Talk Cancer

Question:

Have they checked you for gall stones? I was having huge problems starting last thanksgiving, thinking it was heartburn…sometimes so painful I thought i was going to die!…..finally went in , and had pancreatitis, and needed my gall bladder out. Make sure they check this too. Robin…mom to hannah,aka "wild thing".pilocytic/anaplastic astrocytoma…brain stem/spinal cord//  wife to E….the other love of my life.

Response:

Maybe you’d better see a gastroenterologist.  Your symptoms could indicate a problem in the esophagus.  My husband got a dull ache in the right side of his chest in early June.  Following that he started having difficulty swallowing fruit or anything with a peel.  We had to wait 3 weeks for an appointment with a gastro md.  Swallowing got more difficult and pain more acute.  No other symptoms of gastro reflux; no heartburn.  Endoscopy was performed; biopsy done and cancer diagnosed, all within a week after visiting the gastro md.  Cancer had spread of liver and he is categorized as stage IV, inoperable, and is now undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor in the esophagus so he can continue to eat.  He is now on very soft food and liquids.  I’m not trying to scare you and your symptoms do not exactly parallel his, but better be safe than sorry.  Good luck to you.   Fran Snoeyenbos

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello I am hoping that someone can possibly shed some light on a health question that I have. I am a 29yo Male, In april of this year I was declined for life insurance due to high triglycerides, and cholesterol. After a visist to my doctor and being told to change my diet, he sent me for another blood test. The readings came back good The triglycerides dropped and my cholesterol ratio improved. But I was told that my blood pressure was high (140/90), and to keep on the diet and the doc would re-evualuate me in a month. During this time I grew more concerned with my health, I began to check my blood pressure at the local pharmacy it climbed to 150/100. about a month ago I began to have chest pains. The pain would begin in the center of my chest and radiate out from there, it was a dull ache. I grew more concerned, and went to see my doctor again. My blood pressure was still high and I was told to cut back on caffine, stop taking the allegra-d i take for my sinus. and come back in two weeks. the next day the pains were back and I felt short of breath. I called the doc and he sent me to the ER. After the usual battery of tests EKG, X-Ray, blood work, I was told I was fine and to go see my doc the next day. He then placed me on a anti-depressant (xanax) for anxiety. and explained that my EKG was normal, and Chest X-Ray was Normal. All Blood work came back as normal with the exception of CK which was around 400. He said this was probably due to a virus and scheduled me for blood work again. After 2 weeks I went back to see him my blood pressure was down to 122/82 and the blood work came back normal. ldl/hdl ratio of 5.7, and the CK level was lower. Though the chest pains persisted, It felt as though belching helped allievate the pain and shortness of breath so he prescribed Zantac, the chest discomfort got better but persisted. I still could not think of anything other then my health, began to believe I was dying, all types of thing went through my mind, as a former smoker (I quit 3 years ago) I began to believe I may have Lung Cancer, why I really can’t say. I told my doc of my concerns and he told me that it was highly unlikely that the problems I am having are that serious. He then gave me a Pulmanary Function test to prove to me that my lungs were fine. The results, you guessed it normal, all results over 100% of expected normal. He said even for an ex-smoker my lungs are excellent. He then explained about hyperventilation, anxiety, and depression, he said that these combined with acid reflux are the likely culprits of my symptoms, and prescribed me serzon for the anxiety and told me to keep taking the Zantac. After hearing this I felt better for a few days but am again having the tightness in my chest. I have been taking the serzone, and when I am busy or otherwise preoccupied I don’t notice any pain or discomfort, but when I stop and think about it the feelings come back with the fear of a serious underlying cause. Then may go away quickly. My question to this group do you belive I have a serious condition I should worry about, or trust my doctors judgement? I thank you in advance for any help.

I think you know the answer yourself Dale..! The fact that you have none of the symptoms when you are busy should tell you something? Cameron — Life isn’t a rehearsal for anything.

Response:

Hello I am hoping that someone can possibly shed some light on a health question that I have. I am a 29yo Male, In april of this year I was declined for life insurance due to high triglycerides, and cholesterol. After a visist to my doctor and being told to change my diet, he sent me for another blood test. The readings came back good The triglycerides dropped and my cholesterol ratio improved. But I was told that my blood pressure was high (140/90), and to keep on the diet and the doc would re-evualuate me in a month. During this time I grew more concerned with my health, I began to check my blood pressure at the local pharmacy it climbed to 150/100. about a month ago I began to have chest pains. The pain would begin in the center of my chest and radiate out from there, it was a dull ache. I grew more concerned, and went to see my doctor again. My blood pressure was still high and I was told to cut back on caffine, stop taking the allegra-d i take for my sinus. and come back in two weeks. the next day the pains were back and I felt short of breath. I called the doc and he sent me to the ER. After the usual battery of tests EKG, X-Ray, blood work, I was told I was fine and to go see my doc the next day. He then placed me on a anti-depressant (xanax) for anxiety. and explained that my EKG was normal, and Chest X-Ray was Normal. All Blood work came back as normal with the exception of CK which was around 400. He said this was probably due to a virus and scheduled me for blood work again. After 2 weeks I went back to see him my blood pressure was down to 122/82 and the blood work came back normal. ldl/hdl ratio of 5.7, and the CK level was lower. Though the chest pains persisted, It felt as though belching helped allievate the pain and shortness of breath so he prescribed Zantac, the chest discomfort got better but persisted. I still could not think of anything other then my health, began to believe I was dying, all types of thing went through my mind, as a former smoker (I quit 3 years ago) I began to believe I may have Lung Cancer, why I really can’t say. I told my doc of my concerns and he told me that it was highly unlikely that the problems I am having are that serious. He then gave me a Pulmanary Function test to prove to me that my lungs were fine. The results, you guessed it normal, all results over 100% of expected normal. He said even for an ex-smoker my lungs are excellent. He then explained about hyperventilation, anxiety, and depression, he said that these combined with acid reflux are the likely culprits of my symptoms, and prescribed me serzon for the anxiety and told me to keep taking the Zantac. After hearing this I felt better for a few days but am again having the tightness in my chest. I have been taking the serzone, and when I am busy or otherwise preoccupied I don’t notice any pain or discomfort, but when I stop and think about it the feelings come back with the fear of a serious underlying cause. Then may go away quickly. My question to this group do you belive I have a serious condition I should worry about, or trust my doctors judgement? I thank you in advance for any help.

Response: