Hand hold please, I am terrified.

[Sonolanona]

I posted a few days ago.. stomach pain high up. Put on PPIs for Gastritis, but nothing has helped and now I can't swallow ANY food, and even drinks are becoming difficult. I saw out of hours today and they did an ECG to check it wasn't cardiac, and gave me IV fluids because I'm a it dehydrated but said I need to see my GP tomorrow for a two week referral to endoscopy. Frankly I'll be amazed if I'm not admitted before then as I can't swallow food and I'm losing weight quickly .

Til two weeks ago I was FINE as far as I knew. Now I'm in pain, feel so sick, can't eat and I'm SCARED. Scared I'm not going to be able to swallow at all soon, scared they will find a massive tumour or something dire as I have never been so sick in my life. I have a busy life, a dog, 4 kids one grandchild who I look after and I'm SCARED.

I know you said you went to our of hours, is that within your GP practice?
Is going to A&E and option?

Hello. I’m sorry you are in this position and feeling fearful 😧

I don’t know what this will turn out for you but I can say I had a health scare a few years back which had me contemplating the worst. It turned out to be something far more benign.

Distraction may be the only strategy for you, whether it’s an audio book or cooking or whatever. But you are getting checked out soon which is really good.

I’m sending you all good wishes and comforting thoughts xx

Hi I am really sorry about what you are going through and can totally understand the fear that you have of it being something sinister. I have experienced the same symptoms a number of years ago and was treated for gastritis with ppi’s to no avail. I lost a considerable amount of weight in a very short period of time as I couldn't eat but could have small sips of water. I was eventually diagnosed with H Pylori and given a triple therapy treatment and was soon on the mend. I had been tested at GP for HP ( blood, breath and poop) but all came back negative and it wasn’t until I had an Endoscopy that I was diagnosed. Sending healing thoughts and hugs xx

I was going to say A+E as well. If you can’t swallow and can’t even drink you need to be admitted till tests can be done . I hope it gets sorted out asap for you it must be terrifying x

2 weeks is a long time if you are unable to eat. Can you drink? Please get some of those nutrition shakes/ensure/ huel to drink in the meantime to get your calories.

sending you lots of love and prayers xx

Actually I think you should go to A+E in the morning. It might expedite the endoscopy. Tell them you are struggling to even keep liquid down. They should do a chest X ray at least. And endoscopy.

Maidensauntie Thank you. I did the breath test for H Pylori but had already been on omeprazole for a couple of days which the doc said wouldn't change the test, but I do wonder.. I work with small children with special needs and fecal contamination would not be a surprise despite my best efforts!

Much as I don't want H pylori it would definitely look like the best scenario right now! I can literally just sip water.

Fingers crossed I can get the endoscopy really soon . Mind you I have to get yet another appointment with the docs tomorrow which is going to be hard enough, but if needbe I'll pitch up and refuse to move.

I had this - couldn't even swallow water - and it turned out that persistent untreated heartburn had wrecked my oesophagus and it then went into spasm.

Had to get IV muscle relaxant, then went onto Lansaprazole and been pretty much fine for the last 15 years since.

Good luck ❤️

That sounds so scary! I think the chances are high that it's something simple to treat tho.. it's just finding what it is to get it sorted! Xx

Is your poo a normal colour? I had very similar symptoms and was found to have internal bleeding. If your poo is very dark then go to A&E.

I hope you're feeling better. Google achalasia and oesophageal motility disorders.

It could easily be anxiety. I know you think it’s too severe to just be anxiety, but believe me it’s not. I’ve had this in the past. Sick, burping 100 times an hour, couldn’t lie flat, couldn’t eat, in pain. There was absolutely nothing wrong - it was anxiety. It lasted for 9 months then I took Lanzoprazole and started relaxation classes and it went away. No issues for over two years now. It’s good for you to get checked but you do need to consider that it may be anxiety.

ExDP had Your symptoms and it was
Heartburn. Hope that's alll it is, OP.

Thank you for your replies... I have the endoscopy on 7th August.. the GP was lovely and referred me there and then , as being over 55 (just!) and losing weight horrifically I meet the 2 week criteria.

It's really not anxiety (well I'm anxious now but wasn't before)... I'm generally the most laid back, pragmatic person, and have just finished school for the summer, all was good until I was driving to go shopping and the pain and pressure just hit!

I feel so sick, can't eat because it feels like pressure in my oesophagus and top of stomach and I'm struggling to swallow the tablets. Or anything... I think my oesophagus might well be going into spasm.
My rational mind says it's unlikely to be cancer with it being so sudden but I'm still scared at how ill I feel!

OP I didn’t think I was anxious either. That’s why I thought I must have stomach cancer. But the doctors found nothing wrong and it went away after a course of Lanzoprazole, so clearly not cancer. The symptoms you’re describing are the same as I had. Of course you need to be checked, I just wanted you to know that those symptoms can absolutely be anxiety, even if you think you’re not anxious.

I am horrified they think you can wait a week when you cannot eat at all. I would be presenting at A and E.

OP, I wonder if you have a hernia. Apparently almost everyone over the age of 50 has one but most have no symptoms.

I hope you get answers soon and you can treat this thing quickly and easily.

How are you going op? How was the procedure early August?

I was diagnosed with gastritis, erosive oesophagitis and a hiatus hernia.
I've been on lots of PPIs and H2 blockers...and am no better :(
Living on purees pretty much, I've been referred to gastro but there is a 7 month wait!!!!

It's shit :(

I'm so sorry - what a dreadful predicament. I hope you find a solution asap

Have you been under any prolonged stress op? I had this once, a perfect storm of a reflux flare up and stressful time. I can’t go over any advice your gp has given you but they told me to just take micro sips and keep going to unbreak the pattern. Be careful with meat and bread etc as they are the foods that get stuck with reflux. I hope you feel better soon, I hope it isn’t anything more than the gastritis even though I know that is bad enough.

I’m sorry op I didn’t see your latest update. I hope you feel better soon. Have they told you to elevate the head of your bed at night, that helps a lot and then just following all the anti reflux stuff such as not eating late etc.

Ps op don’t lose hope it can take a few months to feel better.

I'm so sorry. That sounds really difficult. Does the gp have any suggestions of how to manage whilst you wait for the referral?