Imagine this? There’s a sudden and urgent call for lockdown. Everybody down tools. Panic, fear, worry and anxiety abound as people lock themselves indoors and are told not to have any contact with anyone other than the people they are isolating with. Problem is, I’m self-isolating with no one to put a consoling arm around me. What makes it worse, there is something I’ve be keeping to myself; a secret which I am frightened to reveal for fear of worrying my family and friends. I’ve been feeling unwell. Could it be….?
I’ve been feeling chesty but I’m not coughing. I’m suffering from chest pains and congestion of the throat and it’s getting worse. I’ve already dialled 111, the corona virus helpline twice. Each time I’ve been asked what my symptoms are and when I tell the operator, I am instantly dismissed. I am told that my symptoms are not typical of the virus. I do not have a cough or a temperature and so I should just ‘go about my business’ said one call responder.
I’ve been reading about the symptoms. Surely, there is more to it than just a temperature and coughing? What about headaches, chest pains, stomach aches, tight chests and throat?
The third time I called, I was determined not to take their dismissive response for an answer. I was now two weeks into quarantine. I had probably slept for an hour that night on account of a growing compression of the throat which I could not shake off, despite buying and consuming every decongestant remedy I could think of, including my favoured healthy drink of apple cider vinegar, lemon, cinnamon and ginger, infused in hot water (I’d been drinking this to ward off infection at least twice a day for the past month).
Alas, my wheeziness, blocked throat and chest pains seemed to be getting worse. I could not and would not continue to suffer in silence. I demanded to talk to a doctor. The responder told me that I would get a call within the next six hours. Six hours??? Please God may I last that long.
Common sense told me that my rising panic wasn’t doing me any favours. I resorted to my yoga breathing technique to steady my nerves. They worked.
6am – I got dressed and went for a walk , which strangely made me feel slightly better. At least I felt strong enough to walk about and I could still breath.
8am – I got home in time to call my own doctor’s surgery and was told that the doctor should get back to me ‘at some point during the day.’ I had no option but to wait.
9am – The doctor from 111 called . I explained my symptoms. It didn’t take him long to diagnose. “I know exactly what is wrong with you,” he said calmly. “It sounds like you have acid reflux”. A bell started ringing in my head as he told me to stay away from certain foods; anything with a high acidic content. I promptly told him about the drink I had been consuming daily for neigh on a month, containing apple cider vinegar and lemon. “ You need to stop and go to the chemist and buy Galviscon.” He also told me to stop drinking tea and coffee or anything citrussy. Further research told me to stay away tomatoes (another one of my daily staples), alcohol, especially wine , chocolate, cow’s milk, raw onions and raw garlic. White bread and rice was also a no no, as was spicy food, anything with a high sugar content and red meat (which is fine as I don’t eat it anyway).
10am – The doctor from my surgery confirmed my symptoms. But he told me that while Galviscon for good for the short term, it would be beneficial in the long term for me to take the prescription drug Omeprazole. I was told to take one tablet every day for at least two weeks. I was also to eliminate the aforementioned food from my diet and then gradually reintroduce them with greater moderation.
Acting upon both doctor’s recommendations, my throat started to feel instantly better. Another surprising consequence was that the bloating I had been experiencing for a good few months previous and was frustrated by had disappeared.
Six weeks later
My diet although slightly altered, is more or less back the way it was. As an advocate of a healthy lifestyle, my pantry and fridge were already stocked with brown rice, eggs, avocados and salmon.
Cow’s milk, however, has in the main been replaced by oat and coconut milk. I occasionally drink coffee using just oat milk, and have taken to drinking green tea rather than the normal everyday builder’s tea, which is a shame as I used to love an good cuppa. I tried to reintroduce it into my diet but found myself feeling all whezzy again. Shame because ordinary tea, for me, just doesn’t taste too good without cow’s milk.
As for apple cider vinegar, which some confusingly claim could be good for acid reflux, I am still cautious about consuming it at all. I think my problem was a case of overdoing it; too much of anything (no matter how good it is for you) is good for nothing.
As stated before, the main thing I’ve noticed since ridding my body of excess acid is that the bloating from which I suffered in the tummy area, has since disappeared. So I’ve come to the conclusion that for the sake of my waist line and of course my overall health, I will be forever be mindful of creating acid intake over load.
