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Symptoms again, I don't know what to do?

Posted , 4 users are following.

hayley83079
hayley83079

 Hi there I am new to the group. I was diagnosed 3 years ago now with short stemmed barratts 5cm. At the time I was very scared, I lost weight I was too scared to eat and drink. My only first symptom was the odd acid reflux but nothing I worried about, I did start with a silly cough which lasted approx 9 months. I visited my doctor and he put me on lanzaprazole. I took for 2 weeks and my cough cleared up so I stopped the tablets.

as soon as I stopped the pains began, the only way to describe it it feels like a belt around my upper stomach and someone is pulling very tight. I've had to remove my bra many times as the pressure is awful, after removing it it doesn't make any difference.

i was referred to a private care and they found barratts I was told to keep taking the meds and that I could est anything.

i felt more relaxed about food and have been very slack, as I was feeling ok I stopped taking the meds, at Christmas I had to have some gaviscon, and took my tablet.

i think that my middle son has acid reflux which we are visiting the gp on Tuesday, since he asked me for the doctors number I have felt stressed and now my barrstts has started being painful again. Like I can't breathe, the pressure is awful, I also get pain in between my shoulder blades particularly the right side.

i also get a pain on the right side I'm assuming it's where my bowel is, I have been investigated before and nothing showed up on the scans. They put it down to IBS 

I've taken 2 omeprazoles today.

i have been told that they don't monitor anymore, I am to return.to my gp if I start coughing up blood or if food gets stuck.

how appalling is that, if I had a mole on my skin and it had changes they would see me and sort straight away. 

 

2 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • hayley83079
    hayley83079

    Posted

    If I go back to the gp he will just say up the meds, I don't want the endoscopy ageing but feel I have to make out my symptoms are worse than they really are. What would you suggest?

    we have private healthcare through my husbands work, but the private consultant was the one who's says eat anything and don't come back unless symptoms are bad. I have felt rotten the last few days, so may book an appointment and get referred stein. I live in Derbyshire 

  • janet74211
    janet74211 hayley83079

    Posted

    Hi Hayley,

    Wow poor you, your going through it.

    I have a 2cm Barrett, was asked what I eat and drink and given a two year monitor which is due August t his year. As for eating anything I personally do not agree with them. I try not to eat anything which is acid, no citrus fruits, spices, coffee though tea is my down fall. Glueton, wheat, lactose and dairy free as best I can. As my corrosion is 2cm do not want to get worse, and some foods can do damage. I follow fodmap diet leaving out some of the acidic foods, but then also have irritable bowel and diverticulitus so have to be extra careful. So not easy yet must be see one. Have gotten over breast cancer and reconstruction , with gallbladder removal last September. I find it hard to know what symptom goes with what illness. I am going to look up the acid free diets to see if can do anything else to help my symptoms. My treatment from NHS h as s been ok and hate to hear about the rough times others have had. If you get a bad attack again and finding it difficult then ring 111, have been really helpful. Stress is something which will not help so try to relax if you can.

    • hayley83079
      hayley83079 janet74211

      Posted

      Thank you very much Janet. Yes I definitely need to change my diet. There are days when I don't eat and dip in to the biscuit barrel cos busy working.

      I've got a book re food combining which is quite interesting - saying not to eat Starch with meat etc. I really panic about food and never know what to eat for breakfast etc. Good luck With your appt in August. I sometimes hope I can get an appt again but very scared to go back

  • rex_44766
    rex_44766 hayley83079

    Posted

    Hi Hayley - I beleive stress has caused your present flare up. Has your BP gone up at all? I found that 6 DGL a day did more for my Barretts that anything else I have ever taken although I do feel Barretts needs several approaches. Hang in there as they are bound to find something soon. In Australia lazer ablation seems to be the gold standard for Barretts. Yet to commit to this!
  • lucinia
    lucinia hayley83079

    Posted

    Hi Hayley. What your private consultant said was outrageous - he should be reported. Is this what we have to look forward to when our NHS disappears completely? This advice is not the norm. You must seek a second opinion. Go back to your GP as an NHS patient. This time keep taking the tablets even when it clears up. If you are refluxing at night then when you stop the tablets the acid pools again in your oesophagus and you start the whole cycle again. Damage prevention is the key here which means keep taking the tablets. I have been on omeprazole for 20 years now and don't appear to have suffered for this. I have nocturnal reflux so I don't eat or drink (only water) after 7pm which is when I take my omeprazole. Then about half an hour before bedtime I take a ranitidine tablet. Whilst my symptoms are not 100% cleared I would say they are about 80 to 90% which isn't bad. I agree with Rex - stress plays a huge factor in this. Get yourself back to the GP and try not to worry (I know, not easy). Keep a food diary and pretty soon you'll figure out what foods exacerbate your symptoms. Personally I can't tolerate red meat or marmite! Agony for me but then we are all different. I accepted long ago that I would have to take medication for the rest of my life and so far, touch wood, apart from itchy skin which I control with an antihistamine, I don't get any other side effects. If your meds suit you carry on taking them. Without pain you will relax and stop worrying which in itself will calm the reflux down. I hope this helps.
  • larraine24877
    larraine24877 hayley83079

    Posted

    Hi Hayley,

    they do seem to be cutting down on the monitoring, my consultant only this week, said he didnt want to see me again, although has not offered me any solutions, and suggested I just take the Lanzoprazile when I felt like it!! can you believe it, I'm not sure whethere this is helping me or not, but am experimenting with taking for a while then leaving off.  I have Barretts , sliding  hiatal hernia and diverticulosis, and have suffered similar, but I find really sticking to a strict alkaline and non-acidic diet helps.  I have received the best advice through this forum.

    I think they are pushing back endoscopies to 3 years instead of 2, but if you need reassurance I think you have to push them to be seen.  Others are right about the stress, it does make it worse, try to take it in your stride and test by process of elimination foods and drinks that are ok or irritate. I am very limited in what I can eat and have lost 3.5 stone since being diagnosed with Barretts, but porridge works well for me and spelt products.

    Best wishes

    L

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