Stomach problems.

So I looked back on my posts and see that I haven't mentioned my stomach problems. About 3 or 4 months ago I had an attack of chest pain that was frightening. It started off a bit like heart burn, but it kept getting worse until I was in a panic. The NHS direct person, asked me all the heart attack questions, ascertained that my life wasn't in danger, and talked me down. After about 3 hours in total the pain eased off and I felt OK.

Then more recently I had another attack that again was very painful and frightening. This time I got to the limit I could bare and it kept getting worse. One of the MEBs called NHS Direct who then sent an ambulance. The paramedics checked me out and once again ascertained it wasn't life threatening and suggested going to the late night doctor - not to A&E because it can take many hours to be treated there.

Cut a long story short I kept having minor attacks and the doctor sent me to the specialist, who ordered some tests. The ultrasound showed no all stones. The next one was a gastroscopy. I knew this would be stressful, but getting someone to go with me seemed even more stressful, so I elected not to have sedation. I took some valium in the morning, thinking it would take the end of anxiety. This was foolish in retrospect. A gastroscopy is a very invasive procedure. My body rebelled and was actively trying to expel the scope throughout the whole 5 minutes. By the end I was in shock and non-responsive. It took a while to come around, and if I bring it to mind I can feel the panic starting all over again!

The moral of the story is that if anyone ever offers me sedation for a medical procedure then I should definitely accept.

The upshot is that I have a hiatus hernia - the sphincter at the top of my stomach doesn't close properly and part of my stomach is protruding up through it (or something like that). Stomach acid is leaking into my oesophagus, and the intense burning pain is the result. There was also bile in my stomach, but I put this down to my gut going into drastic reverse with the tube down my throat.

Treatment is Proton-pump Inhibitors (stomach acid suppressant) and Gaviscon^®. My problem is that I also take anti-inflammatory drugs for chronic pain. These drugs suppress the body's inflammation response, but problematically this is the same response that protects the stomach lining from acid - this exacerbates the problem by making my stomach more sensitive to irritation.