Pain Diary
Couldn't lie on the back. Couldn't lie on the right. Left is the only position possible. Until 1.5 weeks after I first had it, also few days after seeing doctor.
Food Diary - Avoided Food
Drinks - Coffee, tea, nescafe, milo, chocolate, carbonated drinks, juices (acidic ones)
Salad from restaurant (since usually, the dressing will be citrus based). Need home made ones
Dishes - no sambal, no masak lemak, no curry, no ikan/ayam/whatever goreng cili, no anything with asam inside.
Fruit - no mango, oranges, plum, strawberry, berries. Even banana is painful while swallowing. But it shouldn't give the GERD pain after. Apple is the gentlest
Progress
First noticeable feeling was 3rd June. I was still on my final pieces of Tamiflu. I remember when we were in the hotel, I felt the pill was stuck in the chest and I had to remind myself to flush it down well with water. Thought that was it. The next day (Saturday), after dinner of mee goreng, I remember the food path in the chest felt stuck still. Thought it was just a normal indigestion. It was just uncomfortable, but wasn’t a painful one.
By Monday, it didn’t come off and I knew I had to do something. Had 1 sachet of gaviscon early in the morning and thought that should do it. By night time, on our way back to KL, it turned into a radiating discomfort. Still, wouldn’t call it as pain. It was like a contraction that comes and pass. This was noticed mored between 7-9pm, with the radiating discomfort coming in intervals, about few times within a minute. We reached very late due to traffic, asked around for any gerd related remedies. Grabbed more gaviscon and eno we could find. Nothing seemed to help immediate after. Ok, maybe it needs sometimes before it can really kick in.
By Monday, it didn’t seem to help further. Went on to get more antacid of different brand, as recommended by the pharmacist. Few days on, it never improved, but got worse. 1st real sleep trouble happened Wednesday night. Couldn’t remember by now but I might have cried due to the pain at night and resorted for some pills. Made way to the clinic the day after. That’s when I considered myself a real GERD patient. Had a good explanation by the doctor and confirmed that my pain only came from the chest and nothing from the stomach. Was asked to watch my diet, as explained above, for 2 weeks, before a scope procedure is recommended.
But one week after seeing doctor (read: the medication, the tighter diet), things seem to get much better. Lesser pain while sleeping already felt 4 days after seeing doctor. But day time, it was still there. 5th day though, the pain got worse. But it was probably due to the slight fever, and not so much for the GERD.
My medicine supply finished, so I went on to grab more. Thought of just having a quick medicine supply, but of course clinic asked me to see the doctor. It was a different doctor, the doctor didn’t say much but went on to recommend me to see a specialist. I wasn’t that much inclined since I felt much better already. But thought it would be a good thing, so at least I know for sure, what had really triggered it. Finding a slot was definitely not easy. The soonest I could secure was the next Monday.
By the day after the clinic visit, I felt much better again and has braved myself some roti canai (within the past 1 week of strict diet, I noticed fried food wouldn’t upset me as much). For dinner, I gathered enough courage to tryout 2 pieces of sambal bilis (read, whatever chilli consumed is only those stucked to the bilis, hence, very minimal amount). The night seems good, I could still sleep. But morning pain is there (i think it never went off). But mild enough I could get up easily, and can still utilise both sides to sleep. So this was much better. Gave me confidence to have the Yong Suan Nasi Kandar after PIBG meeting in the morning. Tummy was well (of course i was still very conservative on the gravy) and had my much awaited Nescafe Tarik. It was heavenly. Never have I watched my diet this much. The only good thing was this was a short duration. Braved myself for mee goreng for dinner as well, but chest started to feel not as great again. Coupled with the out of gaviscon advance supply.
The next morning was powerman. Had dates and apple as breakfast. It seemed sufficient. But I knew I would be lacking salt, due to the plain food I’ve been taking. MasyaAllah, found a bottle of non-carbonated 100 plus, which is supposed to be mild for my esophagus. Put it alongside my bike station. Everything was good nutrition wise for Powernan, until the second run leg where I had to hydrate mid run (been avoiding drinks during 1st run, but I knew I had to hydrate before unnecessary thing happens). The water was damn cold, it really irritated my chest. Had to walk to slowly to calm the chest down. for the upcoming stations, I had to ask for non-cold drinks. Which of course didn’t happen. It wasn’t too bad until the evening. That’s when I started to feel the radiating pain again. Was so worried that it would get as bad as before, not after I worked that hard to improve the condition. Just slightly relaxed diet for 2 days shouldn’t take my food freedom from me. Went on to find gaviscon advance from few pharmacies, to no avail. Even the clinic doesn’t have the stock. Recommended by Doc Faizi and an IG follower for Nexium. Went on to buy one, despite having bought 1 box of gaviscon. Nexium was damn expensive, RM 48 for 7 tablets.
By the next morning, pain seemed subsided. My appointment was finally due. Doctor was a very nice, classy Indian lady (she has Cartier love bracelet on). Based on my explanation, she suspected that it was probably due to ulcer from the stuck Tamiflu, and recommended endoscopy at the earliest. Scheduled for endoscopy 2 days after, could have been sooner, should there was no issue from the GL. The process went very smoothly and was very pleasant. Except for the fact that I had a late discharge. As was suspected by the gastro, it was indeed an ulcer, which is healing. No wonder the pain was so much. I had cried in multiple occasions, ran and worked out in pain. Tried so many medicines to no avail. But yes, no matter what, the remedy will still be about the same. Just that, I might have had Nexium much earlier had I seen the specialist sooner. Nexium is one of the most effective medicine I’ve seen. Ok, maybe aside from the Tamiflu. Situation just improved after. So if there’s anyone having a severe gastric pain, this is the med that I would recommend
But yippee!!! This is not a permanent thing and I will get back to my previous self soon. But the healthy diet has been great. I should incorporate it as a permanent eating habit as much as I can, with just occasional treats.
6 June 2023 - First official antacid (1 day after the apparent radiation pain)
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