Health Update: Plumbing The Plumbing

Since my last health update, there have been some developments and I’ve noted a few interactions.

First, I finished the Augmentin/amoxicillin prescription. I think there was a portion of upset stomach from these combined with the indomethicin (which I have stopped taking as well).

Second, I do feel overall better, but still have tight chest pains from time to time. My mid-abdomen (intestinal area) feels aquiver from time to time as well.

Third, fiber, fiber, fiber (I think y’all know why).

Fourth, when I still thought that asthma might be indicated, my main doctor gave me a prescription for a Ventonlin inhaler, and I’ve used that off and on. However, last Wednesday, I took a couple of puffs and the pain that drove me to visit the ER was back and was severe for several hours. After some research, I discovered that Strattera and albuterol are noted to have a negative interaction (link is a PDF, Section 7.4 in the linked document is where the interaction is noted).

Fifth, I’m starting to whittle down the possibilities. I’m going to schedule another doctor visit and discuss these and push for tests:

  • stress/anxiety
  • ulcer (esphogus, elsewhere)
  • gall bladder related something; gall stones, etc. etc.

Sixth, I’m journaling my days on a hyper intense level to try to correlate anything or see if it helps the doctors. I’m hoping the Strattera helps with some of the anxiety, if that is what is going on.

Seventh, while I loved Adderall, I wanted to go off of it to see if it was causing any of this or exacerbating the pain and so I’ve been transitioning to Strattera for ADD/ADHD. Heather tried this in 2004 as part of her post-partum regimen and it was horrible for her, so she was visibly upset when I said I was going to try it. I’ve been taking it at night, but I think I’m going to start taking it with breakfast. Any pointers would be appreciated.

Eight: Not sure the Omaprazole is helpful. Today is the first full day where I’m going to try to stay away from any other antacids. I made need a higher or different dose to be efficient.

The comments on my first post have been very supportive and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to share.

  • http://andrewkhunn.com andrewkhunn

    Jon, my wife started with Adderall and transitioned to Strattera. She’s been on it now for 6+ months and finds it most helpful when she takes it with breakfast in the morning and sometime in the mid-afternoon if she needs to be concentrating late in the day.

    I think taking it in the morning is definitely something to try.

  • http://twitter.com/MelBHab Melissa Haber

    I am assuming that in one of your Dr visits someone has checked your thyroid levels. I am on a thyroid hormone replacement (had thyroid cancer) and when my dose is too high, I get chest tightness and very short of breath. I hope you get to the bottom of it.

  • http://epcostello.com/ e.p.c.

    I took Nexium and found it took close to a week to start having any beneficial affects, uncertain how that compares with the Omaprazole (Nexium is related to Omaprazole but isn’t quite the same).

  • http://twitter.com/MyKidToldMeSo MyKidToldMeSo

    Definitely get a gall badder ultrasound. My gallstones went undiagnosed for 5 years because I described my pain as being in the chest or as heartburn instead of specifically saying they were on the right side. The pain was intense enough to cause a panic attack 2–3 times a week for 5 years before I diagnosed myself and lied to an er doc, saying the pain was on my side. Immediate surgery, immediate cure.

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Had a gall bladder sonogram. They didn’t see anything unusual.

      • http://twitter.com/audneal Audrey Neal

        If you’ve already passed the gallstones, though, they can still cause scarring in the bile duct, which will cause the same type of pain that a gallbladder attack will cause. The stones, of course, won’t show up on the sonogram, and sometimes neither will the scarring. I had my gallbladder removed after having my second child — the first attack I had had me convinced that I was having a heart attack. Anyway, after my gall bladder was removed, I had several gall bladder attacks a couple of years later. Impossible, I thought, since I don’t *have* a gallbladder. Turns out the scarring will construct the bile duct, causing bile to back up in the gallbladder and creating the same symptoms. The procedure to remove the scarring is very simple, outpatient, and has cured the problem for me.

  • http://twitter.com/hyperpima Stacey

    I have a rare swallowing disorder (where basically my esophagus is completely useless) and I sometimes have chest pains. Mine are most likely esophageal spasms, which feel a lot like heartburn but won’t go away with Tums. Sometimes they last for a couple minutes, sometimes hours upon excruciating hour. Usually the only thing that makes them go away is eating something. Once, long before being diagnosed with anything and still thinking I was having frequent heartburn, I woke in the middle of the night to what felt like a heart attack. It was so intense I couldn’t even speak.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=718440696 Jacqueline Samuels

      Just to expand a little: Yep, esophageal spasms feel like a heart attack, including radiating pain up and down your chest and into your jaw, ears, etc. The most brutal pain. When it stops, it stops within moments (at which point I usually cry with relief). Easy test: While in pain, swallow a cold liquid (I prefer a smoothie). If it lessens the pain at all, it was an esophageal spasm. If it was a spasm, well, then it becomes a case of testing what works best for you to stop/prevent them.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1359494210 Amanda Brumfield

    I take Adderall for ADD and I love it. I can think! I have combined it with Albuterol and had no side effects. It almost sounds like you are having muscle spasms or cramps, which I have had and the pain is unbearable. You might ask you doctor about trying a muscle relaxer to see if that might be part of the issue. Whatever it turns out to be, I hope you feel better soon!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1359494210 Amanda Brumfield

    I take Adderall for ADD and I love it. I can think! I have combined it with Albuterol and had no side effects. It almost sounds like you are having muscle spasms or cramps, which I have had and the pain is unbearable. You might ask you doctor about trying a muscle relaxer to see if that might be part of the issue. Whatever it turns out to be, I hope you feel better soon!

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Thanks! I’m going to hold out on Strattera until I’m at the clinical dose. I’m not sure I’m that asthmatic, if at all. The Ventolin was just a “this might help/let’s see”.

  • http://twitter.com/tallnoe Noelle

    I’m glad that you’re journaling, even to the point of obsession. Notice EVERYTHING. Otherwise something could get pushed aside.
    And, CONGRATS on being pushy with your MD. That’s the only way I get things done… good luck. I hope you continue to feel better.

  • http://twitter.com/tallnoe Noelle

    I’m glad that you’re journaling, even to the point of obsession. Notice EVERYTHING. Otherwise something could get pushed aside.
    And, CONGRATS on being pushy with your MD. That’s the only way I get things done… good luck. I hope you continue to feel better.

  • http://www.katandgray.blogspot.com katherine_at_grass_stains

    I had gallstones for over a year before they were diagnosed ‚and they were TERRIBLE. The drs kept telling me I had indigestion, and my response was that I’d never HAD indigestion, but I was absolutely SURE this wasn’t it. I would have terrible attacks that I swore felt like heart attacks, and they would make me panicky, which of course made it all worse.

    Finally Dr. Google came to the rescue and I went back to the doctor and INSISTED on a hydascan, which showed several large stones in my gallbladder. They scheduled surgery for the following morning.

    Good luck! I hope you find a resolution, no matter what it is.

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      Thanks for this. I’ll mention this to my doctor.

  • http://twitter.com/thoughtfloss Dawn Lamothe

    Jon, you’re about ten years ahead of me, and I’m already starting to build up the mix of prescriptions… I hope I only develop one new problem at a time so I don’t know if it’s my body or the meds that are messed up!

    Glad you’re starting to feel a little better. Push those doctors, because you’re your own best advocate. They’re happy with the status quo if you are–make sure they know you aren’t!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=612465447 Isabelle Hurteau

    Hey Jon,
    Glad to read you’re feeling a wee bit better. I think it’s great that you’re taking detailed notes about your progress, etc. I’ve done that when I had bouts of “mystery malaise” and I felt empowered. But some doctors sure don’t like it when you come prepared and ask questions…

    About the ulcers, if they run a bunch of tests on you and don’t find an “ulcer” per say, you might still have pain caused by acid without it being straight up GERD. I even met a nurse at a hospital (I was a volunteer guinea pig for a human genome study here in Quebec) and she told me she’d been in terrible pain for years but doctors couldn’t find any trace of an ulcer even with a gastroscopy so they basically wouldn’t treat her. They gave her meds that didn’t work and that’s it. I gave her the number of my acupuncturist. I never heard back but I hope she’s better. While she was doing tests on me at the hospital, she was in tears. sad.
    hang in there and best of luck with everything!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1039181472 Alexa Johnson

    My family is generally healthy and we’ve been able to live, aside from the occasional antibiotic, meds-free. I know you and Heather have had a lot of success and relief from misc. meds, and I wonder if you’d be willing to explore alternative treatments, too. I noticed someone mentioned acupuncture, and I have several friends who SWEAR by this for everything from gall bladder issues, rheumatism, ulcers, heart murmurs and more. I actually see a classical homeopath (who is also an RN, a nice mix of East and West approaches) who has been able to eliminate (so to speak) my digestion issues, and has worked wonders on my post-partum depression. We’re in Fort Collins, CO not Utah, but I bet there’s got to be a reputable, experienced classical homeopath out your way. Good luck, Jon. Be well.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HOONJGQVL6LSZZN26JN65PVK2Y Susan

    I had my gallbladder removed a few years ago and some of your symptoms sound similar to mine. I had the tightness in the chest. Pain in my chest. Some trouble breathing. I also had back pain that I had always associated with sitting at my desk for hours a day. It was mainly just under my left shoulder blade closer to my spine. It was a symptom as well. I had the sonogram with no stones visible but once I had the hydascan, I was given a percentage at which my gallbladder was functioning (something like 22%). Once it was removed, all the above mentioned symptoms subsided.
    I have learned that the “symptoms” they look for with problem gallbladders are not the same for every person. I never had any pain on my right side.

  • http://www.sugarleg.com sugarleg

    so glad to hear you are feeling better even amongst the set-backs. am seconding the detailed journals and see that as great way to channel any anxiety you are having about the mystery pains into an almost meditative catharsis.

    didn’t realize you were NOT at all asthmatic. I do have asthma, what is called stress or exercise induced, so I puff the Albuterol before every run and since December have been prescribed a daily long range med called Pulmicort. I hate taking it, but since I stepped up my running, my lungs were taking the hit and we needed to protect them.

    also wanted to add more encouragement for acupuncture and continued chiropractic and body work in general. oh!! and omg, please seek out a really fantastic craniosacral massage therapist. craniosacral therapy works on putting you into a super deep relaxed state and the body works to restore and heal. have used in place of and in addition to meds for treating anxiety/depression as well as musculo-skeletal aches and pains for almost 20 years. IT WORKS.

    keep on getting better!

  • http://www.sugarleg.com sugarleg

    PS… sorry, grew up with hippies and we take a lot of supplements. wanted to mention:

    PRO-BIOTICS. will keep you healthy esp if you have to take antibiotics. the one I like is called Primal Defense Ultra by Garden of Life brand. will make your fiber super powered ;-)

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PJ5YHKSWPLWA75IQBD52EDBQUU Laura

    Do you drink coffee? For the longest time I was having upper throat/neck pain and sharp stabbing pains with my intestines…and as it turned out it was the coffee…the high acid content in it was seriously effing with my system top to bottom. Once I stopped drinking it the pain stopped. Something about starbucks and the high caffeine just didn’t work with my system. I miss iced coffees like you wouldn’t believe, but I have one now and I instantly know why I stay away. Something you might think about, not to mention caffeine really can wreck havoc if you have anxiety.

    • http://blurbomat.com blurb

      I drink one, as in single, cup of coffee a day. And it’s a home coffee, not a coffee shop coffee, so it’s not as amped.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AUASVWAHKO22V3UQEJIBXFPRRU Jeme

    Good to know you’re pro-active with your health care. I have every confidence you will get to the bottom of this and find relief. I’m hoping it’s sooner than later.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TGSSQO3QQUXGKSFYNWKXOBJVPM Daniel Evanson

    I was diagnosed with ADHD a couple years ago when my son was. I finally decided to try meds last December and started with Adderall extended release. It worked, it allowed me to focus better but it also exacerbated my anxiety. After a little over a week on it I had a complete meltdown at work. Tightness in the chest, pounding heart, anxiety. I went to see the nurse. She checked my blood pressure and said “it’s a little high.” I later found out it was 185/ something. I’m a cyclist and my bp is usually around 110/70.

    So because of my family history and age, I’m 43, she called EMS and they took me to the hospital. Ran a bunch of tests, said my heart is fine. They couldn’t find anything wrong with me. I went home after 4 hours of being observed.

    I went off the meds but it took me about 3 weeks for me to start feeling normal again. Frankly I’m scared to try meds after this experience. I’ve been ADHD my whole life and I’m doing ok. I’ve developed coping skills that work for me including bicycling 2 hours a day. I commute on my bike.

    I just read this book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. It’s a good book, you may want to check it out. http://​www​.amazon​.com/​S​p​a​r​k​-​R​e​v​o​l​u​t​i​o​n​a​r​y​-​S​c​i​e​n​c​e​-​E​x​e​r​c​i​s​e​-​B​r​a​i​n​/​d​p​/​0​3​1​6​113506

    Daniel

  • http://kristanhoffman.com/ Kristan

    Once again, no medical advice or helpful anecdotes here, but I think the hyper-journaling is a good idea. I’m still thinking of you, and I hope y’all get to the bottom of this!