Pretty Sudden Onset Painful swallowing

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just1primate

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I have been having issues for a while for what I believe is GERD/LPR. Went to a gastro who scheduled an endoscopy. Ended up having to cancel due to insurance not wanting to pay and cant afford it.

Been just dealing with it for months. Trying OTC PPI's and such which seem to help after a few days then it comes back after the 14day course.

Last night, for the first time I had some pretty painful swallowing, behind the breastbone. This is a first. It scared the heck out of me. Pain went away as the night progresed. Then, having lunch today, almond butter and honey sandwich on toast, it hurt again, though not AS bad as last night. Can this be a GERD thing?
 
Hi Just1Primate:

I had a similar problem three years ago with my insurance and ended up putting a large chunk of my endoscopy on my credit card and paying it off. I did not see it as a choice. The way I looked at it is that we take loans out for cars, take vacations and spend on many other activities, but somehow feel that medical tests are optional. This is not intended to be judgemental of you in any way, shape or form or to tell you you should or not do the same I did. But I think sometimes we just stop or give up when the insurance comes back and says they wont pay for something. In my case, I was prepared because I am self-employed and do not have the greatest coverage.

Painful swallowing and other chronic GI symptoms can be signals of a serious underlying problem. You could have developed strictures or scar tissue in your throat or around your vocal chorRAB as a result of chronic reflux disease. This is something you should have investigated. Become a pain in the romper and have your doctor's office bother the insurance until they agree to help you cover the cost. You may also work out a payment plan with your doctor's office and/or ask for a discount of some sort. If they say no, then find another GI doctor that will help you or who may be willing to perform the procedure in his/her office with only mild or local sedation. An endoscopy is not a big deal. All the sedation and preparation are intended to make you feel comfortable because nobody likes the idea of having a tube placed down one's throat. But it can be done and some people can tolerate it with local anesthetic spray that goes on before the tube is inserted. Would your insurance cover it if it is done as an inpatient or in an ER, for example?

I feel you should go back to the drawing board with your physician and find a way to make this work. An upper endoscopy is a must for someone with persistent symptoms who has never been formally diagnosed. Once you know what is going on, then everyone here can give you lots of advise and support from their own experience. Otherwise, we are all just guessing and perhaps keeping you from seeking proper medical care.

Hope you feel better very soon.

Rose
 
Strangely enough, the swallowing problems started AFTER i started Prevacid OTC. Wonder if there is any connection there...never had painful swallowing before this, despite the acid issues. I would think the painful swallowing would be a gradual thing if it is caused by the reflux. This sorta happened after 3 days on prevacid otc. wierd.
 
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