sorry going on again! could it be psy... - Oesophageal & Gas...

Oesophageal & Gastric Cancer

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sorry going on again! could it be psychological?

margie1 profile image
5 Replies

I hope i am worrying for nothing, maybe my symptoms slight pain in my ears and jaw, food coming back because of overeating are psychological as I am worried about my hospital appointment on Monday and I am stressed at work...not sure if these symptoms are a sign of anything else ???

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margie1 profile image
margie1
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5 Replies
sallym profile image
sallym

Sorry going on again, must be what most of us do for the first five years. Trying to understand why things aren't working as they should and is something going wrong, should we do something and is it coming back.It is an unknown journey that we are all on.

For what it is worth I try and find a quiet spot and watch the world rush by ( usually in the coffee shop of the library) and watch everyone else tearing about in the market below.

Stop the world I want to get off.!!

Stressed at work doesn't help but I had to acknowledge I could no longer cope with the physical side of my job so retired (not an option for all but I was old enough).

I'm looking back now over the last twenty years, it was traumatic, it was stressful, nobody expected me to survive, but here I am. Please don't feel you have to apologise for being normal, best wishes when you see the consultant and who knows if you'll be writing here in years to come Sally

margie1 profile image
margie1 in reply to sallym

Thank you Sally and congrats on 20 years truly hope I too am writing on here in 20 yrs too xxx

Sally is quite right - it is natural to worry.

I sometimes think that hospital appointments coming up are a very mixed blessing. They tend to be all about whether you are still OK as far as the cancer cure is concerned, but the relief when they tell you that you that you are all clear is a great release of anxiety over what will happen on that date.

I was not sure whether you were saying that you are over-eating; or whether you are worrying in case you are over-eating. The 'little and often' principle does not go away, and you may find it helpful to nibble at small amounts during the day at work, if you can, rather than eat all at once.

The pain around your ears and jaw might be any number of things. The only way of finding out is to see your doctor and ask. The chances are that it is something else - not the cancer coming back, but sometimes these pains are difficult to pin down at the best of times.

jay2908 profile image
jay2908

Hello Margie,

I completely understand where you're coming from. I think that we all have concerns in the back of our minds and anything out of the ordinary can be worrying.

Over time I've learned to remind myself that I used to get aches and pains before I was diagnosed and I'll continue to get them. If it helps, I used to get ear aches and dripping nose post op. Turns out that the op caused some of my glands to redirect their fluid to my nose.

In terms of stress, I would suggest speaking to your doctors or GP. Anyone who has to go through what we have will bound to have some level of anxiety and stress.

In relation to work, do you have an understanding manager? If so, explain what you're going through and be clear as to whoa support you would require from them.

I hope you feel better soon.

Regards,

Jay

gutlesswonder profile image
gutlesswonder

I think we are all a bit 'twitchy' until we pass at least the magic 5 year mark !

Your ear/jaw pain may have two possible origins --

1) If you are tense do you clench/grind your teeth during the night ?

2) Do you get a nasty bitter taste in the mouth ? If yes then the reflux is coming all the way up.Make the requisite lifestyle changes : non-irritant food/small meal/at least 4 hours before lying down/raise the bed head legs.

Hope it went well yesterday

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