EGD Results...and the answer is...

Hey There Sue!!!!! Its Julie Schirmer from Lifeskills class. I had pain and nausua Memorial Day weekend and Dr. Peters put me in the hospital. All scans at the hospital came out fine. They started me on Carafate in the hospital. Dr. Peters did another EGD after my hospital stay and he found an ULCER. I am on carafate(liquid) and Nexium. Carafate I just take consistently every 4 hours. I do not bother with the one hour before and two hours after. It does not bother me at all. Now for the Nexium. I have found that if I put the capsule in a full tablespoon of applesauce, it goes down smoothly. Hope everything else is going well. I am down 67 pounds and feel wonderful. How are you doing? Smiles to you! Julie

Hey Julie! Have you seen Don from Lifeskills? I saw him in June and he looked and felt great! Congrats on your loss--67 lbs is terrific! I am glad the timing is not so critical. And I did the same thing with the Nexium and it was just fine. Did your ulcer go away, or have your symptoms gone away? Hope you are your mom are doing fine. It would be great to get together and see everybody from Lifeskills class. I talked to Joni, Dory, and Beth, and all are well. Thanks again and take care! Sue

I was diagnosed with ulcers when I was newly postop. I took carafate and prevacid. They've been acting up this week and I went back on Carafate, I see Dr Irgau soon and will mention it. The carafate acts quickly.

I too developed ulcers less than 1 month pre-op. I did my round of medicines and was cured... no problems with ulcers since then. Here's to a speedy recovery! Good Luck!

Sue, I had to take nexium my first six months....I was under care of PA Hospital's hottie surgeon and that was their requirement. Then about three months later I had a problem and they put me back on nexium for a month. Its been a few months and things seem okay....Hope things going well with the meds for ya! Debbie

Hey Debbie, Since 10% of the patients seems like a lot to me, I wonder if perhaps this surgical group will consider a change in their practice and order some sort of preventative post-op, especially for folks like me who had GERD to begin with. Even though I could not feel the acid reflux, it manifested as gnawing, and maybe some Nexium could have prevented what happened. I am confident that things will heal just fine, as yesterday the gnawing feeling seemed to be a little diminished already. I am keeping my fingers crossed! Thanks and take care!! Sue

Hi Everyone: Prior to my surgery I consulting with my PCP on what medication I would continue after surgery. He insisted that I continue with my Previcid with I was taking for GERD for six months. I told Dr. Wynn and she said that was fine. So far I haven't had any problems. Maybe keeping you on Previcid is a preventative. Kim