For a while now I have been ill and getting worse, housebound now and live alone with no visitors. Would be great to have an email friend and/or telephone friend to talk to to pass the time and mutual support. I live in the UK.
Sorry to hear how ill you are. What do you have? I would be more than glad to be your email friend.
Hi there. Thank you for the offer. It seems to be silent acid reflux which lead to sinus/headaches/ears and stomach aches. Would you like to give me your email address?
What treatment are you having for it?
Tried various ppis and cimetridine, some of them work a bit and then stop working. Now trying to manage on the cimetridine and pain killers.
cimetridine was the first one I was prescribed. It practically stopped my urine output and I had a kidney X-Ray that was OK. But by then I had stopped taking it.
Most of the PPI's did not help much until starting Esomeprazole.
Have you discussed the various surgical options with your doctor or consultant? Unfortunately you need to fight them to get anything done.
The lastest one taken from a Daily Mail article:
The traditional operation is a fundoplication, where the upper part of the stomach closest to the entry of the oesophagus is gathered up and sewn around the oesophagus. This 'tightens' the lower oesophagus to prevent acid leaking upwards.
The older version of this operation requires an 8in incision across the stomach, but most hospitals now offer keyhole surgery.
TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication) - was developed in the U.S. and is basically the same as the traditional fundoplication but is carried out through the mouth to avoid cutting the patient.
This procedure is quicker than the old operation and carries less risk of infection, discomfort and visible scarring. Patients can be in and out of hospital in under a day.
The operation is like bringing the neck of a purse string together. With the patient under general anaesthetic, the EsophyX device extends down through the mouth into the patient's stomach. It then pulls and fastens a tissue fold by pleating and stitching it.
This step is repeated around 16 times to reconstruct a tight valve that prevents the reflux of stomach acid.
Recent clinical studies show that two years after the procedure, 85 per cent of patients are still heartburn free.
• The operation is available on the NHS and will save tens of thousands due to the reduced amount of overnight stays. Privately it costs £5,000.
There is another discussion on UK Health:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/linx-surgery-for-acid-reflux-103868
Have read all of this stuff derek. My doctor said that quite often when people have this surgery a few years down the line it goes back to square one and they have problem again and there is a higher risk they might get cancer. This proceedure would maybe suit some but not all, it depends on individual symptoms and circumstances and even age. They say you can have your polyps removed out of your nose same day too but when you go there for that they keep you in overnight.
Well quite often is not everyone and sounds like what I was told when asking for a new procedure. To quote the consultants letter at the time, " I will refer you but I think that that you are looking at this with rose tinted spectactles!
You are evidently in a desperate situation that has stopped your life and you need to do something to get it back.
Surely not having the acid controlled already puts you in line for Barrett's oesophagus leading to cancer.
Not if you take cimetidine. We are all different. I dont get any pains in my throat or indigestion etc.
Just as well as you have enough to deal with as it is but long term pain killers are not a good idea due to their side effects and possibility of addiction from some types.
My email is _____. Please send me yours.
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Yes Derek I know this but I dont take nsaids and I dont take them all day every day just when it is bad.
Which of your conditions are you taking the painkillers for?
Have you found this in your research?
Silent Reflux: A Hidden Epidemic
The pain relief is when the headaches get bad.
You sound at your wits end.....I do think that Dereks article
was a possibility..a few good years instead of how you feel now......can you not stop cimetidine if ut would cause cancer? Sorry I dont know much about your situatuon and why you cannot go out..is it the pain? I do hope you get some good responses and advice.
Hi helpwanted. They have removed your email address.
Hi Val, thanks for the response, I have only been taking cimetidine for a few months, you have to take it a long time before you get any REAL side effects. It is the pain that stops me going out. I know quite abit about this thing so it is more support I need rather than advice.
I had the side effect from cimetidine within weeks with much reduced output of really dark smelly urine and painful kidneys.
How long has your illness made you housebound. Do you do your shopping on line?
Have been housebound about a week now derek. Was well enough to go out etc and it changed when I had three weeks of antibiotics followed by a high dose of probiotics. I do shop online but even if I was ok I did, I am nowhere near any shops anyway.