Monday, December 17, 2007

Gut feelings...

I have this intermittent problem with my digestion. Everything functions OK most of the time but from time to time I get this discomfort in my upper digestive tract. I woke up early this morning and was unable to get back to sleep. After eating, I get the old indigestion - bloating, acid reflux, heartburn. But I also get like a throbbing discomfort in the centre of my back. It is difficult to describe but it feels a bit like the pain you get from a raw open sore. That doesn't really describe it but it is the closest I get. My appetite is not affected - in fact sometimes eating gives me some relief. The discomfort comes and goes - I might be troubled for about a week or more and then it just goes for a few months. I am carrying an excess of weight at the moment and this seems to make it worse, leading me to think it might be a hiatus hernia or something. I suppose I ought to go to the doctor but I have difficulty motivating myself. You have to phone up at 8.00am on the dot to get an appointment that day, if you don't get through, tough. You can't make an appointment for a later date under this new system. They'd probably only send me to hospital to get tubes stuck down my throat and I don't fancy that. And if I am going to be looking for a job soon, the last thing I want is an active medical record. All things considered, I'll try to lose a bit of weight and put up with the discomfort.

4 comments:

Bro. Jim Hayes said...

Sounds suspiciously like what I had last year which was caustiously diagnosed as a probable stomach ulcer. It certainly runs in my family (2 burst stomach ulcers). Was given a series of gastro-restricive (?) tablets which seemed to help. Have the odd minor flare since but nothing too significant. Try peppermint tea. Good for acidy stomach + ulcer-related symptoms.

God bless.

Holy Famoley said...

Thanks for the advice I shall pick up some peppermint tea. The trouble, is with intermittent things, it's usually eased off my the time you find yourself in the doctor's surgery. I shall just try to take it easy with the food I eat - though not the best time of the year for that!

Laura said...

Does it flare up when you eat fatty or greasy foods?
Could be your gallbladder.

Suggest you don't mess around, and just go in to the doc and talk to them.

Holy Famoley said...

Yes, Laura, a visit to the doctor is on my list of things to do. Can't see me doing it before mid Feb, though as I will be away for a few weeks. It's behaving at the moment so hopefully it will stay that way for a while.