Terrified

Axiom
Axiom Member Posts: 3
in Esophageal Cancer #1

I do not run often. I have in the past but 2 years ago got a fairly physical and demanding and stressful job and have been lazy. For the past 6 years I sometimes get this burning/pressure in my chest. I always thought it was reflux or stress. Sometimes it was relieved by drinking water or taking tums. Sometimes I would go for a run and it would go away. 28 days ago I felt an "episode" come on and I went for a run but it made it a lot worse. A much stronger burning/pressure in what feels like possibly the entire esophagus, accompanied with a slight lightheaded feeling. These sensations have not gone away! Not for one second! The pain in chest is smaller, about a golf ball maybe, directly behind breast bone slightly below nipples. They seem to get worse with significant and sustained exertion. I have been to the ER twice and a cardiologist and cleared of heart problems. I have an upper GI endoscopy scheduled in 13 days. I am terrified. I don't think I ever had trouble swallowing before or had anything in my throat but now i am conscious of my swallowing and think I may feel something there, along with a lump in my throat. I am only 32 but have been a heavy tobacco user for 13 years and a heavy drinker for 11 years. Quit both now, even though now I can't sleep. I have lost weight because I have dramatically changed my diet and I'm afraid to eat. Has anyone heard of these symptoms? I can't find anything like it except EC. This has such a terrible prognosis. I feel so much for all of you. Any suggestions about what I should do for 2 weeks? Seems like an eternity when it comes to this issue.

Comments

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    #2
    Hello Axiom

    Hello Axiom,

    It sounds like you are experiencing a lot of anxiety about your health right now.  I didn't have the symptoms you are describing, but there are a thousand different symptoms that could mean a thousand different things.  EC is certainly one thing it could be, but there's no value in worrying about things until they're confirmed to be problems.  It sounds a lot easier than it actually is, but worrying about things you can't control isn't helpful.  Find things to focus on, even if only for short periods of time.  (a TV show, a phone call, a work project, a game etc...)  It's only 13 days.  You'll get answers soon enough.  Hopefully you get the answers you're looking for.

    Best wishes,

    Ed

  • Axiom
    Axiom Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2017 #3
    Terrified

    Thank you for your response Ed. I know you are right but it is very hard not to worry. Did you have any flushing sensations over your body? Like when you get a cold? I have also lost my appetite and force myself to eat, luckily it is not difficult or painful but I can feel it going down my throat, all the way to what can assume is my stomach. I may or may not need water to make it easier, not sure. I am not a hypochodriac. I have never worried about my health in the past, although I have never had problems before. I just always have this sense of dread, like something is really wrong with me. I can't shake the feeling that in a couple of weeks I will be on here, diagnosed. I know it's strange but I feel as if I could just know, I could start accepting my fate. Maybe someone out there has had these symptoms.

  • Deathorglory
    Deathorglory Member Posts: 364 Member
    edited November 2017 #4
    Axiom said:

    Terrified

    Thank you for your response Ed. I know you are right but it is very hard not to worry. Did you have any flushing sensations over your body? Like when you get a cold? I have also lost my appetite and force myself to eat, luckily it is not difficult or painful but I can feel it going down my throat, all the way to what can assume is my stomach. I may or may not need water to make it easier, not sure. I am not a hypochodriac. I have never worried about my health in the past, although I have never had problems before. I just always have this sense of dread, like something is really wrong with me. I can't shake the feeling that in a couple of weeks I will be on here, diagnosed. I know it's strange but I feel as if I could just know, I could start accepting my fate. Maybe someone out there has had these symptoms.

    No flushing

    Hello,

    I didn't have anything like flushing as a symptom.  My only real symptom (other than a couple of decades of really bad reflux) was that food got stuck.  I described it at the time as, "it feels like the food gets to the top of my stomach, but can't get in."  Turns out that was almost exactly right.  It was blocked by the tumor at the bottom of my esophagus.  I had to cough/vomit it back up.  That happened about once a week or so for a few months.  When it didn't seem like it was going to get better, I made an appointment with my gastroenterologist and had an endoscopy done.  Like I mentioned before, there are myriad symptoms that could point to myriad medical issues.  Hopefully, you fall on the more benign end of things.  

    Enjoy today, tomorrow's not guaranteed to anyone,

    Ed

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    #5
    Your symptoms could be gastritis or bile reflux

    When I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer I had some of the symptoms you describe, but I did not have swollen lymph glands. Acute gastritis (an inflammation of the stomach lining often caused by a virus) and bile reflux (when bile normally used by our digestive system to break down and process fats backs up into the stomach) are both issues that have similar symptoms to those you describe.

    I know it is difficult to not have your mind go to the worst-case scenario, but as Ed says, worrying in advance of your test results will not change the outcome and will make you miserable in advance of your tests.

    It sounds like you have done the right things in terms of scheduling further investigation through an endoscopy. Esophageal cancer is still a relatively rare cancer particularly in young people. Hopefully your test results will show something that is easily addressed with proper medication.

     

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    McCormick, South Carolina

     

    DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009
    Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009 Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Seven Year Survivor

     

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

     

     

  • Axiom
    Axiom Member Posts: 3
    edited November 2017 #6
    Thank you Paul. What symptoms

    Thank you Paul. What symptoms did you have that were similar specifically? I don't think I have swollen lymph nodes. Another symptom I seem to have is a warm feeling in my chest in the morning. Also, lying down has no effect on the sensation in my chest and actually the time I wake up in the morning, before moving around, is the most comfortable I feel all day. On my days off I try to stay in bed propped up and read and watch TV before I must get up to get things done. This is the first I have ever been on any forums like this and I am so impressed with this community. The more I read the more afraid I get but also the more hope I have in humanity. The willingness you have to talk to someone who doesn't even know how bad their situation is, along with being candid, is appreciated.

  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    edited November 2017 #7
    The primary symptoms I had were acid reflux and pain swallowing

    The most predominant symptoms I had were acid reflux, particularly when lying down, and a feeling of pain when I swallowed food. I could feel whatever I swallowed pass a “sore” spot in my esophagus just before it went into my stomach. Of course, when I was diagnosed I learned that was the location of my adenocarcinoma tumor.

    In addition to those symptoms, I would sometimes get hiccups when I started to eat and a feeling of pressure just below my sternum. I also felt like food got stuck at the bottom of my esophagus and pass into my stomach later.

    Best Regards,

    Paul Adams

    McCormick, South Carolina

     

    DX 10/2009 T2N1M0  Stage IIB - Ivor Lewis Surgery  12/3/2009
    Post Surgery Chemotherapy 2/2009 – 6/2009 Cisplatin, Epirubicin, 5 FU
    Seven Year Survivor

     

     

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

  • okiegirl80
    okiegirl80 Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2017 #8
    Endoscopy

    So how was your endoscopy? Did you get results yet?

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