On top of everything else I am now sick! Or injured. Something. Forty eight hours ago I was in enough pain that I was seriously considering having my case manager take me to the emergency room or call an ambulance when I saw her the following morning. I was a little better the next morning and still have much to get done here before Tuesday so I didn’t.
I’m not at all sure what the problem is. It manifests as upper abdominal pain, especially when bending over; an itching/burning sensation in the upper abdominal region that becomes pain if the area is touched even very lightly; constant feeling in the throat like a trapped bubble; and the sensation that something in my abdomen physically moves when I move just right. All these symptoms seem to be somehow related. I have had all this before, three years ago. At that time my doctor could find no cause, but after ending up in the emergency room for a day I was diagnosed with gallstones. I had surgery to take out the gallbladder. At the time the surgeon said she did not think some of the symptoms I had been reporting were related to that. I guess not, because they are back.
Anyway I am soldiering on, trying to get as much work done here as I can in the time I have left. Two days left. With luck I think I can get all the exterior stuff finished, which would be a nice feeling under the circumstances.
I need to shower and try to go into town on an errand now. I’m not exactly feeling calm about it. I hope to accomplish my errand and not have any severe panic attacks but am not too confident!
Hi Paul,
I wonder if at some of your symptoms (probably not all of them as you had similar issues before) may be related to anticipatory anxiety regarding the dental procedure. I get so anxious before some medical appts that I do get physically sick – throat infections, colds, weird muscle pains, stomach issues etc.
The positive aspect of it is that usually soon after the appt the symptoms start to slowly subside on their own.
Hope you’re feeling better today and that your errand went well!
Best wishes,
Nadia
Hi Nadia,
No doubt that is at least part of it. Anxiety and tension make everything worse. I am very prone to muscle aches and muscle injuries when my anxiety is out of control. The injuries occur when muscle tension is up to do anxiety and I move just the wrong way.
Anxiety was very high last time this happened too. On the other hand both times it set in just after some heavy lifting, so injury seems a possibility at least.
This makes me wonder if there is something else going on along the lines of GERD, heartburn, hiatal hernia, acidic buildup, etc.
I take prilosec daily now to help with those symptoms.
And before any acidic meal (or if I am eating somewhere I am unfamiliar with) I take pepcid.
Just a thought…
Jules
I get heartburn if I eat certain foods before going to bed. Like chocolate, for example. Wah! No chocolate before bed! Life is unfair!
I think there is something really weird going on and maybe it is two different things. There are the “internal” symptoms and then there is the thing with the skin being ultra sensitive to the touch. It’s something I’m going to bring up again after I get a new primary care provider.
I seriously thought about hiatal hernia because the first time it occurred (& the worst, so far) was during a period when I was doing some training for something. I was walking several miles a day carrying 60 to 100 pounds on my back and there was a lot of lifting & straining to get it on and off of me. But surely that would have shown up on some of the scans, X-rays and assorted tests they did when I ended up at the ER or the even more extensive tests when I ended up in the hospital with extreme pain following surgery. Unless it is a hernia that slips in & out by itself, which I have heard of…
Best wishes,
Paul