take the best care of myself, thank goodness it's here for us.

[user001]

I am glad for it. The first few days off gluten was tough, but after 2 weeks i had insane energy. Then now with the ulcer, ive been feeling like crap for over a month. I have some other strange symptoms like my arms and legs going asleep really easy and feeling like i have burns on random parts of my body. im really hoping i dont have nerve damage.

 

Does anyone supplement with b12? Does that help you feel better?

[beth01]

I have been taking B12 supplements but my numbers were below the lower limit.  I have been having some weird pain going on too, head to toe hurt.  It travels.  I am going to go to the doctor tomorrow to get it checked out.  I just hope I make it that long.  I can't take another night like last night, might have to break down and go to the ER.

 

My emotions have been everywhere, up on the good days and down on the bad. I know it seems like this is what my life revolves around right now.  Last night my boyfriend told me he had to take one night off from anything medical related. 

 

Gotta just keep chugging along and keep hoping that we have more good days than bad.

[user001]

Beth, i hope the pain gets better. Keep us posted on how you are feeling and what the doc says.

 

My boyfriend is very supportive, but I really don't like to feel like a stick in the mud so I kind of keep to myself about the crazy health stuff. It's been one of those months though. You know, where everything goes wrong and im just always back and forth with the damn doctors and ughhhhhhhh

[1desperateladysaved]

IF you have an ulcer, have you been checked for H-Pylori?  My son was recently treated with antibiotics and herbal formula to get rid of this parasite.  The nurse said H=pylori can cause ulcers.

 

Dee

[user001]

Yes, I was tested for h.pylori. it was negative. Ulcers can also be caused by over using nsaid drugs like aleeve, Advil and aspirin. Before I discovered that ginger helped the arthritis in my back, I was taking 4 Advil at a time, and it only made the pain tolerable. Let's not forget the chronic headaches and other pains. I've taken a lot of Advil and aleeve! I had stopped taking it for awhile then I had a pulled muscle and really bad period cramps and it was the only thing I could do to feel better. That was the straw that broke my tummy.

[NatureChick]

Lemons are also supposed to be extremely effective for lowering acidity. I just opened a bottle of lemonade after typing that, though I also make my own from time to time so that I can have a less-sugary version.

And because you mention both ginger and honey, I presume that you make ginger tea? Love it. I dice the ginger and throw it in a tea ball to make a whole pot.

One thing I would note is that consuming too much ginger does have side effects and it starts to act more like a pharmaceutical than a food. And honey is high in fructose so too much of it, when not balanced out with protein and glucose, can also cause digestive symptoms if you have any sort of intolerance. And those who have damaged digestive systems often can't digest fructose properly, at least temporarily until they've had a chance to heal. Cramping when the undigested fructose hits the large intestine would be the first symptom, D the next level up.

Have you come up with a good mashed-cauliflower recipe yet? I would think it could count as a bland food and would also help with the ulcers. I don't know what you would use as a substitute for the butter but one of the things I like about it is that it is really filling. 

But once again, I feel as if I'm stating the obvious to someone who has already done a ton of research. I think many of us who have had undiagnosed gluten reactions for years ends up becoming amateur nutritionists in our search for answers.

[user001]

Mashed cauliflower, I just use olive oil and herbs and stuff. whatever im in the mood for.I have been liking mashed white beans with onions and oregano lately.

 

Take about a 1 inch ginger root and puree it in my nutribullet with about a cup of water. Then I pour it into a pot and simmer it with about a tablespoon of honey on the stovetop for a few minutes. Then i pour it into a french press to strain all the bits. I has been warm here in NJ lately, so i have been squirting a bit of lime over some ice and then pour the ginger over the ice. it makes a delightful iced drink on a warm day.I have not had any issues with honey, but im sure you know its hard to decipher somedays what the stomach grumbles are caused by. I had some this morning because i haven't made any in a couple days and my back was starting to ache like crazy.