New pain question

[AZMOM]

Okay, off steroids x 1week. Booyah! That's the good news.

However, Claire has been having a lot of reflux. She announces periodically, 'I just threw up in my mouth." Ewwwwwww - poor baby. Anyway, the BMs are good. The labs are creeping the wrong direction but still no panic on that front.

However, she has complained the last several days of "my chest hurts" and she grabs right at the base of her sternum. It is very intermittent but when it hurts, it's obvious she's in pain. Thoughts? Come on, Dusty, don't fail me kow. ;-) My initial thought was that it was related to the reflux but you know, I'm not really sure........

I'm trying to decide whether or not to email Dr. A. We see him in just a couple of weeks but still.......

 

[Tesscorm]

Hi Julie,

Before my son's diagnosis, one of his first complaints was heartburn/reflux and he complained of a pain in the lower chest, just below his ribs (base of sternum). He also said it felt like there was something 'there' when he swallowed anything.

These specific symptoms were never directly addressed in his diagnosis, however, he did have a bit of Crohns inflammation in his duodenum (which is believe is located in that area).

This symptom has gone away since he began his treatment but he does take one Nexium per day.

Does Claire take Zantac regularly?

 

[Crohn's 35]

Awe poor kid, I know exactly how she feels! My times of being on steroids have caused severe heartburn which in turned cause a hiatus hernia. Everytime I was on pred, I would feel a burning feeling so bad felt like a hot poker in my chest. I had a Endoscopy to confirm. She may have acid reflux too or gerd. Best to get your doctor to check her out. That pain is not nice. Maalox wildberry is all I can tolerate, but take nexium once in a while. I avoid it cause it robs calcium. Let us know how she gets on.

 

[AZMOM]

Thanks both of you . Yes she takes the zantac twice daily. She started it early in this past flare because of random vomiting (no nausea). It's strange to me that it seems worse now that she's off the steroids.....

She did have inflammation there at dx in 2009 but sure hasn't ever seemed to hurt like now....

I think I may just shoot him an email just as an FYI. It's been a couple of weeks - I'm sure he misses us. Lol

J.

 

[Dexky]

Does she complain or wake up coughing at night? If it is gerd or reflux, I'd think it would get worse when lying down.

Good luck with Dr. A! We got notice EJ's Oct. appt. has been moved to January!! Sabbatical????

 

[AZMOM]

Dex- January?????????????!!!!!!!!! That totally freaks me out.

No it does not get worse with lying down and she is not coughing. both good thoughts.... I may mention that if I decide to email.

J.

 

[scottmyster]

HI Azomom, i am thinking the zantac may not be powerful enough for the reflux. i take Pariet and it works i hope this helps. best wishes.

scott

 

[DustyKat]

Hey J!

Fab to hear Claire is off the Pred!!! :applause:

The symptoms you describe, could it be her gallbladder?
Problems associated with this generally produce chest pain, in adults it can often be confused with a heart attack, and is also present usually in the right upper abdomen. It also results in heartburn and nausea.
If it is her gallbladder then perhaps the pred kept any inflammation present at bay whilst she was on it.

My two cents worth! :lol:

Give Claire a big squishy hug from me! :hug:
Dusty. xxxxxxxx

 

[dannysmom]

Danny has reflux and says the same exact words when it gets bad - "I just threw up in my mouth". He no longer gets the chest pain though. I think emailing now is fine. There are lots of over-the-counter medications for reflux. Danny tried prilosec for 2 weeks a couple of years ago but he stopped. The reflux is not really bothering him.

 

[G's mom]

Julie,
Sorry to hear Claire isn't feeling well. When I read the symptoms I imediately thought gallbladder. The pain is directly under the sternum and it is usually a sharp pain. It hurt the most whenever I had greasy food. The good news is gallbladder is easy to diagnose, a simple ultrasound. I hope she is feeling better soon.

Take care,
Vicky

 

[Carrie630]

I get pains there as well. My upper endoscopy showed gastritis and an ulcer. I thought it was GERD, but there wasn't any sign of it. Prilosec would help with both. That's what my GI has me on, and it's a medication for GERD.

 

[AZMOM]

Well I did email him. He said stay on the Zantac but add nexium. See him next week. Shes having a kidney ultrasound next week - not sure if he added gb to the orders. If she keeps comPlainibg, I'll put a bug in his ear.

Dusty- I'll have you email him. Ha ha.

Hugs - J.

 

[Crohn's 35]

Glad the doc is listening to you..but the only thing is making sure she has enough calcium and Vitamin D3. Antacids rob calcium. Hope she gets relief, and soon. Hugs.

 

[Tesscorm]

Hope she's feeling better soon! :rosette2:

(Pen - thanks for the info re nexium and calcium; I wasn't aware of this!)

 

[Dexky]

I hope the Nexium's working J. Let us know!

 

[Brian'sMom]

Julie,
Hope you get it figured out. Acid reflux does hurt like sharp pain to me.

Mark,Sorry to add this into this thread, but saw your post up above, Wanted to ask you: Just starting Humira...seems like too soon to go so long between dr visits and labs. Did you question them as to why? Also, Is EJ still having injection site reactions? Brian had another this last friday (last 3 out of 16 total shots)...but I took your advise and did benedryl and I think that helped delay it to next day...but still an itchy spot around 10 am, but not unbearable. I should've given 2nd dose in morning. Our GI said its pretty common and not to worry.

 

[Crohn's 35]

There is a good book, on the gerd and hiatus hernia thing there is an exercise and it works, I know cause I have done it and rarely have to. The book is called "Why doesn't my doctor know this" has diet info too. For now , smaller meals more often during the day helps.

 

[Dexky]

^^@Kathy^^, EJ had bloods a few weeks back, chrohnswise bloods are all within range and the numbers concerning his liver have even improved some!! He will still have his 3 month blood draw independent of the GI visit. Thanks for thinking about him

The split dose of benadryl seems to have completely stopped the itching but there was a small, 2 inch, circle of redness the second day. He wasn't bothered by it.

 

[Brian'sMom]

Mark,
That's great!! Our GI doc said if they aren't bothered by it, then don't worry about it either. She said the injection site reaction has nothing to do with how with Humira is working. Brian went so long with zero reaction, but because of the remicade thing...I wondered if we were headed for trouble. She said, totally different thing. I'm so happy to hear about EJ's liver numbers Look up: Buzzy4shots.com. They used this during remicade IV pokes...I ordered one for us. I used 'the side of' husbands cordless razor to kinda improvise last friday. It tricks the brain by stimulating nerve endings somewhere close to shot location. Helped Brian with pain/burn of the Humira.

(I kinda snuck in on this thread to ask Mark some stuff I saw he had posted, sorry Julie!)

 

[AZMOM]

NO apologies required, Kathy!!!

Hugs,

J