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Hello all. I have had two episodes with strange symptoms that I hope someone
can help me with. On both occasions, the only similarities I found were that
I ate plain ground beef and Kettle Brand's Baked Potato Chips, Lightly
Salted, which are supposed to be gluten-free and only contain potatoes,
safflower and/or sunflower oil, and salt. They claim there is also no MSG,
no artificial colors or flavors, no GMO, and absolutely nothing artificial.
Let me explain what happened to me.

 

Nearly two weeks ago, the day I had both the plain ground beef and brown
rice pasta (which I've had several times before) and later the Kettle Brand
potato chips, I felt extremely full and felt ill. I felt the indigestion in
my throat (I get burning in my throat), and I took two Gaviscon. (I also
take Protonix in the morning and digestive enzymes throughout the day.) I
went to bed feeling pretty miserable. At 5:30 the next morning, I was
extremely hot and felt like I really had to use the restroom (the larger
number). As I was peeling off my clothes, I thought I would cool down, but
didn't. I finally got up to go to the bathroom, and as I did, I broke out in
a sweat and my chest tightened. I knew something wasn't right, and the
feeling was like something I had never felt before. Knowing my mother had a
massive heart attack at the age of 48 (I'm 46), I thought I might be having
one. I then started to get tingling in my left arm and later my right (later
attributed to a faster increase in respiration). My husband called 911, and
I was taken to the ER in an ambulance. (I did later manage to go to the
restroom and had extremely loose stoohl/diarrhea.)

 

The doctors did an EKG, which came out fine, and then they checked my heart
enzymes. Although slightly elevated, they did not think it was significantly
elevated to consider I had a heart attack. After rechecking my enzymes 4
hours later, they released me. Upon my release I asked, if this were not a
heart attack, what could have happened to me? They said I could have had an
esophageal spasm, which has very similar symptoms to a heart attack. My
husband attributed it to this possible cause, and the doctor said I should
still come in again if I had similar symptoms.

 

Yesterday, I ate plain ground beef on 2 gluten-free hamburger buns from
Kinnickick (sp), and I had chips with my hamburger (I hadn't had a hamburger
in a long time, so I felt this was a treat). Needless to say, after eating,
I had the same fullness as 2 weeks prior. I had my husband press on my
stomach to try and redistribute any gas I could have, and I myself did this
as well. I noticed something long and hard which might have been in my
intestine, along my the lower left side of my abdomen, but I wasn't sure (I
do not still have it). Anyway, I had a hard time falling asleep and felt
miserable, but I did eventually fall asleep around 2:30-3:00 a.m. At 4:22
a.m., I woke up feeling extremely hot and, again, feeling as if I had to use
the restroom. When I started to get up, I felt like I might have to vomit. I
did not have the pressure around my chest, but I felt bad, and I went
downstairs to lie on the cool floor. After lying there a short time, despite
still feeling hot, I began to shiver. After awhile of shivering, I managed
to make my way to the restroom, and I did go (small and hard.sorry for the
description). I went back and lie down on the couch. I was shivering and
warm at the same time. My mouth was also extremely dry, but I did have a lot
to drink the day before (my husband thought I might be dehydrated). But when
I would drink, it would make me feel more full. About 20-30 minutes later, I
went to the bathroom, this time a lot and loose (sorry again for being
descriptive). I did not have a fever, btw.

 

I started to feel better after that, although I still feel full now (and
hungry at the same time.this is no fun) although the last time I ate was
6:00 p.m. yesterday. My intestines are soar, as is the rest of my body too.
I was wondering if anyone had any similar experiences as these. My regular
GI doctor doesn't know what else to do with me as I've gone to him before
with my complaints of feeling full (tried changing GI doctors, but the new
one wouldn't take me for some reason.like I have the plague). I don't have
an appointment with a CD specialist until the 30th of this month (at
University of Chicago), and I've been waiting on that appointment since
October of last year when I knew that something still wasn't 100% right with
me.

 

Has anyone had any similar experience or know someone who has? If so, what
was the diagnosis/treatment? I am beyond myself and am really feeling tired
and exhausted from all of this. I have had severe symptoms of one sort of
another since before my diagnosis but most predominantly the last year, and
I don't know how much more my body can take. I would appreciate any feedback
that can help.

 

Thank you in advance,

 

Lori

(Diagnosed 8-8-08. Biopsy showed severe damage to villi.)

 

 


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