If It Wasn't For Drama

I'd have no life at all.

Monday of last week, I went to the dermatologist.  I have a few areas of acne that just won't clear - in particular, two pimples that I've had on one cheek since DECEMBER. She told me that I had cystic acne, prescribed doxycycline, and sent me on my way.  I took the medicine Monday night, twice on Tuesday and twice on Wednesday.  Wednesday night, the pill - which was really enormous - got stuck in my throat.  I drank a few cups of water and went to bed. Three times that night I woke up, feeling like I had the pill still in my throat.

Thursday and Friday, I didn't take the medicine, and I still felt as if it was stuck there.  We drove all day Friday and it was the number one topic of conversation.  Saturday, we drove home, and again, it was all I could talk about.  My mom was, I'm certain, sick of hearing me talk about it, but I felt as if the pill was still stuck in my throat.  She told me that it probably wasn't still there, but possibly it'd scraped a section of my throat and it was bugging me.

I woke up Sunday with a lot of pain.  My throat was sore and the discomfort went down my chest, just to the area where the ribs come together.  I wasn't able to eat anything all day - I couldn't even drink my coffee, it hurt so bad to swallow.  It wasn't really a pain, per se, but an intense pressure, and the area that had felt as if a pill was lodged there still felt the same.  About 2:30, I decided that enough was enough and I went to the walk in doc in a box.  I was there an hour and a half, had a chest x ray done and was given a cocktail of meds that were supposed to numb the throat and take away a lot of the pain.  It didn't help, so the doctor recommended that I go to the emergency room for an endoscopy.  He would call over and request it.

I arrived at the ER at 5.  No one had called over, and so I had to begin all.over.again.  The doctor told me that I'd have to go through all of the usual ER stuff, and then get to see a GI doctor.  I had another chest x ray, had an EKG - the doctor felt certain I was having a heart attack, because I have family history - and given another cocktail of numbing stuff. All the tests were normal. And then I waited, thinking that the GI doc would eventually be called.  Nothing. 

Finally at 8, a different doctor came in, told me that I was certainly imagining the discomfort, she wasn't going to get any GI doctor to come in at that time, and I could have pain meds and a referral to see a GI on Monday.  And she waltzed out, with the understanding that she'd be back soon with prescriptions.  At 9:45, my husband came in and threw a fit that I still wasn't discharged, and he made such a stink that she finally filled out the forms, tossed them my way, and we were out.  Still in pain - I'd had nothing to eat all day, becuase it hurts like crazy to swallow.  We stopped on the way home and he bought me a shake and a burger, but I was unable to eat more than 3 bites of it and a few sips of the shake - it just hurts so bad to swallow.  It feels like I'm swallowing a bowling ball whenever I do try to eat or drink.  "Come back if you start to drool!" was the oh-so-helpful assvice given to me.  I lost an entire day, and still feel like absolute dog crap.

That's why I haven't blogged about the trip yet - which was WAY cool and so, so much fun.  I'm leaving Tuesday afternoon for another trip, and I SWEAR to bring you all up to speed tomorrow.

Hopefully after I get into gastrointerology.  Anyone want to bet how long it'll take me to get an appointment?

Comments

[k]

I've taken these pills as well – they are huge. One night I forgot to drink the full 8 oz of water recommended and within an hour I had horrible heartburn. It sounds a lot like what you're describing. Pain in my throat and chest, hard to swallow, etc. It lasted a full day (although I was able to eat that day so it doesn't sound as bad as your reaction.) As long as I drink a ton of water with the pill, I'm fine. I had a second episode like this but it wasn't nearly as intense.

[Sheree]

Yikes!!! Well, I hope they find out quick what's wrong with your throat! I'm sorry, but all I could think while reading your post is "hopefully she has good health ins", cuz we don't, LOL! I'll be ssending good diagnosis thoughts your way!

[Laura V.]

I had this same problem 2x with a different med. In both cases it caused extreme "heartburn" that only went to the end of my esophagus and once it lasted 3 days. I tried heartburn meds, TONS of water, carbonated beverages, etc. to try to get it to 'wash' down, and finally after a couple days it went away. I had the same feeling you did right after I'd swallowed the pill, the sensation that it was stuck. What I figure is that it really was stuck and started to break down right there, when it wasn't intended to be breaking down until it reached my stomach - and in turn irritated my esophagus and caused all that pain and burning sensation.

Hope you get your answer and some relief soon.

[Jennifer]

I can't believe some physicians. So I guess being they didn't see it on the xray then it wasn't there? I hope you go back ASAP if it keeps bothering you. I hate getting the run around by medical docs when we pay out the hind end for insurance..

[Headless Mom]

That sucks. Hope you get answers, or feel better soon!

[Karen]

I wonder if your esophagus is tightening up, which makes it difficult to swallow? I've had this problem twice and both times the GI doc stretched my esophagus with a gastro tube, which clears the problem right up.

Hope you get in to see the doctor today.

[kyoot]

If it's stuck, maybe eat some bread like they tell you for stuck fish bones? It does sound like ultra heartburn, it hurts like a SOB and it almost feels like a heart attack. you feel like your constantly burping and everything from the top of your stomach up to your left shoulder hurts. The throat feels like it's going to close over at any minute.
Allergy to the meds?
Acid eating away at your stomach and esophagus??
I'd guess that it's the Acid. you know cause all the good drs use google! :)

[girlsmama]

I'm so sorry. I love it when Docs tell you you are imagining your symptoms. I think they just don't know the answer and are too lazy to try and figure it out. Good luck with the GI doc. I hope you are feeling better soon!

[Catherine]

Maybe try some apple cider vinegar? I've heard that it helps people wth reflux. Good luck--I hate doctors.

[emily]

Something very similar happened to me when I was on doxycycline as a teenager. I never drank water with my pill and had the same symptoms. It turns out hat a part of the pill was dissolving in my esophagus and actually started to erode the esophagus. The remedy was drinking a lot of water before and after the pill, as well as swallowing the pill with a mouth full of water. Hope you feel better soon, I remember it was horrible pain.

[Keri]

Carmen - If you haven't, I would call the Pharma company who makes doxycycline (or read the online info about side effects). See if this is one of the side effects, if it is, maybe call the dermatologist back?

[amie]

I took the same rx briefly for cystic acne but had totally different side effect- intestinal bleeding - also very fun. My derm put me on zpac for 2 yrs- it worked til my GP found out and had a cow. She said I would build up a tolerance to anticbiotics and be in big trouble if I ever got really sick. She suggested a gentle wash with salicylic acid- a nightly retinol tx and microdermabrasion tx. I have had very good results with that plan . I am 40 and have acne like 30 yrs? Not fair to have wrinkles and acne- honestly though the retinol helps with wrinkles too.

[Brandy]

I hope you are able to find out what the heck is going on SOON!

[Elizabeth]

Echo, echo, echo - that happened to me with Doxycycline too, and I ended up with a big old esophogeal ulcer with symptoms just like you are having. It took months of ever-increasing doses of Nexium before they used a scope to find it, and even then it wasn't until I went back to the derm. and reported the major antacids that he said well, in that case I shouldn't be on the doxy. For me, though, I healed up within two weeks of stopping the meds, so I'm thinking you have a variation. Hope it's better soon!