So it has been almost three years since my last post. THREE YEARS! Eeek! Life just got really busy! In early June 2012, when my second child turned 1, I found out that I was pregnant again! Baby number 3 was born in early February 2013. It took me two years to adjust to this life with three little ones. Whew! I also started and grew my own business. Busy times indeed.
Over the past two years, I maintained a semi-primal diet. I honestly had issues maintaining weight while purely primal and extended breastfeeding. I ended up adding a few bit more carbohydrates (rice) into my diet so I could just keep weight on. Then, I definitely started cheating more than I should have... open that door just a little and it flies open.
Then, March 2014, we all were infected with the stomach flu. This was the second bad case for us in two years. But this case, in particular, was different. My stomach never really went back to normal. I am not sure what exactly what happened but here is my current theory. I had a Norovirus which inflamed and damaged my stomach lining. Then, once I felt better, I hurt my hip; which unfortunately, does not take much due to pregnancy injury. I remember when this happened and I remember thinking as I swallowed three 200mg ibuprofen pills, "you should really eat something with this dummy." However, I am sure I was distracted with three energetic children and I did not eat. Next thing I know, I am going down the path of a peptic ulcer: constantly nauseated, vomiting after meals, weight loss, and pain.
When I finally decided that it was bad enough, I visited my doctor (September 2014). She did lots of tests: cholesterol, vitamins, blood cell count, and H. Pylori. Everything was beautiful. I had an abdominal ultrasound to check the gal bladder and it was perfect, no signs of stones or sludge. Slightly off topic, this all says so much about the primal diet. People always ask me what my cholesterol levels are like: high in good cholesterol, low in the bad!
So she decided that it was probably the start of an ulcer and she put me on a long term dose of Prilosec. It worked great! Once I stopped it, it took about 3 weeks for me to feel back to "normal" (not 100% but not sick all the time). I was finally cured! Well... not... quite. One night, I ate some dairy and I thought I was going to die. I have always been sensitive to dairy but now I am EXTREMELY sensitive to the point that I am SCARED to physically touch it. If I ingest it, I get severe stomach cramps and sometimes I vomit. I usually feel like stomach flu sick for 12 hrs and then slightly miserable for 3 days. THREE DAYS PEOPLE!
After this happened, I figured that it was my ulcer again since my doctor warned me that something like this could happen. She knows that stomach problems run in my family and she said that I should always keep Prilosec on hand. After taking it, I instantly started feeling better until day 8, then nauseated again. All my symptoms returned ON Prilosec. What on earth was going on? I had to force myself to take the pill every day because I was so scared to find out what I would feel like off of it. I would wake up feeling great and then sick again after taking it. Once that two week pack was done, I stopped it. Then, I ate dairy again, accidentally this time. I wanted to die... Again.
So this went on for weeks and weeks, back and forth. So I started researching. What does Prilosec actually do? Why was I feeling this way? What is really going on?
The things that I do know are facts:
1. After I eat a meal, I feel bloated and full. It feels like my food sits in my stomach for way too long. 2. Ginger Tea will alleviate this full feeling and it makes me burp... like really burp people, it's gross but feels good to get it out.
3. Even tiny bits of dairy makes me feel awful but it takes like 1/2 serving of something to make me really ill.
4. I have zero heartburn. Everyone says Priolsec is for heartburn. I haven't had heartburn since I started the primal diet (okay, other than late stages of pregnancy). However, back in September before Prilosec, I would a constant burning sensation in my stomach that would put me on my side in the fetal position.
So what do you think?
Well, I am NOT a doctor but I have my theories and I want to share my experience with you. I plan to take my theories to my doctor.
Would you like to join me on my quest to cure my stomach?
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