Daughter now has acid reflux

jojoshort
jojoshort Member Posts: 230 Member
edited July 2011 in Esophageal Cancer #1
So early this morning, 2:30 am to be exact, I got a call from my beautiful 20 yr old daughter that her sternum had pain and some radiating out and even some in the back. She went to the E. R. where they told her she has acid reflux. Backtracking a bit, she's been working with her family physician regarding this new pain. Blood tests, and now an x-ray in E.R. say nothing. The family doc had her on pepcid for about a week also saying acid reflux, and the E.R. doc told her she'd need something stronger, say prilosec.
I told her she needed a referral to a gastroenteologist, since her Dad has adenocarcinoma with Barrett's esophagus Stage 4b with mets to lungs and he would've had a fighting chance had he been diagnosed earlier. She is also convinced she needs to be proactive, and is calling her family doc for a referral to a gastro guy.

I haven't mentioned to Steve, who sits in his air conditioned living room, in his recliner, with his stent and on oxygen and now morphine to ease his breathing. I figure it would only stress him out and he can do nothing but fret.

Steve's genetic testing was negative for the HER-2 gene.

I would love to hear from my well-informed new friends on this discussion board for guidance on how to coach her. She is lucky she is on my health insurance. She is a college student living a state away, so she's not home but once or twice a month.

Boy, what a new curve in this game.

Thanks,
Jo-Ann

Comments

  • jojoshort
    jojoshort Member Posts: 230 Member
    #2
    oops double post
    sorry double post
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #3
    jojoshort said:

    oops double post
    sorry double post

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Daisylin
    Daisylin Member Posts: 365
    #4
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    JoAnn
    Oh, JoAnn, I am so sorry to hear of the added stress to your life. I agree 100%, be proactive, get her tested. Hopefully tests will show nothing more than reflux, but as William said, Cancer won't wait. Having history of cancer in the family should be a definite clue to her doctor to send her to a gastroenterologist. I'm finding more and more that being assertive and knowledgeable at the doctor's office is essential.
    I also agree, don't mention it to Steve right away. He's got enough on his plate (not that you don't!) right now, stress and worrying won't do him any good.

    Chantal
  • jojoshort
    jojoshort Member Posts: 230 Member
    #5
    Daisylin said:

    JoAnn
    Oh, JoAnn, I am so sorry to hear of the added stress to your life. I agree 100%, be proactive, get her tested. Hopefully tests will show nothing more than reflux, but as William said, Cancer won't wait. Having history of cancer in the family should be a definite clue to her doctor to send her to a gastroenterologist. I'm finding more and more that being assertive and knowledgeable at the doctor's office is essential.
    I also agree, don't mention it to Steve right away. He's got enough on his plate (not that you don't!) right now, stress and worrying won't do him any good.

    Chantal

    Proactive it is
    Yes, I know I won't rest til she has a scope done. Steve will be allowed to not worry as we find no good reason to tell him. Thanks for cementing my resolve here. My daughter agrees that "proactive" is the word. Luckily she's in a city with a teaching hospital, so the care should be right up there. I think I'll check on some docs for her. I've ordered her a slant pillow and told her some diet and lifestyle changes she should do to help with the symptoms. I'm only too familiar with this whole scenario.
  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #6
    jojoshort said:

    Proactive it is
    Yes, I know I won't rest til she has a scope done. Steve will be allowed to not worry as we find no good reason to tell him. Thanks for cementing my resolve here. My daughter agrees that "proactive" is the word. Luckily she's in a city with a teaching hospital, so the care should be right up there. I think I'll check on some docs for her. I've ordered her a slant pillow and told her some diet and lifestyle changes she should do to help with the symptoms. I'm only too familiar with this whole scenario.

    Hi, Recently my 48 yr old
    Hi, Recently my 48 yr old daughter, explained to her new doctor, the years she's had acid reflux (everyday), and my diagnoses of EC. Te doctor told her that unless her food hung up, there was nothing to worry about.I would like to know where this doctor got her degree. My daughter knows that often when the food sticks, it is already stage Four. I'm encouraging her to seek another dr.
    I agree with your decision to not put this worry on Steve.

    Praying for Steve and your daughter, Sandra
  • fredswilma
    fredswilma Member Posts: 185
    #7
    Hi Jo-Ann
    I am so sorry for
    Hi Jo-Ann
    I am so sorry for the worry this must be causing you, you are so right to get onto it right away, as you are so aware that if, and thats a big if, it is EC then the sooner it is found then obviously the better result. Some of these dr's really need a kick up there you know where, my husband who is stage 4,with mets to the lungs, his father died of EC 10 years ago and yet we were told there was no evidence to suggest that EC could be passed on through generations, imagine for us if we had known, I will not be making the same mistake with my boys or nephews they will be told what to look out for.
    If I were you I too wouldn't be telling Steve yet, the stress he surely dosen't need. Hoping everything goes really well for your daughter and take care of yourself.
    Ann
  • Daisylin
    Daisylin Member Posts: 365
    #8
    fredswilma said:

    Hi Jo-Ann
    I am so sorry for
    Hi Jo-Ann
    I am so sorry for the worry this must be causing you, you are so right to get onto it right away, as you are so aware that if, and thats a big if, it is EC then the sooner it is found then obviously the better result. Some of these dr's really need a kick up there you know where, my husband who is stage 4,with mets to the lungs, his father died of EC 10 years ago and yet we were told there was no evidence to suggest that EC could be passed on through generations, imagine for us if we had known, I will not be making the same mistake with my boys or nephews they will be told what to look out for.
    If I were you I too wouldn't be telling Steve yet, the stress he surely dosen't need. Hoping everything goes really well for your daughter and take care of yourself.
    Ann

    wondering....
    Hi Jo Ann, I've been following your story, and first of all, I want to wish you peace, while you transition Steve to hospice. This must have been such a difficult decision, but I think you made the right choice. He will be able to get better care than anywhere else. I'm glad you have been able to get some peaceful and loving times in with him.

    I was just wondering if there has been any news on your daughter? I sure hope her doctor has taken this seriously and has sent her for testing. I hope and pray that you don't have to walk down this winding road again, ever.

    thinking of you,
    Chantal
  • jojoshort
    jojoshort Member Posts: 230 Member
    #9
    Daisylin said:

    wondering....
    Hi Jo Ann, I've been following your story, and first of all, I want to wish you peace, while you transition Steve to hospice. This must have been such a difficult decision, but I think you made the right choice. He will be able to get better care than anywhere else. I'm glad you have been able to get some peaceful and loving times in with him.

    I was just wondering if there has been any news on your daughter? I sure hope her doctor has taken this seriously and has sent her for testing. I hope and pray that you don't have to walk down this winding road again, ever.

    thinking of you,
    Chantal

    Well now they think it's pleurosy
    Which kind of makes sense as she had a terrible cough when last she was here.
    Smoking is not her friend, have told her so and she knows it, but the nicotine devil has her for a while, I'm afraid.
    She's going off the GERD med and if she flares up again, then it's off to the gastro guy. If not, then it's probably the pleurosy.
    I think they nailed it with the pleurosy, though, otherwise I'd be hollering loud and clear..
    Thanks for your concern,
    Jo-Ann
  • mruble
    mruble Member Posts: 174
    #10
    jojoshort said:

    Well now they think it's pleurosy
    Which kind of makes sense as she had a terrible cough when last she was here.
    Smoking is not her friend, have told her so and she knows it, but the nicotine devil has her for a while, I'm afraid.
    She's going off the GERD med and if she flares up again, then it's off to the gastro guy. If not, then it's probably the pleurosy.
    I think they nailed it with the pleurosy, though, otherwise I'd be hollering loud and clear..
    Thanks for your concern,
    Jo-Ann

    Pleurosy is no fun
    But you must be SO RELIEVED!!! I just can't imagine how worried you must have been!

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