For years I have had these "attacks". I can feel them coming on after eating. Usually it is only a few minutes after I have finished a meal. Nine out of ten times it is dinner.
They start with pressure in my stomach that goes to my back. The most painful part is in the back. It is a high back ache. Basically it feels like I have not stopped eating.
In the past I have kept a journal trying to figure out what might trigger the attacks. NOTHING. Apparently it is not food. The only "trend" seems to be if I skip a meal I tend to have more of them. Basically if I skip lunch then I have more of a chance of an attack. NOT ALWAYS. Truly there seems to be no rhyme or reason with them.
Last night I started getting the attack feeling later than normal. Tonight I knew within five minutes of dinner ending. Oh they also tend to come in clusters. I won't have them for several weeks and then I will get them two to three nights in a row.
They are extremely painful. Again the pressure on my stomach and back is unreal. I cannot sit, stand, lay down, or sleep. The pain becomes increasingly worse as the night wears on. I usually sleep in 20 to 30 minute intervals. MOST of the time the pain peaks about 3 to 4 in the morning. Then I get a few hours of sleep.
I have tried every type of antacid, I even tried drinking vinegar (thinking maybe I might now have enough acid), I take Tylenol (like it is candy), but NOTHING helps. I have not found anything (medicine or behavior) that makes it slightly better.
I have been to the doctors and they did an ultrasound. That was several years ago. They didn't find anything wrong. Someday I know the pain is going to be bad enough that I am going to have to go to the emergency room but until then I guess I will just live with it.
Last year I bought this huge beanbag chair just for my attacks. I toss and turn so much I feel bad for hubby. I usually sleep in the beanbag for 30 minutes, the spare room for 30 minutes, back to my room, and the circle starts over. Most of the time I try to sleep sitting up.
3 comments:
Wow, those sound awful! I hope you find out what's causing it so it can be treated...
Have they checked for gallstones? Even if they are very small, thay can cause alot of "discomfort."
That is what the ultrasound was for. Honestly I have not been back to the doctors. I find when I break down and go they don't really do anything for me anyway. I usually go about once a year. As I said the next time I go it will probably be to the ER because I cannot stand it. I had one again last night. I drank some orange juice before bed and that helped. I have found a few things that help but never twice.
Post a Comment