yum yum...barium meal tomorrow!!!

[Kerry72]

oh the joys of Scleroderma...well at the mo they are classing it as an undifferentiated connective tissue disease but all seems to point towards scleroderma...fingers cross they fix this issue i have with stomach acid following my lovely barium meal...hope they do strawberry flavour lol!!!

[wartsandall]

Hi Kerry72,........I presented the same in 2000 with raynauds, painful splits on my fingers, generalised muscle and joint pains with the addition of gross oesophageal reflux...... My Rheumatologist gave excellent care and I had a full MOT,..... with the lung function, ECG, cardiac ECHO, nail fold capillary studies, the hot and cold water challenge and various gastro investigations.......my initial diagnosis was an undifferentiated connective tissue disease which changed to Scleroderma in 2005 when my fingers began to reveal signs of curling and skin hardening......I suffer with horrendous reflux and nocturnal vomiting which is very frightening when it happens whilst I'm asleep, bile pours into my lungs and I have dreadful chest pains.......I also have hypomotility which leaves me feeling bloated, nauseated and very constipated............ New years day dinner at my sisters house was lovely, but now I feel uncomfortably full up and sick despite having a child size portion and waking up this morning with a sore throat and mouth due to oral thrush........Family and friends are always telling me I look well, but they can't feel my pain or experience my fatigue.........On the upside however,.........I must admit I look a lot younger than women the same age as me,......the skin on my face is smooth and wrinkle free,.... but on the downside.... I can't move as quick as others or as fast as my 80 year old mother.........I'm sorry to whine on and on....but I agree with you Kerry......" oh the joys of Scleroderma ".......I sincerely hope your barium meal investigations are not too bad and I wish you all the very best for the New Year x

[Kerry72]

Hi wartsandall- the noturnal vomiting is awful- very frightening!! I too struggle to get a meal down- must have water with it and I also tend to leave a large part of each meal- must remind hubby not to cook me as much- I eat less than my 6 year old at them mo!! I've got lots of aches and pains and thickening of the skin especially on my arms and face- I can't wave goodbye with my left hand without pain in my wrist- fingers crossed that my barium sheds some light - took my kids for a walk in the wood today- after an hour of walking I sat down for a drink and had horrid pain behind both knees- yet another symptom!!!!

[wartsandall]

Hi Kerry72........I agree, trying to swallow food without a drink to help it down is also a struggle.....I regularly feel panicky when I have the sensation that something is stuck and I'm going choke to death........I look at the faces of my lovely girls and my husband when it happens and I can see the colour draining from their cheeks.....they are very concerned when this happens to me.....To help myself I eat slowly and try to eat soft, moist foods......bread and meat terrifies me!!!!!.......I always keep a bottle of water by my bedside so I can take sips to keep my mouth moist,.... however drinking too much water increases the reflux..........I also have problems with my knees,..... during the night I am often woken with pain in my left knee........I try to keep mobile,..... but I can really emphasise with you and appreciate what you are going through......I think you need to listen to your own body,...pace yourself and not over do things.......it must have been really lovely for you being able to take a walk today with your family.....all the best for tomorrow x

[Kerry72]

Thank you....had the barium this morning...didn't have to drink as much as expected. And didn't taste as bad either...swallowed one mouth full too soon but if I didn't I would have spat it out DOH!!! Looked like I had a nasty case of oral thrush afterwards!!! Just having a lovely cup of tea now. The dr didn't see anything obvious but has a lot to look at before writing his report....maybe that's a good thing but doesn't really explain why I sometimes struggle with meals Or the nighttime issues!! Maybe I might need to increase my omeprazole

[wartsandall]

Hi Kerry,....glad to hear everything went ok.......you should hear something fairly soon...........

take care and have a lovely day x