• Welcome to the Anxiety Community Forum, a friendly space for discussion, help and support with mental health issues. Please register to post and use the extra features available to members. Click here to register.Everyone is welcome!

New Symptoms (Scared of Esophogeal Cancer)

H

HelpMeJB

Member
Joined
May 8, 2021
Messages
54
Reaction score
12
So yesterday morning I woke up with crushing chest pain, pain I had never felt before. Right on sternum or very close.

Then as the day went on certain things started hurting more, like for instance swallowing solid food made my chest pain worse. I read only terrible things about my symptoms.

My wife (ER nurse) seems to think it is all anxiety related. I just really am scared right now.
Burping also causes pain, as does breathing deeply.
 
bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
Probably a musculoskeletal issue, or reflux. Do you have GERD, that you know of? I also experience these types of pains occasionally, due to GERD.
 
H

HelpMeJB

Member
Joined
May 8, 2021
Messages
54
Reaction score
12
So I have never been diagnosed with GERD. However my wife stated that was what it might be. I had never felt this type of pain, I have had heartburn this felt worse. Though I did eat like 4 pieces of pizza and a bowl of cereal before bed.

Still hurts today, advil seems to calm it down. Tums had no effect.
Can GERD really cause all these pains. That would be crazy but also way easier on my anxiety
 
Last edited:
F

Fraser

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2021
Messages
768
Reaction score
546
HelpMeJB said:
So I have never been diagnosed with GERD. However my wife stated that was what it might be. I had never felt this type of pain, I have had heartburn this felt worse. Though I did eat like 4 pieces of pizza and a bowl of cereal before bed.

Still hurts today, advil seems to calm it down. Tums had no effect.
Can GERD really cause all these pains. That would be crazy but also way easier on my anxiety
Click to expand...

As someone who has suffered from acid reflux before, the symptoms you are describing can 100% be caused by GERD. That this is paired with 4 pieces of pizza and a bowl of cereal before bed is also suggestive of GERD. The reasons Tums isn't calming it down is likely because you've already burned your esophagus, so neutralizing acid won't undo that (although this might help you heal faster). Give it three days and see how you feel. In the meantime, be attentive to what you are eating. Another good idea is to sleep in a slightly elevated position and/or sleeping on your left side for the reasons articulated here: https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/heartburn-keeping-night/#:~:text=Due to gravity, the shape,bed by about six inches.
 
bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
HelpMeJB said:
Can GERD really cause all these pains
Click to expand...
GERD can cause all sorts of crazy pains and other symptoms. When I have a severe flare up of GERD, I get chest/neck/shoulder/back pain, shortness of breath, chest tightness, runny nose and cough.
 
S

Samurai

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2020
Messages
88
Reaction score
23
HelpMeJB said:
So I have never been diagnosed with GERD. However my wife stated that was what it might be. I had never felt this type of pain, I have had heartburn this felt worse. Though I did eat like 4 pieces of pizza and a bowl of cereal before bed.

Still hurts today, advil seems to calm it down. Tums had no effect.
Can GERD really cause all these pains. That would be crazy but also way easier on my anxiety
Click to expand...
Could be a hiatus hernia.
 
H

HelpMeJB

Member
Joined
May 8, 2021
Messages
54
Reaction score
12
Wow, who would have thought that GERD could cause all of that. See here I am just thinking my heartburn was the only thing.

That said I can tell you today the chest pain is slightly diminished, and it isnt as bad the swallowing. I shall see how I feel tomorrow I guess.

Nice to know it doesn't have to always be cancer
Does anyone have a good source of foods to avoid. More than just the classic ones? Like I just ate a red pepper and I the difficulty swallowing welled up
Also has anyone felt it worse standing and better sitting down?
 
Last edited:
bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
HelpMeJB said:
Wow, who would have thought that GERD could cause all of that. See here I am just thinking my heartburn was the only thing.

That said I can tell you today the chest pain is slightly diminished, and it isnt as bad the swallowing. I shall see how I feel tomorrow I guess.

Nice to know it doesn't have to always be cancer
Does anyone have a good source of foods to avoid. More than just the classic ones? Like I just ate a red pepper and I the difficulty swallowing welled up
Also has anyone felt it worse standing and better sitting down?
Click to expand...
My dad had untreated / undertreated reflux for a large portion of his adult life. He had it so bad that it "felt like a heart attack". I've had chest pains that bad before because of reflux as well. This is a relatively common complaint of GERD sufferers, it seems.

There is a list of common trigger foods, yes, *BUT* it really does vary from person to person. You just have to pay close attention to what you eat for a while, and determine what causes issues for you personally. I can often eat spicy food and not have any issues with reflux/heartburn, and sometimes something as simple as drinking water too quickly causes me to have reflux. I recently ate a breakfast item at a restaurant that had lots of jalapenos in it, and I was fine. It really does vary, so you'll have to do a lot of trial and error of your own.
 
F

Fraser

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2021
Messages
768
Reaction score
546
bin_tenn said:
My dad had untreated / undertreated reflux for a large portion of his adult life. He had it so bad that it "felt like a heart attack". I've had chest pains that bad before because of reflux as well. This is a relatively common complaint of GERD sufferers, it seems.

There is a list of common trigger foods, yes, *BUT* it really does vary from person to person. You just have to pay close attention to what you eat for a while, and determine what causes issues for you personally. I can often eat spicy food and not have any issues with reflux/heartburn, and sometimes something as simple as drinking water too quickly causes me to have reflux. I recently ate a breakfast item at a restaurant that had lots of jalapenos in it, and I was fine. It really does vary, so you'll have to do a lot of trial and error of your own.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it kind of depends on the "mood" of my stomach. I can often tell when I'm more or less likely to get it. I used to drink, and that could trigger it too, especially cheap, hard stuff.
 
bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
Fraser said:
Yeah, it kind of depends on the "mood" of my stomach. I can often tell when I'm more or less likely to get it. I used to drink, and that could trigger it too, especially cheap, hard stuff.
Click to expand...
Indeed. I'm a very light drinker, no more than once or twice a month. But knowing myself so well, I'll simply avoid alcohol altogether if I know I'll likely experience reflux from it.
 
H

HelpMeJB

Member
Joined
May 8, 2021
Messages
54
Reaction score
12
Symptoms have persisted for another day...can I ask how long you have all dealt with a bad flare up for?

Has it lasted for longer than a day before?
 
F

Fraser

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2021
Messages
768
Reaction score
546
HelpMeJB said:
Symptoms have persisted for another day...can I ask how long you have all dealt with a bad flare up for?

Has it lasted for longer than a day before?
Click to expand...
Yes, which is why I recommended giving it at least three days. I've had flare ups last a week, but that was also combined with fairly compulsive drinking. Even if all you are experiencing is an increase in your GERD symptoms, and it sounds like it is, it might be wise to talk to a doctor to take a look and get a prescription. That's a normal reaction to GERD symptoms that even a person without HA might do. Keep sipping on cool water and sleep in an inclined position!
 
H

HelpMeJB

Member
Joined
May 8, 2021
Messages
54
Reaction score
12
Thanks, yeah I am definitley having less strong swallowing issues today. Also having a much better anxiety day also. So could also be the anxiety made it worse?
 
bin_tenn

bin_tenn

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2019
Messages
3,494
Reaction score
2,049
HelpMeJB said:
Thanks, yeah I am definitley having less strong swallowing issues today. Also having a much better anxiety day also. So could also be the anxiety made it worse?
Click to expand...
Anxiety certainly causes a wide range of symptoms, and it can exacerbate symptoms caused by GERD as well.
 
H

HelpMeJB

Member
Joined
May 8, 2021
Messages
54
Reaction score
12
Yeah, gosh I mean today no chest pain (knock on wood) also no pain swallowing (knock on wood) however also extremley good spirits/very little anxiety or stress
 
sTeaLth

sTeaLth

Active Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2019
Messages
348
Reaction score
180
I had this exact scare about 6 months ago. I finally went to the doctor and they told me it was esophageal spasms from anxiety and possibly encouraged by Gerd. After that appointment it faded. I still get them sometimes if I don’t sleep well or am highly stressed. Proving the doctor’s correct. Anxiety does all kinds of stuff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top