Morning Michelle,
I was hoping the Pepsid would help you. You should take it with a full glass of water too. I don't know why you woke up at 2 am and were hurting. Maybe it's the IBS and not the Pepsid.
You drank some chamomille tea , burped alot and then went back to sleep. Someone told me that alot of burping is due to the GB not Gerd. Maybe the pain was only from gas and wasn't anything else? I don't know much about IBS but maybe thats also a possible reason for the pain. Are you taking Zelnorm for the IBS?
I take the DGL with the Nexium and usually wait the 1 hour although sometimes if I am really hungry it's 45 minutes until I eat.
I didn't do well with Gaviscon , I do better with Mylanta or Maalox with the anti gas simethicone in it. I don't burp much at all with my Gerd, and have always had lots of gas but that's not how it leaves my body...hee hee hee...
I drink chamomille tea too, but only during the day. It's supposed to be soothing. Do you feel any better this morning or is it about the same?
Jamie:)
Yea, I feel better this morning.....It's probably my IBS. I had a very normal BM this morning, though, so I'm happy about that!! It just might be my Gallbladder......because I burp ALOT!!! Not very well, though, with my hiatal hernia. It's kind of hard....but, sometimes it's easy. I drink chamomile tea all day long!! It's soo soothing on my nerves, since I am not on any anti-anxiety med anymore. I couldn't live without it, right now!!
I'm not taking Zelnorm for my type of IBS. That's for IBS-C (constipation). I have IBS-D (diarrhea).....I'm not on anything for my IBS at the moment. I was on Elavil but it made my reflux worse, so I had to stop taking it. I didn't notice a difference, anyway. I don't think it was helping my IBS at all. It just helped me sleep.
Okay, I will take my DGL with my Nexium and see how that goes.......It doesn't upset your stomach??? Sometimes when I take the Nexium, I have to take pepto because it will upset my stomach for about 30 minutes. But by the time the hour rolls around, I am hungry and can eat. My stomach is just all jacked up!!!!
I can't take Mylanta OR Maalox because they both give me horrible, horrible Diarrhea!! I have to take Gaviscon and Pepto. Keeps me from messing up my bowels too much!!
How do you feel, today??? Doing well??? I was thinking about you this morning!!
*Hugs*!!
Michelle :)
I'm not taking Zelnorm for my type of IBS. That's for IBS-C (constipation). I have IBS-D (diarrhea).....I'm not on anything for my IBS at the moment. I was on Elavil but it made my reflux worse, so I had to stop taking it. I didn't notice a difference, anyway. I don't think it was helping my IBS at all. It just helped me sleep.
Okay, I will take my DGL with my Nexium and see how that goes.......It doesn't upset your stomach??? Sometimes when I take the Nexium, I have to take pepto because it will upset my stomach for about 30 minutes. But by the time the hour rolls around, I am hungry and can eat. My stomach is just all jacked up!!!!
I can't take Mylanta OR Maalox because they both give me horrible, horrible Diarrhea!! I have to take Gaviscon and Pepto. Keeps me from messing up my bowels too much!!
How do you feel, today??? Doing well??? I was thinking about you this morning!!
*Hugs*!!
Michelle :)
Hey Michelle,
The Nexium and DGL do not upset my stomach. Not having food in it does though! So I can't wait for that hour to pass so I can eat and begin feeling better. Some days are better than others. Today is an off day for me.
I can go for weeks and feel really good during the day and just a few breakthroughs at night with the gerd. Other times the gerd acts up if I am stressed out. Gerd makes you stressed anyway, since we become so preoccupied with what we eat and how we feel. I do some meditating and that helps me also. And I take the Klonepin up to 3 X a day normally before eating and going to bed at night. it's only a low .5 dosage, the lowest you can get although the Dr offered me a higher dosage.
I don't like taking anything really, and just wish there was something to cure gerd and not just reduce the acids. It can't be the acids that cause gerd as we all have acid in us and there are those that don't have gerd. I think it's an autoimmune disease like Chrons, although I don't think they know that yet. Unless its due to hiatal hernias and or a combination of the weakening of the LES, but not everyone has mechanical problems and still they have gerd...go figure.
So that's how I am today, hope you have a good day and that they only get better for you. BTW, you say it began again for you in August. Do you know what might have triggered it again for you?
Jamie:)
The Nexium and DGL do not upset my stomach. Not having food in it does though! So I can't wait for that hour to pass so I can eat and begin feeling better. Some days are better than others. Today is an off day for me.
I can go for weeks and feel really good during the day and just a few breakthroughs at night with the gerd. Other times the gerd acts up if I am stressed out. Gerd makes you stressed anyway, since we become so preoccupied with what we eat and how we feel. I do some meditating and that helps me also. And I take the Klonepin up to 3 X a day normally before eating and going to bed at night. it's only a low .5 dosage, the lowest you can get although the Dr offered me a higher dosage.
I don't like taking anything really, and just wish there was something to cure gerd and not just reduce the acids. It can't be the acids that cause gerd as we all have acid in us and there are those that don't have gerd. I think it's an autoimmune disease like Chrons, although I don't think they know that yet. Unless its due to hiatal hernias and or a combination of the weakening of the LES, but not everyone has mechanical problems and still they have gerd...go figure.
So that's how I am today, hope you have a good day and that they only get better for you. BTW, you say it began again for you in August. Do you know what might have triggered it again for you?
Jamie:)
My job triggered my IBS and when they put me on the Remeron, that triggered my reflux. I took on 2 jobs and was away from my house from about 8:00am to 10:30-11:00pm!! Not eating right because I had to eat on the road.....I'm a real estate appraiser. Well, not anymore!!! I had to quit both jobs by August. I fell too ill to be able to work and I probably can't get disability, either. So, we're broke, now!! I was making really good money. This sucks!! :(
Anyway, I'm sorry today is not one of your better days!! I am STARVING!!! I took my Nexium at 10:00 and I took the DGL at 10:30 and I'm dying!! I am like you......the longer I have to wait to eat, the worse my stomach feels. I don't know why they make you wait so long before you can eat. And with my IBS, I have to get up at 8:00am and take my Glutamine FIRST THING, before anything.......then an hour later I have to take my Citrucel for my Diarrhea.......then I have to wait another hour before I can take my Nexium AND THEN ANOTHER HOUR after the Nexium to eat!!!!! That's why I can't eat till about 11:00. By then, I have been up for 3 hours and am FAMISHED!!!!!!!! I hate taking all this stuff, too. I wish there was a cure for all of it in ONE PILL!!! That would be nice!
I don't have Chrons disease or Ulcerative Colitis or any inflammation of the colon OR esophagus according to the endoscopy/colonoscopy that I had on November 8th. He took 12 biopsies and NOTHING!!!! Nothing but a hiatal hernia, acid reflux and IBS. Oh, I have also been on birth control pills for 16 years, and they cause the LES to weaken, too. So, the doc thinks they are contributing to my reflux, too. But, with my IBS being so bad right now me and the hubby don't want to conceive for a couple more years.......so I don't know what to do. I don't cycle without the pills. I never have.......Doc put me on them at 14 years old.
What's on the menu for you this morning??? I think I better stick with what's safe for my IBS right now......I will have a mini bagel and cream of wheat, I guess.....with a slippery elm pill afterward. They help soothe my tummy, too..... Have you ever taken slippery elm??? It is soothing too. So is Marshmallow, but I ran out of that.
Hugs!
Michelle :)
Anyway, I'm sorry today is not one of your better days!! I am STARVING!!! I took my Nexium at 10:00 and I took the DGL at 10:30 and I'm dying!! I am like you......the longer I have to wait to eat, the worse my stomach feels. I don't know why they make you wait so long before you can eat. And with my IBS, I have to get up at 8:00am and take my Glutamine FIRST THING, before anything.......then an hour later I have to take my Citrucel for my Diarrhea.......then I have to wait another hour before I can take my Nexium AND THEN ANOTHER HOUR after the Nexium to eat!!!!! That's why I can't eat till about 11:00. By then, I have been up for 3 hours and am FAMISHED!!!!!!!! I hate taking all this stuff, too. I wish there was a cure for all of it in ONE PILL!!! That would be nice!
I don't have Chrons disease or Ulcerative Colitis or any inflammation of the colon OR esophagus according to the endoscopy/colonoscopy that I had on November 8th. He took 12 biopsies and NOTHING!!!! Nothing but a hiatal hernia, acid reflux and IBS. Oh, I have also been on birth control pills for 16 years, and they cause the LES to weaken, too. So, the doc thinks they are contributing to my reflux, too. But, with my IBS being so bad right now me and the hubby don't want to conceive for a couple more years.......so I don't know what to do. I don't cycle without the pills. I never have.......Doc put me on them at 14 years old.
What's on the menu for you this morning??? I think I better stick with what's safe for my IBS right now......I will have a mini bagel and cream of wheat, I guess.....with a slippery elm pill afterward. They help soothe my tummy, too..... Have you ever taken slippery elm??? It is soothing too. So is Marshmallow, but I ran out of that.
Hugs!
Michelle :)
Well, the stress of work and the Remeron really did it to you then. Hope you can get it all under control again. I know how frustrating it all can be. I work from home, have my own business developing software. So at least I don't have the stress of having to go out to work. Don't think I could handle that anymore on top of the Gerd.
I have never tried Slippery Elm or marshmallow, but might give it a try. At this point, I think I am willing to try just about anything.
Morning breakfast was Ensure, and a roll. Lunch will be out at Red Lobster. I can eat salmon with no problems... so off I go...
Have a great day Michelle, Speak to later,
*Hugs*
Jamie:)
I have never tried Slippery Elm or marshmallow, but might give it a try. At this point, I think I am willing to try just about anything.
Morning breakfast was Ensure, and a roll. Lunch will be out at Red Lobster. I can eat salmon with no problems... so off I go...
Have a great day Michelle, Speak to later,
*Hugs*
Jamie:)
Red Lobster!?!? Oh, wow.......I can only dream of eating out! I haven't eaten at a restaurant since July!!! I can't drink ensure for breakfast......I tried that last week. It upset my tummy terribly bad!!! I can't drink it at all right now...I tried to drink it really slowly throughout the day with food and everything and it's too harsh on my IBS I guess. I could drink it just fine last year. I guess my system is just too sensitive right now.
That's awesome that you have your own business! I wish I could develop software......I don't have a clue. I am not very computer savy.....
OH, well......my tummy is not holding my breakfast very well at all.....I'm gonna go lay down for a while!
Talk to ya later on!! Let me know how lunch went!!
*hugs*
Michelle :)
That's awesome that you have your own business! I wish I could develop software......I don't have a clue. I am not very computer savy.....
OH, well......my tummy is not holding my breakfast very well at all.....I'm gonna go lay down for a while!
Talk to ya later on!! Let me know how lunch went!!
*hugs*
Michelle :)
Ahhhh, had rainbow trout (flame broiled) squash and a baked potato...
It was great. Actually felt better after eating, so maybe I didn't have enough food in my stomach earlier.
I also went through a stage where I couldn't eat out, but now as long as I am careful I can. For me in the beginning it was cream of wheat and that was about all I could eat. Went on like that for quite a bit.
My sister has IBS-C and Gerd. She uses that Aciphex as she burps alot. So maybe it is the IBS that does that ( burping) she found the Aciphex to work, but doesn't take it all the time, only when the Gerd becomes active and that is normally when she is stressed out.
Talk to you later!
*HUGS*
Jamie:)
It was great. Actually felt better after eating, so maybe I didn't have enough food in my stomach earlier.
I also went through a stage where I couldn't eat out, but now as long as I am careful I can. For me in the beginning it was cream of wheat and that was about all I could eat. Went on like that for quite a bit.
My sister has IBS-C and Gerd. She uses that Aciphex as she burps alot. So maybe it is the IBS that does that ( burping) she found the Aciphex to work, but doesn't take it all the time, only when the Gerd becomes active and that is normally when she is stressed out.
Talk to you later!
*HUGS*
Jamie:)
OH, you lucky!! I know the feeling of not having enough food in the belly!! My tummy has been sooo empty all day long....... I finally ate my 2nd bowl of cream of wheat and a mini bagel at 6:00. I also ate a Luna bar!!! It's sitting okay......making me feel too full, but it's going to go on through the system, I think. YEAAAAA!!!! I'm so excited. I need the nutrition......There isn't much nutrition in the cream of wheat and mini bagel. Not enough to sustain life, anyway!!
AWWWW, You give me hope.....you're the only other person that I have ever met that could only eat cream of wheat once-upon-a-time, besides me.....I thought I was all alone on this one. How long did you have to go without eating at a restaurant?? Just to give me an idea......How long
It probably is the IBS, if your sister is like that, too. I feel like the gas is so bad, sometimes, that it's pushing the acid out of my stomach. Or I will get trapped gas, too. Trapped gas makes me very nauseated. Thank God, I haven't had that problem too much lately since I have been taking my Primal Defense, again. It really helps with the bloating and gas, but I have to be on it for a long time before I start noticing the difference. I got lazy and stopped taking it about 6 months ago and that's probably why my IBS came back, too, on top of the stress of both of my jobs!! I literally can never come off of the Primal Defense ever again. I have to stay on top of it, this time. I don't ever want to feel like this again!!!!!!
How are you feeling, this evening. I'm kinda bloated......but, I think my reflux is better since I started taking the DGL. Do you just eat plain black licorice, too??? I bought some of it, today. I ate 2 pieces and it didn't seem to bother me.
*Hugs*!!
Michelle :)
AWWWW, You give me hope.....you're the only other person that I have ever met that could only eat cream of wheat once-upon-a-time, besides me.....I thought I was all alone on this one. How long did you have to go without eating at a restaurant?? Just to give me an idea......How long
It probably is the IBS, if your sister is like that, too. I feel like the gas is so bad, sometimes, that it's pushing the acid out of my stomach. Or I will get trapped gas, too. Trapped gas makes me very nauseated. Thank God, I haven't had that problem too much lately since I have been taking my Primal Defense, again. It really helps with the bloating and gas, but I have to be on it for a long time before I start noticing the difference. I got lazy and stopped taking it about 6 months ago and that's probably why my IBS came back, too, on top of the stress of both of my jobs!! I literally can never come off of the Primal Defense ever again. I have to stay on top of it, this time. I don't ever want to feel like this again!!!!!!
How are you feeling, this evening. I'm kinda bloated......but, I think my reflux is better since I started taking the DGL. Do you just eat plain black licorice, too??? I bought some of it, today. I ate 2 pieces and it didn't seem to bother me.
*Hugs*!!
Michelle :)
Hey Michelle,
I went for about 5 months before I could eat out at a local restaurant. The gerd was so bad, I felt the acid up through my nose and in my mouth..it was that bad....then slowly day by day it started to improve some. I am better than I was 4 years ago, but I would still say I am a long way from normal.
Just very tired this evening, I have an 81 year old mother that I had to go food shopping for and I just woke up after an hour nap. For some reason even if my gerd is acting up, a good nap calms me down and relaxes my stomach.
I eat black licorice ,twizzlers. make sure it's not just anise flavored but actually has licorice extract in it. It does help calm the stomach, and the DGL is pretty much the same thing packed into a chewable tablet. Watch the sorbitol and mannitol though as sweetners as they can cause gas and D....
Later Gator!
*HUgs*
Jamie:)
I went for about 5 months before I could eat out at a local restaurant. The gerd was so bad, I felt the acid up through my nose and in my mouth..it was that bad....then slowly day by day it started to improve some. I am better than I was 4 years ago, but I would still say I am a long way from normal.
Just very tired this evening, I have an 81 year old mother that I had to go food shopping for and I just woke up after an hour nap. For some reason even if my gerd is acting up, a good nap calms me down and relaxes my stomach.
I eat black licorice ,twizzlers. make sure it's not just anise flavored but actually has licorice extract in it. It does help calm the stomach, and the DGL is pretty much the same thing packed into a chewable tablet. Watch the sorbitol and mannitol though as sweetners as they can cause gas and D....
Later Gator!
*HUgs*
Jamie:)
Just out of curiosity, what state do you live in? I am in Florida.
OH, crap! I got the cheap kind......I don't think it's got any licorice in it at all. Uh oh......we'll see how that goes in the morning!! I better look harder next time, huh??!! Where do you get it from???
I love Florida!!! I lived in Miami for 2 years! But, then I joined the Navy and just got out in Sep 2003. I got sick a month later!! Can you imagine that??? Me and the hubby live in Georgia, now. 18 miles from Atlanta. So, we're only 1 state away!!! Where do you live in Fl??? My cousin and 2 of my aunts live in Winter Haven.
Tummy is churning!! :( Time to turn in. I will talk to ya tomorrow!! Thanks for the heads up on the licorice!!!
*Hugs*!!
Michelle
I love Florida!!! I lived in Miami for 2 years! But, then I joined the Navy and just got out in Sep 2003. I got sick a month later!! Can you imagine that??? Me and the hubby live in Georgia, now. 18 miles from Atlanta. So, we're only 1 state away!!! Where do you live in Fl??? My cousin and 2 of my aunts live in Winter Haven.
Tummy is churning!! :( Time to turn in. I will talk to ya tomorrow!! Thanks for the heads up on the licorice!!!
*Hugs*!!
Michelle
Well, the package says it's got licorice extract AND anise flavor. Is that bad??? And Molasses.....that's about it.
Yea, or Nae???
Have a good night!!
*Hugs!*
Michelle :)
Yea, or Nae???
Have a good night!!
*Hugs!*
Michelle :)
Morning Michelle!
Georgia....I was in Atlanta a few years back, checked out the Alpharetta area and we had thought about moving there. But it was just too congested and expensive at the time so we reconsidered. We went to Asheville NC in September on our vacation and loved it there. So beautiful up in the mountains, we are thinking about moving there.
I know where Winter Haven is, I am in New Port Richey which is about 40 min north of Tampa. It used to be a retirement area here, but is changing rapidy. It's getting very congested here too, and the prices of homes in Florida in general have gone through the roof!
So you were in the Navy..I guess I should thank you for your service in that case, since I am very proud of all those who served our country in any way. Just sorry you got sick not long after you left the service. It should have been a time for you to enjoy and have fun after your tour was over. Even if you stayed stateside.
Anyway, back to the licorice candy. Make sure it has real licorice in it. Often they flavor it with Anise, but then it doesn't have the healing properties that you need. It's very anti-inflamatory. If you want to order from a place online there is a store that sells real licorice...it's called sweetenergy.com
The black licorice is the one that has medicinal qualities. Search under the old fashioned candies and it will be there.
I would stay away from Anise flavored as most likely the anise flavored has very little licorice extract in it. Probably won't hurt you, but most likely won't help either. Molasses is loaded with iron, which isn't bad, and gives it some color, but make sure it has Licorice in it.
Talk to you later!
*HUGS*
Jamie:)
Georgia....I was in Atlanta a few years back, checked out the Alpharetta area and we had thought about moving there. But it was just too congested and expensive at the time so we reconsidered. We went to Asheville NC in September on our vacation and loved it there. So beautiful up in the mountains, we are thinking about moving there.
I know where Winter Haven is, I am in New Port Richey which is about 40 min north of Tampa. It used to be a retirement area here, but is changing rapidy. It's getting very congested here too, and the prices of homes in Florida in general have gone through the roof!
So you were in the Navy..I guess I should thank you for your service in that case, since I am very proud of all those who served our country in any way. Just sorry you got sick not long after you left the service. It should have been a time for you to enjoy and have fun after your tour was over. Even if you stayed stateside.
Anyway, back to the licorice candy. Make sure it has real licorice in it. Often they flavor it with Anise, but then it doesn't have the healing properties that you need. It's very anti-inflamatory. If you want to order from a place online there is a store that sells real licorice...it's called sweetenergy.com
The black licorice is the one that has medicinal qualities. Search under the old fashioned candies and it will be there.
I would stay away from Anise flavored as most likely the anise flavored has very little licorice extract in it. Probably won't hurt you, but most likely won't help either. Molasses is loaded with iron, which isn't bad, and gives it some color, but make sure it has Licorice in it.
Talk to you later!
*HUGS*
Jamie:)
Hey Jamie!
I didn't get a lick of sleep last night with my reflux! I ate crackers before I laid down.....I couldn't help it! I was dying!!! Couldn't sleep anyway because of the hunger pains so I got up and ate crackers.....took a pepcid and everything.....pepto, gaviscon.......didn't help! I was up all night long choking to death. OH, I won't ever do that again!!
I'm so tired!!! Thank you for the website for the licorice!!
Me and my hubby are moving to NC by the springtime because I cannot handle the humidity down here. It hurts my IBS, bad!!! I'm from NC.....I lived in Biscoe, NC from age 10 and went to college at UNCW in Wilmington, NC. I moved down to Miami when I was about 22 and went into the Navy at 24. I haven't lived in NC ever since. I miss it sooo much. All my family is up there. I can't wait to move back. Well, hubby is getting a transfer within his company, so we will actually be moving more north to Oxford. It's almost at the VA border. But, that's fine with me.....even less humidity!! I wanna be waaaaaay north!!! I love the south but I can't handle the heat anymore...We'll be 1 1/2 hours from my parents, in Oxford. So much better than 7 hours, now.
Did you get sleep last night??? I sure do hope so!!
*Hugs*
Michelle :)
I didn't get a lick of sleep last night with my reflux! I ate crackers before I laid down.....I couldn't help it! I was dying!!! Couldn't sleep anyway because of the hunger pains so I got up and ate crackers.....took a pepcid and everything.....pepto, gaviscon.......didn't help! I was up all night long choking to death. OH, I won't ever do that again!!
I'm so tired!!! Thank you for the website for the licorice!!
Me and my hubby are moving to NC by the springtime because I cannot handle the humidity down here. It hurts my IBS, bad!!! I'm from NC.....I lived in Biscoe, NC from age 10 and went to college at UNCW in Wilmington, NC. I moved down to Miami when I was about 22 and went into the Navy at 24. I haven't lived in NC ever since. I miss it sooo much. All my family is up there. I can't wait to move back. Well, hubby is getting a transfer within his company, so we will actually be moving more north to Oxford. It's almost at the VA border. But, that's fine with me.....even less humidity!! I wanna be waaaaaay north!!! I love the south but I can't handle the heat anymore...We'll be 1 1/2 hours from my parents, in Oxford. So much better than 7 hours, now.
Did you get sleep last night??? I sure do hope so!!
*Hugs*
Michelle :)
Morning Michelle!
Sorry you didn't sleep last night. I do remember when my Gerd was so bad in the beginning that I felt sick to my stomach and it woke me up and kept me up most nights.
Hard to live like that. But you have to believe that it will get better. It will.
I also know it's hard not to stress over it, as it affects the quality of our lives, but as you know the stressing over it doesn't help at all with the IBS or Gerd. Easier said than done. Have you tried any meditation at all? There are some healing meditations out there that might help you relax enough so that you can get some sleep.
I tried the crackers too, but found that lying down after eating them only made it worse for me. Not sure if the salt on the crackers helped either. What does your Dr say about the terrible hunger pangs? Does he offer you any advise on what you can do about it? Obviously you have been examined well and had all the tests so you do not have an ulcer of the stomach or inflamation in the esophagus.
I wonder if your diet is exacerbating the problem. Cream of wheat is good for you, but you can't live on that and bagles indefinitely. What about buying a vitamix? even a used one.. I found that because I had a hard time digesting some foods, that the vitamix broke it all down before I ate it and that did help quite a bit. Check out vitamix.com and read up on it. It's a bit expensive, but you need to be healthy and it might be worth the investment. I make smoothies and add veggies to it. It's an incredible machine, and breaks it all down so it's one less step your stomach has to do. I guess I should have tried adding liver to my smoothies, but now think that's exactly what I might do now come to think of it. Wonder how it will taste...
I also hate the heat in Florida...no, not the heat, the humidity...it's just horrible in the summers. Not to mention having to run from hurricanes , and the cost of my homeowners insurance DOUBLED from last year...and is expected to go up even more this year. We have considered moving before this summer comes around. I loved NC, especially Asheville and the mountains. People were so friendly and warm to us while we were there. With my business it's easy for me to move since I do everything from the internet. Hubby sells cars, which he has been doing for 25 years but it's time to move on to a different thing, on his own now. Not sure of what, but we are thinking of what he can do on his own. I got into computers very late. I was 42 when I bought my first PC. I just got hooked on it and then started to teach myself programming. Just got my degree in computer information management this year at the ripe old age of 50. Just something I felt I wanted to do for myself. Before computers I worked on and off in Salons as a nail tech and briefly owned my own salon. Sold real estate years ago in Rochester NY when we lived there. Been in Florida since 1985 now. Originally I am from Long Island. But don't miss it there, and no family there anymore either.
Guess I am rambling.....:)
Well, try to take a nap if you can today and get some sleep. It's very important to rest as that helps you heal. Did you get the TV pillow yet? You might want to try that, sitting up more when sleeping will help you quite a bit. Think positive thoughts, just think of positive words while sitting up in a chair with your eyes closed, feet on the ground, hands relaxed on your legs and back and head aligned. Just breath in the white healing light and exhale the old, the used back into the cosmos to be renewed again. Force the white healing light down deep into the affected areas and feel the warmth as it heals you. Think good thoughts only.
*HUGS*
Jamie:)
Sorry you didn't sleep last night. I do remember when my Gerd was so bad in the beginning that I felt sick to my stomach and it woke me up and kept me up most nights.
Hard to live like that. But you have to believe that it will get better. It will.
I also know it's hard not to stress over it, as it affects the quality of our lives, but as you know the stressing over it doesn't help at all with the IBS or Gerd. Easier said than done. Have you tried any meditation at all? There are some healing meditations out there that might help you relax enough so that you can get some sleep.
I tried the crackers too, but found that lying down after eating them only made it worse for me. Not sure if the salt on the crackers helped either. What does your Dr say about the terrible hunger pangs? Does he offer you any advise on what you can do about it? Obviously you have been examined well and had all the tests so you do not have an ulcer of the stomach or inflamation in the esophagus.
I wonder if your diet is exacerbating the problem. Cream of wheat is good for you, but you can't live on that and bagles indefinitely. What about buying a vitamix? even a used one.. I found that because I had a hard time digesting some foods, that the vitamix broke it all down before I ate it and that did help quite a bit. Check out vitamix.com and read up on it. It's a bit expensive, but you need to be healthy and it might be worth the investment. I make smoothies and add veggies to it. It's an incredible machine, and breaks it all down so it's one less step your stomach has to do. I guess I should have tried adding liver to my smoothies, but now think that's exactly what I might do now come to think of it. Wonder how it will taste...
I also hate the heat in Florida...no, not the heat, the humidity...it's just horrible in the summers. Not to mention having to run from hurricanes , and the cost of my homeowners insurance DOUBLED from last year...and is expected to go up even more this year. We have considered moving before this summer comes around. I loved NC, especially Asheville and the mountains. People were so friendly and warm to us while we were there. With my business it's easy for me to move since I do everything from the internet. Hubby sells cars, which he has been doing for 25 years but it's time to move on to a different thing, on his own now. Not sure of what, but we are thinking of what he can do on his own. I got into computers very late. I was 42 when I bought my first PC. I just got hooked on it and then started to teach myself programming. Just got my degree in computer information management this year at the ripe old age of 50. Just something I felt I wanted to do for myself. Before computers I worked on and off in Salons as a nail tech and briefly owned my own salon. Sold real estate years ago in Rochester NY when we lived there. Been in Florida since 1985 now. Originally I am from Long Island. But don't miss it there, and no family there anymore either.
Guess I am rambling.....:)
Well, try to take a nap if you can today and get some sleep. It's very important to rest as that helps you heal. Did you get the TV pillow yet? You might want to try that, sitting up more when sleeping will help you quite a bit. Think positive thoughts, just think of positive words while sitting up in a chair with your eyes closed, feet on the ground, hands relaxed on your legs and back and head aligned. Just breath in the white healing light and exhale the old, the used back into the cosmos to be renewed again. Force the white healing light down deep into the affected areas and feel the warmth as it heals you. Think good thoughts only.
*HUGS*
Jamie:)
Good Morning Jamie!!
When your GERD was really bad and kept you up at night, too, did the doctor give you anything to sleep???? I'm dying over here......I need sleep in order for my body to heal!!! I have some phenegran, maybe I will take one tonight so I can rest. Have you tried Dramamine??? Or Benadryl??? I read about that on the internet for sleep problems. That maybe dramamine or Benadryl would help. I haven't tried it because I'm afraid it will mess up my reflux.
I might check into one of those Vitamixes......they are ungodly expensive!!! I don't know if my husband would go for that or not. He would probably prefer that I just get the surgery to fix the hiatal hernia. :)
I feel really bad for you guys having to run from all those hurricanes!! I got really lucky while I was down there. We didn't have 1 single hurricane the whole time I lived there! Amazing!! However, when I lived in Wilmington in 1997, I ran from 5 hurricanes and Fran got me. Fran took everything I owned and spread it all over the neighborhood. I lost everything. But, it's just stuff!! I made it out of there with my life and that's all that matters, right??!!
I am doing the subliminal hypnotherapy CD's for IBS and I am on day 2! Yesterday was awesome. I didn't know my body could relax that much. I loved it. But, I listened to it again last night and didn't respond so well that time. I think I'm only supposed to listen to it 1 time a day, only. After I listened to it the second time, my body retaliated and started acting up on me. So, I will wait till tonight to listen to it. It's a 100 day program and it has about a 90% success rate. I hope they work. They are my only hope of breaking free from this IBS. Hopefully, it will help my reflux, too. I'm more concerned about my reflux right now than I am the IBS, really.
Mornings are my worst. I'm so starving by the time I take my Nexium that by the time I can actually eat, I have lost my appetite. The time period between taking the Nexium and being able to eat really screws me up!!! It's the same thing every single day. I feel like I could eat a cow when I wake up and by the time I can actually eat, I'm feel like I'm going to throw up everything I put in my mouth. Any suggestions???? I don't know how to get over this. Last time this happened to me, the same thing. Whenever my acid reflux healed ( took a year!) and I could stop taking the medicine and eat whenever I wanted, I started gaining weight back again really quickly. I could eat with no problems and didn't ever feel sick. So, until it heals again......I guess I will stay skinny. I don't do well on meds.....any meds. I have been through 9 prescriptions so far between the IBS and reflux. Lets see:
Levsin
Pamine Forte
Elavil and some other tri-cyclic (can't remember the name)
Remeron
Buspar
Protonix
Prilosec
Prevacid
And Finally Nexium!!!
When is it gonna end???? I wish they could find an IBS med that would work. The Pamine (for spasms) dried me out so bad, I thought I was going to have to go to ER. I had NO saliva in my mouth or throat!!! I couldn't hardly swallow.....I was choking to death!!! The Levsin worked really well for my spasms but it triggered my reflux because it relaxed the LES too much......what in the world am I gonna do???? Now, I have nothing for my IBS spasms......I still have the Pamine and the doctor still wants me to take that. So, maybe I could cut them in half and try 1/2 of one instead of taking 2 whole ones. ????? It helps reduce stomach acid, too......that's why the doctor wants me to stay on it. Just at 1/2 dosage. I don't know.....that episode pretty much scared the daylights out of me!!!
I am going to go get my TV pillow, today!!! I really need it. I fell asleep sitting up last night and woke up flat on my back with BAD REFLUX!!!!!!!! It never went away......
Postive thoughts!!!! No negativity today......even though I'm sooooo tired!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for your support. You're a godsend!!!
*Hugs*!!
Michelle :)
When your GERD was really bad and kept you up at night, too, did the doctor give you anything to sleep???? I'm dying over here......I need sleep in order for my body to heal!!! I have some phenegran, maybe I will take one tonight so I can rest. Have you tried Dramamine??? Or Benadryl??? I read about that on the internet for sleep problems. That maybe dramamine or Benadryl would help. I haven't tried it because I'm afraid it will mess up my reflux.
I might check into one of those Vitamixes......they are ungodly expensive!!! I don't know if my husband would go for that or not. He would probably prefer that I just get the surgery to fix the hiatal hernia. :)
I feel really bad for you guys having to run from all those hurricanes!! I got really lucky while I was down there. We didn't have 1 single hurricane the whole time I lived there! Amazing!! However, when I lived in Wilmington in 1997, I ran from 5 hurricanes and Fran got me. Fran took everything I owned and spread it all over the neighborhood. I lost everything. But, it's just stuff!! I made it out of there with my life and that's all that matters, right??!!
I am doing the subliminal hypnotherapy CD's for IBS and I am on day 2! Yesterday was awesome. I didn't know my body could relax that much. I loved it. But, I listened to it again last night and didn't respond so well that time. I think I'm only supposed to listen to it 1 time a day, only. After I listened to it the second time, my body retaliated and started acting up on me. So, I will wait till tonight to listen to it. It's a 100 day program and it has about a 90% success rate. I hope they work. They are my only hope of breaking free from this IBS. Hopefully, it will help my reflux, too. I'm more concerned about my reflux right now than I am the IBS, really.
Mornings are my worst. I'm so starving by the time I take my Nexium that by the time I can actually eat, I have lost my appetite. The time period between taking the Nexium and being able to eat really screws me up!!! It's the same thing every single day. I feel like I could eat a cow when I wake up and by the time I can actually eat, I'm feel like I'm going to throw up everything I put in my mouth. Any suggestions???? I don't know how to get over this. Last time this happened to me, the same thing. Whenever my acid reflux healed ( took a year!) and I could stop taking the medicine and eat whenever I wanted, I started gaining weight back again really quickly. I could eat with no problems and didn't ever feel sick. So, until it heals again......I guess I will stay skinny. I don't do well on meds.....any meds. I have been through 9 prescriptions so far between the IBS and reflux. Lets see:
Levsin
Pamine Forte
Elavil and some other tri-cyclic (can't remember the name)
Remeron
Buspar
Protonix
Prilosec
Prevacid
And Finally Nexium!!!
When is it gonna end???? I wish they could find an IBS med that would work. The Pamine (for spasms) dried me out so bad, I thought I was going to have to go to ER. I had NO saliva in my mouth or throat!!! I couldn't hardly swallow.....I was choking to death!!! The Levsin worked really well for my spasms but it triggered my reflux because it relaxed the LES too much......what in the world am I gonna do???? Now, I have nothing for my IBS spasms......I still have the Pamine and the doctor still wants me to take that. So, maybe I could cut them in half and try 1/2 of one instead of taking 2 whole ones. ????? It helps reduce stomach acid, too......that's why the doctor wants me to stay on it. Just at 1/2 dosage. I don't know.....that episode pretty much scared the daylights out of me!!!
I am going to go get my TV pillow, today!!! I really need it. I fell asleep sitting up last night and woke up flat on my back with BAD REFLUX!!!!!!!! It never went away......
Postive thoughts!!!! No negativity today......even though I'm sooooo tired!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for your support. You're a godsend!!!
*Hugs*!!
Michelle :)
Hey Michelle,
The surgery for the hiatal hernia can be done by laproscope, but even people with hiatal hernias don't always have gerd. Did your Dr tell you the reflux is due to the hernia and did he offer surgery? There is an alternative to surgery for Hiatal hernia it is a type of massage therapy called NST. Some have had success with it.
They have also found that a certian acupuncture point on the wrist actually tightens the LES. This was reported recently in the news and they are currently looking into it more.
Have you ever taken Reglan? That is a prokinetic medication that tightens the LES. I had a hard time with it as it made me agitated and depressed, but it might work for you and give you that nightime relief you need.
Just trying to think of ways you can get some relief. If the gerd was silent for awhile and you could eat anything, but still had the hernia, then did something happen to the hernia? Did it get larger?
I use the Klonepin to help me relax enough to fall asleep. It has worked well for me most of the time and does not seem to aggravate the reflux. I have not tried otc sleep meds, as i don't know how they will interact with the nexium and klonepin so I stay away from them.
Looks like you have tried quite a few drugs for the IBS and Reflux. I took protonix too , but it did little for the reflux. Prilosec is basically Nexium...made by the same company. Only difference is the OTC dosage is 1/2 the script and it converts in the body to nexium and takes a bit longer to work. Did your Dr tell you to take 2 nexium? Thought you mentioned that, but I didn't know you could take more than 40 MG daily. Could you space out the nexium, 20mg during the day and 20 at night? Something is happening to us in the evenings and both of us seem to be troubled by 8 pm...even if the day was good. Interesting and I wonder why? Maybe we are not digesting the food from the day and by 8 pm it's just beginning to become digested? Just ideas but no answers.
Get that BedRest Pillow or TV pillow. Walmart usually carries them. Try really hard to sleep sitting up. It made a world of difference for me. I am much better now than I was before I decided to do that. My days are normally better now, and can go weeks feeling normal ( well nearly normal as I still have to watch what I eat and sleep sitting up) Keep this in mind too..even when you heal, you still have GERD and IBS. Gerd does not go away, there is no cure for it. So you will always have to be careful of what you eat. It might go silent on you, but it's still there. I made that mistake and only wish someone had told me of that. I would have been much more careful about what I ate.
I will be thinking of you today and praying you get some much needed rest.
*Hugs*
Jamie:)
The surgery for the hiatal hernia can be done by laproscope, but even people with hiatal hernias don't always have gerd. Did your Dr tell you the reflux is due to the hernia and did he offer surgery? There is an alternative to surgery for Hiatal hernia it is a type of massage therapy called NST. Some have had success with it.
They have also found that a certian acupuncture point on the wrist actually tightens the LES. This was reported recently in the news and they are currently looking into it more.
Have you ever taken Reglan? That is a prokinetic medication that tightens the LES. I had a hard time with it as it made me agitated and depressed, but it might work for you and give you that nightime relief you need.
Just trying to think of ways you can get some relief. If the gerd was silent for awhile and you could eat anything, but still had the hernia, then did something happen to the hernia? Did it get larger?
I use the Klonepin to help me relax enough to fall asleep. It has worked well for me most of the time and does not seem to aggravate the reflux. I have not tried otc sleep meds, as i don't know how they will interact with the nexium and klonepin so I stay away from them.
Looks like you have tried quite a few drugs for the IBS and Reflux. I took protonix too , but it did little for the reflux. Prilosec is basically Nexium...made by the same company. Only difference is the OTC dosage is 1/2 the script and it converts in the body to nexium and takes a bit longer to work. Did your Dr tell you to take 2 nexium? Thought you mentioned that, but I didn't know you could take more than 40 MG daily. Could you space out the nexium, 20mg during the day and 20 at night? Something is happening to us in the evenings and both of us seem to be troubled by 8 pm...even if the day was good. Interesting and I wonder why? Maybe we are not digesting the food from the day and by 8 pm it's just beginning to become digested? Just ideas but no answers.
Get that BedRest Pillow or TV pillow. Walmart usually carries them. Try really hard to sleep sitting up. It made a world of difference for me. I am much better now than I was before I decided to do that. My days are normally better now, and can go weeks feeling normal ( well nearly normal as I still have to watch what I eat and sleep sitting up) Keep this in mind too..even when you heal, you still have GERD and IBS. Gerd does not go away, there is no cure for it. So you will always have to be careful of what you eat. It might go silent on you, but it's still there. I made that mistake and only wish someone had told me of that. I would have been much more careful about what I ate.
I will be thinking of you today and praying you get some much needed rest.
*Hugs*
Jamie:)
Jamie, can you eat eggs?? Or just egg whites?? I boiled some eggs and was just going to try to eat the whites. Would that upset my reflux??
Thank you!!
*Hugs*!
Michelle :)
Thank you!!
*Hugs*!
Michelle :)
Michelle,
you might also want to try poached eggs on toast( and yes , eat the yolk). The eggs scrambled might irritate the gerd, but poached eggs on toast should be ok as should boiled eggs. And eggs have iron and protein so they are good for you.
*Hugs*
Jamie:)
you might also want to try poached eggs on toast( and yes , eat the yolk). The eggs scrambled might irritate the gerd, but poached eggs on toast should be ok as should boiled eggs. And eggs have iron and protein so they are good for you.
*Hugs*
Jamie:)
Thanks, Jamie! I will eat a couple of the boiled eggs and see how I do. Yolks are a major IBS trigger for me, though. Major cramps and backpain, and D attacks!! Not good for me at all......
Yea, the doctor told me my reflux was due to my hiatal hernia. But, he just told me to take Prilosec OTC for it. I told him I couldn't take it anymore and I requested the Nexium, so he gave it to me. He acted like it was no big deal at all......I haven't ever heard of that massage therapy for it. I should look into that. I did some research on my own for Reglan but the doctor never even mentioned it to me. He acts like it's not that bad. But, maybe he will understand how bad it is, now that I keep cancelling my gallbladder hida scan. I have to get the nighttime reflux under control!!!! Yea, when I cancelled my appt the first time, the doctor told me to take 2 40mg Nexium a day. One in the morning and one at bedtime. I am afraid it would actually be too much. I will just stick with the 40mg Nexium one time a day and Pepcid AC and antacids at night. I don't think 2 a day would be good for me, side effect wise. I don't know.....you're right. What's up with us having problems at 8:00pm, no matter how our day went!!?? You might be right about not digesting the food until then. I don't know.......I'm also supposed to be taking that sucralfate before lunch AND at bedtime but I don't take it because it constipates me so bad. It doesn't alter your stomach acid production anyway. It just coats your stomach like the DGL to protect against ulcers from the acid. I will just continue taking the DGL ......it doesn't constipate me like that other stuff does.
I don't know what happened, last year when I could eat whatever I wanted. He didn't diagnose me with GERD when he did the endoscopy this month, he just said I had acid reflux from my hiatal hernia. He said I didn't have any inflammation in my esophagus or stomach. I responded to your post because I was having all the symptoms you are having with the nighttime reflux.....and all the other stuff. I have all the symptoms that you are having and you have GERD. I cannot believe I don't have GERD. I feel like I'm well on my way to getting it if they don't get this reflux under control. He thinks I was born with the hernia (it's not big) and many people have hiatal hernia's without having any symptoms. This is the 3rd time in my life where I have had these reflux problems with my hiatal hernia. Once it heals, I guess it's done until I do something to trigger it again. Stress triggered it this time. I had a absessed tooth back in May and the rootcanal totally stressed me out!!! I made myself literally sick as a dog over it. ON top of my two jobs AND IBS!!!
I'm gonna go get that pillow in a little bit. I have to be able to sleep tonight. I just read something on the net about melatonin helping sleep AND IBS symptoms. Have you heard bad things about melatonin??? Does it work??? I might pick some of it up at the HFS on my way to the Wally World if you think it would help me.
*Hugs*!!
Michelle :)
Yea, the doctor told me my reflux was due to my hiatal hernia. But, he just told me to take Prilosec OTC for it. I told him I couldn't take it anymore and I requested the Nexium, so he gave it to me. He acted like it was no big deal at all......I haven't ever heard of that massage therapy for it. I should look into that. I did some research on my own for Reglan but the doctor never even mentioned it to me. He acts like it's not that bad. But, maybe he will understand how bad it is, now that I keep cancelling my gallbladder hida scan. I have to get the nighttime reflux under control!!!! Yea, when I cancelled my appt the first time, the doctor told me to take 2 40mg Nexium a day. One in the morning and one at bedtime. I am afraid it would actually be too much. I will just stick with the 40mg Nexium one time a day and Pepcid AC and antacids at night. I don't think 2 a day would be good for me, side effect wise. I don't know.....you're right. What's up with us having problems at 8:00pm, no matter how our day went!!?? You might be right about not digesting the food until then. I don't know.......I'm also supposed to be taking that sucralfate before lunch AND at bedtime but I don't take it because it constipates me so bad. It doesn't alter your stomach acid production anyway. It just coats your stomach like the DGL to protect against ulcers from the acid. I will just continue taking the DGL ......it doesn't constipate me like that other stuff does.
I don't know what happened, last year when I could eat whatever I wanted. He didn't diagnose me with GERD when he did the endoscopy this month, he just said I had acid reflux from my hiatal hernia. He said I didn't have any inflammation in my esophagus or stomach. I responded to your post because I was having all the symptoms you are having with the nighttime reflux.....and all the other stuff. I have all the symptoms that you are having and you have GERD. I cannot believe I don't have GERD. I feel like I'm well on my way to getting it if they don't get this reflux under control. He thinks I was born with the hernia (it's not big) and many people have hiatal hernia's without having any symptoms. This is the 3rd time in my life where I have had these reflux problems with my hiatal hernia. Once it heals, I guess it's done until I do something to trigger it again. Stress triggered it this time. I had a absessed tooth back in May and the rootcanal totally stressed me out!!! I made myself literally sick as a dog over it. ON top of my two jobs AND IBS!!!
I'm gonna go get that pillow in a little bit. I have to be able to sleep tonight. I just read something on the net about melatonin helping sleep AND IBS symptoms. Have you heard bad things about melatonin??? Does it work??? I might pick some of it up at the HFS on my way to the Wally World if you think it would help me.
*Hugs*!!
Michelle :)