Just back from doctor - need some advice
#243852 - 02/03/06 10:54 AM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hi guys,
I don't know who to talk to about this, and I could really use some advice. I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place and I just don't know what to do.
I went to the doctor today, I have been having such problems with my throat lately that I finally gave in and went back again. It is so uncomfortable and painful that I have trouble swallowing, can't eat for hours and lately it has even made me breathing feel weezy. When it happens, the pain is on one side of my throat mostly and it lasts for over 15 hours (like now, from something I ate yesterday and I still can't eat).
Right, so, I went and once again I was told it was reflux. I have been taking Zantac (after asking my doctor for something else, and being given that instead) because all the other reflux meds give me such bad D that I was in the bathroom more than 10 times a day.
Right, so, today I go in and she tells me I need to get on some kind of reflux meds because if it is feeling this bad I am doing some serious damage to my throat and all that jazz.
So I started to panic. She wrote me a prescription for losec (sp) for 2 weeks worth, said to try and stop it if makes me D a lot worse. Thing is, I can't afford to have it get worse.. I take public transport to and from work, and I take like 80 phone calls a day. I can't have liquid D 12 times a day. AND if I miss one more day of work, I have a very good chance of getting fired as I have already had a warning.
To make matters worse, she said that I really need to have the scope down the throat thing. Now, I didn't USED to be so scared of this procedure but since I had my colonoscopy, I am terrified. They "sedated" me for my colonoscopy, but I was totally awake and aware of every little thing and I CANNOT go through that with something going down my throat!  I am so scared about this, that I have already had to run to the loo twice today since finding out.
To make matters WORSE, I went to fill my 2 week prescription and it cost me $51.50!!!!!  I put a big chunk of my benefits into prescriptions and they said that this particular medication wasn't covered. The generic OR the name brand. And it was the generic that cost me that much! This is the second prescription I have tried to fill since my benefits kicked in that hasn't had ANY coverage AND I have only tried to fill those two!! What is the point of paying for these benefits and then not getting any coverage on my prescriptions?
And that is $1200 a year for ONE medication, that may or may not give me such bad D that I can't function!
What should I do??? Do I take the medication, even though similar ones have made me sick? Do I NOT take the medication, and suffer with this pain that is getting worse and worse all the time and aparently is costing me long term damage?
I sat in the car when I came home, and just cried and cried. My stomach is finally starting to settle down (not great, not even so good.. but better) and I could screw it right up with this medication. But this discomfort in my thraot is making it impossible to eat, hard to swallow and harder and harder to breathe. Even more, it is harder to talk which is really difficult at work as all I do is talk!
I will have to wait a few months to see the specialist (who will do the scope) and in the meantime, I don't know what to do.
I am so tired of this, one thing gets a little better and the other falls apart. I am feeling really sorry for myself at the moment, but also so confused.
Please help, any advice is appreciated!
Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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I think your doc is right and you do have damage from the constant acid reflux. I would try the med that she gave you. I am a D person too and I have taken that med with no bad ibs results. I'd start it on a weekend though, just to make sure.
That sucks that your coverage isn't covering either of your meds! 
I have two close friends with very bad reflux. One had that scope and while it was unpleasant, it didn't last too long. They spray your throat to numb it so it helps kill the gag reflex. I'd only get it done if absolutely necessary though.
I'm sorry your Friday isn't all that great. 
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Hi Tina,
Thanks for the reply.
Did you say that you had been on the same med, losec and it didn't bother your D?
If you have been on the exact same med, with no problems that makes me feel a lot better about taking it.
Meh, I am doing okay, I am just confused and sulking. I will be fine in like half an hour.. sorta ADD with broodiness. 
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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Hey Steph,
Yes I took it for a few months when I was having reflux problems. For months, I used to cough after every meal. It was so annoying, it felt like there was something stuck in my throat. Do you have that feeling?
I almost had a scope but that medication cleared everything up for me!  Maybe it could help you too?
I know, don't you wish we could all just be healthy and not have to bother with doctors ever again?!
Hang in there though.
(((hugs)))
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I would listen to what Tina said. I am sorry you've had such a rough time. Acid reflux is no joke and you need to take care of it. As Tina said, take the meds on a weekend and see what happens. I can't believe your benefits don't cover those scripts. Have you seen a copy of your prescription plan? Are you just limited to that one plan?
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Oh Steph.... I'm sorry you having a hard time again. i'm with Tina .. you should take the meds...if there is any chance that it will help. AND, when you do go back to the Dr. she will be more willing to work with you if you do try it...if you don't she may not bother with you anymore...(ya know what I mean). I'm sorry the cost is so high and it is not covered.... any way Mom would be willing to help you? You should talk to her.
{{hugs}}
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www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
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Quote:
Hey Steph,
Hi Tina!
Yes I took it for a few months when I was having reflux problems. For months, I used to cough after every meal. It was so annoying, it felt like there was something stuck in my throat. Do you have that feeling?
Yeah! I mean for me it's not really coughing, more like choking, hee hee. But yeah, feels like my throat is really tight and like there is all this pressure.
I almost had a scope but that medication cleared everything up for me! Maybe it could help you too?
I hope so! That makes me feel A LOT better that it really helped you, especially if it means it won't make me D worse and I can maybe avoid the scope!
I know, don't you wish we could all just be healthy and not have to bother with doctors ever again?!
Heck, yes! I hate going to the doctor, I feel like it is such a waste of time 'cause they'll just send me away. Maybe one day we'll all get there.. just not today, hee hee.
Hang in there though.
<<<hanging>>> 
(((hugs)))
**hugs** Thanks again, I am starting to feel better about this losec.
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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Tommy
#243874 - 02/03/06 11:18 AM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hey Tommy,
Thanks for the response, I think I will try when I next have one than more day in a row off.
I haven't seen a copy, no.. Do you have any idea how I go about doing that? The plan is through work, so I think I am limited on that one plan but.. well, to be honest, I don't know a whole lot about it. I will have to do some more research, I thought at first that my plan was so awesome as it said 75% of everything.. but "everything" is turning out to be "nothing" which.. sucks.
I can't even find info on how to get in contact with someone who can give me any information. Will I get some kind of print out or something? Maybe if I have something like that, I could show it to my doctor and see about getting something that IS covered... hmmm...
Cheers,
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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Ok cool! Glad you're feeling a bit more calm. I just want to repeat that you should try your med on the weekend incase you have any kind of D reaction the first day.
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Hi Shell
#243876 - 02/03/06 11:21 AM
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Stephie
Reged: 03/10/04
Posts: 2696
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Hi Shell,
Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. She told me to only take it if it doesn't bother me so I am willing to give it a try and stop if it does and hopefully she'll still help me.
Unfortunately, mom is probably out. She has us giving her money right now, and even this month she had us give her money early so she could go on a trip and we had to get a cash advance just to get it to her. Oy.
Well, I work at a bank so there are always loans!
--Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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Not Tommy, do you have a coverage card? If so, if there's a 1-800 number on it, call it with your info and they'll tell you what's covered. Or just look up their web site.
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See if you contact your HR Rep. If that doesn't work, I remember yous aying that you had a Union Rep, see what she says. If you are paying tinto a plan, you're entitled to see that plan and see what is covered. I know with my company, I can access my presciption plan via a website provided by the insurance company...
Hope this helps...
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OK, so I guess Mom IS out! Dangit!
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www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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Hey Stephie,
Sorry to hear about the rough time you had at the doctors. If it makes you feel any better, I had the endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures done at the same time - and the endoscopy was a BREEZE! I too got what they referred to as 'sedated' (didn't feel like much sedation!) and pretty much cried in pain the whole time they did the colonoscopy. When they got to the endoscopy, I had calmed down and don't even remember much of it! I remember being worried more about the endoscopy since I had already had a sigmoidoscopy.
As for the reflux, the drugs do work. I take OTC Prilosec for mine, which thankfully works because I don't have any health insurance for prescriptions. My school doctor actually told me to try it because she knew I didn't have any coverage. Maybe you can work with your doctor to help you find a cheaper drug?
Good luck and hope this helps a little bit!
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- Jennifer
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Hi Steph,
Just wanted to say that I agree with others that you should at least try the med - that way you can tell the doc how it went and they can take that into consideration in planning further treatment - like deciding whether or not you really do need the endoscopy... I hope you're feeling better soon - both physically and emotionally - I know I always come in on overload when I finish a doctor appointment - it takes a bit to wrap your mind around all of it. Hope it helps to vent here and hope the meds really do help!
Min
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With my insurance, my doctor was required to start out with a milder reflux med (prescription-strength Zantac, I believe? was what I started out with) before prescribing anything stronger. That might be why it's not covered for you. Just a thought.
My problems with D actually turned out to be from endo (I've been pretty much OK since my endo-covered appendix was removed), but when I was having bad D, I was on Prilosec (same thing as Losec) and it made it a lot worse. Not trying to freak you out, but just as a warning. I'm on Aciphex currently and it has never made my D any worse, and D is NOT listed as a common side-effect on the patient info thing (unlike the other PPIs I've tried).
If you're only trying the med for a little while, ask your doctor for samples. That's why my doctor did when we were going through all of the PPIs to find something that wouldn't cause me to spend another four hours in the bathroom every day. Who wants to spend a fortune for a month's supply of a med you can only take for three days?
I really hope you find something that helps. Good luck.
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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Hey Jen,
Thanks!
Yeah, I have been taking prescription strength zantac for over a month now and I haven't noticed ANY difference in my throat problems.
Well, I am not happy to hear that the losec made your D worse.. but I am glad you told me! I want to be prepared, so I can make plans around my bathroom habbits yet again!
I did fill the script, so I've got 2 weeks worth so I have 3 days next week where I plan to try them out.
I wish my doctor would spend that kind of time with me, trying different things. But I feel like they just roll their eyes when I come in, like, "What now?". It sucks.
If this one bothers me, I will ask about Acifex but chances are they won't listen. Every time I suggest something I've heard about, they say no and give me something else that doesn't work.
Are you in the US? I wonder if we get Acifex in Canada.. will look into this.
Thanks again,
Steph
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~~I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell-I know right now you can't tell~~Matchbox 20
IBS-D,pain.
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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I have GERD and a hiatal hernia. I was given losec when I was younger and I don't remember it giving me D but I had to stop taking it because it gave me bad headaches. I take Ranitidine now and it doesn't seem to bother my D at all.
Good Luck
Bethany
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Microscopic Colitis, IBS-A, GERD, Hiatal Hernia
Bethany, Ontario, Canada
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Remember that this time last year i had BAD IBS-mostly D, and BAD GERD, and now I have maybe one heartburn attack every month. It's nearly gone. My IBS is nearly a non issue too.
The scope is easy. I was OUT COLD for it. No clue as to what happened. Same went for DH.
And, try using maalox tablets. It honest to God worked better than Zantac for my GERD and never once caused D. And like I said, I'm basically cured of it now. This was all my gastro doc's advice.
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Keep on keepin' on...
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Stephie...
#244124 - 02/04/06 10:12 AM
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Alyson McG
Reged: 05/20/05
Posts: 317
Loc: Vancouver Washington (IBS-A, but D prominant)
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I had both the colonoscopy and endo in September. The did the colonoscopy first, and I remember bits and pieces of that, but by the time they started the endo, I was out. I don' think they keep you awake for en endo.
HTH
Alyson
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Everything in life happens for a reason, patience will eventually tell us what that is......
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i just got over a sore throat and IBS D i felt alful but i'm sure you feel worse I"ll send my prayers to you to feel better{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}
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Puppies Are Cute But I'm Cuter
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Steph, I wish I knew what to say!
I'm so sorry that you suffer so needlessly. I wish there were a drug out there that was cost effective (not to mention effective & without undesirable side effects).
I tried Losec (big time D!!!) Ditto with Nexium. Both actually made me worse! Actually, Nexium gave me worse D by far, not to mention headaches. Plus there is information coming out that PPI's actually block nutrient absorption. Now, I just do it by (usually) 'smart' food choices as well Pepto &
Maalox kind of stuff as needed. Actually Nexium started giving me the heaves so maybe I was having an allergic reaction or something/side effect. Losec gave me the worst case of fluid retention/bloating--literally a belly! It made me look like a pregnant skeleton. It gave me tons of back pain, too.
So, I don't know what to say beyond EMPATHY & HUGS & I'm clueless, too.
Kate, IBS-D.
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Stephie,
I'm sorry that you are going through all of this. I really wish I had some great advice to give you. If it were me I would try the meds and see how it goes. Hopefully they will help you and not make things worse.
I'm sending good thoughts your way,
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Janey
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