Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: Rabbit1977 on August 11, 2025, 08:36:22 PM
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So, here we go again it seems...more high anxiety because I'm worried my symptoms are of cancer. My mind always goes for the most serious.
I've noticed over the past few months an increase in burning in my oesophagus, sometimes an hour or so after eating, sometimes at bedtime, which I put down to being heartburn. Sometimes, I will eat or drink something (happens a lot with cups of tea) where I feel like the liquid is coming back up. Today, I have what I feel is lots of trapped wind and a feeling, when I swallow, that I have a lump in my throat. I guess I'm really worried about this as I feel it is an escalation of symptoms that might be something more sinister. I have spent most of the day googling because, despite the odd burp when I beat on my lower abdomen, the feeling of a lump in my throat has not gone. I've been out and bought Gaviscon, and Rennie Deflatine to see what happens. I don't even feel thirsty or hungry at the moment with it all.
Could this be menopause-related? I'm 48.
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Possibly, however acid reflux is not a symptom I would necessarily ascribe to hypoestrogenism.
It can be hormonally aggravated but usually by progesterone/progestins eg pregnancy, birth control or other exogenous progestogens.
Are you on any treatment for your menopause?
Whilst there is little reason from what you have said to suggest cancer, I would discuss this with your GP given the chronicity. It is highly likely to respond to a course of acid suppressing medication such as omeprazole.
If it doesn't, then your GP can and should arrange investigation. However with no red flag symptoms and not even having tried any treatment, there is absolutely no reason to worry about it at this point.
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It could be acid reflux, ask your gp to refer you for a camera down your throat.
I had the camera done when I had a sore throat type feeling that went on for ages, it caused me so much anxiety as I couldn't see a GP due to the lockdowns, and I thought the worse.
But when I was finally seen at the hospital and diagnosed with silent reflux my symptoms have hugely improved to the point where it's only occasionally when I feel something. The anxiety made it much much worse.
The lump feeling in your throat, that can happen with silent reflux. Now, whether it's possible to have acid reflux and silent reflux at the same time I don't know.
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Rabbit, I know this may sound an odd thing to help, but if you can't find any relief, while you wait to see your GP, apple cider vinegar can help. There is lots online that says it does & lots that says it doesn't but I've seen how it helps my husband.
He has had pretty bad symptoms like yours on & off for years so out of desperation he tried it. 1 tablespoon in about 200ml water once or twice a day. You need to good stuff 'with the mother'. He gets reflux pretty bad after certain foods & this stops it completely.
Maybe worth a try.
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Thank you all for your kind responses. To try and answer everything:
- No, I'm not on HRT, my biggest issue (so far anyway) has been chronic nausea with my monthly migraines but as the intensity of the migraines are not as bad as in my 20-42s I don't want that issue fixing if it is a hormone imbalance now.
- I have had 3 gastroscopies so far in my life so I know how horrible they are (except they DO help you release a lot of gas given the amount of air they pump into you), I don't envy anyone who has to have those done.
- I will see what apple cider vinegar does - at this point this morning I am willing to shove any and everything down my throat to relieve it.
To be honest, my main worry is the feeling of the lump in my throat - I'm also asthmatic and so cannot stand any feeling that my throat is obstructed. This lump feeling only started yesterday. I normally get up and need a drink and food but I don't really even feel hungry this morning. I will try and get an appointment with the doctor but god knows when that might be!
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If you have to wait for an appointment with the GP I believe you can now buy omeprazole over the counter.
A pharmacist would definitely be able to give you advice on this.
It sounds like you do have some history of upper GI problems if you have been scoped three times in the past.
Migraines can be worsened or at least not get any better with untreated menopause, as can a host of other symptoms and long term health issues so it is well worth considering your hormones even if not directly relevant to the acid reflux.
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My husband's first symptom was a lump in hus throat. He said sometimes it was in his chest too, but most often in his throat. He's also had gastroscopies & they found nothing. What ever it exactly is he has, it doesn't respond to omeprazole. He found within a day of cider vinegar things were much better. But obviously we're all different.
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Two of my gastroscopies were when I was at university and they found my lower stomach completely ulcerated due to taking Anadin Extra so frequently for my migraines. I had 8 weeks of Lanzoprazole then which cleared things up. The 3rd was back in 2016 when they were trying to find the source of what they thought was an internal blood loss (they found nothing).
I have miraculously been given an appointment with the doctor in little over an hour so we'll see what happens. Slightly concerned that they gave it to me so quickly given that nobody can get an appointment in our area most times.
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That's good news you're going so quick. My husband's problems were also caused by Anadin extra for his migraines no ulcers though. They do seem to leave lasting effects.
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So the doctor has ordered blood tests, a fecal sample for H Pylori and a separate FIT test. She has also given me 4 weeks worth of Lanzoprazole. So I guess now that it is a waiting game and time of high anxiety for me. I did ask if it could be menopause related (the acid reflux) but she brushed it off.
Then I started to google the FIT test and now I'm worried she thinks it could be cancer.
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Don't panic & jump to conclusions. It seems to be something they do as standard, they did with my husband. They seem to check for cancer even if you've sprained your wrist these days.
Just in case you're not a leaflet reader, I'm fairly certain Lansoperazole needs to be taken a hour before food, IIRC, so have a check.
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When I was diagnosed with silent reflux I was told people who have it usually get asthma, and vice versa. It happened to me.
The lump in the throat is common with silent reflux.
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Maybe that is it then. I have no feeling of a lump at all today and have not yet started the as I was told to do the FIT and fecal test before taking any. MrsMitch you are correct in that I need to wait before eating so will probably start them tomorrow morning as I have a pack of blueberry buttermilk pancakes staring at me right now. ;D
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The doctor just rang me and because they detected blood in both the FIT and stool samples, I am being referred for a colonoscopy within two weeks. Now I am extremely worried both because I don't like that procedure (I have had it done once before in 2016 and spent weeks googling the safety risks of the procedure because my mind wouldn't relax) and the speed at which it is being done, which may end up being good for me as it means I won't be able to eat properly with worry until its done now and so I should shed some pounds.
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...... breath. 2 week pathway may turn out to be much longer depending on where you live ! U survived the previous exam., 'nil of note'?
It is really up 2 U whether U google/not. I advise U to look at NHS web-sites for the appropriate examination rather than wandering across GOOGLE per se. He don't know much after all which is where your GP and Forums such as this are good a good basis for searching.
Or get an appt directly with your GP or Nurse Practitioner for a Face2face. Do ask if sedation is avaialbe as none of us should be expected to endure pain etc., we will be tense enough anyway!
Me: I don't bother though 14 months ago when DH developed a rash across his chest I eventually twigged that it was shingles: NHS search confirmed it but he wouldn't believe until I dragged him to the Pharmacist ::)
There are lots of reason for traces of blood in urine and poo which is why we have the benefit of further testing to rule out 'anything untoward'. MayB making a list of your worries would help so that U don't forget to ask.
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The previous exam they were looking for an internal bleed as my Ferritin level had dropped significantly (single digits), it wasn't that they found occult blood in a stool sample. I did survive but the stress of worry about it all leading up to the colonoscopy and the mess that it did to my head afterwards meant it took me ages to get over it. I had months of not eating properly because I was worried that they might have torn my bowel so my 'logic' was that if I didn't eat much then my bowel wouldn't expand as much thus giving any damage time to heal. I also ended up in the doctors surgery practically every other day as I was sure I was dying from something that might have gone wrong with the procedure. It really messed up my life - work and home, I got to a point that I couldn't go outside unless someone was with me. I can't face that again, I now have an hours drive to work everyday and I can't afford to be unable to go in.
I had two shots of Midazolam but it didn't do anything. Even the nurse afterwards was surprised as I was in the recovery room where I had to be for an hour and she commented 'wow, you're wide awake, aren't you?' - I spent less than 10mins there before being taken for something to eat. It's like my mind went into overdrive and battled anything they gave me.
I diagnosed my own stomach ulcer with the help of the internet when I was in my early 20s despite having seen a number of doctors over the course of 15months! I think that was a time when the internet was only really getting started though and there weren't nearly the same number of resources available as there are nowadays.
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I think that you may be suffering from PTSD and perhaps talking your worries over with the Staff B4 any procedure may help. Perhaps ring the Dept to C whether there is an opportunity to discuss B4 proceeding further.
Making it clear that you have dreadful memories of that appt. so you need to discuss sedation etc. and why/not it didn't work 4 U. It mayB that your anxiety levels were causing the medication not to work efficiently.
How close to the procedure were U given the Midazolam? Did it have time to work at all?
Technology has improved, however, I don't know whether communication has. Remember: this is your body and U don't have to undergo any procedure until U are completely happy with discussions.
If you are unable to access my suggestion of a discussion appt. then contact your Nurse Practitioner or if possible, fill in a triage form to get an appt with the GP who has referred you?
I understand your eating logic. For 100s of years ;-) I ate enough to keep me upright, on the premise that what wasn't in my stomach couldn't come back up :-\ :-X. 4 me it was logical!
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So, I received a text message from the hospital that says they are going to phone tomorrow as first colorectal consultations are done by phone and then they will decide how best to progress with the referral if required.
Now I am confused. Are they saying it might not be necessary to proceed? Has anyone ever had anything like this before?