The Perfect Storm

Thank you baguette. I am trying to remember to bend my knees but a lifetime of doing otherwise is a hard habit to break. I slipped up 3 times this week and suffered the consequences. Sure hope I can reprogram my brain. It certainly makes the difference when I do. How are you doing? Are you having acid reflux? Do you take something for it?

I am starting with osteo too. It's in my neck. Getting that dreaded hump. Can be painful some days too. Glad that they found out for you otherwise you could of had permanent damage, like in your kidneys.
I'm 64. I guess that makes me on the old side but I have seen them give surgery to 70 and 80 year olds. You would think they would want to do it when one was younger than that and had a better chance.
Canada is the second highest taxed in the world. Inflation is so bad these days that business has dropped for the last 3 months straight. I can't blame the people. Having a roof over your head and food in your stomachs is more important than buying some little do da.
Both ends - now that's not funny. I had that a long time ago and had to stay home from work for like a month. Never sure what had caused it but my boss at the time told me to put a diaper on and get back to work. I'm sure karma will get her for that remark. People have no idea what another person suffers with. It cost nothing to be kind. You just never know. Magnesium is a good thing. I use the topical one as I have enough trouble putting ANYTHING in this body without a reaction.
You are so not alone. I have met so many people suffering just like us. It's insane how they cannot do a better job at fixing this. Over a billion people suffer reflux. All over the world. There is a swedish doctor I believe who specializes in the stomach who created a new device called RefluxStop. It looks so darn promising. If I had the money I would go over there and have the operation. It's some little gadget put into a pouch at the top of the stomach and it stops ALL reflux. They repair the hernia at the same time. And it doesn't restrict the esophagus so no worries about vomiting or not being able to swallow food. Why can we not have that here. Maybe if enough of us prod our gastro docs they will look into it. I've been trying all week to get the capsule endoscopy. Cannot find anyone in Ottawa. Might have to go to Montreal to get it done. I tell you, the hoops we have to jump through to get things done. I'm also trying to get a ct scan as its safer than an endoscopy but if I do it at a private clinic it will cost me. The wait time here is like 18 weeks otherwise. I might just have to do it myself.

Yes I am med sensitive to a lot of medications .
That med I did not have side effects from .
I’m on my 6 th Gastro Dr in 2 states , NC and FL now . They all stink . No one can fix me . I’ve done all my own research and tried so many different supplements and even holistic treatments. Yes I have many diagnoses but they also say some is Functional and they can’t fix those issues .
My latest Gastro Dr is an hr away and I just did yet another Endoscopy & Colonoscopy w/ biopsies. Same 6/7 things wrong . They did just find I have borderline Crohn’s but my Dr won’t acknowledge it or try me on any of the treatments for it .
She only put me on an antidepressant in Oct that I took 6 months.
I’m so freaking frustrated like you ! Your husband really needs at least bloodwork done ✔️ . That’s a long time not to see any Dr! Do baseline testing too .
I wish you well. Life is so hard being chronic.

I’m going to be 63 in Sept . Feel like 95 most days but look 55 . Ugh

It's like they all read the instructions from a cereal box and THAT'S IT. They cannot think for themselves. They saw it in writing so that's the law and they can't go outside the lines of the coloring book. I HATE that I have to research so much. I don't know the lingo and have to look EVERYTHING up and my brain hurts at the end of the day. It's physically exhausting. I don't want to be a doctor but they have left me no choice. Most of us are med sensitive. It's called BEING A WOMAN. Hormones shift and we go through hell with that but none of that is taken into consideration. And then add on all this cr@p - makes me one cranky old lady. If I was younger I would go back to school and take holistic medicine. I just cannot believe how many of us there are. Over 1 billion. ONE BILLION. That's insanity. I've been researching a new surgery that came out in 2018 in the UK called RefluxStop. It sounds so promising. I cannot wait for it to come to Canada. It is supposed to be here by now. I would be surprised if the States doesn't get it first though. Check it out if you have time. I am definitely signing up for that one. Your doc sounds about as brainy as mine. Sorry to hear the runaround that she is giving you. When they don't know something they fake it instead of just saying they don't know. I have more respect for the honesty of a person who admits lack of knowledge than a faker. Chrons is a tough one. Science has not come a long way with it yet. They are still in the dark ages and use the same old - same old. I know a few people who have had their whole stomachs removed and are still no better. Terrible disease. It all is actually. There can be no sissies in this game. We are some tough nuts Rozy. I've been dealing with this for a while but not as long as you. I don't know how you do it. You are incredible. I hope I have 1/4 of your strength and can make it through this nightmare Take care and God bless.

Oh I hear you. I feel as old as mathusalem ??? that's about 104 isn't it? I used to think I looked younger than my 64 years (65 in August) but not these days. It has taken a huge toll on my mind, my body, my soul.

104 ! That’s funny statement.
You are right on all points by the way .
I can barely eat food and starve all day . Can’t do protein drinks or ensure or anything like it . I’m not losing weight , after all these years . I’m exhausted beyond belief.
My stupid dental hygienist who I’ve never had before screwed up my mouth under my dental implant so bad it’s been throbbing for over a week!
Did something to my knee and was limping and earring soft knee wrap for 9 days .
Still not all better ! I’m on the toilet with IBS- D 5-6 x day . Plus all else I mentioned .
What a shit show for sure . My poor husband too . We’ve been married ( my 2 nd ) 20 years. This started 10 years ago ! My kids grown ( raised in NE Ohio ), both live and are married in Boca area near each other last 10 years. We are 2 hrs north .
One Son 35 (36 in Sept )one daughter almost 32 . Both got married in 2022 . My daughter is 11 weeks pregnant!! We found out recently. So everyone says . Oh that will make you feel much better . I’m thrilled to be a Nana in Jan to first grandchild but no it’s not going to cure me for sure .
People don’t understand the impact this has on daily life . I have no life but my house and dogs and hubby and texting 💬 some old friends and looking at social media and listening to audiobooks and some tv .
I rarely can even go out except in my yard . Maybe to grocery store 🏬 w/ hubby and Dr.appts if I have any . I’m about to give up on medical professionals. Praying 🙏.

You have it so bad Rozy. I really don’t know how you’ve managed so long. It’s just such an awful existence. There’s no joy when one hurts ALL THE TIME. For sure no one can understand it unless they have it. It’s just such a life sucker. Sucks every ounce of life out of a person - there’s nothing left. I pray for us both. Let this nightmare end God. Please.😭😭😭

I was on omeprazole for four years because of GERD and weaned off after receiving a chronic kidney disease and severe osteoporosis diagnosis, which I believe came from using the PPI. The CKD turned out to be "merely" an acute kidney injury since the kidney values went from stage 3 CKD to just barely into the reference range after stopping the drug. The OP was a misdiagnosis. But I am glad to be off the drug because it did damage my microbiome and it took a year for everything to start settling down. For me, doing the low acid, whole food diet works; it takes a while for healing, and it's a lot of work, but I like my kidneys to function well so I do it. I still get reflux if I go off the diet, but it's nothing like it was. I still get chest pains, which I guess is from the hernia, when I sit a certain way, or do abdominal exercise unless my stomach is empty, or play pickleball too soon after eating a meal. Again, the number of incidences is not as high as it was. I use Gaviscon Advance alginate if I think I need it before exercising or going to bed, it creates a plug at the top of the stomach to keep the acid in. If you haven't already, you may want to google Dr. Aviv and Dr. Kaufman to get free info on diet and lifestyle choices that can help people with reflux. For instance, I sleep sitting up in bed (other people just elevate their head). Because of my age I am taking a mobility class, which is like ongoing physical therapy. It teaches participants how to use their body properly. Bending properly at the knees is one of those exercises. Good luck reprogramming your brain! I too would reflux if I bent over (as well as possibly get chest pain). You can do it!

I took various PPIs daily for over a decade but quit almost two years ago. I developed microscopic colitis from these drugs. I needed Famotidine for a year to acclimate to life without PPIs. Now I control Gerd by avoiding food and drinks that are offenders. I also had to wean off benadryl-based sleep aids and switch to melatonin. Which took a while but now is actually better.

For me, a lot of these drugs are what I call lifestyle meds .. eat what you want if you take this pill. But there’s a price.