Ulcers


So, I may have an ulcer.

I have a history of problems with heartburn and acid reflux. I can remember eating lunch in the 5th grade, clutching my chest because it felt like someone had reached in and was squeezing my innards. The pain would appear shortly after I started eating. It never really seemed to matter what I was eating, but some of the main suspects were bagels and chicken. The pain would last for about five minutes, and would come in waves, then get extremely intense and then go away. I would often feel a yanking going on in there, like I was hiccuping, which hurt like hell. There would be periods where it never happend for months at a time, but it always came back. This went on for years.

I told my mother about it, and while she did show some concern, her and my dad said I was either chewing my food too quickly, or my stomach wasn't liking all the crap I would eat. Of course this was not the cause of the pain, because I DID try eating very slowly. I told one doctor about it, and he just looked at me funny. Another doctor had no idea what the pain was, but gave me some pills for acid reflux. I remember them helping a bit, but I ran out of pills and the pain came back a few months later.

It eventually intensified, and happened more often. I was starting to feel actual heartburn, which had rarely happened before. The pain became unbearable. It would happen during times where I was with people, and it was rather embaressing to have to excuse myself so that I could curl up in a fetal position and die for a little while. I could not take it anymore.

My former manager had an acid problem, and recommended that I see his doctor. I made an appointment, and told him about what I was feeling. He gave me a prescription for Prilosec. He then addressed the pain I had been experiencing. He said it sounded like a muscle spasm.

FINALLY! A doctor finally believed me and had an answer for what it probably was. I took the Prilosec, and felt fine. I never tried renewing the prescription, which was stupid of me, but the pain I used to feel has never come back. I still get heartburn a lot, but I can eat comfortably.

Along with the heartburn, I often wake up with a real sour, bitter taste in my mouth. I also get chest pains(not the same as before), which are both symptoms of acid reflux. I would take Tums or Maalox every now and then. Tums don't do shit for me.

On Monday, I felt the chest pain again, and there was something different about it. It was starting in my stomach. I also felt hungry. When I ate, it went away, and everything was fine. It came back that night. I ignored it.

On Tuesday, the stomach pain was there, and it would not go away. It felt like there was a softball in my stomach, and it was pushing out. It didn't really hurt too much. It was just uncomfortable. I decided to give it another day.

Yesterday, it got worse, and I started to worry. I called my doctor, and they said they could not see my until August 7th! They said if I called the next day, in the morning, I would probably get a chance to see them that day. I didn't want to risk it, so I went to urgent care after work. Eating was not making it go away, and nothing was helping.

They said my blood pressure was high. That has never happened to me before. I told the doctor what I was feeling, and a little about my history. The first thing he did was prescribe Nexium, and said never to go off it. I guess uncontrolled acid reflux can cause cancer. Also, he thinks I may have an ulcer. Great. He didn't seem too concerned. but wants me to watch for signs of a bleeding ulcer, which is bad. He also said that I don't feel better soon, they will end up going in with a scope(down the throat) and taking a look. Pleasant.

I feel a bit better today. I think the Mylanta(he told me to take it) and Nexium have helped. I am not surprised by all this. I am surprised I never got an ulcer before.