Worried 33yo

• Is there anyone who can offer any kind of advice or support please. I'm not in a good place with it all

Hello Worried33yo

Apologies for not answering you earlier, this is a very difficult time for you, and I can appreciate how much anxiety this is causing too.

My husband took himself to A&E with severe pains in his sternum, he said it was like someone sticking a screwdriver in between his shoulder blades, he did however have extreme difficulty in swallowing, and combined with the sternum pain it became unbearable. He was also being sick whenever food hit his stomach, if he did manage to swallow anything.

I understand your concerns re waiting for an endoscopy, I am fully aware of the delays currently within the ENT section of some hospitals, but it is difficult for me to give you much in the way of guidance.

Maybe I would suggest giving A&E one last try, don't go late in the day, ensure that they have time to perform an endoscopy if they believe it is necessary. Don't hold back on telling them of any pain or discomfort that you are experiencing.

Alternatively, call 111 and have a conversation with a health adviser, they will be able to do an online triage and book you in for the hospital if necessary

What I will say is this, If your swallowing becomes regularly difficult, and the pain is increasing, then get to the hospital, tell them all symptoms point to possible OC, and how anxious you are. My husband told the hospital that his GP had referred him for an endoscopy, which they then gave him the following day. 

Good Luck

Lowe'

Hi Lowe,

Thank you for replying.

The pain I have is a constant one right at the top of my chest where it meets my neck only time I don't feel it is when I'm asleep within a minute or 2 of waking its back. My swallowing problems have never really reached food 1 or 2 things have felt harder to get down but nothing has actually stuck its more my own saliva my mouth is constantly dry and when I swallow my saliva it just feels like it hits a ball of phlegm. Over about 7/8 weeks this has been going on in that time I've lost just over half a stone in weight, but that has become more apparent in recent 2 weeks or so as the worry has intensified and my appetite has all but gone to but all I keep hearing is they are classic results of anxiety......yes they are but they are also big symptoms of OC. I feel like nobody believes me and anything sinister is just being dismissed because of my age and lack of risk factors. I just need to know what is happening 

Back in a&e right now to try and see if I can get them to maybe do the scope for me as an emergency. My mind needs clarity for my own mental state

Fingers crossed x

I have to say, I have personally experienced similar to you over the past months and that too was put down as anxiety, I am still waiting on my ENT appointment.

I really hope you get some help with this today.

Lowe'

I understand your anxiety. Please accept my good wishes & fingers crossed for a good outcome. 

Suze

Complete waste of time at a&e again they just tried to reassure me that they have no major concerns in regards it OC but that doesn't help my worry and anxiety they are not prepared to do the endoscopy as an emergency and told me to just sit tight and wait it out for my referral appointment 

Ok,

So, did they take blood tests?

Have you considered going private for an endoscopy?

I understand your anxiety 

Lowe'

Yes they took bloods, it's the third lot they have taken now in around 3 weeks all normal I don't have the financial ability to go private unfortunately 

I understand the finance difficulty, I am not sure how much it costs either?

the bloods is generally the first indication that something is wrong, which is why they have me waiting for ENT appointment, when I first booked in I was advised of a 20 day wait before my appointment. Now I am being told there are currently no ENT appointments.

I appreciate fully your fears, 

Lowe'