A positive Post!

tillytop
tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
edited 16. Aug 2012, 08:59 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hello peeps,

You have all been so supportive to me (as always) while I have been struggling so much with everything so I am pleased to be able to share something positive with you.

A couple of weeks or so ago I posted about my ongoing struggle with nausea and stomach problems and how I was spending the first few hours of every day literally unable to function because of it. I was sure it was down to the meds – either one particular or a combination of all of them – and feeling pretty desperate because it was a case of “can’t live with them, can’t live without them” and I really didn’t know what I was going to do.

Several of you suggested IBS as a possibility, and the GP had also suggested IBS as a result of the meds – but I still had no idea what to do to make things better. But over the past couple of weeks I have made some changes which have begun to make a really big difference.

I had already stopped the Diclo because of my stomach and was in the process of trying to reduce my pred dose cos I know it is so bad for me. I have (with the GPs approval) moved to a half-strength stomach protector (my thinking being that, if the stomach protectors suppress the stomach acid, then maybe they actually impair the digestive process). I have gradually moved as many as possible of my once-a-day meds to the morning and I now don’t even take so much as paracetamol without food. I have been sticking to bland food and we have been eating earlier in the evening so that I am not going to bed on a full-stomach. Wherever possible I go for a short walk (hobble :roll: ) after my evening meal to assist with “getting things moving”. And I am now beginning to see definite signs of improvement. I have had a couple of almost nausea free mornings over the last week and the other days have still been significantly better than before. My stomach is still not happy in general and is very “unreliable” (thanks at least in part, I think, to the “clogging” effects of the Oromorph :roll:) but because I am not venturing far at the moment this is more of an inconvenience than a major issue.

An added bonus is that my blood pressure has gone from being way too high, despite the BP meds, to being really quite low - and, from past experience, I believe that can only be due to the reduction in Pred! The GP told me that his aim was for my BP to be “as low as possible without you falling over” and, until recently, it looked as if that was going to mean adding yet more meds to the mix – not something I was happy about. If it carries on like this, I might be able to reduce the BP meds in due course. Hurray! :D

Sorry, another long post from me but I so wanted to share something positive for a change.

Thanks again all for your support and your kind, wise words.

Tillyxxx

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Woo-hoo! Good for you tillytop, more often than not it's only us, as individuals, who can wave a magic wand to help sort ourselves out and that often takes dedication, a change of habits and trying to stay as positive as possible. You're doing a grand job there so stick at it and I hope the improvement keeps on improving. :) DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Aww Tilly its about time you had a break, and you can thank yourself ....I am really pleased for you, and long may it continue.
    It just goes to prove what can be done with the right attitude
    Wishing you well with everything xx
    Love
    Barbara
  • suzygirl
    suzygirl Member Posts: 2,005
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am glad to hear that you have had something positive, you so deserve a break :D
  • LignumVitae
    LignumVitae Member Posts: 1,972
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    That's absolutely magic news! Thank you for sharing your victory, it made me smile reading it. Well done for working it out and being brave enough o step away from your meds!
    Big hugs, LV xx
    Hey little fighter, things will get brighter
  • hileena111
    hileena111 Member Posts: 7,099
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Tilly
    Its great to hear a positive post....I know we are hear to listen and help where possible but great to get that post from you

    Love
    Hileena
  • mig
    mig Member Posts: 7,154
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    So glad that you are slowly feeling better.Mig
  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,395
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    That's really good news Tillytop and thank you for taking the time to post it. :D

    Unreliable stomachs can be a bit tricky so I hope that it settles down too especially when you want to stray a bit further from home. I had unreliable bowels last year and after a colonoscopy it was decided the meds were a problem. I still take a Loperamide tablet (prescribed by my GP) when I go away from home as I don't think I'll ever trust my nether regions again!

    Lovely to see your positive post. :D

    Luv,
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • Numptydumpty
    Numptydumpty Member Posts: 6,417
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    That's good positive news Tilly.
    I'm pleased something sems to be going better for you, you really do deserve a break, after all you've been through recently.
    All the best,
    Numpty
  • diamond
    diamond Member Posts: 396
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Glad to hear things are improving for you Tilly.xx
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Tilly

    I haven't been around on the forum for a while but I do think about you and it was lovely to come back on and read that you are doing really quite well and I am so very pleased for you. :D

    Sending you big hugs ((((((()))))

    Love from Juliepf xx
  • Suestpeters
    Suestpeters Member Posts: 94
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    That's lovely news Tilly, so glad things are starting to improve for you. It's great to have that feeling of being in control of something isn't it, even if it's only by reducing the meds - good that you have a GP who is willing to let you switch around with the drugs until you find a way that works for you - sounds like you are doing great :D
    Long may it continue.
    Sue :)
    Fiddlersmall.jpg
    Fiddler, my lovely boy for 28 glorious years : 1981-2009
  • tillytop
    tillytop Member Posts: 3,460
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you so much people for your kind replies.

    Tillyxxx
  • earthspirit
    earthspirit Bots Posts: 278
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    really good news indeed and the best part is that you are doing this by yourself for you. taking control and understanding and seeing the possible results and definite improvment in your health. slow and perhaps sometimes unsteady steps but genuinely looking like you are going in the right direction and not taking any steps back. keep calm and carry on :D
  • dachshund
    dachshund Member Posts: 9,085
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Tilly.
    i'm pleased things are at last working out right for you.
    you've been through such a lot and you take the time to help others that need help.
    thank you for saying what happened that could help some one else.
    take care
    joan xx
    take care
    joan xx