Endoscopy for acid reflux - SO SCARED!

[Goingcrazy20]

I've always had acid reflux, it comes on in very painful flare ups which are so painful they make me sick, which is obviously acid. It used to happen very often, the doctors diagnosed me and gave me omemprozole. I took them for a while but ultimately I changed my lifestyle. lost two stone, watched what I ate, got healthy, then it didn't really happen much so I stopped the tablets.

Now I get it probably once every 3 months or something like that, not very often at all. The other day, I did get a flare up, can't really put my finger on why, we had made a home made healthy curry, it was spicy and had tumeric in, the following morning I had eaten a couple of blueberries when the familiar pain started.

I was sick and it was acid but it was slightly pink, which scared me because I couldn't work out what had caused that. I am the worlds worst worrier, I have massive health anxiety - it's terrible I have so many panic attacks over it, so I googled it - bad move, scared me even more, I called my doc and he said it really doesn't sound like it was blood of any kind, but more likely what you have eaten.

following that he did say that because I have acid reflux 'unresolved' that he wants me to go for an endoscopy - I flew into panic mode, he said it's just routine check up.

Since then I am literally worried sick, i've been looking online - i don't know why i do this to myself. I can't sleep I am terrified. Not only for the actual procedure, but for what they might find.

I smoke (10 max a day) I am trying to quit, I am trying to lose weight, I exercise, I try to drink the recommended units of alcohol a week (okay this doesn't always go to plan) I genuinely have convinced myself I have cancer of the esophagus or something terrible.

I can't cope, I am in melt down mode, before this I had no symptoms of anything other than acid reflux, no cause for concern, in fact I would never have called the doc if it wasn't for the slight pinkish tinge.

I am miserable, so unhappy, can't concentrate on day to day responsibilities all i can think about is this. I keep thinking myself into symptoms, i feel sick from worry, i have off the chart anxiety, i just dont know what to do.

please help

Deep breaths. Have the endoscopy and hopefully this will put your mind at ease regarding cancer. I would recommend having the sedation as it’s over and done with before you know it. Try not to google your symptoms as the scariest things always pop up first.

Hi, sending you for an endoscopy is just what the GP does for acid reflux. I have been for one, and there was a line of us in the waiting room all waiting for the same thing. Like a conveyor belt. It is just routine to take a look. They need to check if you have a physical cause like a hiatus hernia or test for H Pylori (the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers) etc.
It'll be fine, and the result will put your mind at rest that they have had a good look down there. They do it so they know how to treat your stomach acid better, prevent your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Thank you NoSauce - I feel like I am going crazy, the further into this worry I get the less I see anything as 'logical' now I think my worry and concern and thoughts that I could have cancer or something seriously wrong with me is valid worries. When I strip it right back and actually try to force myself to be logical I feel like I am being ridiculous.

Hi Seaweed,

Thank you for your reply, I was diagnosed years ago with acid reflux so I thought they would have done the endoscopy then, rather than 5/6 years down the line. It is worrying that now they want to have a look. I am just so worried for what they might find.

I expect it was pink because of the blueberry juice.

You’ll be fine. I’ve had one with just local anaesthetic and although it wasn’t fun it was ok. I was home eating ice cream within the hour.

Things change over time - six years is ages. Pink tinge is never serious - even if it is blood it would be from a bleed up in your throat which is almost never an issue, its when it's black that things are likely going bad.

I remember freaking out as a teen when I discovered I'd peed pink. Beetroot salad, of course. Food is the most likely cause.

WrongKindOfFace- hi, yeah I thought that too but I had only had 4 blueberries but it was like 90mins before I was sick. So I wasnt sure. It's not so much the procedure that is panicking me - though i really dont want to go through it, I am more worried about the findings. Because I smoke, and have had minor irritation from that such as a persistent dry cough I have been to the doc about that three times now and it's always just an irritation. I sometimes get what I can best describe as an itchy throat/inner ear but again it's just an irritation maybe from smoking or pollen things like that. I am trying to quit smoking though but these things are contributing towards my severe worries and anxiety about throat cancer or something equally as horrendous.

I will have such a hard time if I cant know the result there and then. Waiting and worrying really sends me into anxiety overdrive.

Spoonblender- hi I never did have a endoscopy when I first got diagnosed. At first I had bad pain and I had no idea what it was and it was horrible. I remember getting an ultrasound cos they thought it was gall stones and they did find a few tiny ones they said they could take out my gall bladder if I would like but I didn't want that. Then he said I also had acid reflux symptoms judging by the pain etc so he gave me ompeprozole and that was it.

Some time after that I can't remember how long I had a reflux flare up that lasted days and it was so worrying that I ended up going to hospital. They gave me stomach muscle relaxant tablets and some other tablets which helped. No endoscopy though.

After getting acid reflux attacks almost weekly or at least monthly I decided to get my s**t together and I lost 2 stone I eat relatively good and healthy i exercise and i am now trying to continue the weight loss and quit smoking. I try to moderate alcohol as best I can. And the flare ups significantly dropped... I've had 3 in 5 months without taking any anti acid tablets.

Without tmi when I was sick it was mostly acidic water but obviously there were some dark looking parts but I was sure that was food... though unless it was the blueberries I dont recall really eating anything else since way before 12 hrs prior.

Normally this kind of acid attack wouldn't necessarily cause me concern. Its unpleasant but it happens from time to time and I deal with it accordingly. Literally the Only reason at all that I am even in this situation is because I wanted to put my mind at rest about the pinkish tinge colour. Unfortunately I'm now off the chart anxious and ten times worse than I would have been had I not had made a fuss over it.

Thanks all the sharing is really helping to calm me down a bit

Great work on the weight loss! You might have something simple and manageable like hiatus hernia, but whatever it is will be totally worth a little camera down your throat - I had one recently (via the nose, avoids the gag reflex for most people including me!) and it was barely any trouble at all.

It does mean you can't give blood for four months though, oddly.

Anyway. Pinkish. Not important. Blood that's been in your stomach isn't pink, so it's something else.

I had a call from the hospital today - they had some cancellations over the weekend and said I could come in early Saturday morning. I really don't want too, but I agreed to it. She said it really is nothing to worry about, you have been referred as a routine check up and in no rush.

There is no concern. but I am so so worried now. Incase they find something

Hi, I’m in desperate need for help and reassurance here!

I’m 29 and have in the last year had 2 miscarriages. I do worry alot and am an anxious person.
since my miscarriages my health has been all over the place. I’ve had ibs for years & it seems that triggered a massive flare up again, I’m back and forth to the doctors because of a breast lump but my main issue is the below.

For last 8 weeks have had had the following symptoms.

Sore throat
Swollen painful pulsating lymph nodes in neck everyday
Dizziness/ light headed
Tight chest
Tickling throat
Tingling feeling in throat
Hard to swallow
Muscle tension in neck, jaw & shoulders
Nausea
Earache/feeling like I’ve got a blocked ear
Itchy ears inside left ear
Tiredness
Headache
post nasal drip
Psoriasis around mouth
Brain fog
Spots where swollen lymph nodes are

I’ve also lost 6 pounds in 5 weeks. Im
only petite and I’m now 7 stone 13 & can’t afford to loose anymore weight!

& I’m not pregnant though me and my husband are still trying for a baby.

i have been back and forth to the doctors who have done blood tests for full blood count & inflammation and all have come back normal.

i was diagnosed with silent reflux 2 years ago but the symptoms I am experiencing are so much worse than when I was diagnosed 2 years ago.
I have the above symptoms every day for the last 8 weeks.
ive cut out fatty foods, spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine and been taking nasal spray, omeprazole & gaviscon advanced which specialist prescribed me 2 years ago but it’s nothing is relieving my symptoms.

I’m negative for strep throat & stomach ulcer.

im so scared I have cancer & I’m going to die. has anyone had anything similar that isn’t cancer?

im on the waiting list to be seen by a specialist but I can’t help but worry all the time about it!

Thanks In advance