GERD, IBS, Cancer, Anxiety...HELP PLEASE!!!

Here's my story. 4-5 months ago I was working out at the gym and felt a strange tightness or pulling sensation in my stomach. Over the next several weeks it turned into occasional stomach spams, almost always while lying down. This persisted for a couple of months. 2 months ago I had a vasectomy completed. Following that surgery I have had a myriad of worsening symptoms to include:

A constant "knot" or bloated feeling in my stomach.
Some minor heartburn, flatulence, burping
A feeling of a lump or tightness in my throat
A dull pain and lump on the floor of my mouth below my teeth on the right side
Intermittent groin pain (dull to sharp)
Lower back pain

I have been very stressed and nervous lately and wonder if this is causing my symptoms or if it's something more severe. I don't smoke, drink occasionally and exercise regularly and eat healthy. Some history of breast cancer on my mom's side (all recovered!), nothing else notable by history. My PCP checked me out, ran some tests and referred me to a gastrointestinal specialist but the first available appt is late next month. I'm worried about the tightness in my throat, it feels like my lymph nodes might be swollen as well. Please, any ideas? I'm freaking out. I have two wonderful young children and I'm worried there might be something seriously wrong with me.

JT -
Welcome to the GERD forum. We're just patients here, but we do care and will share our experiences.

It's just awful to have to wait. I waited 4 months for an appt with rheumatologist, 4 months when I needed surgery for stomach pushed into my chest in an accident, currently waiting 6 weeks for sinus surgery for pain and infection I've had for nearly 2 years.

Lymph nodes can be swollen if you get a cold or all sorts of things. Low back pain is very common, may be related to other symptoms or not. You can google it on the net and try to figure out what corresponds to your particular symptoms. I think I'd take it easy in the gym, try ice, heat, all the things I read on credible websites.

The stomach spasms could even be heart, not to worry you, but keeping a diary/journal of your symptoms might help you and your doctor figure out where it is exactly and what is triggering it. For me it was certain foods which contain large amounts of sulfite, but people react to MSG, lactose, wheat, and much more. An allergist helped me figure out my particular intolerances. My GI doc was good at diagnosing GERD, but still doesn't believe me about the intolerances, even though I was able to control the refluxing by avoiding certain foods.