Question: Hello. I am a 54 year old woman.
I have had a number of medical issues over the years, including high blood pressure (controlled by meds), kidney stones (more than a dozen over the past 7 years), and panic attacks (controlled by meds). I underwent a complete hysterectomy (2003) and Roux N Y gastric bypass (2010). I had my first bout of gout (in right big toe) in February of this year, treated first with Indomethacin (which caused extreme nausea) and then Diclofenac Potassium (which caused some queasiness, but nothing severe). As I have for the past 4+ years, I continued my daily meds as follows: Valsartan 160mg x 1 (a.m.) (HBP); Zoloft 100 mg x 1 (a.m.) (anxiety); Metroprolol Ext Rel 25mg x 1 (a.m.) (HBP); and Xanax .5mg x 4 daily (anxiety). Although I have been dealing with highly elevated stress levels since XXXXXXX (I was laid off from my job of 18+ years and am in the processing of having to sell my house), I felt I had been coping quite well physically and emotionally.
Then, early in October, I stepped on a fire ant hill. I received more than 50 stings, all below my left knee. I was put on two courses of Prednisone, which apparently made my body go "tilt." I was taken by ambulance to the hospital on Thursday, 19 October 2017 at approximately 2230 with heart attack-like symptoms:
•     Extreme nausea, followed by violent and continuous vomiting
•     Severe chest pain and pressure focused in mid-to-lower sternum and radiating laterally
•     Numbness in left arm
•     Collapsed on bedroom floor
Assessment in ER by attending doctor, cardiologist, and GI specialist after EKG/chest x-ray/bloodwork:
•     Angina but not a heart attack
•     Anemic
•     Internal bleeding (indicated by blood in stool and low hemoglobin levels)
•     Performed endoscopy; detected ulcer and did biopsy
•     Admission to hospital required
Following admission:
•     Focus on:
o     stopping nausea (via Zofran)
o     stopping angina (via morphine)
o     addressing anemia (ultimately via blood transfusion)
•     Early Saturday, gout attack occurred (centered on 2nd toe on right foot). Morphine discontinued; Labs continued to show unsatisfactory levels for hemoglobin and other elements (e.g., albumin, potassium).
•     Early Sunday, hospitalist determined that low hemoglobin, potassium, and iron levels indicated blood transfusion was best way forward. Special “potassium cocktail” administered, and transfusion performed.
Release from hospital on 22 October at 2030:
•     Physical therapist performed assessment and determined I was physically stable
•     Vital signs good
•     No adverse reaction to transfusion noted
•     Release instructions: Short-term prescriptions for new non-steroidal gout medication, antibiotic for e coli in urine; told to follow up with own physician with recommendation for:
o     Adding prophylactic long-term prescription for non-steroidal gout meds (i.e., Colchicine 0.6 mg x 1 daily)
o     Taking 6 week course of Protonix to address ulcer
o     Adding on-going daily administration of iron supplement
o     Avoidance of Prednisone and any NSAIDs in future
o     Keeping supply of Promethezine on hand to be taken at first sign of future bouts of nausea

Summary of Physicians’ Rationale for This Episode
•     GI ulcer most likely started earlier this year with gout episodes and associated steroid medication.
•     Recent incident with multiple fire ant stings and subsequent courses of Prednisone exacerbated ulcer, causing GI bleeding and black, tarry stools.
•     Prednisone also triggered nausea/violent vomiting, which in turn caused stomach pouch to spasm and triggered angina.
•     Prednisone also resulted in significant weight gain (approximately 22 pounds in less than 3 weeks) and associated edema in hands, legs and feet.
•     Recent stress and trauma to body (e.g., fire ant stings, violent vomiting, difficulty in starting IV and multiple blood draws which caused severe bruising) likely triggered this episode of gout.
I visited my PCP as instructed, who added the Colchicine and Protonix to my daily meds. I am scheduled for followup blood tests later this week. However, over the past 3 days, I have been experiencing extreme fatigue (sleeping about 12 hrs a day in 2 or 3 periods) and worsening swelling in my hands (I can't make a fist upon awakening), feet, and face. Unfortunately, my PCP is on vacation this week. Does my current situation warrant seeking immediate attention (i.e., a return to the ER), or is it likely that my symptoms are associated with the Prednisone working its way out of my body and the blood transfusion/anemia simply taking time to return greater stamina? Keeping in mind I have some limitations in my diet due to the gastric bypass (e.g., raw vegetables are often difficult to digest in the pouch), are there specific foods that may aid in my return to normal? Conversely, are there foods I should avoid? (I already stay away from dairy as it seems to contribute to kidney stone formation.) Thank you for any insight or recommendations you may have.