Got tested for H. Pylori today, and results came back negative.
Yay!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
My First ER Visit
The last 2 months of this year has been a little stressful for me. I ate only 1 big meal everyday, and slept late since I had been juggling school and work. I shared one bottle of white wine with my friend weeks ago, and another the next night along with a couple of beers. I slept late and woke up late the next day. I had fries while waiting for a friend to pick me and another friend up. Later on, we had heavy lunch (spicy food) with refillable soda, and coffee right after.
We were walking around the mall shopping when I noticed the shortness of breath, and difficulty in swallowing. My throat felt dry, and as if something was stuck in it. I tried breathing through my mouth, but I was already too anxious. My heart was pounding, and there was some kind of tingly feeling creeping all over my head. My vision became blurry, my knees felt weak, and I could not understand what was going on with me. I thought I was going to pass out. I was very scared.
My friends rushed me to the hospital. Everything seemed normal they said. I was diagnosed with GERD. They gave me medication, I felt better. I was a little exhausted and sad and a little embarrassed that I put my friends through such a situation. I went home with the medicines the ER doctor prescribed, and get ready for bed.
Before going to bed, I took 2 tbsps of Maalox, and one capsule of -- i think it was an anti ulcer medicine. The Maalox made my throat and tongue feel numb and it made me anxious, and I felt as if my throat was getting tight. I was having another anxiety attack due to the discomfort so I asked my roommate to rush me to the hospital.
I was admitted for 2 days. ECG, stress test, xrays of abdomen and throat all looked normal, the cardiologist even found some results "impressive". Blood work results were all within normal range. The nutritionist made me go on a bland diet.
I went home still a little shaken. That whole day at the mall was a bit traumatic for me. I've never experienced anything in that magnitude. I've always been a strong person, emotionally and physically. I've never been admitted for anything other than this. I was relieved that all my vital organs are fine, but I needed time to emotionally recover from that event. Now, I get a little anxious whenever my GERD acts up.
What usually happens is that I feel like I am unable to breathe properly, or that my throat is getting tight... i feel the acid go up my throat and in my mouth, I keep burping a lot, I feel as if my burps are "stuck" -- those are what trigger the anxiety. I am now able to control the anxiety, the GERD symptoms eventually go away.
The cardiologist suggested a 2D Echo to check for mitral valve prolapse. Also, an endoscopy is long overdue. I need to call the gastroenterologist clinic tomorrow. I was tested for H.Pylori at the hospital but came back negative, but was already taking medication and it might have changed the results... so I might have be tested for that again.
Like many events in my life, I know I will come out of this a stronger person. Some people think "its just GERD", but to me its something I need to conquer.
ciao,
gerd&me
We were walking around the mall shopping when I noticed the shortness of breath, and difficulty in swallowing. My throat felt dry, and as if something was stuck in it. I tried breathing through my mouth, but I was already too anxious. My heart was pounding, and there was some kind of tingly feeling creeping all over my head. My vision became blurry, my knees felt weak, and I could not understand what was going on with me. I thought I was going to pass out. I was very scared.
My friends rushed me to the hospital. Everything seemed normal they said. I was diagnosed with GERD. They gave me medication, I felt better. I was a little exhausted and sad and a little embarrassed that I put my friends through such a situation. I went home with the medicines the ER doctor prescribed, and get ready for bed.
Before going to bed, I took 2 tbsps of Maalox, and one capsule of -- i think it was an anti ulcer medicine. The Maalox made my throat and tongue feel numb and it made me anxious, and I felt as if my throat was getting tight. I was having another anxiety attack due to the discomfort so I asked my roommate to rush me to the hospital.
I was admitted for 2 days. ECG, stress test, xrays of abdomen and throat all looked normal, the cardiologist even found some results "impressive". Blood work results were all within normal range. The nutritionist made me go on a bland diet.
I went home still a little shaken. That whole day at the mall was a bit traumatic for me. I've never experienced anything in that magnitude. I've always been a strong person, emotionally and physically. I've never been admitted for anything other than this. I was relieved that all my vital organs are fine, but I needed time to emotionally recover from that event. Now, I get a little anxious whenever my GERD acts up.
What usually happens is that I feel like I am unable to breathe properly, or that my throat is getting tight... i feel the acid go up my throat and in my mouth, I keep burping a lot, I feel as if my burps are "stuck" -- those are what trigger the anxiety. I am now able to control the anxiety, the GERD symptoms eventually go away.
The cardiologist suggested a 2D Echo to check for mitral valve prolapse. Also, an endoscopy is long overdue. I need to call the gastroenterologist clinic tomorrow. I was tested for H.Pylori at the hospital but came back negative, but was already taking medication and it might have changed the results... so I might have be tested for that again.
Like many events in my life, I know I will come out of this a stronger person. Some people think "its just GERD", but to me its something I need to conquer.
ciao,
gerd&me
Holidays with GERD
This is the worst time to be diagnosed with GERD. It is very frustrating. I try to watch what I eat, and am very wary of having just a sip of alcohol. People also don't seem to understand what I am going through. I keep pleading with them to be patient with me because I'm trying to understand it as well.
Most people also tell me that it is all in my head. That is something I cannot accept. I know my body well enough to tell if something is wrong with it. I don't just imagine the symptoms. Why would I? I did not want this illness... I am simply learning how to live with it, and I hope they can learn to do the same.
Gastroenterologist is also unavailable cos of the holidays. I hope I catch him tomorrow morning. I will listen only to what the doctors will tell me... instead of listening to everyone's guesses.
ciao,
gerd&me
Most people also tell me that it is all in my head. That is something I cannot accept. I know my body well enough to tell if something is wrong with it. I don't just imagine the symptoms. Why would I? I did not want this illness... I am simply learning how to live with it, and I hope they can learn to do the same.
Gastroenterologist is also unavailable cos of the holidays. I hope I catch him tomorrow morning. I will listen only to what the doctors will tell me... instead of listening to everyone's guesses.
ciao,
gerd&me
Food Diary : Spaghetti with Sauce
Ok, this was a stupid move by me. I already know that tomato based foods can trigger GERD, but I wasn't able to resist. I had a huge plate of it, and I ended up having acid reflux after a few hours.
I was supposed to shop at the mall with my Mom, but I asked if we could go home since the reflux was worsening. I felt nauseous and it was as if I would vomit anytime. I also noticed that my nose felt stuffy. I was short of breath, so I was walking around a very packed mall trying to breathe through my mouth.
When we arrived at our house, I started burping a lot and felt better.
Spaghetti with tomato sauce -- is DEFINITELY off the list of food I can eat.
Plus... I should never overeat.
ciao,
gerd&me
image source: http://recipes.howstuffworks.com
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Food Diary : Mandarin Oranges
I read somewhere that it is important to keep a list of the things may worsen your GERD to know what kinds of food to avoid.
About an hour ago, I ate 4 small mandarin oranges, and it made me burp a lot. While eating dinner (grilled pork and rice) I started feeling a burp coming, but it felt stuck. There was some shortness of breath that made me stand and walk around the room a bit. I finally was able to burp and immediately felt relieved.
My nutritionist told me its okay to eat oranges as long as I remove the white part. I guess I will completely stay away from it for now.
Tomorrow is my first trip to the gastroenterologist. I pray everything will go fine.
ciao,
gerd&me
image source : http://naturesflavors.com
Friday, December 26, 2008
First Experiences + Blog Birthday
I am a female in my mid 20's. I started feeling weird years ago. I remember my first attack very well, although at the time, I didn't think it was GERD at all.
I smoked a lot, and drank a lot in my teen years. The legal drinking/smoking age here where I am is 18. Between 18 to 20, I would go out a lot, drank ridiculous amounts of alcohol, and smoked occasionally on a normal day, but would smoke like a chimney when I'm drinking. I was 19 when one night, while drinking at my friend's house I started feeling like I was not breathing right. I was short of breath, and had trouble swallowing. I put down my drink and stood up trying to catch my breath, to no avail. My friend helped me through it by distracting me, and the weird feeling eventually went away. The experience left me exhausted, and when I got home I could not relax right away. I tossed and turned, but my jaw would not relax. I tried to regulate my breathing, and it helped greatly. The only odd thing I noticed was that soon after I have relaxed I felt something move in my throat, some thick liquid. Then eventually drifted off to sleep. I did not really think much of this experience back then, and was able to go through my days without until I had another attack. That second time in the same year, I was at home drinking with my friends when I noticed that I had trouble breathing, again my friend tried calming me down by distracting me, I eventually felt better but it took a lot longer. I remember going to bed really exhausted and dizzy from trying to breathe normally. After that, I don't remember having any attacks... at least not for another few years.
At the time, I thought I was having super mild anxiety attacks because I wasn't eating and sleeping right. I didn't think it could be the alcohol or anything else that was causing all those strange episodes before, or that it could be GERD. I did not even know what GERD was back then. All I knew then was that, I was short of breath, and had trouble swallowing.
I must also mention that I had a weird eating habit. Nope, not an eating disorder, just that I don't eat the way I should. I always missed breakfast, and I binged often. The heavy drinking made me eat so much just to deal with the hangover. Smoking + over eating + stress + heavy drinking = not a healthy lifestyle. It is making more sense to me now.
My purpose of putting up this blog is to document my experiences and to provide as much information I can to others who are going through this like me. Also, writing has always been my favorite form of therapy. In the next few posts, I will be describing each episode I can remember prior to being diagnosed with GERD followed by a stream of posts about the worst attack I've had and stories of my personal experiences right after being diagnosed.
I really hope this blog will help others as much as it is helping me... I know that a lot of people don't understand or misinterpret people with this illness.
Ciao,
gerd&me
I smoked a lot, and drank a lot in my teen years. The legal drinking/smoking age here where I am is 18. Between 18 to 20, I would go out a lot, drank ridiculous amounts of alcohol, and smoked occasionally on a normal day, but would smoke like a chimney when I'm drinking. I was 19 when one night, while drinking at my friend's house I started feeling like I was not breathing right. I was short of breath, and had trouble swallowing. I put down my drink and stood up trying to catch my breath, to no avail. My friend helped me through it by distracting me, and the weird feeling eventually went away. The experience left me exhausted, and when I got home I could not relax right away. I tossed and turned, but my jaw would not relax. I tried to regulate my breathing, and it helped greatly. The only odd thing I noticed was that soon after I have relaxed I felt something move in my throat, some thick liquid. Then eventually drifted off to sleep. I did not really think much of this experience back then, and was able to go through my days without until I had another attack. That second time in the same year, I was at home drinking with my friends when I noticed that I had trouble breathing, again my friend tried calming me down by distracting me, I eventually felt better but it took a lot longer. I remember going to bed really exhausted and dizzy from trying to breathe normally. After that, I don't remember having any attacks... at least not for another few years.
At the time, I thought I was having super mild anxiety attacks because I wasn't eating and sleeping right. I didn't think it could be the alcohol or anything else that was causing all those strange episodes before, or that it could be GERD. I did not even know what GERD was back then. All I knew then was that, I was short of breath, and had trouble swallowing.
I must also mention that I had a weird eating habit. Nope, not an eating disorder, just that I don't eat the way I should. I always missed breakfast, and I binged often. The heavy drinking made me eat so much just to deal with the hangover. Smoking + over eating + stress + heavy drinking = not a healthy lifestyle. It is making more sense to me now.
My purpose of putting up this blog is to document my experiences and to provide as much information I can to others who are going through this like me. Also, writing has always been my favorite form of therapy. In the next few posts, I will be describing each episode I can remember prior to being diagnosed with GERD followed by a stream of posts about the worst attack I've had and stories of my personal experiences right after being diagnosed.
I really hope this blog will help others as much as it is helping me... I know that a lot of people don't understand or misinterpret people with this illness.
Ciao,
gerd&me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)