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1435895 tn?1304291241

I need some help!

I had an endoscopy to work up swallowing issues last Tuesday.  Before this test it felt like food was sticking in my throat but I was able to eat just had to drink alot.  As you may recall no structural anything wrong so neurologic is what they decided.  Well since then everything I try to eat is getting stuck right behind the sternum and wont move.  Usually results in vomiting and another headache.  

My PCP says the only med they could give me is Reglan to help with motility but it can cause neurologic problems.  Considering the issues I already have he is not willing to take that risk, which I guess I am thankful for.  I am not sure what to do at this point.  You have to eat at some point.  Their advice is soft diet, etc.  I choked on a banana that had been chewed thoroughl today.  Does anyone else have this issue?  What to do about it?  Unfortunately, I am a week out from my NS appt.    
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1435895 tn?1304291241
Thanks Selma, I am glad you had a good holiday.  I have posted about my appt with Dr Rosner.  He is amazing!
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
yeah, I am glad u were able to eat something, I was thinking about u....

I did enjoy my holiday : )

"selma"
Helpful - 0
1435895 tn?1304291241
Thanks, I will.  Hope you had an amazing holiday! I fixed myself a small plate and had to eat 3 times to finally get it down but I managed. Yay!
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
Please post an update on how it all goes : )


Unfortunately u can't take nething b4 those tests.......but I know what u mean .


"selma"
Helpful - 0
1435895 tn?1304291241
The fact I am seeing Dr Rosner on Monday is they only thing keeping me hanging in there!

And you are right is pretty gross. And I was completely awake for that one.  Had I known what I was getting ready to have done I would have had to self-medicate and take an Ativan.  
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh I know, an du really need to drink plenty of water to flush it out of ur system.....

I never had the camera inserted....I can not imagine.....I would want o be asleep...lol....I do not like knowing what they r doing....lol....grosses me out....

Hang in there...hopefully u will have answers soon

"selma"
Helpful - 0
1435895 tn?1304291241
They think that it is neurologic so hopefully when I get to treatment/surgery it will go away.  I pray that it does.  I have dieted my whole life off and on.  I am really sorry for all those times I starved myself when I didnt have to.  

Selma, they made me swallow a whole marshmallow last time it was horrible.  That barium taste so bad and takes quite a few days to get out of your system. I am so sick of test.

When they did the test where they put the camera down your nose and make you eat peanut butter crackers while they watch you swallow, I think it is called a FEES?  Food was going in the esophagus and coming back out getting stuck in the back of my throat.  Now is further down.  Really weird all these many, many symptoms.
Helpful - 0
1175033 tn?1492201228
I have had some bouts with choking since I was very little. I avoid certain foods I cant chew well, stringy beans and lettuce I have issues with, cheese that is stringy, skin on fruit n veggies cant chew it enough. My throat has come up with its own way to deal with it.  I get a automatic reflex that is hard to describe, my mouth in the front closes and creates a suction. The food from my throat  comes back into my mouth in some weird way.  This might be just how my body has adapted to the situation.  
  It is not good that your symptoms go into your esophagus so far, with your food backing up in your sternum.  I have herd if people getting pacemakers for their stomach in situations like this were the muscles dont work and the pacemaker actually moves the food for you.  It is actually called gastroparesis.  

Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the ability of the stomach
to empty its contents, but there is no blockage (obstruction).
Symptoms: Abdominal distention; Nausea; Premature abdominal ...
www.google.com/health
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
Sorry u have  to have another barium swallow...I had to have the whole nine yards.....in apple sauce, on crackers, in fruit cocktail...yuck....and I had a think drink as well.

It also did not show nething restrictive to hold  back nething, but they did find nodules on my thyroid.....and I have seen much improvement after my chiari surgery...no GERD meds helped...I also had  gag reflex issues....choked on my own saliva.....

I pray u get a reprieve for Turkey day at least enuff to eat something.

"selma"
Helpful - 0
1435895 tn?1304291241
Thanks for all the input.  They say without a doubt I dont have GERD! I dont have anything structurally (stricture,etc) causing this.  So something in the mechanics.  They want me to have another (yuck!) barium swallow because symptoms have changed.  I almost begged for Reglan yesterday for short term because I read the same thing it was ok for a short amount of time and wasnt supposed to be used for long term.  He wouldnt risk it.  Today I had a protein shake and a frapuccino! Some diet huh?  I know I have to eat some way this just really stinks at Thanksgiving.  Somebody eat extra Turkey for me!
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
If the problem is GERD related  modifying diet will help as well, but if it is a neuro issue like mine was...no med will help.....

This is y I suggest getting testing to be sure y u feel like u do, is it GERD, Thyroid or a neuro issue.....Chiari can cause the same issues ....and not be related to GERD the GERD med will not help.



Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'll "say" it again: Reglan has been proven to not cause any long-term side effects if taken for a short period of time. It's long-term use, over 3 weeks, that leads to problems. They still rx it because it is perfectly safe to take for a short term, and it REALLY does work well.
Helpful - 0
1422823 tn?1287679280
I was prescribed reglan for my first  pregnancy for nausea, and took it for about 3 months. It didn't cause me any problems but that was 8 years ago.
I have this same problem, and even when I am not eating I feel like I have a lump in my throat. I have found that for me, reducing my caffeine intake helps. I have had the barium test and the endoscopy, everything came back normal except a slight case of gerd.
Helpful - 0
1063386 tn?1287878569
Oh my. I wouldn't want to take reglan.  I have seen it used only with cancer patients and it was a last resort......

I too have trouble swallowing.  What I do is tilty chin down and swallow twice with each bite. It helps a little. Also I have found it harder to swallow smaller things and thin things. So I actually avoid a soft diet. It is almost as of my nerves of my throat aren't regestering that there is anything in there to actually swallow.

Also use a straw to drink.   Not having to tilt back to take a drink has helped and again it allows u to tilt forward.  

That is a trick I picked up in my nursing home rotation during school.

Hey it may not help but it is less dangerous than a med with horrible side effects.
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER
I also had swallowing issues...did u have the barium swallow test done? I would ask about this to be sure it is a motility issue and not something else.....just to be safe.

But, the gaging and choking on food  even own own saliva is possible.
And I had no idea they were still RXing Reglan bcuz of the lawsuits.....goodness...u deff do not want that drug.

Try massage down the right and accross the lower back from right to left to help with motility issues.....
Also try eating things that will help as well...see the GERD forum here on MedHelp.....and the Health Pages over there for more info on foods to avoid.

I hope this is helpful : )

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/GERD-Acid-Reflux/show/333?camp=msc

"selma"
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Take the Reglan. It won't cause a problem unless you use it continually for more than 3 weeks. You can at least try it to see if it will help.

Reglan can cause parkinson's-like twitches if you're on it for a long time. It's recommended that it be used for short 1-2 weeks therapy, then discontinued for a few weeks.

I was put on it for slow gastric emptying. I use it occasionally, when my stomach is really bad and I get bad nausea. It's not caused me any problems.

If you're not willing to try it, then go on a liquid diet. Get diet-type shakes. I'd recommend Glucerna, which is made for diabetics, because it has more protein and less sugar and carbs. Have broths, soups, and extra soft stuff like mush, oatmeal, applesauce, etc.

At least constipation won't be a problem on a diet like that ~~rim shot~~ha ha!

TTFN,
Jenn
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