I got back from my vacation last Sunday with all the bags and my sister in tow. My sister will be spending time with me in my apartment while waiting for the NLE board exam results to come out (she’s getting her license, a laptop and a puppy if she pass). This post is an account of her ordeal with her tummy ache.
A day before our scheduled flight from Davao to Manila, my sister felt some tummy discomfort already. She felt some air in her tummy and she cannot burp and pass out flatus. She was curled in bed almost the entire day subsisting on medications advised by mom and dad and her experience as student nurse. But a couple Buscopan, Dicycloverine and Loperamides didn’t seem to help. She said coffee seemed to alleviate the pain she feels so we had her drink coffee as often as she wanted. We went to church the next day and she was still feeling the same pain. We blamed everything to the jackfruit she ate the other day. She started losing her appetite for food. I can only imagine how she was feeling during our flight. Hours after we landed, she said she felt the air move from one part of her tummy to the other. I told KB about it while we were talking and he got so concerned that he requested for their base doctor to talk to us and try to diagnose what my sister is feeling. She was prescribed Gas-X or Maalox and was advised as well to maintain a clear liquid diet and slowly progress to BRAT diet (banana, rice, apple and toast). We went to the 24-hour drugstore and I made soup for her and then had her take the meds. She felt a little better, was able to burp and pass gas and was able to go to bed. When she woke up, she had the same airy feeling in her tummy again. I took her to a medical clinic and she was advised to take Domperidone tablets 30 minutes before each meal for one week. She was still bedridden, only gets up to shower and use the bathroom. I wished I can share half of her pain. While having dinner yesterday, she was crying in pain already and asked me to rush her to the hospital. I had to call in sick myself as I could not leave her alone in the hospital. She was injected with Ranatidine Hydrochloride, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist that inhibits stomach acid production and used to treat Helicobacter pylori infections. She was initially diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease. She writhed and groaned and in so much pain after the injection. Dr. Sergei Ledesma and the nurse informed us that it was to be expected and that it is a sign that the medicine is working and the pain and discomfort should last for at least 15 minutes. While assisting my sister, I also had to talk to KB and call my mom from time to time. I already lost count how many times I had to call her. After staying several hours in the emergency room, we were given a go signal that we can go home already as my sister has been fairly stable after several hours. Before we went home, we dropped by the drugstore again and bought the meds she needs to maintain. We were advised to see a gastroenterologist after about a week for further tests and for possible endoscopy. She was able to sleep soundly today and has been a little upbeat already. No airy feeling anymore but still feels sudden jolts of pain in her tummy plus of course the discomfort of her “girly pains”. She could not consume any spicy food, alcohol, acidic fruit juices, milk and products with milk, coffee, tea, chocolate and soda.
A day before our scheduled flight from Davao to Manila, my sister felt some tummy discomfort already. She felt some air in her tummy and she cannot burp and pass out flatus. She was curled in bed almost the entire day subsisting on medications advised by mom and dad and her experience as student nurse. But a couple Buscopan, Dicycloverine and Loperamides didn’t seem to help. She said coffee seemed to alleviate the pain she feels so we had her drink coffee as often as she wanted. We went to church the next day and she was still feeling the same pain. We blamed everything to the jackfruit she ate the other day. She started losing her appetite for food. I can only imagine how she was feeling during our flight. Hours after we landed, she said she felt the air move from one part of her tummy to the other. I told KB about it while we were talking and he got so concerned that he requested for their base doctor to talk to us and try to diagnose what my sister is feeling. She was prescribed Gas-X or Maalox and was advised as well to maintain a clear liquid diet and slowly progress to BRAT diet (banana, rice, apple and toast). We went to the 24-hour drugstore and I made soup for her and then had her take the meds. She felt a little better, was able to burp and pass gas and was able to go to bed. When she woke up, she had the same airy feeling in her tummy again. I took her to a medical clinic and she was advised to take Domperidone tablets 30 minutes before each meal for one week. She was still bedridden, only gets up to shower and use the bathroom. I wished I can share half of her pain. While having dinner yesterday, she was crying in pain already and asked me to rush her to the hospital. I had to call in sick myself as I could not leave her alone in the hospital. She was injected with Ranatidine Hydrochloride, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist that inhibits stomach acid production and used to treat Helicobacter pylori infections. She was initially diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease. She writhed and groaned and in so much pain after the injection. Dr. Sergei Ledesma and the nurse informed us that it was to be expected and that it is a sign that the medicine is working and the pain and discomfort should last for at least 15 minutes. While assisting my sister, I also had to talk to KB and call my mom from time to time. I already lost count how many times I had to call her. After staying several hours in the emergency room, we were given a go signal that we can go home already as my sister has been fairly stable after several hours. Before we went home, we dropped by the drugstore again and bought the meds she needs to maintain. We were advised to see a gastroenterologist after about a week for further tests and for possible endoscopy. She was able to sleep soundly today and has been a little upbeat already. No airy feeling anymore but still feels sudden jolts of pain in her tummy plus of course the discomfort of her “girly pains”. She could not consume any spicy food, alcohol, acidic fruit juices, milk and products with milk, coffee, tea, chocolate and soda.
We were advised by the doctor as well to immediately come back to the emergency department if my sister:
a. have increased stomach pain, chest pain or generalized abdominal pain
b. develops persistent vomiting, vomit blood, pass black stools of if the pain shifts location to the right lower part of the abdomen
c. develops fever and diarrhea
I hope she continues to feel better. I am not used to seeing her like this and I pity my lil sis having to go through all these pain. I have not personally experienced what she has gone through and I can only pray for her speedy recovery.
I hope she continues to feel better. I am not used to seeing her like this and I pity my lil sis having to go through all these pain. I have not personally experienced what she has gone through and I can only pray for her speedy recovery.
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