Hi I'm new looking for advice

[Katrina999666]

Over the last month I have experienced occasions when I have had difficulty swallowing, it felt as if the food had got stuck, I found this frightening. I have a feeling of pressure in the centre of my chest, breast bone area. I am very aware now of the sensation of food passing down into my stomach after swallowing and it feels as if the food is kicking off to one side as it progresses down to my stomach after swallowing.I do have occasions when I also feel a bit breathless. Due to the current situation getting a GP appointment might be a lengthy wait for me as I live in a rural community with limited resources as it is. Are these symptoms familiar to anyone? Would advice be to seek a private consultation? I am 60 female non smoker and non drinker. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

[DaveChuter]

Hi Katrina

There could be many reasons for your symptoms and only a GP would be able to diagnose and refer to specialist if needed.

Most GP's are now using telephone voice and / or video consultations so should not be a delay for you.

Ask your GP to be referred for an Endoscopy as will show what the problem could be.

Do not worry as it is unlikely to be anything serious but do talk to your GP as soon as possible.

Kindest regards

Dave

[Katrina999666 in reply to DaveChuter]

Thanks Dave I managed to get an emergency appointment this morning I was seen by the ANP who took bloods for work up and she has done an emergency referral for an Endoscopy.

[Tanktank]

I think you should discuss these symptoms with a GP. You’re right that they are under pressure and going into a surgery is perhaps to be avoided. I would phone your surgery and ask for a telephone consultation with your GP or at least your practise nurse. Let them decide what action is appropriate. Best wishes Tanktank

[Katrina999666 in reply to Tanktank]

Thanks for taking the time to reply I had an emergency appointment this morning after describing my symptoms over the phone bloods taken and an urgent referral for Endoscopy dependant on restrictions

[Corrinesue1]

Hi Katrina

Please phone your GP you will need an endoscopy to put your mind at rest. Most GOs are doing video and telephone consultations. Good luck. Please post what happens.

[Katrina999666 in reply to Corrinesue1]

Thanks for replying I had an emergency appointment this morning bloods taken and urgent referral for Endoscopy

[toots1951]

I agree with everyone above that a telephone/video call with your GP is necessary and they would be able to ask you relevant questions to decide if you need further investigatin.

[Katrina999666 in reply to toots1951]

Thanks for replying I had an emergency appointment this morning bloods taken and urgent referral made for Endoscpy

[JanA]

Dear Katrina999666

Yes a phone call to your GP is the answer as hr/she will know the best way forward to go

An endoscopy would sppear to be the anwer.

Best wishes & i hope its good news for you.

Jan

[Katrina999666 in reply to JanA]

Thanks for replying I had an emergency appointment this morning bloods taken and urgent referral for Endoscopy

[Zippy34]

Hi, I agree with the responses from people. It is now a year ago that this happened to me. Please don't hang about get in contact with your doctor a.s.a.p. good luck..

[Katrina999666 in reply to Zippy34]

Thanks Zippy I had an emergency appointment this morning bloods taken and urgent referral for Endoscopy. Can I ask were your symptoms similar? thanks

[Hidden in reply to Zippy34]

What happened after your endoscopy if you don't mind me asking? What could they do to help you with this symptom? My dad has the same along with thick white mucous.

[Zippy34 in reply to Hidden]

Hi this may not be the same for everyone. They found a small tumour. I started 2 rounds of chemo and in October I had the surgery. I have been given the all clear. It was caught early. That's why it should be checked out. Good luck and stay positive. I know that it is a worry for you.

Xxx

[Katrina999666 in reply to Zippy34]

Thanks Zippy I am awaiting a date for the Endoscopy as it is Urgent Suspect CA o the referral I was told on Thursday it would be hopefully this week if not next I am going to call tomorrow again for an update so glad to hear your outcome was positive

[Zippy34 in reply to Katrina999666]

Good luck. Please keep me updated. One thing I was asked to do was to get as fit as possible before my surgery. I think this worked as surgery takes so much out of you. Xxx

[Katrina999666 in reply to Zippy34]

Thanks Zippy Endoscopy procedure booked for tomorrow anxious. Is it customary that they usually tell you after the procedure if they have found anything suspicious?

[Zippy34 in reply to Katrina999666]

Hi they did tell me that they had found something but it will be sent to be looked at. They then sent me an appointment for 10 day later to confirm everything and what the action plan was. Good luck for tomorrow. Xxx

[Katrina999666 in reply to Zippy34]

Hi Zippy34 I underwent the Endoscopy this morning not as bad as I thought it would be I had sedation nursing staff and Consultant were excellent. They found that I have a Hiatus Hernia and Schazki's ring which can result in the symptoms I was experiencing nothing else found in the Oesophagus , Stomach or Duodenum. Said that I must have been having reflux of which I wasn't aware until I started having problems swallowing and the choking feeling. The Schazki's ring might require to be stretched in the future if I find I am experiencing difficulty swallowing.I am very grateful for everyone's advice and support during my time on the forum it really has helped. xx

[Zippy34 in reply to Katrina999666]

Hi so glad the news is good. Take care.xxx

[Katrina999666 in reply to Zippy34]

Thanks just waiting on the ultrasound for the lump on my neck which they think might be Thyroid related x

[Katrina999666 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Worrieddaughter I haven't had the Endoscopy yet as it's an aerosol generated procedure I have been told my health board are only doing Urgent CA suspected ones so I've been told that they hope to undertake one this week or early next. Has your Dad been referred yet ?

[Mrs1972]

I agree with others request an endoscopy, hospitals are not performing them at the moment as they use aerosols and due the virus they’ve been stopped but certainly having a referral in the pipeline is helpful. You may be able to get medication in the meantime to help.

Good luck.

[Katrina999666 in reply to Mrs1972]

Thanks for replying I had an emergency appointment this morning bloods taken and an urgent referral made for Endoscopy I had hoped that urgent referrals were still being done so I have called and left a message for the ANP to check what the situation is and call me back. She has since prescribed Omeprazole for me to take so waiting to hear back regarding Endoscopy

[Jimmerjay]

Hi Katrina , please ask your doctor to investigate ACHALASIA , it’s when a muscle (sphincter) in your chest stops working , I’ve been through this and came out the other side so I know what you are going through ! Good luck 👍

[Katrina999666 in reply to Jimmerjay]

Thanks for replying I will research that did you have similar symptoms?

[Jimmerjay in reply to Jimmerjay]

Hi again , I couldn’t swallow food or drink without it sticking,I eventually lost around 4 stone by the time I was diagnosed, by this time I was walking around with my arms aloft trying to get food down and accidentally vomiting,ACHALASIA is a condition that affects around 1 in 5000 therefore many family doctors aren’t aware of it

[kiddy]

Hi yes agree dr appointment . If you have to wait you could start taking omeprazole ask in Chemist. This is what a dr would put you on whilst awaiting tests.

Make sure you chew everything properly and don’t rush food. Bread and meat can be a problem.

Take care

Debbie

[Katrina999666 in reply to kiddy]

Thanks for replying I had an emergency appointment this morning bloods taken and urgent referral for Endoscopy but I have asked for confirmation now that procedures might not be getting carried out. She has prescribed Omeprazole I do find Bread difficult so have stopped eating it

[Angelamercel]

Hello Katrina yes I agree with everyone, u must have a telephone consultation soon , I’m sure everything will be fine , just to put your mind at rest , I had the same last year, had a endoscopy and it was fine good luck

[Katrina999666 in reply to Angelamercel]

Thanks for replying were your symptoms similar? I'm glad your outcome was favourable

[Angelamercel in reply to Katrina999666]

Hello Katrina yes was getting food stuck , it was scary but it was fine the doctor put me on esomeprazole ppis and said it was just acid reflux, they have helped a lot good luck x

[Katrina999666 in reply to Angelamercel]

Thanks for replying

[mgloughran]

I would try to get an appointment as soon as possible. It could likely be only a hiatal hernia, which is a nuisance but probably not too serious. But it could be, so checking with a gastroenterologist is wise.

[Katrina999666 in reply to mgloughran]

I managed to get an emergency appointment this morning bloods taken and urgent referral for an Endoscopy which may be delayed due to the current situation. Commenced on Omeprazole

[Tazbud33]

Hello there,

Those symptoms can be a few things. I know many times our minds go to cancer, however it may not be. I have had esophageal cancer surgery recently. Those symptoms may be cancer or something else. You will need to call and speak to your doctor and ask for a "swallow test". You can likely ask for the test via a phone appointment. The test itself is where you drink a thick liquid and they follow the progression down, it's quick and painless. For me, they then decided that I needed an endoscopy (camera down your throat). That is a slightly more involved process, but it's not too bad. They drug you up pretty good. Call your doctor's office now to get the ball rolling. The sooner things get started the better. Remember to ask about the swallow test/endoscopy. Both are out-patient procedures. Better to have a schedule in mind now. I wish you the best of luck in your diagnosis.

[Katrina999666 in reply to Tazbud33]

Thanks for replying it is the first thing that sprung to my mind I can't deny I am worried. Emergency appointment Gp this morning bloods taken and urgent referral for Endoscopy which might be delayed due to the current situation. I have asked for clarity on this with a view to possible barium swallow.

Can I ask did the Barium swallow show anything up for you? or was it the Endoscopy? I hope you are recovering without issue after your surgery

[Agl19 in reply to Katrina999666]

I had no barium only endo, had tumor and stage 3espholgael cancer. Had chemo radiation n 13 hours of surgery.had the ivor Lewis procedure , what turned into trouble swallowing became a silent killer memorial Sloan Kettering in New York saved my life that was march to September 2018 I am back on chemo because it came back stronger in my stomach lining .so I know your fear, hang in there n hope for best remember, attitude is 50 percent of recovery

[Katrina999666 in reply to Agl19]

I'm sorry to hear after what you have been through that you have another battle on your hands. It is hard waiting and especially now whilst we here in the Uk as I am sure you will be in the USA in the grip of the Pandemic. I have periods of panic during the day when I can't stop thinking about it and try to keep myself busy doing something to try and take my mind of the time I am having to wait for the investigation. I hope Chemo isn't to debilitating for you x

[Agl19]

Yes that could b sign of a serious problem.You should make an appointment to see a gi doctor as soon as possible . Nothing to fool around with.Doctor will probably scope u and u will know the problem good luck

[Katrina999666 in reply to Agl19]

Thanks for replying I have an urgent referral for endoscopy

[Agl19 in reply to Katrina999666]

Let me know how I made out

[Katrina999666 in reply to Agl19]

Will do thanks

[Katrina999666 in reply to Agl19]

Hi Agl19 I underwent endoscopy this morning Hiatus Hernia found and Schazki's ring which they say would have led to me experiencing the problems with swallowing and reflux xx

[Mentalmicky6]

You must insist on an Endoscopy and make a nuisance of yourself to get it done asap

[Katrina999666]

Apparently there are still Endoscopy's being done but only ones which are deemed to be Urgent Cancer suspected which I have been told my referral is in this category and should be carried out within 2 weeks from date of referral which was the 3rd April. Blood tests have came back showing no infection markers only thing notable is Thyroid function showing high levels so Sub-clinical Hypothyroidism that test to be repeated in 8 weeks possible due to auto immune as I have Sjogrens syndrome so Antibodies will be checked.

[Hidden in reply to Katrina999666]

Good luck Katrina

[Katrina999666 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I was called by the Consultant on Thursday to say they hope to schedule me for an Endoscopy this week at latest next due to the time factor it now takes to perform the procedure due to current Virus situation they are doing fewer in a day

[Katrina999666 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I had the Endoscopy yesterday showed a Hiatus hernia and Schatzki ring which would account for the problems I was experiencing x