I'm not completely back to normal yet. I am having some weird chest/stomach pains along with a sore throat feeling deep in my throat. I've never had much heartburn...and never had any other sorts of issues in this area. So this is all new to me.
I went back to the MD. I was really hoping that I could've walked away with an upper GI or some sort of test just to check things...no such luck. He said that they don't normally do that unless the patient can't tolerate water. :(
But I am still taking Carafate (well, it will be a cheaper substitute starting tomorrow) and AcipHex (also a substitute starting tomorrow) for reflux, heartburn, ulcer prevention, etc. I also had my scrips filled for the topical acne medications that Sarah mentioned (these meds are discussed in the comments section of my last blog if you are interested). I have already started treatment...and am very excited that I'm not having to go without treatment for acne because of the band! Thank you Sarah!
I hope you are all starting your weeks off well!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
I've Got Nothin'
...nothin' in my band, that is. I got started last week on some doxycycline (an antibiotic in the tetracycline family). I have had some acne issues in the last couple of years, and some of my family members have used this antibiotic and cleared up nicely. But my band obviously doesn't tolerate it well. (***Do any of you have recommendations for acne treatments (that work well with the band)?***)
My restriction, which has been pretty great since the last time I was filled (October or November sometime), went into overdrive the day after taking the antibiotic. The doctor and I are pretty sure that the medication caused my problems. I became super tight. I threw up on Sunday but didn't chance any more solid food after that. Thankfully, I could still drink and have soup (unlike some of you all who have been overfilled). The pain was terrible though. And the reflux was incredible. I felt like my head was the princess in The Princess and the Pea, having to sleep on 400 pillows (and talk about neck pains and sleep issues). My throat became sore, and my esophagus didn't feel so hot either.
First, I called the doctor's office and was put on a two-day soup diet to see if I improved. That not working (after trying it for the two days), I called back, but I was told that the doctor wouldn't be in until Monday (this coming Monday). I looked online that (Thursday) evening after having increased pain in order to find out what I could about slips (and found some comments from Band Groupie :) ). That made me decide that I needed to get in to see a doctor. I called two other doctors in my area at 3:00 in the morning and left messages for them to request an emergency appointment. But they don't take other doctors' patients (it's frustrating to be in the WLS family sometimes). I called my doctors' office to ask if they could communicate with one of the other fill doctors. They said that my own doctor could be there at 12 yesterday.
When I saw him, he prescribed two different kinds of medication (anti-inflammatory and reflux meds). I have an appointment set for Monday just in case I'm not completely better then (and will get a barium swallow then if needed). And, like I mentioned, I got a complete unfill.
I feel so much better. I am worried about regain though. I have been overly sedentary working on the biggest paper I have ever written (when complete, it will be over 100 pages with a gillion sites and will include my own independent research) for my doctorate degree (started before law school). And on top of Iron Butt Syndrome (IBS for those of us who suffer with it), I don't plan to start exercising soon because I don't want to lose any momentum here (I have to operate in a one-track mindset to get this thing finished and defended). But anyhow, my fill doctor's policy is to put half back in in a month (I have an appointment for that) and close to what I was before a few weeks later. If this works out, it shouldn't be so bad--hopefully not anyway.
In better news, I had a Starbucks Skinny Latte last week for the first time. I know many of you have mentioned and recommended them. It was good. Yes, that's about the extent of my nonband-related adventures lately. Aren't you glad I haven't been posting much, or you'd all be bored out of your minds? :)
Oh...I do have something else...tomorrow is my birthday, so I'm celebrating the last day of being 30 today by going to a baby shower (hey, I'll take it--anything to get away from this dissertation!).
I hope you all have a great weekend...lots of love from Florida!
My restriction, which has been pretty great since the last time I was filled (October or November sometime), went into overdrive the day after taking the antibiotic. The doctor and I are pretty sure that the medication caused my problems. I became super tight. I threw up on Sunday but didn't chance any more solid food after that. Thankfully, I could still drink and have soup (unlike some of you all who have been overfilled). The pain was terrible though. And the reflux was incredible. I felt like my head was the princess in The Princess and the Pea, having to sleep on 400 pillows (and talk about neck pains and sleep issues). My throat became sore, and my esophagus didn't feel so hot either.
First, I called the doctor's office and was put on a two-day soup diet to see if I improved. That not working (after trying it for the two days), I called back, but I was told that the doctor wouldn't be in until Monday (this coming Monday). I looked online that (Thursday) evening after having increased pain in order to find out what I could about slips (and found some comments from Band Groupie :) ). That made me decide that I needed to get in to see a doctor. I called two other doctors in my area at 3:00 in the morning and left messages for them to request an emergency appointment. But they don't take other doctors' patients (it's frustrating to be in the WLS family sometimes). I called my doctors' office to ask if they could communicate with one of the other fill doctors. They said that my own doctor could be there at 12 yesterday.
When I saw him, he prescribed two different kinds of medication (anti-inflammatory and reflux meds). I have an appointment set for Monday just in case I'm not completely better then (and will get a barium swallow then if needed). And, like I mentioned, I got a complete unfill.
I feel so much better. I am worried about regain though. I have been overly sedentary working on the biggest paper I have ever written (when complete, it will be over 100 pages with a gillion sites and will include my own independent research) for my doctorate degree (started before law school). And on top of Iron Butt Syndrome (IBS for those of us who suffer with it), I don't plan to start exercising soon because I don't want to lose any momentum here (I have to operate in a one-track mindset to get this thing finished and defended). But anyhow, my fill doctor's policy is to put half back in in a month (I have an appointment for that) and close to what I was before a few weeks later. If this works out, it shouldn't be so bad--hopefully not anyway.
In better news, I had a Starbucks Skinny Latte last week for the first time. I know many of you have mentioned and recommended them. It was good. Yes, that's about the extent of my nonband-related adventures lately. Aren't you glad I haven't been posting much, or you'd all be bored out of your minds? :)
Oh...I do have something else...tomorrow is my birthday, so I'm celebrating the last day of being 30 today by going to a baby shower (hey, I'll take it--anything to get away from this dissertation!).
I hope you all have a great weekend...lots of love from Florida!
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