Scared and confused: I am Zac I am a 2... - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

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Scared and confused

Zac52 profile image
7 Replies

I am Zac I am a 22 year old male in good shape. 4 months ago I started to get this feeling like needed to clear my throat constantly. I didn’t pay much mind to it but it then evolved into feeling like I had to clear thick mucus out of my throat and shortness of breath. It’s got to the point where on my bad days I have to stop mid sentence to breathe. I went to the doc and they did chest X-rays and told me to take decongestants and gave me an inhaler and a steroid. Nothing helped. Symptoms went down on their own for a week or so and then returned. This time even worse. I had a lot of chest pain and non stop huge belches. I read online that it could be gerd so I started taking nexium (ppi) and that gave me a lot of relief. I took it for two weeks and ran out. Felt brand new for about a week and then my symptoms came back even harder with abdominal pain. The pain is worse in the morning and feels better after I eat for some reason. I have yellowish colored soft stools (not sure if that’s from the medication). I went back to the doctor and he had me do a stool sample to test for h pylori and the results were negative. I have a endoscopy schedule for 3 days from now and am very nervous at what they’re going to find. I have always had bad anxiety (health anxiety especially) I’ve been trying to keep my head positive but am starting to worry it is some sort of gastric cancer or esophageal. It’s driving me crazy and making me feel hopeless and depressed. Idk what could be caused symptoms this severe. I was curious if there are others who are going through this that have similar symptoms.

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Zac52
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7 Replies
PhysioD profile image
PhysioD

Hi Zac. I read your post and just wanted to wish you well for your endoscopy. I hope you aren’t too anxious. Try and say to yourself you are doing the right thing in getting it looked into and hopefully the doctors will be able to diagnose what’s going on and help you feel better. The main thing is you’re getting it sorted and you are otherwise young and fit so you will recover quick from the scope. All the best. Dawn xxx

kiddy profile image
kiddy

Hi Zac it could be many things apart from Cancer and having an endoscopy will put your mind at rest. Have sedation and throat spray take someone with you. Reflux is easily treated you may just stay on medication of PPI’S and maybe Gaviscon.

Also did you have blood tests to rule out thyroid.

Best Wishes

Debbie

zerodrudge profile image
zerodrudge

Glad the Nexium works.I had esopicheal cancer in 2010,food got stuck in my throat and I noticed weight loss.Nexium helped me a lot but long term I noticed nasty side effects.Luckily today I get by on tums.Take care!

Zac52 profile image
Zac52

Got the scope today. No concerns from the doc. Did do some biopsy’s for celiac testing

kiddy profile image
kiddy in reply toZac52

Well done.

Zac52 profile image
Zac52

Thank you all for the replies

timmey25 profile image
timmey25

Hi zac so glad you are OK my mum has just passed away with ec she suffered with heartburn all her life didn't do anything about it I swear this caused the ec I also have heartburn I have been to the doctors and I am on opeorazole you really have to control the heartburn and reflux in my opinion if you don't I think it causes ec

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