Getting an endoscope :(
22 May 2011, 11:31 AM
#62
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I hope its soon over for you anyway so that you can relax. Nothing to look forward to but not as bad as one imagines beforehand.
Les
22 May 2011, 03:45 PM
#66
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I've already been told I have reflux from an barium meal, but clearly they don't think the pain to diagnosis ratio is correct, which to be honest nor do I.
I think I have a damaged muscle or a hernia ... and if they say, ok you need to rest for 6 months and it'll go, then fine, I'll put up with it for 6 month, if they say you need surgery, then again fine, under the knife I will go .. but if they say they find nothing, I'm going to be gutted..
I think I have a damaged muscle or a hernia ... and if they say, ok you need to rest for 6 months and it'll go, then fine, I'll put up with it for 6 month, if they say you need surgery, then again fine, under the knife I will go .. but if they say they find nothing, I'm going to be gutted..
That's quite a major operation you know, but should sort out the problem
dl
24 May 2011, 10:26 PM
#76
Hi, thanks for the replies..
It went ok, I asked for the sedation, it was a lot less than I thought, no gown or anything, the sedation, well for me didnt feel like it did anything, but then I seem to be losing bits of the procedure, like I can't recall if my eyes where open or not. I remember gagging a bit, but it wasn't like when you're sick, it was like when you smell something nasty.
It took about 5 minutes and I didn't fall asleep, most people were sleeping in recovery. Waited for two hours past the appointment time, which didn't help.
They didn't find anything either, which is a massive disappointment. All this pain for no apparent reason.
They spray your throat too, which taste a bit ****, but doesn't hurt.. the numbness isn't even anything more than going the dentist.
All in all, I would have it again tomorrow without worrying and that's saying something for me
It went ok, I asked for the sedation, it was a lot less than I thought, no gown or anything, the sedation, well for me didnt feel like it did anything, but then I seem to be losing bits of the procedure, like I can't recall if my eyes where open or not. I remember gagging a bit, but it wasn't like when you're sick, it was like when you smell something nasty.
It took about 5 minutes and I didn't fall asleep, most people were sleeping in recovery. Waited for two hours past the appointment time, which didn't help.
They didn't find anything either, which is a massive disappointment. All this pain for no apparent reason.
They spray your throat too, which taste a bit ****, but doesn't hurt.. the numbness isn't even anything more than going the dentist.
All in all, I would have it again tomorrow without worrying and that's saying something for me
Last edited by pimmo2000; 24 May 2011 at 10:27 PM.
24 May 2011, 10:30 PM
#77
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24 May 2011, 11:18 PM
#79
So lets sum up .. 4 Blood tests, chest xray, ultra sound, barium meal, two ECG's, three physical examinations and now an endoscopy all telling me nothing .. pains continue, I can't exercise, I can't eat anything and I can't go anywhere without Gaviscon .. suggestions ?
24 May 2011, 11:19 PM
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Well, I've known people go in for one and come out knowing they've got a life threatening disease.
As an aside, a chap I've been working with had similar symptoms to mine - feeling of lumps in the throat and chest area, pain between the shoulders, funny taste in the mouth, chest / upper stomach cramps.
He had an endoscope, barium meal, this medicine, that medicine etc, nothing stopped his symptoms.
He then went to see another specialist and after a very long chat they decided it was all psychosomatic.
This chap was self-employed and was struggling with work and generally stressed but didn't believe stress existed - that it was an illness for the feckless.
After that he learnt to relax, take things in his stride and not worry about things he has no control over.
10 years later he very rarely has any of the symptoms he used to have.
I'm hoping this is what they find with me.
Possibly you too?
Just a thought.
A few weeks ago I went to Cyprus for a weeks work (self-employed).
No kids to look after, no 'phone ringing, nice weather and a steady weeks work with relaxation time and a pint each night.
In that week I had absolutely zero symptoms due, I believe, to having no stress whatsoever.
It all kicked off again when I got home.
As an aside, a chap I've been working with had similar symptoms to mine - feeling of lumps in the throat and chest area, pain between the shoulders, funny taste in the mouth, chest / upper stomach cramps.
He had an endoscope, barium meal, this medicine, that medicine etc, nothing stopped his symptoms.
He then went to see another specialist and after a very long chat they decided it was all psychosomatic.
This chap was self-employed and was struggling with work and generally stressed but didn't believe stress existed - that it was an illness for the feckless.
After that he learnt to relax, take things in his stride and not worry about things he has no control over.
10 years later he very rarely has any of the symptoms he used to have.
I'm hoping this is what they find with me.
Possibly you too?
Just a thought.
A few weeks ago I went to Cyprus for a weeks work (self-employed).
No kids to look after, no 'phone ringing, nice weather and a steady weeks work with relaxation time and a pint each night.
In that week I had absolutely zero symptoms due, I believe, to having no stress whatsoever.
It all kicked off again when I got home.
Last edited by zip106; 24 May 2011 at 11:24 PM.
24 May 2011, 11:32 PM
#81
Well, I've known people go in for one and come out knowing they've got a life threatening disease.
As an aside, a chap I've been working with had similar symptoms to mine - feeling of lumps in the throat and chest area, pain between the shoulders, funny taste in the mouth, chest / upper stomach cramps.
He had an endoscope, barium meal, this medicine, that medicine etc, nothing stopped his symptoms.
He then went to see another specialist and after a very long chat they decided it was all psychosomatic.
This chap was self-employed and was struggling with work and generally stressed but didn't believe stress existed - that it was an illness for the feckless.
After that he learnt to relax, take things in his stride and not worry about things he has no control over.
10 years later he very rarely has any of the symptoms he used to have.
I'm hoping this is what they find with me.
Possibly you too?
Just a thought.
A few weeks ago I went to Cyprus for a weeks work (self-employed).
No kids to look after, no 'phone ringing, nice weather and a steady weeks work with relaxation time and a pint each night.
In that week I had absolutely zero symptoms due, I believe, to having no stress whatsoever.
It all kicked off again when I got home.
As an aside, a chap I've been working with had similar symptoms to mine - feeling of lumps in the throat and chest area, pain between the shoulders, funny taste in the mouth, chest / upper stomach cramps.
He had an endoscope, barium meal, this medicine, that medicine etc, nothing stopped his symptoms.
He then went to see another specialist and after a very long chat they decided it was all psychosomatic.
This chap was self-employed and was struggling with work and generally stressed but didn't believe stress existed - that it was an illness for the feckless.
After that he learnt to relax, take things in his stride and not worry about things he has no control over.
10 years later he very rarely has any of the symptoms he used to have.
I'm hoping this is what they find with me.
Possibly you too?
Just a thought.
A few weeks ago I went to Cyprus for a weeks work (self-employed).
No kids to look after, no 'phone ringing, nice weather and a steady weeks work with relaxation time and a pint each night.
In that week I had absolutely zero symptoms due, I believe, to having no stress whatsoever.
It all kicked off again when I got home.
Mine settled down over Christmas last year, during which time my daughter was born in a 48 hour labour .. the second most stressful day of my life .. the first being the birth of my son ..
So no mate, I don't think its stress, I think thats a why for doctors to get out of not knowing .. Stress makes things worse, but this is something wrong with me and it is something that needs fixing ..
24 May 2011, 11:36 PM
#82
Pimmo
Diagnosis by exclusion as they say......no fungating mass / cancer which would have been my main concern.
I know you might be peed off but I'm in my 50's and if it was me and an endoscopy didn't show any signs of killer disease it would be a bonus.
Shaun
Diagnosis by exclusion as they say......no fungating mass / cancer which would have been my main concern.
I know you might be peed off but I'm in my 50's and if it was me and an endoscopy didn't show any signs of killer disease it would be a bonus.
Shaun
24 May 2011, 11:39 PM
#83
To be honest, following the other tests I didn't think it serious .. well life threatening, the doctors agreed. I was hoping for something though, if they said you need to relax for six month, or take this drug or something, least I'd know .. at the moment I suffer with no real relief ..
I'm 28 ..
24 May 2011, 11:39 PM
#84
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Well, whatever it is Pimmo, I sincerely hope it gets sorted.
2nd, 3rd, 4th professional opinion needed?
25 May 2011, 12:26 AM
#86
Sorry if I haven't kept totally on track here, but have food intolerances or IBS been ruled out completely?
I know that IBS can certainly be very painful, but it is often diagnosed as a cop out with very little investigation, or actually diagnosed purely due to exstensive ruling out of other conditions. Apparently it is difficult to diagnose and is a matter of process of elimination.
To add to your earlier question about finding out problems. The hospital seem to think they have the answer to one problem, but given what has been said, I don't think they are sure. As to the endoscopy, they found nothing. I do however, seem to be a medical mystery in one respect. I was prescribed steroids last year for what they thought was wrong (as it turned out they were wrong, and medicated purely on what they thought) and my reflux/heartburn almost disappeared no matter what I ate or drunk when on a high dose. (this was for something unrelated to that complaint)
No doctor or consultant yet can explain why that was the case as steroids are known to have the completely opposite effect.
Anyhow, I truely hope something can be done to help you. There is nothing worse than living in pain, and even moreso, not knowing why. I know it's not easy, but try not to worry too much, it probably won't help matters and tbh, if there is any link to stress (however much you disagree) it certainly won't.
I know that IBS can certainly be very painful, but it is often diagnosed as a cop out with very little investigation, or actually diagnosed purely due to exstensive ruling out of other conditions. Apparently it is difficult to diagnose and is a matter of process of elimination.
To add to your earlier question about finding out problems. The hospital seem to think they have the answer to one problem, but given what has been said, I don't think they are sure. As to the endoscopy, they found nothing. I do however, seem to be a medical mystery in one respect. I was prescribed steroids last year for what they thought was wrong (as it turned out they were wrong, and medicated purely on what they thought) and my reflux/heartburn almost disappeared no matter what I ate or drunk when on a high dose. (this was for something unrelated to that complaint)
No doctor or consultant yet can explain why that was the case as steroids are known to have the completely opposite effect.
Anyhow, I truely hope something can be done to help you. There is nothing worse than living in pain, and even moreso, not knowing why. I know it's not easy, but try not to worry too much, it probably won't help matters and tbh, if there is any link to stress (however much you disagree) it certainly won't.
25 May 2011, 12:32 AM
#87
Thanks, When it first started it was across my chest and I went to A&E thinking I was having a heart attack .. very scary.. it stops me breathing in sometimes which is somewhat unnerving. I've kinda go used to it now, at one point I was unable to eat breakfast because I was so nervous when I woke up with the pains .. I suffer with my guts already IBS, take codeine for them, so I would like to think I have a high pain threshold .. I panic though when I cant breath properly ..
25 May 2011, 09:19 AM
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As they take a section of the oesophagus out then pull the stomach up to join it his stomach capacity was also reduced meaning he can't eat as much now and some foods need to be avoided (like a gastric band for fatties).
So finding something and treating it is not always the best prognosis if it leaves you in a poor state after
Five years on he's now been diagnosed with bowel cancer so not good really though again they hope they can treat it
So think yourself lucky
Have you tried going on a really basic diet for a few weeks then slowly introducing other foods to see if anything upsets you? A friend of mine is an NHS dietician, works with patients with kidney problems, seem to remember her mentioning some sort of hypo allergenic diet think it was something like chicken, pears and water? Eat that for a while then start adding in other foods. Seek out someone who knows what they're talking about though.As also mentioned my indigestion can be bad when I'm stressed.