Swallowing problems, levels of severity and when should I tell my doctor.

[Spaceystac]

I have had issues swallowing for a while now but I wasn't sure how bad, bad is. I know if you have pneumonia, you have severe problems but when should you tell your DR?
  
   I have a problem with the second stage of swallowing. The front of my mouth starts, then the back of my tongue doesn't react in time causing liquid to pour down into my wind pipe and I spend the next 10 minutes coughing and tasting what I am coughing out. This used to happen every couple days or once a week, but lately its at least once a day if not more. I seem like I am always clearing my throat of mucus also. If I swallow denser food it will stay put in my throat but the liquids just go straight down faster then my throat is reacting.
Other new symptom is double vision with migraines. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Stacey.

[selmaS]

  No harm, no foul in asking that is for sure.....but, they all tend to follow the same protocol in order to get INS to cover testing, and many times it is the INS that mandates which tests and in what order....so do not be discouraged, keep pushing for answers and keep us posted <3

[Spaceystac]

So I called my Gastro, they are getting me scoped which is silly. That's not going to show how I am not swallowing right. I do have a history of Gastritis and they monitor that but they just did 3 years ago. I guess its good they are doing something done and documenting it but it seems pointless.  My dad just went through this same issue and they did the same thing to him, esophageal scope not swallow study. he has Barret's and it was turning to cancer so its good they checked that but he is still having swallowing issues also and they have yet to address them as well. These dr.s I tell yea. I really feel like an *** calling them and suggesting a different test but I guess that's all I can do.

[selmaS]

  It depends on ur INS and if u can bypass the PCP...if u can contact ur NS and see what they suggest...some testing for GI issues may be done as well as a barium swallow....as things are ruled out they may continue to do testing to see what else may be going on ...so blood labs may be in order too.

Keep us posted Good Luck Stacey <3

[Spaceystac]

Should I just start with my primary dr? or go straight to the neuro or gastro?

[desertstorm2009]

I agree with Selma... Plus you certainly don't want to have an aspiration issue to deal with which is what can happen if this goes untreated. My daughter had severe dysphasia too before her surgery, it's resolved now. I have too but not to the same degree as you. So get the barium swallow done of your Dr agrees :-) Good luck. Lisa

[selmaS]

  Hi Stacey.....this could be a number of different things, Chiari, Thyroid, GERD/acid reflux...post nasal drip...allergies....

Tell ur Dr now...don't wait....

I had more swallowing issues b4 my surgery too, I had a barium swallow to make sure it was not a slow sphincter in my esophagus...so it may be a motility issue...who knows...but do talk to ur Dr now about it.