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EGD Monday and im terrified

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/21/2017 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
First. I'm freaking out. I'm 32. A mom of three little boys. November I had a food bolus from steak. No other incident until maybe March when I had steak fajitas. No food bolus but enough difficulty getting it down that I panicked. Fast forward to July, again, a piece of steak needed help getting down. The following day I had difficulty eating chicken and rice, it took a long time to go down. I went to the gi who said to take prilosec and it sounds like a stricture. After three days, my syptoms subsided util I ate a hot dog (chewed very well) it wouldn't go down fast enough and I panicked. Since then I have not tested the water's again. I drink ensure andeat Apple sauce. Pills go down okay. I burp alot when I consume anything. I'm terrified it's not a stricture . I made the mistake and looked up forums with cancer and it wasn't good! I am trying to calm myself down. Can someone please shed some light so I can make it to Monday. Ican't even tell you how scared I am. Crying for sure!!!
Posted 7/21/2017 8:53 AM (GMT 0)
Esophageal cancer is more common in men, in people that have a long history of alcohol and tobacco use or persistent reflux, in the age groups of 65-74 years old, and on top of all that, only occurs at a rate of 4 in 100,000 people/year. For comparison, the annual rate for breast cancer is 125 out of 100,000. Lung cancer is 60 in 100,000. You actually have 2.5 times greater chance of dying in a car accident this upcoming year than getting esophageal cancer.

Altogether, the odds of it being any of the other things that can cause food bolus is greater than the odds of it being cancer. It just probably isn't cancer, and hopefully that's what the EGD confirms on Monday, which it probably will.

Post Edited (EJohn) : 7/21/2017 2:58:14 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/21/2017 11:39 AM (GMT 0)
Boymom32:

By chance do you suffer from anxiety? It sounds like this may be a contributing factor to your swallowing issues. There's no reason to limit yourself to ensure and applesauce, you can eat normal foods, just avoid steak and anything that has the same consistency. Please don't try and diagnose yourself, and I agree with Ejohn - the chances that your issues being cancer are very slim. You don't have difficulty swallowing all the time, and it does eventually does go down and that is a good sign. The EGD is a fairly quick and easy procedure, but your doctor may want to schedule you for additional testing.

Please relax and good luck with your appointment on Monday

Sharon
Posted 7/21/2017 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I have anxiety. I realize it is a contributing factor when I saallow, because it won't go down as quickly as I want it to do I start to panick and I know that assists with making the throat close. I had a couple of French fries yesterday. Eaten very slowly. Just after the bolus and the other trouble when I feel the good to down, my heart rate goes up. It's a vicious cycle. Thank you for the reassurance. I feel like Monday is years away. I'm a nursing student, so I know plenty when it comes to other people just not enough to ease my own mind.
Posted 7/21/2017 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Boymom32,
I agree with everyone else. I am a retired nurse and worked in endoscopy. I have never had a patient diagnosed with esophageal cancer in the 2 yrs I worked there. Colon...yes, all the time but not esophageal. I am not saying it can't happen but it is rare and usually men. (I also worked in the operating room and did see it in men who were much older. EJohn is absolutely right.) I hope it helps to hear someone else say it is probably not cancer. Good luck!
Jennikate
Posted 7/21/2017 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Goodness. Yes, this helps. I just watched my mother (age 54) die of ovarian cancer. She passed in April. And I'm sure that has contributed to my panic as well. I just can't see how everything was fine and all of a sudden I start having trouble swallowing so my mind goes "it's cancer. It's a tumor. Yes its a very unlikely chance but it could happen". Anxiety plus mom dying plus dysphagia and a liquid diet are turning out to be the perfect storm.
Posted 7/22/2017 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Oh my!! I totally understand your feelings. My mom died when I was young and I use to freak out over all medical problems. I am a lot calmer now that my kids are older. I wish I could tell you it gets easier....living without just becomes your new norm. Hang in there!! This test will all be ok. Hugs to you!
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