flavet

Thank you for your kind words, you have helped to keep me from some of the anger I feel at times. The omeprazole (20mg twice a day) is not only for GERD, (which I have controlled by not eating after 5), it keeps me from having the terrible heartburn I have. I have had the stomach leesions for years and without omeprazole heartburn comes roaring back. I have been eating the yogart with cultures for years, I also have cloudy urine from potatoes so I have very few. A question about POTS, Sometimes when I rollover in bed or when I stand up and stretch I get tachycardia, is this a sympyom of POTS ??? Again thanks for your help and replies.

Hello DINET, thanks for reading my story, I apologize that it is long. First I would like to thank those who made this site, then I would like to say that I do not wish any disease on myself, I am simply trying to find answers. From reading others stories here I do not want to be as sick as some are, but in researching my symptoms they kept leading me to these forums. I have not worked in 3 years, between my back, asthma, heart, diarrhea, sleep apnea and stomach I simply did not get jobs and found fewer and fewer that I thought I could do. Years ago I went to a V.A. clinic for my back and stomach. The P.A. gave me omeprazol and said there was nothing that can be done for back problems, I didn't even get an x-ray which some nurses told me they questioned. As I got worse with back pain, diarrhea, heartburn and GERD my jobs began to change as my abilities changed. From not passing physical agility test as a firefighter to not being able to lug a camera around in the heat as a news journalist to not being able to stand long as a security guard to not being able to sit in the sit of an 18 wheeler for long periods. The V.A. doesn't allow patients to change doctors so 2 years ago I changed V.A. facilities. The new doctor immediately ordered test which came back as, multiple stomach lesions, duadenal spasms, aortic (stomach) valve problems, 2 fiberous masses in liver, 1+ inch gallstones, pancreas not visible in sonogram due to size of liver, moderate degenerative lumbar, thoracic and cervical disc, IBS, ventricular and superventricular ectopy. After 5 years, I had a doctor who finally listened, but it took a while. The V.A. is sometimes slow to give appointments, get the test, then get another appointment to be diagnosed and treated. Sometimes a 6 month period for each problem. He was concerned it was something bigger. That was my first appointment with him, he had it all lined up with what to do next. I waited 2 months to see him for the treatment, when I walked in it was someone different, my doctor was gone, hired by a larger private firm. I thought OK, this guy will surely pick up where the other left off, the first words he said to me were, High, what can we do for you today. He hadn't even read the reason I was there. With such a long turn around time on appointments, I dumped all my proble,s on him again right there, I was frustrated as he wrote each one down then made comments. I came away with "You probably need a chiropracter but we do not provide that", when I told him I could sometimes hear my eyes move and that I woke up shaking he said it was probably psychiatric. The first doctor had already scheduled me for a colonoscopy, The P.A. that did the prescreening asked if I was working, had a job or was trying to get disability, At the time I was not, I was in the process of getting a job as a 911 operator. He said that he would look for cancer and nothing else, so the schedule for the colonocopy included 5 days, the first 2 no meds and not fat and no wheat and the last 3 were liquid diet only, this would keep my intestines from showing irratations from food. Polyps only no cancer, at least that was good news. At the same time they went down my throat, took biopsies of something and sent me home with paperwork for caring for gastritis and hiadel hernia but did not list them on my test results. The 911 job was the worst thing in the world, fast, women yeeling at me, I tried everything I humanly could to keep going back but one day I simply didn't go back, I couldn't stomach walking into the place. I have since applied for disability. The doctor at the imaging facility wrote a nasty gram to my P.A. telling him to look at the big picture. I asked the P.A. if he would look into my terrible diahrrhea and at least confirm IBS for my disability claim but he said he needed to do test so he scheduled my for a barium enema, I called his nurse and asked if the colonoscopy i just had was better than a barium and she said yes, I should not have it, the imaging doctor again sent a nasty gram to my P.A. The doctor at the imaging center in the hospital pulled me aside and told me my doctor was practicing point and click medicine, then he sent another message to my P.A. about possible spinal stenosis. My doctor and I are at odds, and now he cancels every appointment, one was the follow up on degenerative disc diesease that the imaging doctor was trying to get him to notice, it took 9 months to get that apopintment, he cancelled it as well. Over the next 2 years I have become worse, and this is the letter I sent describing my medical problems to the SSDI doctors. Aug 25th 2011 To whom it may concern, When I applied for SSDI I listed 5 problems that kept me from working. They were not in order of severity. Those 5 problems were my back, diarrhea / IBS, asthma, heart and Liver. I feel it neccessary to explain these problems in depth. My back is one of my two most troubling problems. I had seen the V.A. in ( If memory serves me correctly) 2005 or 2006 for my back. I was barely able to walk. I was barely able to drive myself as the pain of lifting my foot off the throttle was unbareable. The V.A. physician Dr. ------- prescribed anti inflamatory medication and a pain medication that seemed no stronger than aspirin. I returned several times until I was told by Dr. ----- that nothing could be done for my back, an x-ray was never taken by Dr. ------. I am unable to stand for long periods of time, unable to sit in one place for long, and unable to lift even moderate weight for a man. I had asked if I could see a new physician and was told no, I could complain but not switch. After years of back problems the only way I could get a new physician that would take a new look at the problem was to switch facilities. Over the years my back and other problems worsened, I switched to l------- where Dr. ------ immediately sceduled test for my back and other problems. The test returned with degenerative disc disease. Dr. ----- was gone on my second visit, I believe hired by -----. Dr. ---- is my new physician and seems frustrated at times because of my frustration. I am unable to stand for short periods of time or wash dishes without extreme pain, I lean on the sink and continue. My thighs go numb, my legs tingle, my left foot at times feels like it has a cell phone on vibrating inside of it, I feel like something occaisionally is crawling on or touching my legs but there is nothing there. I also occaisionally feel like there is a wet spot on my back and I do stumble on occaision but do not fall. During the day I switch between an office chair and my bed. I still do what I have to do, mowe the lawn on a riding lawn mower and ten minutes of weed eating without bending at the waist. It is painful and all I can do for the day. On talking with Dr. ------ I advised him I did not want pain medication as I was dizzy and sick feeling often enough and I thought pain medication would make that worse. In conversation with Dr. --- and Dr. ----, both mentioned that I appear to have prosthetic maralgia. I have a left ankle that on occaision has an instant very sharp intolerable pain when walking then instantly goes away, Dr. ------ stated it may be a nerve in my back and not an ankle problem. IBS / gastritis / chronic severe diarrhea, Is the second of my two worst medical problems. Dr. ------- at the V.A. clinic has seen me several times for chronic heartburn and chronic diarrhea, he suggested it may be IBS. I have asked Dr. ----- if this is his diagnosis, he advised "it probably will be". My diet has been altered heavily. Other than a cup of coffee in the morning, the rest of my day consist of water, that includes with meals. For years I have continually altered my diet by removing sodas, tea, fast food ( maybe once every 2 months now ) spicy food, fried food, and acidic foods. I rarely if ever consume alchohol, I stopped drinking in the early 90's, alchohol would probably cause instant heartburn. I continue to have moderate / severe stomach pains and frequent watery bowel movements for hours, each with only a few minutes warning. I have had loose bowel movents soil my clothes many times. I travel everywhere with a change of clothes. My bowel movements also burn me, to the point that I bleed if I don't shower. I also have lesions in my stomach controlled only by omeprazole for the rest of my life. I have had chest pains for many years. It has been looked at by two different facilities, the veterans clinic and Dr. ----- (when I had private insurance). I have had chest pains for so long I am used to them. They occur on heavy excersion. If memory serves me correctly the first time was in 1997. Since then, chest pains have become routine, and as no doctor has found a reason I no longer complain much about them. Also, My back combined with my overall health keeps me from most excersion so I rarely do enough to get these pains. If I were to suddenly be in a situation where I had to run, or swim for my life, or do any kind of medium physical activity I am sure they would return. My current heart complaints stem from my heart twitching or wiggling in my chest. At the same time this occurs I feel strange and weak. I am currently scheduled for another holter test and a treadmill test. I am weak and unable to do even moderate work. Is it my heart ? I am working on getting the V.A. to find the problem. I also get hot very easily and have very heavy heartbeats frequently. The last holter test showed rare ventricular and superventriculay ectopy. I am hoping the next holter test will catch the problem as it does not occur everyday. It can occur 15 times per day three days in a row or not do it for a week. The truck driving job I had from 2006 to 2008 pushed the limits of my ability and gave me chest pains, heavy heartbeats and shorness of breath frequently. I also can get rapid heartbeats at night or in the morning from just rolling over in bed or stretching from a yawn. My shortness of breath has been very noticeable since 2007 and worse since 2010. I get short of breath from light excersion. I also get difficulty breathing from my asthma. I went to Dr. ---- in --------- with breathing problems several times. I now use albuterol with great relief. I cough very often, to the point of getting sore throats. The stuff that comes out of my lungs is very thick and sticky, it takes a huge effort to cough it up. During my pre screening for a colonoscopy the doctor told me I have an enlarged liver and a fatty liver. I am not sure if my liver makes me sick but I have a very unusual problem. If I want to mowe the lawn I do not eat, it helps with heavy heartbeats and gettin tired. The effect of not eating and being able to do some work only last so long. Eventually I get very weak and shaky, when this occurs I must eat quickly. I have used a blood sugar device during these times and my sugar was from 90 to 110. Eating on the other hand, makes me sick with stomach and intestinal problems. Another situation that occurs is nausea, it can occur anytime without any reason that I can determine. I also wake up feeling like I have the flu but usually without nausea. I do not know if my liver is causing this, I hope not. I still have further problems that I have yet to be checked for. Severe ringing in both ears and bad hearing that is getting worse, a torn right rotator cuff, knots on my bones, severe rash, eyesight that can be different each day, pain behind my right eye socket, an enlarged prostrate that is getting worse, and several times a year I go through days of being dizzy. Several times a year I can also hear, yes hear, my eyes move, they make a swishing sound when I fist wake up. I no longer have the ability to handle anything other than very light task. I fear being caught in a situation that requires strength or fleeing, swimming from a sinking boat or running from a fire or defending my family from an aggressor. I still try to do as much as I can, but I always stay close to air conditioning, a fan, a chair a bathroom and a change of clothes. I spend most of my day dealing with my medical issues and completing simple daily task. I have recently sold my house because I could not physically keep it in good condition or afford it and I now live with my mom. My family thinks I am a bum, my doctor hates me as much as I hate him. Thank you for reading this, the timeline my not match, it is not because I am lying, it is hard to get everything correct and put it on paperm the same as it is hard to read a book, on the first page of a book my mind drifts off and I loose my place,