Any GPs here? DH can't swallow. What to expect at appt tomorrow?

[HisNameIsRedwing]

Planning to phone the GP first thing tomorrow as DH (45) is struggling to swallow. It came on suddenly half way during dinner yesterday evening (24 hours ago) - he said he felt like he was choking whenever he tried to swallow anything and he hasn't had anything other than a small amount of ice cream and regular sips of squash since then. Worryingly, he says he's not feeling particularly hungry either.

He said he's had similar, but not so severe, symptoms a couple of times in the last 2 weeks. A couple of years ago he had a lot of acid reflux, which was diagnosed as being related to a hernia. Otherwise he is very fit and healthy, doesn't smoke and isn't overweight.

My own dad dies of cancer of the oesophagus a few years ago, which started the same way, so we're feeling a little anxious, though obviously we're not panicking as we also know it might be something much less serious. However, in my dad's case, it took a few months to get a diagnosis, by which time it was too late to operate, so I'm not complacent either.

Are there any GPs out there who can tell me what we should expect to happen when DH sees the doctor tomorrow? What tests will they run? Will he be automatically referred for cancer screening as a precaution?

Hope everything went ok yesterday, OP.

Thanks all. He saw the out-of-hours doctor at the drop-in centre last night (very quickly in the end, as he was referred by the 111 service). The doctor said he couldn't see anything immediately worrying so he told DH to see the GP this morning. He's managed to get an appointment. In the meantime he's been feeling well enough to eat a banana and a small bowl of cereal this morning, so that's a good sign.

He says he's woken up in the night a few times with similar symptoms over a period of a few months, and thinks it might be an anxiety thing. Also his mum has dystonia, so he's worried it might be something related to that.

Hopefully the GP will sort him out.

Anxiety can also cause swallowing problems, which is probably what it is if it comes and goes.

Glad he's been checked out. It could be globus which is related to anxiety and if that's the case as uncomfortable as it is it's not anything to worry about.