More health problems. Need prayers

[Lil]

I completely agree with GoingNorth and InsaneCdn. Honey, you HAVE to quit LOOKING for cancer!!! You're constipated, you have colon cancer. You have stomach pains, you have stomach cancer. You have pale stools, you have pancreatic cancer. Do you hear yourself? I did my own googling. This is what I found: The number of new cases of pancreas cancer was 12.3 per 100,000 men and women per year - that's from seer.cancer.gov.

That's a 0.0123% chance that you have pancreatic cancer. There is a 100% chance that you have STRESS.

I mean this in the nicest possible way...if you keep freaking out over every symptom and you are going to turn into a full-blown hypochondriac. Take a deep breath. Relax. ENJOY your life and quit looking for a disaster to strike!

Stay off the internet. For the love of God, quit googling symptoms. The fastest way to convince yourself you are sick is to look up your symptoms. WebMD is NOT your friend.

 

[Lil]

I re-read this today and thought, "Heaven's that sounds harsh!" I don't mean for it to. Please don't think that I think you are making things up or you aren't having the symptoms you say. I'm sure you are concerned and have legitimate symptoms for the doctor to look at.

But I DO think you are making yourself sicker by looking things up and assuming worse-case scenario.

She is trying to handle this on her own. I go back for a follow up visit next month. I'm not sure what else she can do for me.

This ↑ tells me that you don't trust your doctor. You seem to either:

(1) think she is not competent enough to know when a patient needs a specialist, or

(2) be committed to the idea that you must have some horrible disease that only a specialist can treat.

If it's number 1 - change doctors! You have to trust your primary care physician to be competent. Saying "She is trying to handle it on her own." sounds like you think she's little better than the guy on the street who's had some first aid training and doesn't really know what he's doing. Really, if you think she's not capable of handling a diagnosis - go elsewhere!

If it's number 2 - I'll say this as gently as I can...your signature describes you as "Bipolar, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)), and PTSD. On Paxil, Saphris, and Tegretol. Still hanging in there by a thread." Perhaps you should consider that, while your symptoms may be real, your self-diagnosis and constant worry about your health could themselves be symptoms of your anxiety or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Perhaps you should discuss that possibility with another type of doctor?

Either way, I hope you manage to feel better and quit worrying so much.

 

[GoingNorth]

QUIT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE!!!!

Sorry to yell, had to get your attention.
Did you look at the chances of having pancreatic cancer? It's not that high on the frequency list.

Don't go looking for anything exotic. You know you are stressed out and that your body doesn't handle stress well. STRESS alone can account for every single symptom you are listing. Was it wrong to go to the doctor? No, prudent. BUT... in reality, you are probably making yourself sick by getting all wound up and anxious about the symptoms that are simply caused by being all wound up and anxious.

RX: For the next 3 days, the ONLY thing you can do on your computer (other than work) is this board.

I'm gonna add my own RX: from now on, to make your tummy AND your tastebuds happier, I prescribe eating two cartons per day of live culture yoghurt.

It will help normalize your bowels (good for either the runs or constipation), soothe your stomach, and help you get those good gut bacteria that stress and anxiety are killing back in balance.

My favourite is Chobani. They make a fat-free Greek yoghurt that is rich, creamy, only 100 calories, has 11 grams of protein, 30% of your calcium, and, just for you, the mango flavour is absolutely delicious. Give it a try.

If you can handle a more sour flavour, give Kefir a try. Lifeway is the most common brand. It is basically liquid yoghurt and is higher in live cultures. It comes in many fruit flavors and sometimes even in chocolate!

 

[JKF]

Kefir is delicious and sooo good for your digestive system! It can be high in sugar if you get the flavored ones though. I get the plain and put it in the blender with ice, almond milk, a splash of vanilla, fresh fruit and ground flax seeds. If I feel like chocolate instead, I'll blend it with ice, almond milk, cocoa powder, ground flax, one ripe banana and a tablespoon of peanut butter! Yum!!!

 

[Californiablonde]

Still no word on my test results. Until I get the call I vow not to go on any more medical websites. The only internet I will be using will be for here, facebook, myfitnesspal, and weight watchers. It's going to be hard but I'm determined to do it!

 

[BusynMember]

CB...don't be a hypochondriac like I was. I feel so silly looking back. If i had a headache, by God, it was a brain tumor, etc. I am so healthy for my age and I spent my youth worrying that I had some form of terminal illness. And it HAD to be terminal or I wasn't satisfied

If the lab had found anything, and it was bad, you'd have been notified right away. Chances are t hey are being lazy because it is nothing.

However, it does sound a lot like my gastric reflex. That can cause tons of symptoms, including a not-serious but chronic cough. I kind of have that, even though I never smoked either. And I probably get constipated at times, but don't pay attention. I certainly no longer think it has to be cancer. Life will teach you as you go alone.

When you are doing WW, if that's what you're doing, you can drop a pound a week and suddenly three. It's not uncommon. Sounds like you're doing well. Getting thinner also solves A LOT of health issues from normal aches and pains, to bad arthritis, to gastic reflex (yup, weight is a factor), to heart disease, to everything, really. It is healthier to be on the less hefty side. Excersie helps it all and STRESS too (it helps stress).

Stay away from anything medical.

 

[Lil]

Well, I just went to the doctor today because I thought I had a varicose vein in my groin...I had a blood clot 25 or so years ago in that area and just trashed the veins in my leg. And instead - A Hernia! I didn't even know women got them!

So I get to have surgery. Jeeze what a pain!

 

[GoingNorth]

Yikes, Lil!

What a drag! At least most hernia surgery is pretty minor and a quick recovery. Hopefully yours can be done outpatient and you'll be up and around in no time.

 

[Lil]

Yes, that's what the doctor said. His daughter had two done and just took a long weekend, but what a dumb thing to have wrong.

Sent using ConductDisorders mobile app

 

[Californiablonde]

Hope the surgery goes smoothly for you Lil. You wanna know what sucks about having acid reflux? The nausea and pain is worse on an empty stomach and feels better after I eat. Since I'm dieting I have to limit my food intake. Boy do I really wish I liked fruit but I just can't stomach it. And I only like cooked veggies and my work says I can't eat them here cause it they make the office stink. I am really wishing I wasn't on a diet right about now!

 

[Lil]

On the up side, it appears that many foods the fight acid reflux are good for you...veggies, (Really? You can't eat even a salad or something? It's way better for you than cooked) and complex carbs like oatmeal. But really, have you talked to HR about the buttheads in your office refusing to let you eat decent foods? What if you end up on some kind of special, prescribed diet? Are you just supposed to starve?

I'm putting this link mostly because I found the title so amusing, "Dropping Acid". LOL

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20440834,00.html

And WebMD (I never said I couldn't go there!) has a list of tips:

Avoid lying down for two to three hours after eating. When you lie down, it's physically easier for stomach contents to splash up toward the LES. By sitting up or standing, gravity helps stomach contents stay where they belong -- at the bottom of the stomach.

Avoid items that weaken the LES muscle (like chocolate, peppermint, caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods) and foods and beverages that may irritate a damaged esophagus lining (citrus and citrus juice, tomatoes and tomato juice, and chili peppers and black pepper).

• Avoid eating large meals because the more volume in the stomach, the more likely the stomach contents will splash toward the LES. Try eating four to five small meals instead of two or three large ones.

• Avoid high-fat meals because they tend to stay in the stomach longer; greasy or fried foods can also weaken the LES muscle.

• Avoid smoking and avoid alcohol before, during, or after meals that seem to result in heartburn (like dinner). Both smoking and alcohol weaken the LES muscle.

• Try waiting at least two hours after a meal before exercising if you find your heartburn seems to get worse after exercise.

• Chew gum (a nonpeppermint flavor) after meals to stimulate saliva production (the bicarbonate in saliva neutralizes acid) and increase peristalsis (which helps move the stomach contents into the small intestine more quickly).

• Plan your meals to encourage slow but sure weight loss if you are overweight. Extra weight around the midsection, especially, can press against the stomach and increase the pressure going up toward the LES.

• Drink a small glass of water at the end of meals to help dilute and wash down any stomach acid that might be splashing up into the esophagus, suggests Shekhar Challa, MD, president of Kansas Medical Clinic and author of Spurn The Burn: Treat The Heat.

• Plan on heartburn-friendly beverages like water, mineral water, decaffeinated tea, noncitrus juices, or nonfat or low-fat milk. Beverages to avoid include:
  • Sodas: These can bloat the abdomen, increasing the pressure in the stomach and encouraging stomach acid to splash up into the esophagus.
  • Juices: Tomato and citrus juices can irritate a damaged esophagus.
  • Alcoholic beverages, coffee (even decaf) and caffeinated tea and cola can increase the acid content in the stomach as well as relax the LES.

Eat a high fiber diet! A recent study found that people who followed a high-fiber meal plan were 20% less likely to have acid reflux symptoms, regardless of their body weight. You'll find fiber in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds (basically unprocessed plant foods).

Sample Menu for a Day Without Heartburn
Reading the meal-planning suggestions above can be daunting and hard to visualize. Here's a sample day that ties together most of the heartburn-reducing suggestions so you can see how it all might fit together for you.
Breakfast
High-fiber hot or cold cereal with nonfat or 1% low-fat milk.
Less fat turkey bacon.
Apple juice.
Morning Snack
One container low-fat yogurt.
1/2 cup fresh fruit.
Decaf green tea.
Lunch
Roasted turkey & avocado sandwich on whole-wheat bread.
Baby carrots or other raw veggies.
* End the meal with a glass of water.
Continue reading below...
* Chew some nonpeppermint gum after the meal.
Afternoon Snack
Whole-grain crackers.
Reduced-fat cheese.
Apple slices.
Decaf green tea.
Evening Exercise
Dinner (moderate-sized portions of)
Higher fiber pasta (like Barilla Plus) with less-fat Alfredo sauce or pesto sauce with some meat or fish if desired (like cooked shrimp or strips of lean beef).
Steamed vegetables.
A light dessert (such as frozen fruit bar).
* End the meal with a glass of water.
* Chew some nonpeppermint gum after the meal.
Heartburn Triggers
Last but not least, don't forget to recognize the key triggers of heartburn. Some you can avoid, some you cannot.

• Pregnancy
• Eating a large, especially fatty meal
• Tomato sauces (spaghetti & pizza)
• Lying down after a meal
• Chocolate, peppermint
• Coffee and tea
• Smoking
• Alcohol and carbonated beverages
• Some muscle relaxers and blood pressure medicines
• Excess weight

 

[Californiablonde]

Thanks Lil. My doctor also prescribed a medication that reduces stomach acid so hopefully that will help too. I just picked it up at the pharmacy today and will take my first pill later. Meanwhile my chest pains have been considerably worse lately. It doesn't feel like heartburn at all whatsoever. It literally feels like somebody is taking an knive and stabbing it through my heart. I had to skip my nightly walk last night due to the pain I was in. Hopefully it's just acid reflux and my misery can end soon. I just want to feel healthy again!

 

[Lil]

Acid reflux pain doesn't feel like heartburn. It is often sharp, stabbing pain. It doesn't have to feel like it's coming from deep inside, but like it's just under your skin or ribcage. Laying down may make it worse. So if you skip a walk or something, at least sit, instead of laying down. Moderate activity shouldn't make it better or worse really.

 

[Jabberwockey]

It literally feels like somebody is taking an knive and stabbing it through my heart.

That could simply be a pinched nerve in your back. Been there, done that. Feels fine unless you move a certain way then feels like someone stabbed you.

 

[Californiablonde]

From the medical websites I have read it describes the pain as a burning sensation underneath the breast bone. My pain is actually knife like and it's higher than my ribcage. The pain also radiates down my arms and into my hands. That's what makes me think it's heart related, but I could be wrong.

 

[Jabberwockey]

A pinched nerve in your back will do that as well. Go to your chiropractor and see if that doesn't help.

 

[Lil]

Your doctor already ruled out heart-related, right? Other than the fact that you still have pain, there's no reason to think she's wrong and you have other reasons for the pain. Jabber's right. It could be a pinched nerve. I've also had that feeling, like someone is stabbing me from back to front. But I'm telling you the most common type of pain from acid reflux is a sharp, stabbing pain. Not the burning you associate with heartburn. It can be anywhere from below your breast, to the center of your chest, to your underarm and your shoulder.

In fact, a burning or crushing pain, like someone is standing on your chest, that's more likely to be cardiac.

 

[BusynMember]

Medical websites are not your friend!!

 

[Lil]

Medical websites are not your friend!!

You are so right. I was looking up femoral hernia repair today and all the stuff that could go wrong, etc. I actually just went on to see what type of hernia it was and if there were other treatments besides surgery. Instead I see all these complications (Everything from not being able to pee - to death!) and one said recovery time was a MONTH! My Doctor said he had his done on Friday and was back to work Monday.

Yeah...I'll just stay off now and wait to see what the surgeon says.

 

[svengandhi]

Add me to the list of women who have gone to the hospital for chest pains and wound up having acid reflux. The chest pain was SO bad I thought I was dying... I actually wound up having a hiatal hernia and since that was repaired the acid reflux is pretty much gone. I also had a chronic cough when I had acid reflux and I have never smoked,

As for the pantepopozol (sic?), I have a sort of funny story. My aunt, who died 14 months ago at age 92, was taken to the hospital about a year before her death because she was complaining of chest pain. Her blood work tested positive for marijuana! I was freaking out because my friend who worked for me as an aide to my aunt smoked occasionally, though I didn't think she'd do it around my aunt or share it with her. The hospital was threatening to call APS and told me to wait in the lounge. While I was sitting there, I picked up all of the medical pamphlets to read and, sure enough, one of them said that pantepropzol or whatever can cause a false positive for pot, especially in the elderly. So be careful, even though you're young!

Does your insurance require a referral before you can see a specialist? Does your doctor have a covering physician? Back in the day, the pediatrician I used at the time refused to give me an ENT referral for Difficult Child, who was 6 months old and on his 4th or 5th ear infection. I waited till my doctor was out and called the covering doctor, who gave me the referral. I had the appointment done and over before the pediatrician was back from his vacation. Difficult Child wound up having the first of three sets of tubes placed at 9 months of age. If you can, bypass your doctor.