I have a hiatal hernia (just discovered that with the latest endoscopy) and know what you mean about that pain right at the breastbone area. And it sure does hurt to wear a bra, but I am so large that I can't really go without. My GI switched my antacid from prevacid to protonex. He said after a couple years I would most likely need to switch again. As with so many drugs, our bodies become used to them and they don't work after awhile. I've been getting a really hard time from the docs over the use of narcotic pain relievers, muscle relaxants and whatever else they can think of. They feel that vicodin exacerbates my IBS problems. The GI and the surgeon who was called in to assess my rectal prolapse are not too keen on some of the psychiatric drugs I had been taking either. Note, I said HAD BEEN TAKING. I decided to discontinue them because of the bias of much of the medical community. Also I wasn't sure they were doing me any good. I still see my psychiatrist though cause he is just such a nice doc, is knowledgeable about general medicine (used to be a family practice doc) and really listens and explains things well to me. He is not too in favor of the vicodin either. He did say that it could be the cause of the hernia as it interfers with the functioning of that valve. Your muscle relaxant may also be part of the problem there too. I'm trying to cut down but then I hurt so much I can't function. Not just the tummy but some bodily aches as well.
Sleep: My good doc explained to me that drugs like ambien interfer with REM sleep and so aren't a good idea. Plus like everything else, they stop working after awhile. He tried me on seroquel which unfortunately is in the class of drugs called neuroleptics (anti-psychotics). I did try a low dose for a couple of weeks but found I was just too tired then next day and I was also concerned that it was worsening my ibs constipation. It's an anticholinergic. Is your internist prescribing your psych drugs and sleep meds or are you seeing a psychiatrist? There are so many new advances in psych meds it is hard for an internist to keep up. The down side is then you really get to be known as "mental." But we're probably all considered mental because we are female. Are all gastroenterologists male?
Did you get pictures from your scope? I had the upper and lower done at the same time and have full color photos. I haven't a clue as to how to get them on the computer, but will ask hubby to scan it in and post it.
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Re: Fridays Endoscope Update
