Heartburn?

[Rhalvahn]

Last night..at about 2 am...I woke up and my chest was REALLY hurting. I mean really hurting! I am not the type to wake up for anything...house on fire? roll my bed out to the back yard but do NOT wake me up! I got up because I couldn't stay laying down, and I felt a little better. I figured - heart burn? - so I went into the medicine cabinet and pulled out some Rolaids...took four, and back to bed I went. Still hurt, so I tucked pillows up around me so that I was sitting up a bit.... (like this \ ) and tossed and turned the rest of the night.

My meals were as normal as they usually are - although I did have Vienna Sausages for breakfast. Chicken and green beans for lunch, a salad for dinner...and my usual after dinner coffee. The coffee might have been later than usualy 9pm....but I was up til 10:30 or so...

I still don't feel well this morning...I can't eat cause it hurts to swallow - and I stopped and picked up some Maalox (husband suggested) and took it about 20 minutes ago or so. I want to crawl on my desk and go to sleep...in an upright position!

Does this SOUND like heartburn to you guys? I've never HAD hearburn before...

Thanks,
Dee

[Junieshops]

Sounds like what I get and it is only if I eat sausage...or take lots of advil....its killer:(
Hope you get to feeling better soon!

[dad2bike]

Sorry to hear bout the Heartburn. Used to be a regular occurance for me before LC. I used to take Tagements. They seemed to help very well. I used to take them as a preventative b4 bed. Did you happen to drink a large amount of fluid before bed? That would allow for acids to be laying against your stomach valve. Sometimes leaks into your Escophocus (sp?) That was really bad for me.
Hang in there. It will pass.
Tom.

[Rhalvahn]

Hey Tom - how'd you know? I was guilty of drinking a nice big cup of coffee at about 9:30 pm last night. I saw my doc, and she gave me some super drug - Protonic - and admonishment to stay away from coffee. I pouted! Seriously pouted! Am STILL pouting! I simply can't LIVE without coffee! I gave up everything else...okay, before Goddess comes out of me....I made choices that resulted in a positive movement downward of the size of my beehind! But coffee is my VICE! I need it!

She said I could have decalf....but what's the point?

My chest still hurts, and I had to go search for some high fiber/low carb oatmeal so that I could get something down. I ate it, and it didn't hurt, and I am going to take a nap...in a upright position of course!

[dad2bike]

Dee-Yeah, I know what your going thru. Once you get the burn, it take some time for it to go away. You do need to stay away from the coffee at least until it does. But you already knew that.
Coffee to me is a warm drink. Yes, I drink lots of it. But I've been able to go to decaf. The caffeine was keeping my hunger panes active.
For some getting off coffee is like quitting smoking. A major hurdle. Hmmm. Kinda like us bigguns finally making the decision to lose weight and exercise. It has to be your own decision. Nobody elses. Motivation comes from within. Other inputs just help you become motivated.
Well, I hope you feel better soon!
Tom.

[CarolynInTexas]

years ago i too said decaff... what;s the point... but when my dh and I turned 40 we were eating tums like it was going out of business... i mean a large bottle between the two of us a month.... then a friend said, do you drink caffeen... duh... coffee in am, cokes and teas the rest of the day... all caffeen... so she said to stop . and we did and within a month, guess what, no more tums.... hardly ever eat them now... sometimes when I eat heavy spegetti sauce.... need one or two, or if I eat too much....
we do drink decaf coffee... we buy beans and grind fresh and make the coffee a little stronger (you have to with decaf)... we like the flavor, and don't need the caffeen any longer to get up....its hard, but so much better on your system then caffeen....
just my thoughts to help you....
c

[Rhalvahn]

Okay guys...it gets worse. I'm allergic to the Protonic stuff...so I broke out in hives...itchy things. There's a reason it's called 'Practicing Medicine' isn't there? I tried to sleep, and couldn't.. woke up and I've got raised hives at my waist, under my arms, on the back of my legs, around my mouth, and on my neck, and on my scalp!!! Hello? I itch. Call the doctor and the doctor said...no more jumping on the bed...opps...no - STOP TAKING IT!!!!! Take Benedryl - NO DRIVING (this is a problem). And she's called in some Pepcid (or something). My chest hurts, I have had a bowl of oatmeal, so yes, I'm hungry, and I itch. I think I'll fall and break something real quick - might as well get that outta the way.

Should I mention that I am NOT a good sick person, and my husband is NOT good at DEALING with sick people. I either want someone to leave me a lone and LEAVE me alone - or someone to take care of me. The two are interchangeable at a moments notice. Yes, I know this is irrational...but I"m SICK!

Brad called - said to drink milk you silly girl....apparently that's a fix all? My chest still hurts, and I can't swallow - feels like there's a large something turned sideways in there.

I don't LIKE the idea of giving up coffee...but I could find something else to use the carbs on (instead of half and half) thats a bit more enjoyable I suppose. ;-) Maybe I'll switch to decaf green tea.... :jumpgreen

Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate them!
Dee

[Sky68lark]

Dee,

I am not a doctor. But in my opinion, sudden-onset chest pain and difficulty swallowing require more thorough investigation, pronto. If your problem was simply "heartburn" or acid reflux, the antacids and Protonix should have eliminated the pain by now, and you should not be having trouble swallowing. Further, a histamine reaction (itchy rash) to Protonix would be quite uncommon, so the allergy-like symptoms could be unrelated to the drug.

I urge you to get back to the doctor for an EKG and some lab work at the very least....this just doesn't sound to me like heartburn from a cup of coffee you drank last night. I hope it's nothing more than indigestion, but please do follow up!

Best wishes,
Sky
Atkins since 8/02
196/144/under 150

[Rhalvahn]

Sky -
Sounds like I have a good doctor - she did an EKG first thing, and everything was normal. I also don't have any of the risk factors for heart problems.. (have lost 50 pounds, blood pressure is good, etc etc).

The little package paperwork in the Protonix box says that rashes are a possible side effect (definitely not a usual one though).

She ordered me some Pepcid - which I will take, and give it a couple hours - if it's STILL not better - me and the ER at the Katy hospital will be on intimate terms. I can't NOT sleep again tonight because of chest pain and the inability/not wanting to swallow.

Dee

[texanflowr]

I really feel for you....... heartburn is miserable! I actually have not had heartburn since beginning this WOL..... one of those wonderful things. However, I do sympathize with you on having to give up your coffee... I did so while in induction because I wanted to do it correctly, but still drink my full leaded coffee since then. However, I only have coffee or any type of caffiene in the morning ..... actually, coffee is it. After that it is only water or green tea........ when I brew it. WATER, WATER, WATER has become my mainstay in life. Maybe once you are over this incident, you can enjoy a cup or two in the mornings....... Hope you feel better soon.

[Rhalvahn]

I sure hope so TexanFlower. The Pepcid seems to have helped...my throat still hurts, so I had chicken and noodle soup with some saltine crackers (they absorb the acid). Not very Atkins friendly - but I feel much better. I also am back to my normal skin...the Benedryl seems to have done IT'S job as well!

[dad2bike]

Glad your feeling better Dee. Hives are no fun. DW get severe hives when she takes in too much vitamin C. That meams no OJ during summer. She turns bright red. We buy the Costco Benedryl in bulk, she uses so much. She likes OJ.
Get some rest and be nice to DH. He is trying I'm sure. DW here is a lousy patient as well (she is an ex-nurse so can you say b*tchy) when sick.

[Rhalvahn]

HA HA - I can understand the willingness to suffer the punishment... glad I only have stuff happen like this for medicines I don't normally take! I apparently absorb/use medicine VERY efficiently. In Novemeber my doc put me on an antibiotic that basically ended up wiping out ALL the bacteria - even the healthy ones. They had to put me on a different antibiotic to counter the effects of the FIRST antibiotic.

He went and got me soup, and crackers, and is doing the best he can, which I appreciate. ;-)

[Maxibee]

Oh, Dee! What a bad time you've had. No, don't go breaking anything....you've been through enough!

I've had hearburn 3 times I can recall: once while visiting my parents....looking back on it, they were probably trying to poison me. Once while I was pregnant....I ate some Taco Bell and went straight to bed. Yikes! And the last time, I developed a severe pain in my stomach (actual stomach) and nothing I took/ate/drank helped it for about 4 hours. I've never had pain like that before or since.

DH has reflux really bad. He has to take Nexium daily. His eating habits are horrible and he dips, so who knows. I just pray I never start having it. It's awful.

Normally, a lower carb diet helps with reflux symptoms, so it HAS to be the coffee. I don't drink it and therefore cannot understand the addiction, but green tea really is good....and good for you. And it has ALOT less caffiene. It won't hurt to try it.

I hope you feel better soon. And I'm glad you went ahead and went to the doctor. That's smart!

[Rhalvahn]

Well - It's 3:24 am and I just got in. I am apparently EXTREMELY allergic to the Protonix which means it did NOTHING to fix the problem, and made other symptoms appear. To the point my throat was swelling closed, I couldn't breath deeply and I was breaking out HORRIBLY in hives. They gave me a shot to counter the allergy...made me VERY jittery, a super dose of steroids, and some Benedryl. I feel LOADS better! I'm tired as can be - but I feel a TON better! I have to take Steroids for the next 5 days, and Benedryl, and Pepcid 2 x a day...but hopefully that'll fix the problem.

I'm off to bed!

Ciao!
Dee