Tuesday, March 23, 2010

03-23-2010

Had my appointment with Rathfoot. Sodas were not the answer to this one like with scar tissue. All that led to was pain killers afterward, lol. I think my brain stuck in stupid gear this time.

Rathfoot said that my acid reflux was worse and that I needed to take a pill in the morning and afternoon. He scoped my throat and said that it was in worse shape than right after my radiation. Between the acid reflux, talking a lot, and stress, it has taken its toll. He said that it looked like a bunch of "water balloons" in there. He said that even my Epiglottis was swelled too, which explain the choking. I wonder about the Banana Popsicles, they offer some relief, yet afterward a reflux. He put me on 20mg of Predisome twice a day and Dyfluken, one pill ever four days. I have no idea what I just typed, Denise told me what they were and what was said, lol. I just know I hurt and he gave me some meds. He said we may have to stretch my throat in the future. There is not a lot that can be done for the stress but the talking and reflux I can do something about. This may also be my fatigue.

3 comments:

KimberFNP said...

One of the best treatments of reflux is preventing more of it so the tissue can heal. (disclaimer, I have 3 years experience with a GI doctor, so bear with me for sounding like the expert because I feel like I am LOL). These prevention measures are called "lifestyle changes for GERD." Some of them include:
NUMBER ONE: do not eat or drink anything within 2 to 3 hours of lying down. Just like a glass of water will spill if you lay it down flat, the contents of your stomach will spill into your throat and potentially your lungs if you lay down flat, so you want your stomach to be empty when you lay down. This is where the old advice of eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper comes in handy.

2. Prop the head of your bed up on blocks, preferably 4 to 6 inches; this promotes gravity so things stay down there where they belong.
(don't use satin sheets, you will wake up in the floor)

3. Avoid acidic foods and drinks. Some of these include citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato products (pizza, spaghetti), sodas, The medications you have been prescribed stop the acid pumps in your stomach from pumping out acid but do nothing for the acid that goes into your mouth.
We always recommended acid reducers such as Zantac or Pepcid at bedtime in addition to the proton pump inhibitors (prilosec, nexium, protonix, etc.)They do two different things. The Zantac will neutralize any acid that's already there and if you reflux it won't be so damaging.

4. Avoid things that promote acid pumps to turn on: strong smells, chewing gum, crunching on ice continuously. Of course you will have to be the judge of this because of your dry mouth, irritation, you need to have moisture.

I hope these things help. Feel free to email if you have questions.
kimsetser@yahoo.com

KimberFNP said...

I forgot the timing of the medication is important. It needs to be taken 30 minutes or so before you eat. Remember what it does: It turns off the acid pumps so you don't make as much acid. Our brain tells our stomach to make acid as soon as it smells food, so if you eat and then take the med, you have wasted that pill because your stomach has already made the acid. This is where the zantac comes in handy, in case you forget to take the prilosec before you eat; go ahead and take it but take some zantac also, up to 300 mg twice a day.

anthony7 said...

Thanks Kim for those tips and information. I can do them all except the liquid at bedtime due to the dry mouth, but I can cut back on it. Then again, if i can get the infection and swelling down maybe the saliva glands will work again. (crossing fingers) The juices I can and do because my throat is so raw I can't drink them, not much on tomatoes and pizza either. I'll have to get some Zantac, don't have that but I will have tomorrow. I think we've turned our meals around too. I need to fix that. Thanks