I am a female, age 44. Six years ago, I started feeling slight pressure in the center of my chest. I went to my internist and he did a chest x-ray and EKG which came back normal. Ever since, I have continued to feel slight chest pressure. It comes and goes and is not tied to anything like food, time of day, etc. I have attributed it to anxiety.
Two days ago, I noticed that when I swallow food, I feel discomfort behind my breastbone, near the point where the esophagus ends. It feels like something is obstructing the passage of food. In addition, although I have never felt heartburn, I have had problems with belching and excessive abdominal gas for many years. Six months ago, I saw a physician's assistant about the abdominal gas/pain. I had a blood test done. The blood test came back negative except for elevated liver enzymes. A check for hepatitis and an abdominal ultrasound came back negative. I was told the elevated liver enzymes might be a reaction to medication (antibiotics or ibuprofen) that I'd been taking for an abscessed tooth. And, the gas might be the result of IBS.
I'm worried that there may be a connection between my symptoms. Do you see a connection?
As I've done research on difficulty swallowing, I've read articles on esophageal cancer, and now I'm really scared. What other conditions besides a tumor could be responsible for the feeling that food has to pass an obstruction when going through the esophagus? How likely is it that my problem is something other than a malignant tumor? (I do not drink or smoke and am not overweight, but I have a poor diet.)
My internist retired last year. Today, I called several internists whom my retired doctor recommended. The soonest I could get an appointment is a month from now. Is this too long to wait to check this out? Should I try to get in to see a gastroenterologist instead of an internist? Do I have to have a referral to get an appointment with a gastroenterologist?
Thank you.