Tummy troubles

Well, sometimes you get what you pay for, I guess.

Is the second opinion doctor going to be on a sliding scale, too?

One possible remedy (it's nasty) might be apple cider vinegar. Do some research into it. Usually if you put 2 Tblsp in a large glass of water and sip on it, it helps all types of stomach trouble. It sounds nasty but it works.

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The second opinion doctor is going to be a private doctor GI guy, and it'll just be a consultation. Husk_charmer, I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy two years ago (when I had insurance), and both were fine.

Gothampc, I just heard about the apple cider vinegar remedy, and I tried it for three days--it didn't help, but it may require more time than that. I'd rather do that than Prilosec, yeesh. I'll ask the doctor if I can do that instead, or concurrently with the medication.

I've never been a drinker or smoker or eater of spicy foods. I do drink tea every day and I enjoy chocolate now and then, but those two things are pretty much being avoided now. Maybe the singing brought about this, too. Geez, the human body is so darn fragile.

Calvin, a lot of doctors are insanely pill happy. One wonders if they're just technicians for pharmaceuticals. Most things in life are at best guesswork, but I'd rather guess with gentler options. Sorry you had a bad experience with the Prilosec--are you being treated for your ulcer problem?

Yes, you get what you pay for, Phyllis. America's great, if you're rich and always in perfect health.

Updated On: 3/14/08 at 10:29 AM

Just a thought: I take papaya enzyme to aid digestion when i eat late at night or something especially heavy (which is not my custom). The best brand is from GNC...might help...

Thanks, lildogs. Good advice on keeping a food diary, Calvin. (and hey, a use for the excel on my computer...)

I have gastritis, as was determined by a scope done a few years ago. It was really bad at the time, and I was in frequent pain. They gave me a medication for it, but I had to stop taking it when it seemed to make my other meds stop working. I have since stopped taking all the meds I was on for everything.

I have "stress stomachaches" every now and again now (as the acid levels in my stomach apparently worsen when I'm under stress for some reason). And they're not fun. But they don't happen often enough any more to take something other than Zantac 150 (or whatever the high number is).

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Thanks for the advice, everyone. I bought some slippery elm lozenges (haven't been able to find it in tea form yet), and someone else recommended licorice root products.

I used to drink apple cider vinegar every day for various reasons. Absolutely vile, but it works.

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No. Luckily I haven't had to worry about that yet.

I really drank for to hold me over between meals.

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Aloe Vera juice is a natural remedy that can help too. Some brands don't have any taste, others are nasty. You should be able to get this at most natural food stores, maybe Whole Foods. My D.O. suggested this vs taking meds. You also need to look at your diet. What you eat plays a huge role in this; you may even have developed some food allergies or sensitivities. I suggest getting a delayed food allergy test done to rule this out.

Allergies are a possibility. And I thought, "hey, why not invent an inclined pillow designed for this sort of thing?" Of course, someone already has--they're available online for $75, geez.