Helicobacter Forums

tornado82 wrote:Well went in to see GI today. Got an EGD Scheduled for late August. They will be checking for the cause of the chest pain and also checking to see if H. Pylori treatment was successful. So, I may not be doing a breath test I don't imagine.

I felt good about the GI doc today. He was very attentive and seemed competent and concerned. I run down my story and told him also of my anxieties that Ive been struggling with, fearing the prospect of Esophogus Cancer. His response was that esophagus cancer would be at the bottom of his list of possible causes, and he instead said that based on what I had told him, that he would suspect Eosinophilic Esophagitis. He explained that it is common in young men like myself who have never had symptoms of heart burn, but who develop chest pain in the middle of the chest. His 2nd item on the list would be silent reflux that is occurring and Im just not getting the typical heart burn associated with it. He said esophagus cancer would be highly unlikely, but he added that it is of course in the realm of possibilities, but at the bottom of his list. I really hope he is right. My research suggests that Eosinophilic esophagitis is often caused by allergens, either food or airborne. I'm not sure why it would pop up now at age 31 given ive never had problems with allergies, but the GI explained that it is potentially caused also by an auto immune response. Research is still being done on this form of esophagitis.

The chest pain is still around today, right smack dab in the middle of the chest. I keep hoping that it will just fade away again like it did before and then stay gone. If the pain would go away it would be much easier to calm down and relax the anxiety. Ill be waiting for many weeks before I get answers, so all I can do now is wait. The guy I saw today is under the actual GI doctor who will perform my endoscopy, but Ive been told by several people that he is a top notch GI doctor and very good with endoscopies. I feel at least that I am in good hands so far. Heading into the weekend now. Treatment ends Sunday and im ready to be done with all these pills.

I would also add that I am beginning to feel that the Chest pain that came out of no where 3-4 weeks ago and the H. Pylori diagnosis are unrelated. I think I just happened to find H. Pylori because I requested the blood test be done. I don't even know that I had much of an active infection with H. Pylori as I had not had any stomach related issues. I cant be certain of course, but its really starting to look like the two are unrelated issues at this point.

tornado82 wrote:I will be dropping from 2 Prilosec a day to 1 a day starting tomorrow or so. I want to stick with the PPI for another week or two and see if my chest will totally recover to normal. If it is inflammation, the PPI could help it heal by preventing any further irritation. I was having some increased pain when swallowing, but it was mostly 24/7 chest pain that Ive had. A dull pain that persisted nonstop for days at a time. That pain has largely left again. I feel pretty good today, but now I have that feeling of a chest cold almost, where I feel like I need to do little coughs constantly. Coughing is a pretty general symptom though and could be tied to nearly everything related to the esophagus. The only thing that bothers me with the inflammation theory is that the pain has lasted each time for a solid week before backing off, while Im experiencing no reflux or heartburn at all. I dont see how the esophagus could stay inflamed for a solid week due to a single reflux episode. The pain comes on sudden, usually after I wake up its there, which could be due to night time reflux that I am sleeping through. But should a single reflux episode like that cause pain that lasts for 7 or 8 days? I dunno. Right now im just hoping the pain doesn't return a 3rd time. Im watching what I eat and drink and being careful not to lay down after eating. Days like today where I feel better my anxiety is largely nonexistent. Its a lot easier to ignore fears of cancer and the like when you arent feeling the pain anymore.

Im a little nervous about the Endoscope simply because it will be the first time Ive ever really had a medical procedure done outside of pulling a tooth or something. The GI doc said it will only take 10 minutes roughly, so I know it will be over fast. I think its the mental picture of a tube going all the way into my stomach that makes me feel a bit nervous. Hopefully I walk out though saying "wow that wasn't anything.."

That is 6 weeks or so out though, right now im focusing on getting the chest pain and cough to fully go away and feel normal. Ive been eating Luden's lozenge's like candy last few days and feel that they have been helping somewhat. They only contain 2.8mg of Pectin, but they seem to help with the discomfort. The cough is a new symptom I havent had though so Im just taking it day by day atm.