Trouble swallowing, reflux, etc....URGENT. - Digestive Disorders Message Board

george76 · 01-13-2001, 11:02 PM

Hi. Please forgive the length of this post, but please read it all, for I really need some advice, I feel very hopeless right now:

In October I went through a bout of stomach problems after taking Prozac for a week (I quit..).
I thought I had developed an ulcer, then I O.D.'d on Mylanta, which, I should mention, was the most horrible thing that's ever happened to me.
Anyway, my doctor put me on pantaprazole sodium for about six weeks, along with an antibiotic for 10 days. My blood tests showed no sign of the ulcer bacteria (forgot the name..), and I seemed somewhat better.
Then New Year's Eve happened...This may have nothing to do with my current problem, but the timing is suspicious...I arrived at a party late, and like an idiot decided I should "catch up" and drank 6 beers in about an hour and a half (this isn't a habit).
That night I ALMOST threw up, and in the back of my throat I swear I tasted blood.
Since then, I have been unable to eat much...I have trouble swallowing, I have to squirm around and burp a lot just to swallow a tiny amount of food successfully, and often this difficulty comes with a rush of adrenaline, panic I suppose until the food goes down.(I am 24, and this problem has occurred every few meals for 10 years, to a lesser degree. Now it's Every Bite...)
Then starting last night(two days after running out of the acid reducer) I'm getting the heartburn...Example: tonight I ate a very small dinner, six hours after lunch and I wasn't really hungry, I just figured I should eat...I had trouble swallowing, and couldn't even finish eating (mini frozen pizza, like 5" in diameter). Two hours later, I got this heartburn, and felt like I had fluid at the back of my throat...tasted like blood. After five hours, I still have the heartburn and the fluid sensation. At the same time, my mouth and throat seem very very dry, even when I drink water, which doesn't help. I also seem to be constipated, somewhat.
I know I'll have to sleep upright tonight, and I'm afraid to eat, and I've lost three pounds this week. AND I'm a very anxious person by nature, which is making this worse.
My doctor thinks I'm a hypochondriac.
I'm not.
What might this be and what should I tell my doctor that will get some results? Help! I'll be without health insurance after February!
Thank you so much for reading this, and thank you for your help
-George

[This message has been edited by george76 (edited 01-14-2001).]

[This message has been edited by george76 (edited 01-14-2001).]

01-14-2001, 09:50 PM

I'd suggest you see a gastroenterologist. Or is the doctor you're talking about a gastro specialist?

george76 · 01-14-2001, 11:05 PM

Nope, she is just my regular doctor.
Are gastroenterologists common?
Or will I need to venture into a major city to find one?

Thanks for the reply!
-George

babesbarn · 01-15-2001, 06:23 AM

First off, I would recommend a ear,nose and throat specialist before the gastroedorologist. It sounds to me as though you may have damaged your throat tissue with the alcohol. He can look way down your throat. Now if you are not satisfied with that or you wish to pursue a Gastroendorologist, he also can give you a endoscopy which will look down your throat to see if you have anything there. I am no expert but the Gastroendorologist is a specialist in liver, colon, stomach will diagnose you. He can give you meds, do a colonoscopy, endoscopy, no major surgery. As far as your regular physician thinking you are a hypochondriac, he probably is not qualified to help you anyway in the area you need. That is what specialists are for.

01-15-2001, 03:10 PM

I think gastroenterologist are fairly common. They are usually the specialist who deal with reflux type problems (among many other things). I see one for severe reflux and a condition called Barrett's esophagus which is a precancerous condition. I don't live in a large city and I had no trouble finding one. I guess the other suggestion about a eye, ear, nose, throat doc is a good one too, but I wouldn't delay if you'll be off insurance in February. Good luck