Huge festive Noel. Any advice please on stomach p... - PMRGCAuk

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Huge festive Noel. Any advice please on stomach pain ..... Christmas plans and food abandoned. πŸŽ„πŸ°

Fieldofdreams profile image
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Katie and Oliver cat and I would like to thank everyone on here for all your help and support and advice since I was diagnosed in August. I don't know how I would have coped with this on my own without everybody's experience and advice.

The next step for me in this illness that doesn't stop giving is stomach pain which has arrived just before Christmas

since Friday I've been having terrible stomach pain yes from the stomach and also lower abdomen cramps feeling tingly and sick. I went to the doctor on Monday and he said it was because of the steroids. And asked if I had been taking omazeprole an hour before taking the steroids which I hadn't been doing as I didn't realise I had to. I took omaz in the morning with food and the steroids and an aspirin. He seems to think that my stomach is reacting now. However I don't know if it's something else. My GCA is painful today my face on the painful side is bright red and I'm feverish and very weak. Ive got a stress-free Christmas on my own with my two cats as I wanted but the food is still in the fridge.

Any advice on the stomach pain would be gratefully received the doctor has given me omaz to take now an hour before anything in the morning and to take one also at night and I've also got Gaviscon.

Thank you thank you thank you so much!

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PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

I do wish doctors could see past steroids as the cause of everything!!!! Lower abdominal pain is not typical of pred effects although it can cause gastric pain (upper abdomen).

Why are you taking aspirin? If it is for the GCA it's use is being removed from the guidelines as the risks associated with it are greater than an possible benefits. Not taking it for a few days to see if that helps certainly won't hurt.

Could it be a stomach bug? Have you been reducing the dose? What dose are you on?

Fieldofdreams profile image
Fieldofdreams in reply to PMRpro

Thank u PMRpro

Aspirin prescribed by rheumy as taking steroids!

Was going to reduce to 27.5 mg today as quiet and not stressed but with this i didn't want to have 2 things to deal with.

It might be a stomach bug....

Lower abdominal pain too...

Typical!!! First days off and all i can do is couch potato... lol. Thank god for cats!

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane in reply to Fieldofdreams

I just wrote a long detailed post about how I didn’t get on with Omeprazole and how Asprin was a bad idea and I take Pred with yoghurt and have done successfully for most of the three years. I have had PMR. I also opined that you have probably got a nasty stomach virus to which we are not immune, unfortunately. Then it disappeared before I could admire your cats. Get well soon and don’t reduce until you are properly better. Sorry your Christmas was a bit of a disaster but I envy your peace with the cats. It has been mayhem here and my house is trashed. πŸ˜‚ I love them but aargh! I wish they’d go home bah! Humbug! Happy New Year! Long may your serenity continue. X

Fieldofdreams profile image
Fieldofdreams in reply to SheffieldJane

Dear SJ, thank you so much for your message I remember your advice long time ago taking tablets with yoghurt which I do as well pmr pro suggested cutting out the aspirin for a few days.

yes I do think I've got a stomach bug but not had it quite like this before.

thankfully I have time on my own just to ride it out. I think it's ok to be bah humbug and I hope that you can quickly get some serenity into your day. FoDx

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Fieldofdreams

If it isn't OK to be bah humbug then I'm in serious trouble!! I'll post about my latest aversion therapy to xmas later...

Fieldofdreams profile image
Fieldofdreams in reply to PMRpro

Lol. Yes, I have my tactics too to avoid being the singleton at CMas dos and New Years eve.... usually end up washing up.... these days I avoid going lol. Rather watch a good movie and catch up on ironing lol or doing my accounts in peace.... no kids to please so its easier. X

bunnymom profile image
bunnymom in reply to SheffieldJane

It is hard not having a quiet serene home. For me anyway. ❀️

Fieldofdreams profile image
Fieldofdreams in reply to bunnymom

I am sorry bunnymom. It must be esp when you dont feel well. Can you go anywhere that is quiet?

My work life is so hectic with travel n things that home alone is perfect. To be honest Ive mostly lived on my own so don't think i could tolerate anyone else and their noise now.... lol. It does get lonely sometimes but, its nice to not have to please anyone.

Fod x

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply to Fieldofdreams

Enjoy that couch - the rest can wait!

All the best. πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸ€πŸ€πŸ€πŸ’

MhairiP profile image
MhairiP

I love your cats! There's nothing quite like a cat to cuddle when you're feeling unwell. Sorry you're in so much pain and discomfort; I hope the stomach bug goes quickly.

Re the omeprazole, I decided not to take it and instead I take frutin to protect my stomach before taking pred. I've not had any problems... so far!

Fieldofdreams profile image
Fieldofdreams in reply to MhairiP

Hi MahariP, thank you for your lovely reply. Yes my cats are my sanity.

What is frutin and where do you get it? How long before taking the pred do you take it?

Fod x

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Fieldofdreams

It's a natural heartburn and digestive aid - google it for details.

Fieldofdreams profile image
Fieldofdreams in reply to PMRpro

Brilliant thank you. X

MhairiP profile image
MhairiP in reply to Fieldofdreams

Sorry... I mis-spelt it! It should be: fruitin. You can find it at the Natural Dispensary website. I only started taking it when I started taking pred, back in the summer. It seems to work for me because I've had no stomach issues!

Fieldofdreams profile image
Fieldofdreams in reply to MhairiP

Thank you. Xx

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to MhairiP

There is a version called frutin too.

suzy1959 profile image
suzy1959

My lovely Rheumy told me that he never prescribes omeprazole and the like for Pred. users, only for people taking anti-inflammatories, as it's not needed. I wish more medics knew this! The general consensus seems to be that this is unlikely to be the pred. or the GCA/PMR, so see how you go. I hope you can eat something festive soon.

Fieldofdreams profile image
Fieldofdreams in reply to suzy1959

Thank you so much Suzy. I will take it easy again today. Going to lay off the asprin too. Fosx

GerriMc profile image
GerriMc in reply to suzy1959

Yes, my Rheumy said the same. My GP had prescribed Omeprazole but the Rheumy said not to take it unless suffering from severe reflux which I never had.

Before I started on Pred, I’d been taking aspirin for the pain but was told to stop once I started the Pred as it would confuse the situation with regard to how much Pred was needed to control the inflammation.

Fieldofdreams profile image
Fieldofdreams in reply to GerriMc

Dear g, thank you so much for your message which I missed seeing but I wanted to let you know that your advice is really sound and I have actually Now cut out the omaza Al and the aspirin and seem to be coping ok without either. I hope you had a lovely festive time and can look forward to a reasonable year with this wonderful illness we have that just keeps giving. Warmest wishes x

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