Need help desperately

[Tashabella]

I went veggie in February and was a vegetarian until mid-November. I started eating meat for about two weeks and suddenly went into these painful attacks, which still haven't stopped. The only symptom is pain. It started in my chest (I thought it was my esophagus) and spread to my back and is still there. The only way I can function is to take pain pills (prescription). I wake up screaming during the night without them (it is worse at night).

My EKG was fine and my CAT scan came back OK. Blood work still isn't back yet.

Has anyone had these same symptoms going back to meat? Can you share your experience with me? I'm very worried, and pretty miserable.

Needless to say, I will never eat meat again as long as I live, but I need to hear from anyone who has been through this.

Thanks. :stinkeye:

[zoebird]

i haven't a clue. sorry! i hope you're better soon!

[IamJen]

Tasha, what does your physician have to say about all of this?

[Descentia]

Strange. It doesn't sound meat related to me???

What do they think is causing it?

[Kiz]

I'd get a second opinion, it really sounds like something a professsional needs to look at.

[Kreeli]

where in your back in the pain located?
it sounds to me like it could be gall stones or kidney stones.
having had gall stones and knowing how hellacious the pain they cause is, you have my deepest sympathies.

it could be coincidence that the attacks started when you began to eat meat again, or it could be that the meat is high in fat/cholesterol, which i know for sure can trigger gall bladder attacks. not sure about kidney stone attacks, though.

for gall bladder, the pain is generally located just under your lowest right-side ribs, but can easily radiate out into your back, chest and your shoulder/arm.

[Tashabella]

The doctor thought it was gallstones. The CAT scan came back normal. It's not my gallbladder or my kidneys.

I know some vegetarians who have tried to eat meat again and have gotten very sick -- they literally cannot go back to meat. That's why I thought I'd ask here -- to see if anyone had problems like this.

My doctor's office is lousy -- the doctor didn't even come back into the room. I had to tell the person as I checked out what tests were ordered -- the doctor didn't do that either. In fact, while I was there, four different employees complained how the patients were annoying and made them work over, blah, blah, blah. If I trusted them, I wouldn't be asking questions. It's not as easy as changing doctors. All of the doctors on my insurance plan have proven to be incompetent in some way or another.

Thanks anyway.

[Tashabella]

FYI - I talked to a former vegetarian co-worker who may have helped with the problem to some degree.

She was a vegetarian from age 5 until she was 18. She basically started eating meat because she was in the Army and it was either eat it or go hungry.

She said she got horribly ill when she started eating meat. Her body no longer had the enzymes to break it down. She said she got pain like mine so bad she thought she was dying (it was worse than when she gave birth). She said it was gas produced by her body trying to digest the meat and it messed up her system for a long time.

She gave me a few tips on how to deal with it so I'm going to try them. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has had this. I just thought others might want to know.

:vebo:

[Tashabella]

Final Note:

I bought Mylanta Gas Extra Strength and Acidophilus and took them. Results: I didn't wake up screaming! I didn't have to take any pain pills (Vicodin)!

YIPPEE!!!!

P.S: Veggie forever!