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Gastroenterology  (Expert Forum)
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Difficult swallowing
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MedHelp Member's Question

Difficult swallowing

by Linda, Dec 23, 1999 12:00AM
I feel as if something is caught in my throat around the glottis area. I do not have a cold or sore throat. It causes me to want to swallow alot. This only leads to gas in my stomach and belching problems. I have a problem at times swallowing foods the constistency of mashed potatoes. It actually gets caught and I have to take small amounts of water to push it down.

If I eat ater 6PM, I can't sleep for the intense pain and burning in the midsternum area. Sitting up doesn't even help. I have to stand and sometimes hold my hands over my shoulders. I have tried Tagamet (over the counter) and it does help with the acid discomfort but the feeling that something being in my throat never goes away. It usually takes 3-4 days for food to pass through my system. Should I take laxatives?
Doctor's Answer

by HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf, Dec 28, 1999 12:00AM
Dear Linda,

If the underlying cause for your symptoms is a swallowing proble, it is unlikely that laxatives will help.  You may wish to see a gastroenterologist to determiine the cause for the swallowing problem.



Also, laxatives are unlikely to help the burning pain that you describe.



Member Comments (24)

by Sandy, Dec 25, 1999 12:00AM
It may be that your esposphagus has narrowed, which require some stretching.  See your doctor to have this situation evaluated before you take laxatives or anything else.

by wendell, Dec 26, 1999 12:00AM
Linda, sounds as though your system if hyper acidic and this could be one of the causes of your problem. Taking laxatives will only mask the symptoms - you need to get to the root cause of the problem.



If you'd like to e-mail me with any additional info. which may be useful, I have a wonderful book on treating problems with natural supplements, and may be able to offer some advice from this book.



Let me know if I can help.



Regards,



Wendell      < ***@**** >

by Gina, Dec 27, 1999 12:00AM
Linda,  I am having the same problem as you.  Four months ago I was sitting at my computer working and I suddenly had this strange sensation in my throat almost like a burning feeling on one side.  It put me in bed.  Then the "something stuck in my throat" sensation started and for a couple of weeks I thought I had a chicken bone or similar stuck just below my swallowing tube. I went to see my GP and he had me in the hospital the next morning for a endoscopy....It showed nothing but some sore spots and a hatial hernia (sp) I kinda always knew I had a hernia because I had had on and off problems with a burning sensation just at the entrance of my stomache since I was 25 years old (I'm 50 now) He put me on 20 mg of Prilsec a day,but it doesn't do much for the problem.  I am also wondering about if I need to take it twice a day as it seems to time out at about 12 hours after taking it, does anyone suggest this.  I also have good days and bad days with this thing, and the bad days are BAD.  I can't get out of bed because it just drives me nuts to feel so bad.  The swallowing problem just doesn't go away.  It's almost like I had to keep sniffing up at the back of my nasal passage and then clearing my throat to feel a little relief only this has been going on for months.  I am at my last straw with this and am wondering if I will get better...Is there any operations that can be done to help cure this????  This is ruining my life.

by Linda, Dec 28, 1999 12:00AM
I feel that for a long time I have had a hiatal hernia. Maybe, right after my first pregnancy in my early twenties. The acid burning in my belly starts before I wake up in the morning. I eat a little and it used to go away. Sometimes I have to eat denser foods at more frequent intervals and use lots of antacids (causing constipation). The pain actually felt like lightning pain across my breasts and back shoulder blades. I went to a doctor who said my breast were too large and reducing them would take care of the pain. (I was on the thiner cyle of my lift at this time.) Well it didn't. But this is not the sad part, frequent small high calorie meals, is. Weight gain only has compounded my problems.  Now I feel like my pyloric value is shot and my gallbladder hurts. (CT scan of belly was negative) Long term irriations to my esophagus causes this painful presence caught in my throat and even small meals are not small enough. Now, how do I look at a complete stranger (gastroenterologist) and tell him this embarrasing story?

And, why have a $500 deductible endo to tell me what I already know. I am afraid of surgery. I need an alternative.

I will ask my internal medicine doc to give me prisolec (sounds expensive), try to lose weight but is there anything that will tighten up the valve on top my stomach besides surgery? I have long since given up carbonated drinks and gasey foods. Can you give any other suggestions?

Thanks, for being faceless for me.

by nancy, Jan 01, 2000 12:00AM
My 15 year old son has had a swallowing problem for several years.  He drinks lots of water when he eats anything.  He has no other symtom other than that.  After having an endoscopy I have been told that he has idioathic eosinophilic esophagitis, which as I understand

it is an alegeric reaction to foods that has caused inflamation of the esophagus.  The doctor has recomended that he be put on a liquid diet of just shakes that she will perscribe and then after that six weeks, have another enoscopy done and then introduce one food ever 2 weeks. Also, she has recommended steroids for 3 or so months.  This sounds very drastic to me but she said this is very danagerous.  Has anyone ever heard of this and/or have any advise on treatment.

by mschen418@aol.com, Jan 02, 2000 12:00AM
My mother has the same problem.  She cannot swallow.  It doesn't happen all the time but most.  She can't even swallow water sometimes.  She has had an endoscopy and it showed the she had a narrowing of the esophagus and she then went and had it stretched but it is still the same sometimes worse.  She is in her late 70's and is very depressed over this.  It could be very painful at times.  We don't know what to do or where to turn. Help!

by Maureen, Jan 03, 2000 12:00AM
I have the same problem last year. I had unbelievable burnign for 3 months in my throat and tongue. Took prilosec ( up to 4 a day) did not help. All the sudden one day I was fine.  Appoximately six weeks ago I got very sick. I started taking penicillian and got the " stuck in my throat feeling" I have ct scans done and barium swallows all for the doctors to tell me nothing is wrong.  Now I feel as though I am being choked and someone is sitting on my chest. I am only 35 and I feel like I am dying.  I also went to the hospital to have them check my stomach I also have a h. hernia.  Has anyone ever had success for treatment.  They did say I had mild reflux but in only occurs in the winter

by Linda, Jan 03, 2000 12:00AM
Hurray!

I've tried the Prilosec for a week now.

The difficult swallowing is gone and the heart burn!

Doctor says losing weight SLOWLY will take care of my

problem. Ten minute walks a day.

I still refused the Endo though.

Does anyone know if there is natural food or herbs

with the same properties ans Prilosec? The medication

is very expensive.

by Maureen, Jan 03, 2000 12:00AM
Linda,



I am glad to see your feeling better. How long did you have the pain before you went on the prilosec.

by Leigh, Jan 05, 2000 12:00AM
My husband has a swallowing problem from time to time caused by a narrowing of the esophagus - cause unknown.  He is only 40years young and in very good physical shape.  He has had his throat dilated about 3 times but is always reluctant to have it done.  When he has severe spasms, he can't get anything up or down ,salivates like crazy and has terrible sternal pain.  He gets very sweaty , red, and panicky.  Eventually, it resolves but in the meantime it is horrible to experience and witness.  Are there any suggestions to help resolve these episodes outside of an esophagus transplant