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Hello, I’m In Need Of Advice
Hello,
I am a almost 39 year old male who was diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus on St. Patrick’s Day 2011 when I was 27 years old. When I was diagnosed I immediately tried to get ablation surgery but because my spots were some of the smallest another doctor had ever seen it was denied and I instead was recommended to do the surveillance program.
The problem is because I am autistic I never did a follow up endoscopy due to anxiety and now I’m having trouble swallowing. I currently have an endoscopy scheduled for a week from today and I’m terrified. Currently it feels like I have something growing on the left side of my throat and occasionally there’s pain but I am still able to swallow anything I want. There’s been no hoarseness or coughing but I have had excessive saliva and mucus off and on.
It feels like the growth or whatever it is in my throat is restricted to where the Barrett’s was diagnosed. I have had minor chest pain and shoulder pain but nothing excruciating or bothersome. I came here to talk to real people instead of scaring myself by reading Google results.
I sometimes get abdominal pain on the left especially tonight after eating a huge meal. Sometimes the growth is painless then other times it’s pounding and sensitive.
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I have had multiple Endoscopies during the course of my treatment for Esophageal Cancer and they have all been very easy procedures. If your concern is the operation itself I can tell you for me it was relatively quick and simple. Wheel you in, knock you out quickly, wake up in recovery with almost no discomfort. I would add I have had these by various surgeons at various hospitals and the experience was always the same. I also experienced relief in swallowing (at least temporarily) from the mild expansion they did of my throat. If your concern is the results disclosed from the operation that is another matter but I can tell you I suffered with swallowing for about a year before I sought diagnosis and treatment and by then the cancer in my throat had progressed to the point my treatment option was a complete esophagectomy and that surgery is a whole different animal. Better to catch things early and hopefully get prescribed an easier treatment. Good luck moving forward.
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3 ReactionsI'll contact you privately and we can chat. Something to be concerned about... for sure. Do you have esophageal cancer and are dying? Well, we're a long ways from that... so let's get evaluating things pronto... just like you're doing. And going in and having a look-see with an endoscopy is just what you want. Something looks suspicious... a biopsy will be done. And then a scan or two after that. I'll be in touch... be well.
Gary
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2 ReactionsI haven’t been diagnosed with anything yet but I know there’s something.
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1 ReactionNo problem... no need to worry about anything until they give you something to worry about.
You know where I am should you need me. Hang tough!
Gary
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1 ReactionThe signs are there, difficulty swallowing on the left side with some minor pain that seems to be restricted to that spot. Then there’s minor pain in my shoulders, abdomen, back, chest. Body wise the pain will pop up in a random spot like left side of ribs or in the middle of the stomach, stuff like that.
I have times where the lump in my throat feels like it’s pounding and other times nothing. Same with eating, sometimes it’s painful on the left side and other times nothing.
Well, we'll see. A full diagnosis will include an 1) EUS (high end endoscopy that uses ultrasound to look completely thru the walls of the esophagus, and will also see nearby lymph nodes, and other organs)
2) biopsy results they'll grab while doing EUS
And 3) scan results (Pet scan and/or CT scan)... if a scan is called for because it is cancer and they're looking for spread.
So... once you have a dx (diagnosis)... you'll know if we'll need to chat. Hopefully no cancer... and we won't need to get acquainted... that would be nice!
Hope to not meet you soon !
Gary, 714 900 0791
I’m hoping for the best as well but regardless I know there will be cancer just because I know myself and have an intuition. I pay close attention to every single symptom and as of now I’m terrified.
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2 ReactionsKeep in touch with the group about your results. It will help others who have the same concerns and we would also like to know how you are. Fear is a common symptom we all struggle with at times.
Will do, I’ve been having weird symptoms besides the swallowing pain like super quick aches on the left and right side of my abdomen. I mean like lightning fast and I occasionally have one at the top my spine. I feel nauseated every now and then as well.
I’m still able to eat and can still swallow even though there’s that painful lump on the left side of my throat where the Barrett’s was originally diagnosed in 2011. I know I have cancer because I literally feel it.