Well now that I'm recovered, back to work.

[Melkane]

I fell ill a couple weeks ago the same week as my birthday. Was getting nausea after every meal, shivers, headache, chest pain that radiated into my back, diarrhea, massive heartburn fatigue it was horrible. At first we thought it was the flu, though some of the symptoms were a bit odd and seemed to be almost time related (were worst at night while trying to sleep or in the mornings) I pretty much stopped eating for a few days as I was just sick. After having it without any signs of it letting up after a week I finally broke down and went to see the doctor.

I was right to be suspicious that it wasn't the flu. Though I wish I had broke down sooner and went immediately it would have saved me many days of horribleness. As it turns out, something that I had been having trouble with for several months had actually reached the breaking point. A couple acid reflux disorders. One my body is producing too much acid (which explains the past several months of nearly anything, even water giving me heartburn, waking up in the middle of the night suffocating on acid I was practically having to take lots of antacids daily for months now) The second part of the disorder is there is apparently a flap like structure between the stomach and the throat that supposed to prevent acid and such from coming up not working allowing acid to come up when I lay down. These can lead to even more severe issues like the burning of the esophagus and ulcers.

Apparently these acid reflux disorders once they get highly severe can cause every symptom I had. Due to the severity of them and the symptoms the doctor prescribed me a few medications that I may be on for the rest of my life. One is a prescription strength tablet called Protonix that I take daily and the other is a liquid called carafate which is normally a medication for the prevention or treatment of ulcers, I have to take it everytime I decide I want to eat something (then wait at least 30 minutes) and before bed. The effects were pretty immediate though I didn't fully feel better for a couple days.

[drivebyphilosopher]

"chest pain that radiated into my back"

This can be indicative of something else. I need to ask, do you also have severe loss of appetite?

As for everything else, they are classic symptoms of hiatal hernia. You may not have to be on medication all of your life. I had a severe hiatal hernia as well. You know that flap that you were talking about? well, sometimes that flap can fail so severely that your stomach is protruding into your chest, causing these symptoms to get worse and worse. There is a very good surgery that corrects this, that I had to have, and I have never felt heartburn ever since. The recovery time is tough though, about a month, with gradual increase in the amount that you eat, but you lose a lot of weight, heh. Ask your doctor about it.

But, don't forget to tell me if you have severe loss of appetite as well.

[Melkane]

No loss of appetite. I mean when I was nauseated I wasn't wanting food of course, but when it would pass I would be SO fucking hungry. But then if I ate something I'd get the nausea again, so I wasn't eating even though I wanted to. I lost a good 15-20lbs. during the past two weeks and it will probably continue as I'm eating smaller, lighter and probably healthier meals right now. Like right now I have a subway sub (ham, lettuce, tomato) and some baked chips compared to my usually burger and fries. I also haven't had any soda in 2 weeks either.

[drivebyphilosopher]

Ask your doctor about hiatal hernias then. You sound like a prime candidate for one. Even moreso if you are overweight.

One other possible problem that you could be having, as far as the radiating to the back thing, is it radiating to your back right side? or your back left side? This is important. If its to the back left side, its more than likely heartburn, especially if it is a burning sensation. If its to the middle and back right side, it could be a gallstone or a gallbladder disorder. I had this as well and had surgery to remove my gallbladder, and I was eating again!