I'm really concerned

[shininglight16]

Hi mums,

I've been battling with acid reflux, heartburn and a lingering cough/throat irritation for 7 months now. At first, the GP thought I had some viral infection as the cough would come and go. They did ECG and Chest X-ray and found nothing abnormal. I went to the GP yesterday and she said it could possibly be an ulcer or hiatal hernia that is causing the stomach acids to go up and trickle my throat.

She said she would expedite me for an urgent endoscopy and I would get an appointment in the next 2 weeks. The appointment letter says referral for suspected upper gastrointestinal cancer and this wasn't mentioned at all by my GP.

Please tell me she's only written that to speed up my diagnosis, I'm in tears and really worried 🙏🏻

Has anyone experienced this before?

I would say it's to get you seen quickly. GPs are increasingly using the two week pathway it seems

our GP’s generally add that as it’s the only way to expedite a referral. You’d be waiting several months without that being written. She absolutely should have mentioned that to you though, I’m sorry that’s left you so worried, hopefully all will be okay for you

Agree with the above.

The fact it came and went is a good indicator imo. Best wishes.

In my experience they will check for it. I had both stomach ulcers (no h pylori bacteria though) and a hiatus hernia with ulcerated oesophagus. They took biopsies of all the bleeding areas for extra testing. Your symptoms sound most like hiatus hernia but it is important they do a thorough check if you’re having an endoscopy. As pp say, it’s likely a way to get you checked quickly. All the best with your appointment,

I had the exact same thing, for exactly the same reasons, urgent referral for endoscopy, its just precaution, mine was a hiatal hernia.

Good luck

Thanks ladies, for those of you with hiatal hernia how do you manage things, @TequilaNights @MatrixDystopia did you manage to cure this or are you on life long medication? I'm wondering if my problem is due to obesity and the pressure on my abdomen during pregnancy...I gave birth 2 months ago. I hope and pray nothing serious comes out of this thanks for the reassurance 🙏🏻

I think about 1/3 population (certainly over 50) have hiatus hernias. Most don’t ever know. you couldn’t ever cure it I don’t think but you can reduce impact. Rare to need surgery. I haven’t needed any surgery. My grandmother did have complications from hers but I suspect the PPi meds weren’t available then or she didn’t take them. Because of my grandmother, I am cautious and follow all the advice (prop top of bed up, don’t eat 3 hours before bed etc). I am on permanent PPI (omeprazole) for my stomach ulcers anyway but they also make sure my oesophagus isn’t ulcerated.

I’ve recently put on 3 stone on a new medication for another condition and it has got worse with the additional weight on my belly. I did look into mounjaro but can’t take it because of the new medication that causes the weight gain!

I see I'm not 50 yet though I will be 40 end of this year.

Have you been prescribed a proton pump inhibitor? These include Lansoprazole, Omeprazole Esomeprazole. I take 40mg of Esomeprazole twice a day. This is a high dose but after trial and error it was found that I need the high dose.

Prescribing a PPI is usually the first course of action.

Yes I've been prescribed omeprazole 20mg once or twice a day. I have to do a stool test first so have been advised to wait until that's done and then take it. I have a sore throat now and my cough just won't stop. I keep worrying all day and can't focus on anything else.

I am not even 40, I manage it by eating smaller meals, I only take Omeprazole if I need it now, I did take it every day at first, but lost some weight, careful with what I ate and managed it a lot better.

Sore throat is normal if you having acid reflux and healing from it long term

Yes until my reflux was under control, I had a really sore throat and a cough.

Along with taking Esomeprazole, I’ve cut out alcohol, I eat smaller meals, I’ve lost weight, I don’t eat chocolate and I control my stress. I’ve found stress to be the biggest trigger.

Your symptoms sound like classic acid reflux, not cancer. With medication and some life changes you will feel better.

Reflux is very common during pregnancy and even more common with obesity. The sore throat is likely to be due to the stomach acid being pushed up into your throat and mouth. It can also cause tooth erosion and tooth sensitivity particularly in the back teeth.

I have had reflux for years but it was getting worse due to weight gain.At night I would wake up due to coughing fits when too much stomach acid hit my throat. After losing 10kg over the last 6 mnths it has disappeared.

I take proton pump inhibitors to stop the acid indigestion but reflux is sort of a different problem. Weight loss is much more effective for reflux along with using a wedge pillow or raising the head of your bed.

Long term, and I’m talking years not months, can lead to scaring of the oesophagus knon as Barretts oesophagus, can lead to cancer changes. But often this is in combination with other problems such as alcohol abuse and eating disorders where vomiting is self induced.

It’s not a pleasant condition and I would look at weight loss for longterm solutions, but meds will help in the short term. Interestingly, cutting down refined carbs, alcohol and ultra processed foods helps both the condition and helps with weight.

I found that tea, chocolate, alcohol and fruit were the things most likely to aggravate it. With a bit of will power, and the incentive to be pain free, i have steadily lost weight.

It’s more common over 50 but plenty of people under 50 have them. I was around 40 when mine was found.

I am surprised you haven’t been told to stop the PPI - or have you? I wasn’t given an editor the hiatus hernia (it was an incidental finding) - mine was to check for stomach ulcers. I wasn’t allowed mine for at least 2 weeks as I’d taken 1 days worth of over the counter PPI to get me through the weekend before I saw GP. I was told you have to be off PPI for at least 2 weeks as the treatment can mask what’s going on.