Symptoms for over a year and still no answers

Confused39

I am a 39 year old woman who has been having symptoms for more than 1 and 1/2 years that no one can figure out and I'm very worried. It started with a mild sensation of something in the throat that I would feel once in a while as well as fairly regular nausea and feeling of bloating/fullness. I never thought the 2 were related. A few months later I was having the sensation more often than not and eventually it grew to all the time along with difficulty swallowing certain foods.That subsided for the most part and I still have the constant sensation of something in throat--a;ways on the right side--though some days it's hardly noticeable and then I'll have some bad days again. I had a neck x-ray, chest x-ray, 2 scopes (through the nose into the throat only performed by ear/nose/throat doctor) and a barium swallow -- all normal. I was put on Nexium just in case it was reflux even though I had only experienced the feeling of acid in my throat 2 or 3 times. I was on it for 3 months. I got very bad rebound heartburn after going off the nexium and suffer from it a couple times per week now even though almost a year has passed since going off it. I have also been having regular pain in the center of my chest that often radiates to the right and even into my back. This past week I have also started having a dull pain in my right shoulder blade that almost feels like there's a muscle that's swollen or out of place. When I am walking around I am also getting sharp pains that I've never had before and can't really describe that seem to radiate from the right shoulder blade around to the front right just at the top of my ribcage. Sometimes the pain is intense and other times it's more bearable.

I've looked these things up and it led me to this forum. I was wondering if someone could help answer some questions? Did anyone have these symptoms? Would a barium swallow not have shown a problem? (I had it approx. 3 months after the difficulty swallowing first began)I had a chest xray 2 weeks ago for pneumonia. Would that have shown something?

I'm scared and don't know what to do since my tests keep coming back normal but my symptoms remain.

sangora

I would suggest
Am glad you found our board. THe topic here is not pleasent, but those who are here are a special breed of folks. Glad you found us. If I were you, I would make an appointment post haste with a Digestive Health Doctor otherwise known as a GI doc. Your symptoms have been around too long to just let time pass. If you live near a major University Hospital, I would go there. They tend to be more inquisitive and keep looking til they have answers. Please do this and let us know how you make out. Sam, Stage IV

Unknown

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paul61

Time to change doctors
I really agree with Sam, it is time to go to a major medical center and request an appointment with a gastroenterologist that includes an endoscopy. There are a number of things that could account for the symptoms you describe but I would not accept the lack of specific answers you have so far. Unfortunately many of us here went to doctors who just told us to take antacids and sleep with the head of the bed elevated until things proceeded to a point that could not be ignored.

To answer your specific question, I did have symptoms similar to yours that included acid reflux, a feeling of something stuck in my throat periodically, and pain in the middle of my chest. My doctor first eliminated cardiac related issues with a stress test and then sent me for an endoscopy with a gastroenterologist, although he did not see anything obvious he took some biopsies and they came back positive for adenocardinoma of the esophagus.

I would not be satisfied with an endoscopic examination where they just looked I would want some biopsies take to rule out a number of potential issues.

Best of luck to you,


Best Regards,

Paul Adams
McCormick, South Carolina

DX 10/22/2009 T2N1M0 Stage IIB
12/03/2009 Ivor Lewis
2/8 through 6/14/2010 Adjuvant Chemo Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
Two year survivor

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance!

rose20

confused39
I haven't read the others' responses to you so it may have already been suggested to you to go see a gastroenterologist to do an endoscopy where they go down into your throat with a scope. This is not the simple little scope through the nose you had done by the ENT. This is a more intensive test.

Endoscopy is a procedure used to visually examine your upper digestive system with a tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube. A doctor who specializes in diseases of the digestive system (gastroenterologist) uses endoscopy to diagnose and, sometimes, treat conditions that affect the esophagus, stomach and beginning of the small intestine (duodenum). The endoscope is inserted in your mouth. (Mayo Clinic)

My brother was told he had acid reflux because of similar symptoms you are describing and so they put him on meds for that, after time he was still having troubles, they did the barium swallow on him, xrays and CT scan and then told him it was GERD and gave him more meds, he only became worse until he went to a gastroenterologist and had the endoscopy and there it was stage 4 esophageal cancer. It was unbelievable to us that all the other testings did not show this up.
Not saying this is your problem but one never knows and if your symptoms are as bad as you are saying then don't wait on the doctors just tell your doctor to refer you to a gastroenterologist to have that endoscopy.

Hope and pray that they will find out what is causing all of your trouble and be able to treat it for you.

You are the only one that knows your own body and I believe we know when something isn't right, so no matter how many doctors you go to if you still feel something is wrong then continue to find the doctor that will find out just exactly what is going on.
The best to you!