Acid reflux or Esophagus cancer?? Pls help?

I'm a 23 year old female that was diagnosed with Acid Reflux about 4 years ago.

I tried medications that didn't work and basically roughed it with Maalox and tums.

Recently I was put on Prilosec (20mg twice daily). 24 hours after I took my first dose I felt like there was something stuck in my Esophagus.

I kept feeling the need to belch and couldn't, when I did finally belch it was a deep low one.

I figured it was just the reflux so I continued to take the Prilosec. The past 48 hours I have had this feeling of something stuck in my stomach/esophagus non stop.

This feeling causes me to make myself vomit to get whatever is in there out but it doesn't work.

Whenever I swallow I can feel the salavia take a few seconds to get into this "lump" feeling.

Eating food is hard too, it takes a second to actually go down and get past this lump.

I'm not sure if this is a side effect from the Prilosec, just the reflux or cancer.

I want to mention I do smoke but never drink nor am I older. I read that cancer of the esophagus is rare for young people and occurs mostly in both smokers and drinkers.

I do have an appointment with my PCP about this but I'm freaking out.

You are right in scheduling an appointment for further evaluation. Please discuss with your physician proton-pump inhibitors (such as Prilosec) and the early, tentative research regarding these medications and cardiac risks: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/early_comm/... Although this data is quite new, it may indicate a trend away from certain GERD medications.

Is it possible the medication became stuck in your esophagus or damaged your esophagus as it went down? I have known patients who ended up with small esophageal erosions after taking pills without sufficient liquid.

Esophageal cancer caused by alcohol and tobacco is indeed rare in young people, but esophgeal cancer caused by GERD not. I have known patients in their 30's who died of untreated GERD that resulted in esophageal cancer.

Be aware that after you begin taking medications for GERD, it may be at least three weeks before you notice significant relief. If your esophagus is inflamed or eroded, it may take as long as eight weeks for relief of symptoms.

Not sure about the side effects, Prilosec has worked very well for me. I used Nexium but my insurance doesn't cover it anymore.

Maybe is just a side effect, check with your doctor and don't get obsessed with something serious, probably a change in your diet will help.

You really need to see your physician. They will do tests. It s probably nothing but you need to take care of your problem. I take Protonix & it works well. Are you overweight? Do you eat spicy foods, do eat late at night? etc etc. Smoking does not help the situation. I had a friend who was overweight & noticed she was always drinking Maalox. (This was years ago). When she was in her early 40's she developed esophogeal cancer from the constant burning of her esophagus due to reflux. Just something to think about.