To freak out at this from the doctor

[KitKatrunchie]

Iv had a cough for years
im
Overweight

they said it was reflux
recently felt a lump in my throat and one time felt I needed to drink water to get food down (on one occasion) most food give me reflux but it’s the wrong food I don’t get it when o eat right

I told the doctor and he sent me this! I’m freaking out as I didn’t think it was cancer

recently iv had a series of horrible life events and iv started to think I’ll die soon and suddenly and leave my daughter

Bloody hell, I’d change your GP.
First, I had to have the camera down the throat 2 week pathway etc.. but it was explained to me why it was being done like that. Zero anxiety because it was explained properly.
Second when I had pneumonia about 20 years ago the GP identified it immediately, even though it was early stage, antibiotics, I was back at work a week later ( it was first day of half term so I didn’t even get a day off work 😞)
Hope you’re feeling better.

Wow! Please all ok.

So please all is ok, did they give you anything for it or has it gone on it’s own?

I have the same issues. I’ve had a cough on/off for years, nothing major but since I caught a viral thing 8 weeks ago I’ve had a cough which I can not shift.

Spoke (on the phone) to the paramedic at the surgery last week and he said it sounded like reflux and prescribe meds but they haven’t helped.
I had pneumonia around 5/6 years ago after a bout of flu. I’m worried it could be that.
Does anyone know if you can be prone to pneumonia if you’ve had it once before?

@KitKatrunchie That is a standard letter they send everyone having a scan, even a precautionary scan. You are having a scan to (God willing) rule out cancer.

That isn't gentle wording they used though.

Sorry I missed your thread before. Glad all went ok @KitKatrunchie x

Does anyone know if you can be prone to pneumonia if you’ve had it once before?

@Bigpromotion Only if you happen to have another health condition which makes you more prone to getting it (which you would probably know about already.)

See your GP so they can have a listen to your chest. Unless you're having real difficulty breathing, in which case go to A&E. You could have a chest infection (not necessarily pneumonia.)

That must have felt scary. My husband was sent for tests due to food getting stuck while eating. He was referred on the two week wait and they used a camera to explore what was happening. He had a hiatus hernia and also a ring of tight tissue too which causes the food to get stuck. We were also really anxious about it. Hopefully it’s nothing serious and you’ll have some peace of mind once the tests have been done.

I think it's bloody insensitive, almost negligent, to send such a text. Jeez, they could at least call.

I'll bet my bottom dollar that e ery poster saying breezily not to panic would be just as freaked out.

I'm sorry you been left in such a distressing situation and that you're being gaslit in droves.

Of course it's scary and pf course your reaction is understandable and normal.

Hoping you'll soon get some clarity and that your health will improve.

I'm sorry @KitKatrunchie, GP definitely should have made sure to explain to you and unacceptable to let a patient find out on the app! If you have the bandwidth, you could send an email to the practice.

Everything that PPs have said - they like to be overcautious, and with the NHS as it is, if you don't get an urgent referal (i.e. the 2 week wait), it will be months and months so it makes sense to put you on this pathway.

My GP did this when I was having bleeding after sex, but made sure to explain why she did it in the appointemnt.

I’m kindly suggesting that people read the update on this 4 week old thread before commenting.

@KitKatrunchie Best wishes and I hope you got successful treatment for the pneumonia.

Exactly, especially on a thread as potentially serious as this. I'm sure many of us remember the poster who started a thread about bloating and then used it to document her ultimately fatal journey through ovarian cancer. The poor woman was very ill but every week someone would pop up suggesting she cut out gluten.

@ColleenDonaghy Thankfully this thread has gone the other way and OP got the all clear for cancer. Pneumonia is very treatable in most people and God willing OP is on the road to recovery.

Oh I know that but the point is that those who didn't read far enough to see that she had pneumonia don't! Anything could've happened in the meantime. It's not even a long thread, no excuse for not reading OP's updates.

Try not to worry. My husband had a manky toenail and got it looked at privately. The Dr put suspected cancer to get on the 2 week pathway even though he was pretty sure it was fungal,and it was.

It’s the standard pathway that you get put on 2 week wait for gastroscopy if you have difficulty swallowing. It doesn’t mean you have cancer but they have to check when you are reporting those symptoms.
Good luck I hope you get sorted soon.