It's an Ulcer

Actually it's not ONE ulcer it's TWO ulcers - something caused them both to flair up and that's why I couldn't eat or drink for 3 days (lost 8 lbs) - the back pain was dehydration Spent Friday in the ER with my surgeon (God Bless that man!) - he checked me out..got me set up on fluid IV and then took me to the treatment room where I was put to sleep for an upper endoscopy - and there they were...lovely ulcers Dr. asked me if I wanted to spend the night in the hospital or go home...I voted for home! So at 8 p.m. I got to go home - with prescriptions in hand. I am now taking Nexium once a day and Carafate liquid 4x a day. My back has stopped hurting as much but my belly still doesn't like me very much At least now I know what the horrible pain was! Thanx for all your support and contributions - you're all wonderful Linda

I still have you beat I have 3 ulcers. I know your pain. I take 40 mg protonix, and now carafate chewables, the liquid tasted like cherry bandaids to me . Take my advice, don't run out of meds. I ran out a couple of weeks ago, was too cheap to refill and boy the pain came back with a vengence. Micha

good morning! my daughter is a nursing student (she's almost done) she asked me on Friday night when I got home if I was taking protonix - she said that that is the most popular. The carafate liquid is horrible but if it makes the pain go away and allows me to drink water and eat something I will take it Since we are all professionals now at these lovely ulcers - I need more advice - is there anything that I should or shouldn't be eating or drinking? anything that will make it flare up on me again? My surgeon told me that I shouldn't have too much coffee or tea (that's not going to be easy but I will deal with it) and no caffeine at all - sighhhhhhhh () anything else you can think of???

I had to do a two week liquid diet to calm things down in there. As far as the Protonix, it really is the best for people with "normal" stomachs. Not for WLS patients. You should ask your surgeon for the dissolvable Prevacid. They taste like strawberry and dissolve in your mouth and you know that they are getting to where the irritation is and helping it. The Carafate is a coating like substance that coats the ulcer and has an element in it where it forces the ulcer to regrow skin over it to make it heal rapidly. It really is good stuff. Paula

Hi Linda, ulcers seem to be going around here!! There are several of us that have them. Sorry you had such a time with it. I don't take carafate but I'm going to ask my doctor about it. Take it easy!! Tough way to lose some lbs!! love donna

Hi Linda, glad you found out what it was. That's a relief. Hang in there and don't forget your medicine. Koukla

It's really strange that so many of us 9/20005er's are getting ulcers now. My surgeon told me that it's rare this far out, but not impossible. I take dissolvable Prevacid twice a day (surgeon told me WLS patients do better with the Prevacid) and the liquid Carafate 4 times a day. Have to be on both for at least 3 months. I'm going to switch over to the chewable Carafate for the liquid is really getting to me. It's inconvienent to take doses 2 & 3 during the day. Remember not to take it on a full stomach, and to wait at least an hour after taking your vitamins/minerals. Paula

can I ask you please... do you find it difficult to eat? I have lost total appetite since I am on this medication and I'm finding it difficult to drink too - that worries me A LOT! I am always full because I feel as tho I am always taking medication of some sort. I get up in the morning and take the Carafate - I wait an hour and take the Nexium - I wait an hour and eat something for breakfast - I wait 2 hours and take the carafate again and the cycle continues - when do you find time to eat or drink with this 4x a day stuff? Not only am I not hungry but I just don't have TIME! My stomach is still giving me a bit of a rough time - it still hurts to eat or drink and now I'm worried that I'm going to get sick because of that... this is a vicious cycle - don't get me wrong - I wouldn't change this past year at all - but I would like to change the last week! how do you do it?