acid reflux and headache

I’m lucky enough to be prescription drug free and sparingly use a mixture of otc pain killers and gels when I need a break from pain.

My Dad and my Step Dad both died aged 86 on December 29th last year. There’s been lots to sort out and two distressed widows to support as well as my own grief.

My ex husband (divorced 1993) died last Friday and my adult sons are devastated and I’m riddled with guilt as he never recovered after I left.

I’ve been very anxious and these losses have brought back the pain of losing my younger brother in tragic circumstances 7 years ago and I have a feeling of doom.

For the last two weeks I’ve had a terrible headache, very bad sore throat, nausea, fatigue and a bit of a dodgy tummy, sore red eyes and I’ve lost weight too. Neck and shoulder pain always present which I’ve always assumed was RHEUMATOID. In the last few days awful heartburn has appeared making me wonder if stress has started something . I never take more than two doses of paracetamol or Paramol in a day so well below the limit and don’t think it is those that could have caused this. I eat sensibility, don’t smoke and at age 60 and weight of now 9 stone ( two weeks ago 9 stone 6 pounds) don’t think I’m much over weight. I even swim twice a week usually and walk often. Rennie are not helping so I’ll try Gaviscon next then Nexium (starting cheap as not working).

So I’m seeking your thoughts, am I depressed, stressed or just flakey or could this be a case of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease? All thoughts welcome which I can read while on hold to GP again tomorrow morning trying to get an appointment.

PS: I’m too scared to take anything for my head ache in case it is paracetamol etc that’s aggravating it.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Goodness me - what a chapter of stressful circumstances - so wonder you are STRESSED- not flaky, and maybe not as far as depressed, but you do need medical advice...difficult as that appears to be at the moment.

No specific advice, but sending virtual hugs and hope you can get through this, with appropriate help from GP, and maybe some counselling moving forward.. it's not something you can do on your own.🌸

[Hidden in reply to DorsetLady]

thank you DL

[SnazzyD]

You have a mind boggling amount of not just your losses, but that of others in your mental space. All this time you are having to keep it in a mental suitcase, some of it not really ever having seen the light of day for years. Not surprisingly the catches on said suitcase are becoming a bit strained and bits are falling out. If you keep bashing your soul because you feel guilty, I imagine the load feels huge. I don’t know you but your post sounds like you are a doer and all things to all people, forgive me if I am wrong. Beware of taking on everyone else’s distress because from the sounds of it you are. I am not surprised you feel dreadful.

It is one of life’s kicks in the teeth that there is so much ‘business’ to do after a death which requires a level head. I’m currently sorting out the affairs of my father-in-law, whom I didn’t like and I keep thinking, “how does anyone manage this when they are really upset?”. It is no mean feat that you have undertaken and you must congratulate yourself. But with equal endeavour, do find time to heal yourself and allow yourself some comfort during this battle.

When the dust settles, I can recommend the book The Body Keep the Score - Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk. It deals with the physical and mental effects of trapped trauma, stress, guilt etc. I like it because it ends positively and is empowering and not just going on about the damage so you feel a mess at the end with no resolution.

Regards your symptoms, did you test for Covid? It did a number on my throat and gastrointestinal tract which didn’t just blow over in a week. The sore eyes as well. Your acid - I would recommend Gaviscon rather than Rennie unless it’s the dual action one. Rennie is basically two carbonates that directly neutralise the acid which can then triggers the stomach to produce more acid because the stomach contents are not supposed to be alkaline. Gaviscon seems to be less heavy handed so you tend not to get onto an acid rollercoaster. The doctor may prescribe another type anyway. With your headache, pain killer induced rebound headaches can occur with as little as a regular 3 paracetamol a week, but your other symptoms suggest that something else is going on like an infection.

[Hidden in reply to SnazzyD]

thank you for your sensitive and thoughtful reply and I shall certainly seek out your book recommendation.

There’s is lot more stress than I mention going on in the family at the moment not least of which is my daughter in laws pending diagnosis of a brain tumour or MS...... we just don’t know.

Thank you SnazzyD.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Are you sure it is heartburn? Have you had an ECG done? And what's your BP? I wonder how long you would wait for a 999 response - if only to get both checked quickly.

Hugs - and everything else that Snazzy said.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

I’ve had nothing done or checked yet but generally have normal BP. I live a few mikes from the hospital here so wouldn’t wait if I needed 999 but just get there. It’s constant rather than waning and ebbing but it’s a bit scary tbh.

I shall be first on the phone to GP tomorrow and revert.

Thank you x

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Spoke to the nurse practitioner on the phone ( that’s all they would offer) and she said it’s H-Pylori.

I do eat spicy food but not fried or processed - ever. I am ashamed to admit that prior to the pandemic I used to drink far too much. Of course I have self medicated my pain from Stills the last 40+ years but never taking more two doses a day and rarely Ibruprohin, more usually with Paramol but I also use migraleve which has codeine and in October 20 i injured my leg and took a lot of pain relief.

Stool and blood tests to be done and a protein pump inhibitor prescribed (PPI?)

Guess I should amend my diet and reduce my single glass of wine a night to zero for a while. All advice welcomed.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

It's Lent tomorrow - very suitable time to practise a bit of discipline. How's she know it's H,pylori? Have they tested for it? Needs a double antibiotic as well as a PPI ...

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

stool tests tomorrow plus pick up PPI . Bloods next week. Not even seen a dr just symptoms given over the phone, jumping the gun a bit I think after all no one wants to take PPI from what I’ve read about them. The contraindications don’t marry nicely with Stills Disease or my leg injury (Oct 20) that hurts and makes me limp still.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

They are standard management for H pylori - that plus these 2 abx for a specified time and it's like magic it is claimed.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

I’ll let you know I bet on, at least scripts are free now I’m 60🙄

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

started the PPI today. Side effects say thrush, as I already have vaginal Lichen Sclerosis I’m dreading this and no pessary will ‘melt’ up there any longer that’s for sure.. As my stomach will be lined does this mean pain relief for joint pain won’t work and migraine tablets ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

What do you mean by "stomach will be lined" - who used that term? Such a very SILLY way of describing how drugs work if you ask me. PPIs stop the production pathway for gastric acid, they don't coat the lining of the stmoach with anything - calcium carbonate tablets sort of do that and interfere with absorption of some things. It is a risk factor for thrush because the acid normally in the stomach kills off the yeasts, It CAN interfere with the absorption if SOME drugs but doesn't necessarily.

What migraine tablets are you on?

Think this is good:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

the pharmacy assist described it like that and when I collected the script I was expecting a giant pump like a big moisturiser bottle not wee tablets. Taken the first one this morning and keeping a diary of goods that trigger issues and the first one is baked beans!

For migraine I take OTC migraleve but there was a shortage (here) early in the pandemic which continues on and off so in the absence of those been using Paramol which helps quite a bit although I’m cautious of codeine as it makes me drowsy.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Oh dear - and when did they get their pharmaceutical quali!!! It's a phrase that truly annoys me and was what granny used to say about eating before drinking alcohol too!

PPIs and H2 antagonists reduce the amount of acid produced so protect the stomach lining that way. Gaviscon and similar products form a physical barrier so could be said to "line the stomach"

This explains the differences:

uniprix.com/en/tips/1/healt...

[whitefishbay]

Thinking of you. So many losses. Sorry to hear it. x

[Hidden in reply to whitefishbay]

thank you for your kind response

[whitefishbay in reply to Hidden]

When things are tough it helps to know others of thinking of you. Hang in there. x

[readingbooks]

What an unbelievably sad set of circumstances and it sounds as if you are the rock in the midst of it all. Do take care of yourself as well.

[Hidden in reply to readingbooks]

thank you for your kind words

[cmToddy]

So sorry you are having such a tough time. Could it be IBS as you are stressed. If so try Ibuscopan it can work wonders in no time at all. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to cmToddy]

Thank you, the nurse at the surgery diagnosed H-pylori over the phone....... tests and treatment follow for this so I hope it’s a correct diagnosis as contraindications of PPI are undesirable and some especially not friendly with conditions of Stills Disease. Mind you that’s only what I’ve read on wiki.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Are H2 antagonists better for Stills? They are almost as good as the PPIs:

"H. pylori was successfully eradicated in 78.6% (95% 73.6-83.5) with the proton pump inhibitor and in 76.5% (95% Cl 71.4-81.5) in patients treated with the H2-receptor antagonists. Utilizing two antibiotics instead of one antibiotic significantly increased eradication rates by 16.1% (95% Cl 9.3-22.8, p < 0.001)."

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

thank you, I’ll digest that

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Oh ha!!!

[Hidden in reply to cmToddy]

thank you for comments

[Tiggy70]

Sorry to hear you are going through such a rough time. I suffer from periodic IBS and have found that taking a probiotic drink and Kefir each day helps. Sending you a virtual hug 🌸

[SheffieldJane]

you have my heartfelt sympathy for the incredible, heartbreaking stress that has landed on your shoulders. Of course you need medical help and support as a matter of priority. Make some notes for yourself and push for an early doctor’s appointment. Keep in touch with us. I hope that you feel more grounded soon, one step at a time. X

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

thank you, bit of struggle tbh but it will pass soon hopefully.