Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Yesterday I went to see my GI doctor. I am more embarrassed to see him than my other doctors and physicians. I see him because of my GERD, of course. We are trying different medication to get the food I eat to stay down and to allow me to eat more. For over a year I have not been able to eat much because of Scleroderma and the GERD. The GERD causes the acid in the stomach to increase, causing more heartburn and acid reflux. It burns too, from the middle of the stomach all the way to the mouth. All in the throat and lungs. Combined with the problem that sometimes food would just sit in my throat because nothing would move. Now people with Scleroderma, our bodies don't function the same, things are moving. In Scleroderma patients, our esophagus do not move down constantly as in people with no issues to their esophagus. This non-movement causes the acid to increase and build up faster and move at a faster rate before it can settle down. Because of this, medication is a must - and holistic is not covered by insurance. The only problem with GI medicine is the side effects. Some of the side effects are diarrhea, constipation and in worse cases could be a muscle tic or even fatal. One medicine my GI wants me to take is Reglan, Ive been refusing that for moths. The reason why is because the day my doctor wanted me to take reglan, a commercial aired on TV (real talk) and said, "HAVE YOU TAKEN REGLAN - CALL OUR OFFICES...." I was like man, hell naw. He cut the TV off, and since then, I refused. This medicine can cause Tardive dyskinesias, and its incurable. i don't need two incurable conditions and many other ones you can try to treat. So he told me just take it only for a few weeks, versus months. I say no. So we tried something else, and he says if this doesn't work, then we have to do reglan, its the only thing left. I say well id rather eat bread and suffer eating other food then walk down the street looking like a dope fiend from side effects. I am already tall and skinny. Plus I'm too young for loose stool. We will stay on this new medicine, but only take it once a month for a week, but if i can stretch it out to where i take it less often, maybe once every few months, that would be better. That helps with less risk for side effects and so my body wont become immune to the medicine. I forgot the name of the medicine, but ill get it to you later.

Now, I have to go to the wound clinic once or twice a week because of the skin pulling on the finger tips and knuckles, and a big one on my elbow. shit hurts, i tell you. Once i get my car back, Ill be straight, but man, i hope this doesnt become a major issue because people dont realize how much the epidermis saves us from pain. So i have to keep them wrapped. So nasty because I cant overwash my hands, and yall know how i am about germs. Now I use latex gloves for everything such as cleaning dishes, my body and eating food with sanitizers. In anycase, hopefully these will clear up within the next few months. The benefit is that I am working with vocational rehabilitation (a service for disabled people), and because of my disability and other Issues, whenever i get to a job, they help pay for accommodation's such as a speak-to-type program. that program allows you to speak to the computer. now I just have to take a English or speech class for annunciation, and I will be straight. Tomorrow, and Friday, a doctor and dentist appt. Such a busy week, I will need a new car.