Oh man... - ThinnerTimes

Midntsgirl · 05-09-2007, 09:06 PM

It's been forever and a day since I last logged in. SO much has been going on. Too much to get into now as I have my transcription for 17 clinics to do yet before I can go to bed. But have a quick question...after surgery (almost 3 years post-op now) my tummy would hurt so bad. I spoke to Kelly and she told me to try OTC acid reducers. They worked for a while, then the pain came back. Spoke to my PCP and he put me on a prescription proton pump inhibitor, no more pain. Then maybe a year later, the pain returned. Talked to my PCP again and he put me one something else stronger. Well, here it is alomst a year since he put me on that and the pain has begun to come back in spurts. This started Sunday. Still taking my meds like I'm supposed to be. Like I said, it doesn't hurt all the time, but when I don't eat anything for a few hours...it starts, but isn't as severe as before and it will go away. Any ideas?? Any clues as to what might be causing it? No signs of an ulcer that I can see. Just kind of worried. Thanks for any advice anyone may have.

pambragg · 05-10-2007, 07:22 AM

Hey sweetie, good to see you back but sorry to hear about your problem. Have they tested you for an ulcer yet?? I would think they would to at least rule that out. Sounds like a possibility. I had ulcers years ago and they were able to clear them up on meds over a period of time. Let me know what you find out. Hugs to you my friend. It's been too long, we need to get together!

Midntsgirl · 05-10-2007, 07:33 AM

I had an upper GI the last time they changed my meds (THAT was cool to see!) and there were no signs of an ulcer. Sure, one could have developed, but who knows?? I'll have to go my PCP again and ask for something stronger if this doesn't go away. Was thinking that maybe it was due to something I ate, but I eat chili all the time without a problem. Too much stress could be a contributing factor too I suppose.
Thanks Pam! You're a love! I'll keep you posted!

AlabamaChick · 05-10-2007, 07:55 AM

Brenda, I can tell you from the past few weeks that it may be stress. I have a pissy pouch anyway and had an ulcer right after surgery, but I did get better after my ulcer healed as far as pain, but I have been under TREMENDOUS stress working two full time jobs for months and trying to decide which one I wanted to let go and which would be the best for my future and it almost drove me nuts. My pouch has been hurting off and on for weeks and last week I was SOOO sick with my pouch hurting and burning that it would double me over at times and I would even sit and cry with it because it hurt so bad and my nerves were shot because of the pain from it. It was almost constant and would even wake me up when I did get to sleep. Then, I got to the point I was so exhausted (6 hours sleep in 2 days and broken up into intervals and not straight sleep) that I just had to make a decision. I quit one of the jobs on Thursday last week and by Saturday my pouch stopped hurting and I have not even had a twinge since then. I think I was so stressed that I was about to give myself another ulcer! So I really feel that we can make ourselves sick with stress. Maybe you should try to destress yourself some and see if it helps like it did for me. I hope you feel better soon. It sucks to have that pain!

P.S. Are you a medical transcriptionist too?

fitbefore40 · 05-10-2007, 02:50 PM

I had an ulcer 3 months post op and it's been healed for a while, but I still take Protonix (I don't know what KIND of acid/reflux med it is, but it works). When I'm in a no stress environment at work - I take Protonix once every 3 days . . . but during stressful times, I have to take it daily. Right now I'm getting ready to have plastic surgery and the pressure to finish stuff at work is severe . . . and my stomach started hurting everyday that I didn't take protonix . .. that was enough for me. I'm feeling fine now!

Midntsgirl · 05-10-2007, 06:56 PM

Yeah it REALLY SUCKS to have the pain! I think (or should I say HOPE & PRAY) that it was just stress. Today I've been okay (just slight twinges of dull pain here and there) and I'm sure that tomorrow (after I sleep most of the day away) I will feel back to my normal happy self. I *DID* realize just recently that when my tummy hurts, I have been under more stress than usual... WOW...who'd a thunk it??

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlabamaChick

P.S. Are you a medical transcriptionist too?

AlabamaChick, I most certainly am a medical transcriptionist! (*GRIN*) I do transcription for a radiologist. My sister got me into it (it's ALL her fault) and I do it from home after my other job. I don't get near as much as I would in the real world, but what I get is pretty decent. It helps pay the bills. And the funny thing is I have not had ONE day of medical training and I can spell those long words! HAHA...imagine a dumb truck driver spelling words like spondylolisthesis!!

AlabamaChick · 05-11-2007, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midntsgirl

HAHA...imagine a dumb truck driver spelling words like spondylolisthesis!!

ROFL yeah......and how bout dysdiadochokinesia!

I work from home also. My clinics and hopitals are in New York City, so obviously I work at home. I type for some you may have heard of.......Lennox Hill Hospital (If anything drastic is on the news from NY, you will see their ambulances everyday), Beth Israel Medical Center, Maimonides Medical Center, Hospital for Special Surgeries, Rusk Institute, Mt. Sinai, Hospital for Joint Diseases, and the list goes on. My love is for orthopedic surgeons, but I do some pain management for orthopedic problems (the regular kind) and then some psychiatric pain management (which is VERY interesting!) I also do neurology, neurosurgery, and radiology. Did that for years at a clinic here where I live. It's interesting how orthopedics and neurosurgey sorta go side by side. Then there is oncology, which I HATE with a passion, but if it makes money.....I'll type it I guess. LOL I've been doing this for......ummmmmmm.....20 years? Shewwwww...time flies! That made me feel OLD! But I get paid more than I could EVER make doing it in this area at a clinic or office, so guess that's why I stick with it. It would be nice to be out around people some though too. Anyway, nice to meet someone else on here that does what I do.

brookscn · 05-11-2007, 11:27 AM

Brenda: Hope you're feeling better soon. It sounds like it's most likely stress related.

Brenda & Trina: How does one get started doing the medical transcription work? I work full-time, but it might be nice to have a side-job from home. Did you go to college (I see that our local community college has a program in medical transcription). Thanks.

Dyann · 05-11-2007, 11:46 AM

Have you had an ultrasound to look for gallstones?? If the symptoms are bad and not better with meds, even though the UGI was normal, and upper endoscopy may be needed.

Midntsgirl · 05-11-2007, 12:12 PM

Already had my gall bladder since '99. The problem has pretty much solved itself. I was under a tremendous amount of stress. I was in the midst of moving without any help except from my sister, had a rather stressful argument with my b/f and had to deal with work and lack of sleep...I have started to relax and get back into the swing of things and the problem has stopped being a problem. I think too, I was a little constipated and that contributed to the pain. Thanks for the advice though. I have to learn to chill out and just take things as they come...not wait till everything is right in front of me and panic. I should know better, but I guess this was just my body's way of telling me that I needed a rest.