Hi everyone.
I'm new here, this site has popped up a couple of times for me when researching my symptoms so I thought I'd make a post and see if you can offer any advice to calm me down - I feel like this is taking over my life.
Let me start by telling you that my Dad was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in December 2017 so I'm sure you can guess what my concerns are!
Late November/early December last year I started to experience acid reflux and the sensation of a lump in my throat. This sensation moved between my throat and the middle of my chest, it was only really felt when swallowing saliva - food and drink relieved the sensation. This was all partnered with TERRIBLE burping... Constantly burping, from wake up to bedtime - food or no food.
I left things for a few weeks as I was really busy with Christmas and helping my Dad get to all of his appointments and what not. My symptoms were not going away so I saw my doctor on January 5th. He said that his threshold for me to be tested for cancer(s) was lower than other patients due to my family history but he didn't feel I had any red flags that warranted an urgent check (regurgitation, persistent vomiting, difficulty swallowing, blood in stools etc). He packed me off with omeprazole and asked me to come back in 3 weeks time but sooner if my symptoms worsened.
It's now about 1.5 weeks since I saw the doctor and things have changed a little bit. My acid reflux was sorted immediately, I haven't had any noticeable troubles with it. The lump in throat/chest sensation remained for the first week however over the last 3 days it has mostly been gone with a brief period of the sensation yesterday afternoon for a few hours (it's normally constant).
However, now I am struggling with back pain, in between my shoulder blades. Sometimes it's just there once I start moving about in the morning, others it's triggered by eating. Today for example, I was completely fine up until lunchtime when I ate a packet of crisps and the back pain kicked in straight away. I also don't think food is getting stuck (I'd know right?!) but I'm very aware of food travelling down my esophagus, I feel like I can feel it going all the way down. Once the back pain has been 'activated' it'll hang around for a good while, it's not just like when you inhale too much mash potato and it goes down too slow (or is it just me that does that). I also think I've been feeling fuller quicker.
The burping is still an issue but isn't as bad as it was. I've given up drinking as advised by the doctor.
As I said above, I'm really letting this problem take over my life. It's all I can think about sometimes. I am constantly Googling different combinations of symptoms to see what information is returned. The back pain one is scaring me the most, and feeling the food go down. Everything I read about these symptoms says cancer!
I'm notoriously a very calm and laid back person, most things just wash off me so these feelings are very new. My main fears aren't really for myself (although I'd really rather it wasn't the case!), I am terrified of something happening and leaving my fiance alone, the thought breaks me. And I'm terrified that if I was diagnosed with the same disease as my father and what that would do to him and his mental well being.
My final worry is having a camera down my throat. It seems inevitable that when I return to the doctors on 26th they're going to send me for one. I'm really not thrilled with the idea of it, but am also desperate for it so I know once and for all, you know? When my Dad had his, he had a very bad experience... It was rare what happened but I worry the same could happen to me. I won't go into it as I don't wish to put anyone off the procedure.
I'm sorry for the very long post, it was therapeutic in itself, getting it all down.
P.S - I'm 27...
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