Scared and feeling like a twit

[sandytoesallsummer]

Hi everyone,

Can I just start by saying please no horror stories, I am anxious enough as it is!

I have been taking Omeprazole for a year or so for heartburn/acid reflux and forgot to take a couple a week and a bit a go. Since then I have had really bad acid reflux, every day. Currently in a super stressful situation with buying a house and various other things that are causing stress that I won't bore you with.

Anyway, I am terrified of speaking to the Dr as I don't want a camera stuck down my throat. I have health anxiety and possible PTSD and the thought of it, even under sedation (which I am also scared of due to adverse affects) literally turns my stomach.

I am stressed about the symptoms which, of course, make the symptoms worse!

I am overweight, probably the heaviest I have ever been, so thought if I lose some weight and try and relax a bit it might help and make it go back to normal, but right now I am no good to anyone as I am a nervous wreck and just feel sooo pathetic.

Thanks for reading this far. I acknowledge that to most people I probably sound silly, but the health anxiety has been massively exacerbated by covid as has the PTSD.

Leaving it with the potential to get oesophageal cancer is far worse. I ask for a big dose of the sedation drug and I get knocked out completely and don't feel a thing. The test tests a couple of minutes.

Are you supposed to take omeprazole for that long? Surely you're just suppressing the symptoms? I'm being referred for a gastroscopy and while it horrifies me, it's something that I need to do.

You can take omeprazole for your whole life and people do to treat GERD and other digestive issues. I have been prescribed it for that long, my Mum has been taking it for even longer so would have thought the Dr would have said something if it was an issue