Sorry for the long text but I have to explain a little bit about my background. I am 27 and back in 2014 I found out I was a hep B carrier (since birth) so I was put on anti-virals that have been working really well. (undetectable virus levels atm) However, at the time when I found out I got a bit depressed and developed gastritis. I managed to shake that off in about 3 months, after I tested positive for a parasite Giardia, and after treatment with some antibiotics I was back to normal. Healthy living, regular exercise eating well etc.
At the beginning pf 2016 I got really depressed after a break up and started smoking. First only cigarettes then marijuana as well. I started travelling more and my healthy living declined. I would overdose on Marijuana until I got panic attacks. I would only do it just so I could forget about my depression and then feel better after getting over those panic attacks.
After a pretty heavy one I decided to cut down on the weed. But then, in late 2016 just as I was getting over the breakup I had the weirdest pain I ever experienced. This happened a week after I got some tooth fillings at the dentist. I was in the office at work and all of a sudden I felt a weird feeling in my stomach, sharp pain, difficulty breathing and my heart racing. I got completely confused and told my manager think I am having a heart attack. Went to the A&E where they told me to take some Nexium (40 mg a day) and Gaviscon. I kept on having similar attacks every couple of days for another week or so. Then I gradually got better (not all symptoms had diminished but at least the panic attacks had stopped) . However, after I stopped the Nexium, I got an awful acid rebound. Pain got back worse and so did panic attacks which I used to get at night time. I was put on Pantoprazole 40 mg and Ranitidine 300 MG. Took about 2 months until I got a bit better and the panic attacks at night stopped too. I had an endoscopy done and all the doc could see was mild gastritis. Had parasite testing done as well as stool tests to look for parasites and potential IBD antigens . All came back clear.
I went back on a healthy diet, quit smoking (including the weed), started doing sports again (exercising twice a day 5 times a week) and also started travelling almost every month (as it took my mind off the pain, distracted and relaxed me) The pain diminished I would say by 70%. I stopped the Pantoprazole, and only continued to take the 300mg Ranitidine. I still experienced abdominal pain almost daily (not heartburn pain, rather just a dull pain just above my navel) so I thought I was on the right path.
Earlier this year I went to the dentist, had a tooth filling done and then back home. I took my usual pills before bedtime (Ranitidine and Tenofovir - the hep b medication) without water. The following morning I got up with bad heartburn and a feeling a lump in throat. The following, day, however, the lump feeling in my throat turned into excruciating pain, so bad I could barely swallow my own saliva. I was referred for an endoscopy and the doc saw a bad ulcer in my mid esophagus. (although interestingly, my stomach was completely fine - no more gastritis - despite the ongoing abdominal pain) I was put on PPIs again (Pantoprazole - 80 mg/ day this time) but after 2 months the pain in my throat still didn't go away. I was also given dihydrocodeine to help me with the pain . So then my doc switched my PPIS from Pantoprazole to Esomeprazole (Nexium). He gave me 120 MG a day. After a few days taking the esomeprazole I went out and noticed my ears were ringing really bad. I thought this might be a side effect of Nexium so I went back to my doc. He told me he thinks it was just a coincidence - that the tinnitus was probably due to the loud music - and even if it was caused by Nexium it would wear off after I stopped it - but for the time being he advised me keep on the Nexium. I kept on taking the Nexium for 3 weeks without any improvement. But the tinnitus stayed. I stopped taking the Nexium and went for another endoscopy. The doc said the ulcer healed completely so there was no point in PPIs anymore.
The conclusion of the doc was that what I have is neuropathic pain, pain coming from the damaged nerves in the stomach and esophagus so now he put me on amitriptyline (30 mg/a day) but he said this would take a few weeks to work. However, this only a symptomatic treatment - to treat the nerve pain (if indeed what I have is just nerve pain)
So basically I have 3 symptoms now : abdominal dull pain, lump in my throat feeling/pain and loud tinnitus.
Has anyone experienced anything like this?
Could there be any connection between the 3?
I was considering doing an expensive comprehensive stool analysis test to check for additional harder to find parasite (costs about 300 pounds) Do you think that's worth it?
Also do you think the tooth fillings might have had anything to do with the symptoms or was it pure coincidence?
I've been really depressed lately and I don't really know where to go anymore. NHS seems to be failing me so I am considering a private clinic. If you know of a good private clinic please let me know.
I'd be grateful for any input