GERD and scared

[Annabelle1961]

I have had GERD for approximately 10 yrs.  I take 30mg of Prevacid to attempt to control it.  Recently I am having more heartburn, trouble swallowing, that stuck feeling in throat, hiccups and belching.  Yesterday I got so nervous that I vomitted and there small streaks of blood in the mucus.  Does this mean that my GERD has now changed over to esophageal cancer.  I am very scared.  I have an appointment with Digestive Disease doc in 2 weeks.  How worried should I be?  Can this still just be GERD?

[kevieb]

I'm 50 years old and have had severe reflux for almost 22 years.  i have fought taking the PPIs and have had to have my esophagus dilated 4 different times--3 times with a shotzky's ring.    I have developed eosinophilic esophagitis, which is often mistaken for GERD, GI thinks it is secondary from having GERD for so long.

I used to get horrible chest  and back pain--right on up through to my neck and sometimes my teeth even hurt.  I rarely got "heartburn".  I have had a lot of trouble over the last 7-8 years with food getting stuck---that hurts like nobody's busines!!!!

I have a hiatal hernia.  I have a daughter who was born with a hiatal hernia and her esophagus was getting ulcerated at only 8 months--she had to have a fundoplication just before she turned 10 months old.

I have been on high dose prevacid for two months--but it didn't help the EE--now I have had to start steroids that I swallow to try and reduce the inflammation.  This condition has caused changes in my esophagus---I have rings in my esophagus and furrows that run up and down it.

The plan is to get my esophagus in as healthy a condition as possible, and then get a fundoplication done.

Whenever you have a scope done, always ask for a copy of the pathology report and a copy of the surgical report---I always suspected I had a hiatal hernia from when I was pregnant with twins---i did, but no one ever told me---I learned about when i got a copy of my surgical report from a past scope.

Also, I saw eosinophils on my pathology report last year, when I mentioned them to the surgeon, he said I probably knew more about that than he did!!!
he didn't even bother to read the explainations at the bottom of the paage by the pathologist for each sample that was taken.  GRRRRR

[Ivyandoreo]

Just was reading all your post........Can you please update me??   I am going through the samething.....NO blood, But, I am a nervous wreck, burning up my throat, on nexiums but, not helping.....I NO I am going to have cancer because I smoke......And, the more aniexty I have the more I smoke......The doctors have tried all kinds of aniexty medicines on me and I am allergic to them all......I have an appointment on Wednesday to see the NP for Reflux.......I feel sure they will want to do a scope and I want one too.....But, waiting this out is killing me.........This has been going on for 2 plus weeks.......Can anyone help me please........I started a new diet Vi Shakes.......The doctors on that team say this would NOT cause Reflux...Everyone I talk too says, it helped their reflux.....So, now I know I have cancer...........

[crambone]

i agree,sounds like pancreatitis to me to

[ZJRC]

Glad it is noncancerous.

What you are describing actually sounds like a pancreatitis attack.
Especially given the time that you have dealt with it all.
If your gallbladder is shifting crystals into the pancreatic duct, it will hurt, bigtime.

[Smiley2000]

Hi Annabelle,

Good luck with the HIDA scan.  If it is your Gallbladder, I would like to help you through your pre-op and post-op period.

I had my Gallbladder removed 2006 and almost died in the process.  First I had Cholangitis - a life threatening complication and then a Bile duct blockage that had to be fixed by ERCP.

You can PM me or I'll find you on here.

All the best and keep us posted.

[Annabelle1961]

Next week for the HIDA!  Still have alot of discomfort in middle of abdomen and in my back....sick of it!  Feel bloated all the time, but I don't look it.  Can't wait to find out exactly what the heck is going on.  Thanks so much for checking on me!

[Smiley2000]

Wonderful to hear that it was not cancer.  Hope your throat feels better now.  Every time, after a Scope and any pipe shoved into the nose to tummy I have sore throat and hoarseness for a few hours afterwards.

Did they do the HIDA?

[beth0277]

Very happy to hear you had a good test! I did have tenderness and hoarseness after my endoscopy.

Congratulations!

[Annabelle1961]

Well, the endo is over.  No cancer!  Found 3 polyps that GI doc said were caused by use of Prevacid, Nexium, etc.  Very sore throat today.  When I swallow I have some pain.  Called doc, says he thinks it's just local irritation, but if it continues he'll do barium swallow to check for tear or perforation!  Great, something else to worry about.  Anybody else have trouble after endo, i.e., heartburn, horseness, swallowing tenderness, etc.?

[Annabelle1961]

Tomorrow is the day of my endo!  I am terrified...can't quit shaking.  I know it's going to be horrible news and I am scared.  Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.  Thanks so much.

[Londres70]

Will keep you in my thoughts/prayer dear.

This could still be a Gallbladder issue without stones; sludge could be the problem.  The HIDA scan will tell you at what percentage your Gallbladder is functioning.  

Well....have to wait and hope for the best.......hang in there.  

[Annabelle1961]

Today is Christmas Eve...I am having a hard time trying to stay positive.  The pain in my chest has improved, but the stomach pain has gotten worse.  I get pain, consistently, after I eat, also nausea.  I try to think positive, but it's almost impossible.  I have read, read and read on line about stomach cancer.  I have the symptoms for sure.  I find some strength in the fact that my ultrasound found no major problems with liver, kidneys, pancreas and gallbladder (gallbladder a bit distended-having HIDA scan next week).  I have a endo next week as well.  I don't know how I will handle a cancer diagnoses, stomach cancer is quite deadly...I see no hope.  I am so scared and alone.  I cry all the time!  I have lost 15 lbs in 3 weeks because I can't eat...I'm hungry, but just can't eat.  My weight is currently holding steady.  72 hrs till I hear the news...I ask that you all pray me.  Thank you so much for all your support and well wishes, being alone with something like this is the hardest thing I've ever done.

[Londres70]

I would tend to concur with your physician.  It is an issue with your esophagus and/or stomach.  

That would be my guess.  

[Annabelle1961]

Had an ultrasound that showed my gallbladder was "irriated", no stones, the pain I feel he thinks is coming from this.  I get alot of pain after I eat anything.  Dropping weight because of this.  My endoscopy is scheduled for 12/28/11 :-)  Worried what they will find!  Christmas is a bust, no cookies, no dinner, no nothing, very sad.  Anyway, anybody got any input of the validity of what doc says.  Still get jaw pain, heartburn and chest pain with all this.  He thinks my hiatal hernia cld also be the culprit.  What do you all think?

[Annabelle1961]

Thanks for all your support.  I am going to have a endoscopy as soon as digestive disease doc can schedule one.  Until then I eat only oatmeal and hope for the best.  I am scared and have no one to be there for me.  I've done some research on the web and basically if this is the worst scenario I will be gone in approx 1 yr.  50 yrs old and this is the outcome....this *****.  I have a son, but we are not close...I haven't seen him for a year, was hoping to see him for xmas, but I'm feeling very "holiday-ish".  Brothers live in PA and that's it...I'm kind of a loner, now I wish I'd more of an effort.  Anyway, thanks again.  God Bless all of you!

[Londres70]

Sounds like your GERD and/or your Hiatal Hernia are/is worsening.  This could be Esophagitis or an Esophageal tear as well.  

If you think you need Emergent care prior to your scheduled appointment then do so.  

This definitely needs to be sorted out ASAP.  I would recommend you have an Upper GI Endoscopy done along with labs and an occult stool test.    

Uncontrolled GERD CAN increase you chances of developing Barrett's Esophagus which in turn CAN increase you chances of Esophageal cancer.  CAN is the key word; doesn't mean WILL. Esophageal cancer is not just limited to heavy alcohol drinkers and/or heavy smokers.  Not to scare you;  just telling you it is very important this stays controlled.  

[Smiley2000]

The Hiatal Hernia can become bigger and aggrevate GERD problems and that will explain the chest pains.  Except for that, you do not have a high risks for cancer.  Smoking and other factors makes you a high risk for something like esophageal ulcers and cancers.

Stress makes acid reflux even worse, so please try not to stress to much about it.  You can take something like OTC Gaviscon and Zantac to help with your symptoms.  The DD Doc will prescribe PPI's and order further tests, etc.  But to worry about all the possibilities now is not helping.

You can talk to us and we can try and help you cope better and answer some more questions that you might have.

All the best.

[Annabelle1961]

I've never had one, had a barium swallow years ago.  Scheduled to see DD doc in a couple of weeks and I'm sure that's the first think he will want to do.  Years ago they told me I had a small hiatal hernia.  The burning in my chest is almost constant and worse after I eat.  My Mom says hiatal hernia can get that going too!  I don't drink or smoke which most, not all, but most with esophageal cancer do.  My Mom is trying to keep me calm....says esophagitis, esophageal ulcers, regular ulcers can all do this.  Plus she says the blood from esophageal cancer is usually found in stool and my stool is still normal in color.  I am still so scared (can't stop shaking) and the waiting for the doc appt is probably not making any of this easier.  Thanks for taking time out of your day to answer.  I'm not young, but I'm not old either and I'm not ready for this!  

[Smiley2000]

Hi there,

The ENT symptoms that you are experiencing and the belching can be an indication that your GERD is not under control with your current medication.  Do you have a Hernia?

I don't think the vomitting and isolated blood in mucus means that you have cancer.  When was your last Endoscope done?