rgranger
22-08-13, 15:50
This is going to be a mighty long post so please, by all means; take a seat (I've heard that phrase a lot this year- you too no doubt?)
I am 41, male, and am clueless about this..I thankfully am with BUPA which has been very useful in this instance.
I'll start with where it all started, how I was before and where I am now :shrug: Any light, advice, tips you have to offer will be much appreciated thank you in advance.
Last Summer, towards the end of August I was having a few drinks with friends, one very hot evening as I recall and I came over a little sick, visited the bathroom and repeatedly vomited nine times in one go, it was like pure water and I have to say, it was the most I have ever vomited there seemed to be so much. I came out and we were all pretty clueless about what had brought it on but we all put it down to being out in intense heat, drinking a bit too much, possibly mixing antihistamine during the day or food poisoning..
Next morning I woke to be greeted by intense stomach cramps and what followed was seven days of diarrhoea approximately ten times daily before getting a doctors appointment...Let the diagnosis begin:shades:
Based on my family history the GP was pretty certain it was an ulcer so we went down the route of:
AUGUST
1) Cutting all spicy food out.
2) " " Coffee out.
3) " " Booze.
( Non-smoker)
Abstaining from any foods that I would consider 'saucy' so, Curry, Bolognese style sauces.
This procedure was put into practice for a few weeks before returning with my experience.
AUGUST..Cont
Diarrhoea ceased, constant stomach pains, acidy, gassy, pain in the back but not like backache, like a burning- Doctor prescribed Omeprazole (x1) and Meberevine (x2 daily) and so the pill popping started.
Was told to try this for a few weeks then return.In the meantime was taking Rennie as I seemed to be suffering from acid burning, I chomped through packs of these- to no avail, so stopped!
September
Returned to GP and said that my back if anything seemed far worse, the tablets didn't seem to be doing anything so was prescribed Lanzaprozole which was; interesting..
I took my first Lanzaprozole and within minutes found my lips going numb, I went into a cold sweat, palpitations and honestly thought it was "Good night Vienna" We called a medical helpline and I was given an emergency appointment first thing in the morning. It was clear I had an almost immediate reaction so was told to stop taking them.. So I returned back to Omeprazole and Meberevine, the pain in my back was continual every single minute of every day, even as I am typing I am sweating and my back pain is at what I would say is my limit ( I am a sciatica sufferer and have had a slip disk so know my pain threshold, I would say this is half as painful as a slipped disc but is every single day)..
October
Weds 10th " Stomach and back really good today :yesyes:...Afternoon...All kicked off again :doh: That said, that was still a morning without the pain- why?
From what I can see in my diary all of October continued in pain, both Stomach and back. Its sad as I look at pictures of me in July and by November I can see the pain in my eyes, constantly.
November
"Stomach pain still continuing, feel sick most days, rib pain in middle of back, stomach cramps."
Back to my Doctors: Blood tests, Xray = both fine! Which was great but still why was / am I in so much pain? Prescribed Fybogel..No let up.
December
In so much pain started taking Co-Codamol, packet states longer than three
days continual use, so I booked an appointment with my GP to tell him I had been using them constantly and they were definitely relieving the pain- intermittently, sometimes I use them and the back and shoulder pain ceases, other times absolutely not..So that was something..My GP said it was fine to continue taking them of which I am still doing, in fact I have just this minute taken one..
Jan
Having taken pretty much hundreds of Cocodamol I returned to see my GP again and to give further updates and endured as long as I could before asking him to refer me to BUPA- this he did and the tests began.
March-August (one year later)
Test 1: Ultrasound= x2 polyps on gallbladder. When I asked if this was causing me the pain I was no and that it was doubtful..
Test 2: Endoscopy= Some signs of gastritis.
Test 3: X ray = Fine
Test 4: Colonoscopy= Fine some signs of constipation, I have to say Pikolax is one of the most horrific medicine experiences I have ever had, I wouldn't know where to start but please, if you are given Pikolax sachets, expect a really nasty experience for at least three days, absolutely horrible stuff.
Having just attended my final consultation our final tests were to be MRI Scan which the specialist said he is reluctant to proceed with as he said he didn't want to expose me to the scan? And finally he prescribed Amitripyline..I have no idea what to expect or what the results will be, or even why I have been prescribed from what I can see is a mild anti-depressant. I will keep you updated but if anyone has similar experiences please share so that we can build information to hopefully benefit others.
All in all, it could have been far worse and I am grateful nothing grim was discovered but I feel I can't just walk away from this, I am in constant pain and have taken over the last year what must be thousands of the above medication and still there is no result?
:weep:
I am 41, male, and am clueless about this..I thankfully am with BUPA which has been very useful in this instance.
I'll start with where it all started, how I was before and where I am now :shrug: Any light, advice, tips you have to offer will be much appreciated thank you in advance.
Last Summer, towards the end of August I was having a few drinks with friends, one very hot evening as I recall and I came over a little sick, visited the bathroom and repeatedly vomited nine times in one go, it was like pure water and I have to say, it was the most I have ever vomited there seemed to be so much. I came out and we were all pretty clueless about what had brought it on but we all put it down to being out in intense heat, drinking a bit too much, possibly mixing antihistamine during the day or food poisoning..
Next morning I woke to be greeted by intense stomach cramps and what followed was seven days of diarrhoea approximately ten times daily before getting a doctors appointment...Let the diagnosis begin:shades:
Based on my family history the GP was pretty certain it was an ulcer so we went down the route of:
AUGUST
1) Cutting all spicy food out.
2) " " Coffee out.
3) " " Booze.
( Non-smoker)
Abstaining from any foods that I would consider 'saucy' so, Curry, Bolognese style sauces.
This procedure was put into practice for a few weeks before returning with my experience.
AUGUST..Cont
Diarrhoea ceased, constant stomach pains, acidy, gassy, pain in the back but not like backache, like a burning- Doctor prescribed Omeprazole (x1) and Meberevine (x2 daily) and so the pill popping started.
Was told to try this for a few weeks then return.In the meantime was taking Rennie as I seemed to be suffering from acid burning, I chomped through packs of these- to no avail, so stopped!
September
Returned to GP and said that my back if anything seemed far worse, the tablets didn't seem to be doing anything so was prescribed Lanzaprozole which was; interesting..
I took my first Lanzaprozole and within minutes found my lips going numb, I went into a cold sweat, palpitations and honestly thought it was "Good night Vienna" We called a medical helpline and I was given an emergency appointment first thing in the morning. It was clear I had an almost immediate reaction so was told to stop taking them.. So I returned back to Omeprazole and Meberevine, the pain in my back was continual every single minute of every day, even as I am typing I am sweating and my back pain is at what I would say is my limit ( I am a sciatica sufferer and have had a slip disk so know my pain threshold, I would say this is half as painful as a slipped disc but is every single day)..
October
Weds 10th " Stomach and back really good today :yesyes:...Afternoon...All kicked off again :doh: That said, that was still a morning without the pain- why?
From what I can see in my diary all of October continued in pain, both Stomach and back. Its sad as I look at pictures of me in July and by November I can see the pain in my eyes, constantly.
November
"Stomach pain still continuing, feel sick most days, rib pain in middle of back, stomach cramps."
Back to my Doctors: Blood tests, Xray = both fine! Which was great but still why was / am I in so much pain? Prescribed Fybogel..No let up.
December
In so much pain started taking Co-Codamol, packet states longer than three
days continual use, so I booked an appointment with my GP to tell him I had been using them constantly and they were definitely relieving the pain- intermittently, sometimes I use them and the back and shoulder pain ceases, other times absolutely not..So that was something..My GP said it was fine to continue taking them of which I am still doing, in fact I have just this minute taken one..
Jan
Having taken pretty much hundreds of Cocodamol I returned to see my GP again and to give further updates and endured as long as I could before asking him to refer me to BUPA- this he did and the tests began.
March-August (one year later)
Test 1: Ultrasound= x2 polyps on gallbladder. When I asked if this was causing me the pain I was no and that it was doubtful..
Test 2: Endoscopy= Some signs of gastritis.
Test 3: X ray = Fine
Test 4: Colonoscopy= Fine some signs of constipation, I have to say Pikolax is one of the most horrific medicine experiences I have ever had, I wouldn't know where to start but please, if you are given Pikolax sachets, expect a really nasty experience for at least three days, absolutely horrible stuff.
Having just attended my final consultation our final tests were to be MRI Scan which the specialist said he is reluctant to proceed with as he said he didn't want to expose me to the scan? And finally he prescribed Amitripyline..I have no idea what to expect or what the results will be, or even why I have been prescribed from what I can see is a mild anti-depressant. I will keep you updated but if anyone has similar experiences please share so that we can build information to hopefully benefit others.
All in all, it could have been far worse and I am grateful nothing grim was discovered but I feel I can't just walk away from this, I am in constant pain and have taken over the last year what must be thousands of the above medication and still there is no result?
:weep: