Something Something

Since last week, I've not been feeling well, probably because of stress in the office and probably from many other things. The effect was quite tolerable until I experienced what I thought was a simple upset stomach Monday morning which turned out to be a gastrointestinal something something (I forgot the term used by the clinic doctor). Initially, she asked me if I experience frequent burping *burp* (oops excuse me), chest pains (!!!), bloated feeling, in other words, “general discomfort.”

Somewhere in the Q & A, she mentioned heartburn, which frightened me. I thought it had something to do with the heart, which is not true. It turns out that it is a digestive problem. At least it’s not a heart problem, thank God for that. So it’s a digestive problem. She showed this leaflet and explained what could have caused this: stress, bad eating and sleeping habits, coffee, alcohol, smoking (and other bad things hehe).

In conclusion of my consultation, I was prescribed 2 medicines, an antacid and another medicine and of course, informed me of SOME things to avoid:

• Avoid high-fat meals. Fats can slow down/delay gastric emptying.
• Eat small, more frequent meals rather than large meals.
• Don’t eat within two to three hours of going to bed.
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing, especially after a meal.
• Lose weight if over weight.
• Don’t exercise immediately after eating.
• Avoid eating late night snacks altogether, since lying down soon after eating will almost always worsen the problem.
• Smoking and drinking alcohol can worsen heartburn.
• Some prescription medications can cause heartburn.
• To reduce night time episodes of heartburn, elevate the head of your bed four to six inches.
• Some over-the counter medications can cause heartburn.
• Avoid: chocolates, fatty meals, coffee, alcohol, onions, peppermint and spearmint, tomato-based products, and beans.

Okay, okay. I am guilty of some of those listed above *sigh* and I have to do something and sacrifice some things.

I guess, its better than experiencing that terrible discomfort again.

Hey, btw, this gastrointestinal something something can recur *double sigh*