Trouble swallowing and the importance of regular endoscopy if you have GARD etc.

It is so so important for anyone who is having swallowing difficulties to insist on an endoscopy. Also those who have been diagnosed with GARD, Oesophagitis or worse should do the same.

Even with my useless GP knowing I had previous endoscopies and had a very scared oesophagitis and diagnosed with oesophagitis, it took 4 years of GP appointment and for me to have lost a lot of weight before he said "I think we better arrange for an endoscopy just to rule out anything nasty". I asked what he meant my nasty, to be told possibly Cancer. Then the journey began. He was such a caring and understanding GP that within days of me being diagnosed with Cancer of the Oesophagus, the GP wrote me a letter and said, as his practice was in a town, 5 miles from my home town, he was not willing to travel to treat me at my home, when I got really ill.......... He didn't even have the curtesy to meet F2F to tell me this, even after being my GP for at least 15 years. 

Anyway, as I contemplated the wealth of knowledge I had amassed about the development of this disease I started to consider what could have been prevented,  It may have had a much easier time if It I had been given the regular endoscopies, as suggested by the specialist who completed my last endoscopy, stating I had angry Oesophagitis and that they would have to keep an eye on this as it could easily develop into Barratt's Oesophagus. Unfortunately, it had been more than 3 year since my diagnosis so I was told I would find it difficult finding a lawyer/solicitor to take on any claim against the GP.

Don't self diagnose the reason for difficulty swallowing. I was taking Sertraline, and still do to this day and when trying to self diagnose, I stumbled across the known side effects of Sertraline and one is difficulty swallowing. That's It, I convinced myself, even saying this to my GP. I had many appointments with my GP during my last endoscopy and before the emergency endoscopy that found the cancer. I was tired, fatigued, always had swollen glands, sore throat, cold sweats an broken sleep, pain in between my shoulders and swallowing difficulties. However, the GP never took bloods and only once had me attend an ENT appointment, whet I had a scope up my nose and throat, not far enough down to find the Cancer. He normally suggested a virus, or infection, indicating my throat was very inflamed,

I recently stopped taking Lansoprazole as I believe I was allowing bad bacteria to increase in my gut, causing inflammation and mal absorption making me deficient in Vit B, C and other nutrients and minerals, I started using a pre and probiotic and recently had a colonoscopy where a few polyps were removed along with a few biopsies, all came back with normal cells etc. However, I was diagnosed with microscopic lymphocytic colitis, which had majorly upset my bowels for over 6 months!  Sertraline has been named as the possible drug that is causing this condition. I have a fantastic gastric specialist who took onboard my request to continue to take Sertraline (it is the only drug I have taken that has my anxiety under control and after already been through multiple drug changes until we found Sertraline was the one for me), I don't want to stop it, anytime soon so the consultant prescribed treatment and things are improving in the bowel dept.........

I did not take the Covid19 vaccination as I am waiting until the clinical trials are completed and any long term risks are identified. My understanding is all the initial trail participants were young and healthy, where as I do have a compromised immune system and pushing it a bit age-wise. I am also very concerned about the whole thing and cannot understand why our leaders and pharmaceutical Industry shut down the whole world. I hope and believe that, when all the smoke settles, investigations will take place and uncovers any wrong doing associated with how this whole situation was handled. IMHO, Novel, is not what seems to now be the case, regarding this virus.

I am concerned that we have never had a debate at all with frontline doctors and health professionals who have been successfully treating Covid19 cases, with scientific trials results using repurposed drugs, well before the vaccines where ready to roll out. These special, dedicated people have been buried by the media in favour of mRNA Treatments and not spreading fake or antivax messages. Its criminal.

Keep fighting the good fight, peeps.

Stay safe and informed in this strange, unsettling time,

Eddie.