Question
My husband, age 53, has Ankylosing Spondylitis, diagnosed about 10 years ago. In March 2003 he had a heart attack, and now has 5 stents in 2 arteries. For about 3 weeks, he has been experiencing stomach pains, which at first he figured was a virus. When he gets these pains, it helps sometimes if he drinks some milk or lies down. His family doctor ordered a stomach x-ray, which he had 8/17. His nurse called Friday and said that he doesn't have an ulcer, but he has an inflamed mucosa. My husband has been taking Prevacid for 5 days, and it hasn't helped much, and the doc gave him samples of Zegerid to try, which he hasn't yet.
This is a list of his medications:

Azulfidine Entabs 500 mg   2 in AM, 1 in PM                             
Arthrotec 75   2X a day
Procardia 30mg  1X a day
Foltx 1X a day
Lopressor 50 mg  ?tab 2X a day
Diovan 80 mg 1X a day
Isosorbide 30 mg 1X a day stopped 8/5/05
Enteric Aspirin 81 mg 1X a day  
Buspar  15 mg  1 tab 2X a day
Nitro Tabs as needed
Remeron 30mg 1X at night, as needed
Norco Tabs  as needed for pain  
Multi Vitamin  1X a day
Vitamin E 400 iu 1X a day

Can you tell me what an inflamed mucosa is? Could this be the beginning of Irratible Bowel Syndrome? If the Zegerid doesn't give him relief, what would you suggest he do next?
Thank you for any direction you can give us.


Answer
Dear Betsy,   I just sent you an answer to your first question regarding this, but failed to mention that your husband needs to get a copy of this radilogy report that was done on 8/17 from the hospital or medical facility where it was done so you and he know exactly what the radiologist saw and is telling the doctor.....  Doctors often over-look important things and I hate it when a doctor tells a nurse to call the patient because nurses are NOT doctors and often fail to pass on the correct information.....  So, get  copy of the radiology report and read it and if you have more questions get incontact with the DOCTOR (not a nurse) or get back to me....

thank you,   karen

Dear Betsy,  Today is 9/1/05 and This is the original answer I sent you on 8/20 and I am sorry you did not get it....  There were actually (2) answer sent to you so I will also resend you the first one....   karen