Went to the doctor's again and the verdict is in. Not only do I have gallstones, but I also have erosive gastritis. Trying to find information on it is impossible. All I know is that I can't take any pain killers but Tylenol. I'm sure he told me, but I don't remember. Just another health problem to worry about.

Lots on erosive gastritis here.

Bummer bbro, but at least you know what you're dealing with and not something even worse.

Again, sorryit's not great news, but after all you've had it all this time anyway - now you have the opportunity to do something about it and live in a way that doesn't aggravate it.

Good news is on its way I'm sure of it!

Thanks everyone. That link is great, dar! I saw it when I was searching, but I thought it would be pushing a drug or something since Merck is a drug company. Lots of good information. Although, I read on another site that alcohol can be a cause, but that site doesn't mention anything.

The plan is to take new stomach medicine (the Prevacid was bothering me) for 2 weeks, stay away from anything but tylenol, and (by my own decision) stay away from alcohol just to be safe.

My mom was saying that she had gastritis, but it was taken care of by medicine (the purple pill, can't remember the name) and now her gallstones don't bother her. There's that silver lining! Maybe this will stop my pain and I won't need surgery....for a while :D

Nexium. Not all proton pump inhibitors are the same, you may have to switch around every now and then to find the one that works the best.

An update

Pills seem to be working well. I get some pain, but it is more like an annoying ache that comes and goes when I eat something I know I shouldn't. Hopefully this will be ok and I won't need the surgery. I have to report back to the doc next week.

Mentally, I am ok now. I am over the poor me phase and onto the naming the soap opera that is my intestinal system "As the Stomach Turns". As many people said, both of these conditions are treatable, so that is all I have to do, then forget about it....mostly.

just feel like a :jig: today

Good for you, winner.:thumb2:

Off to a surgical consult next week. No more jig. I was hoping it would all be good. I still know they are treatable, don't want a knife cutting me open.

Nobody does, but the alternative is even less inviting... plus you can tell your great-grandchildren a wonderful story, about how a dragon tried to make off with you, as a young maiden. ;)

A dragon?? is my gallbladder the dragon? If so, his name is Arnold. He will be relocating from Abdomen Falls to the town of Pathology on Tuesday at approx 1:30 pm. Mummy has already booked the car and will be making her way down on Sunday.

bwahahahahah

get well soon!

bbro - the knife is your friend in this situation!

I'm not really scared of surgery (sez the woman who's never had any) but I do feel for you.
You're intelligent enough to know it's for the best - you'd have lived out your life in excrutiating pain 100 years ago. Doesn't that make you feel calmer?

I found out today that my Uncle's throat pain should have been picked up as a symptom 10 years ago - and it's something my Mum suffers from and I might do too - so I now have a personal reason to advocate getting things checked out. Glad you did and glad (given that you need an operation) that it's asap.

All my best wishes.

good luck, bbro! the surgery doesn't sound too scary. come back after you've recuperated from the surgery and give us an update.

as for getting things checked out, a person really should! many years ago, i never experienced pain, but my lower abs was feeling a bit hard. i ignored it, thinking it was constipation. then my stomach got bigger, i figured i was getting fat. a year later, and after many urgings from friends and family, i went to the doc and found out i had a tumor. surgery went fine but had i gone to the doc earlier, my scar would've been much, much smaller.

Thanks everyone. I am okay, just nervous. I don't think that is going to go away. Now my brother is coming down as well. His work arranged for him to work at the office near me, so he won't even have to take a vacation day.

Oh and I definitely get things checked out these days. I used to lecture my mother about it because she had a similar experience with a tumor, but different symptoms. She waited so long it grew to the size of a basketball! So, now I can lecture because I go get things looked at and she still doesn't.

Besides, what is the point of suffering if it can be fixed.