So, I started taking Reglan and Nexium about a month ago and my pain has gone from a 10 to about a 1. Some days/times, there is no pain. I had an EGD (or EDG) done, where they stick a fiber optic cable down your throat and look for hiatal hernias in your stomach and I had a small one. Now, my doctor doesn’t think this hiatal hernia is the source of my pain, regardless that the Nexium and Reglan have all but resolved it, which is par for the course in my experience with doctors. Hiatal hernias are VERY common and most adults suffer from them. It’s definitely worth checking out. My life is much better now without that constant, dull ache. The only down side is that taking Reglan for too long can cause tics, so I have an appt on July 6 to talk to my doctor about what my options are. Do I have the small hernia operated on? Is that even an option? Is it too small? Please comment/write me with any questions or concerns!
PS I lost my url, which was www.mysterflankpain.com, but my old one, flankpain.wordpress.com still works.
hey jason! thanks so much for all your replies and posts. i’m going to look into the decompression thing…and also follow up with my gastro appt. i realize that i can not depend on the “doctors” to figure this out for me. so, i’m left to my own devices…online research and networking. even if the answer is not magically discovered here….please know that your words and journey have helped me. i hope that you continue to post on your progress. i’m so glad that your pain is healing! that is the most encouraging thing i’ve read in awhile. take care!
-christine
That is good to hear. Keep in touch!
Jason
Hi,
I just found your blog. Just wanted to say that I hope you keep up the information, there are people out there who are suffering. I am one of them. I don’t know if I have the same thing you do, but it’s starting to sound like it. First I thought my kidneys were going bad. Mainly the pain is in the right side. Past 5 months it’s got so bad that I have to sleep sitting up, but by 4 or 5 AM it is bad anyway. Aspirin doesn’t help anymore.
Curiously, I noticed it helps (esp. at night) if I keep drinking small sips of water. The typical doctor does not remember a lot of science, and he will glare at you if you dare try to speak his language, but it happens that water drinking causes a cascade of indirect effects in the body (affecting the vasopressin system, for example) which means it might not be a kidney problem per se.
I have been through CT scans, urinalyses, blood tests, etc. No relief, and nothing conclusive. At first when a urologist told me it might not be a kidney problem I thought maybe he was blowing off the whole thing, but in fact he might have been on to something. There is a tender spot along the lower part my right ribs, more on my back than my side. If your ribs are abrading your guts, this WILL cause the organs to start having symptoms of their own. It’s common sense. I also noticed that any sort of inflammation-causing foods (e.g., beef, especially ground beef) cause me to be in a world of hurt for a long time. Chores around the house (especially raking or anything where I lean forward) make my kidney area really sore. Somtimes the pain radiates through to the front and also to my upper back. It is like an ache that sometimes becomes full fledged burning pain.
It is a funny coincidence that I started having this problem after losing a lot of weight after I quit powerlifting (didn’t have the money or time to keep up the high calorie intake). It has seemed the more weight I’ve lost, the worse the pain gets. I never took steroids and I was the picture of health… until I quit and started dropping pounds. Lost about 35 lbs in 2 years, with the worst problems being most recent.
Anyway thanks for your blog, you may have saved me dozens and dozens of needless tests. One more thing, if you could make a post that summarizes your findings so far, such as, what has worked the best so far, you would be my hero / heroine.
Thanks,
Chris
As a change to my last post… I guess you’d be my hero. I wasn’t sure if “Jason” was a visitor from another blog but now I realize it’s you. So anyway, thanks for the blog.