Trouble Swallowing

[run4you]

Hey there!

I was wondering about a symptom I've been having a while... I don't think it's related to my reflux, but I want to check.

I have problems swallowing. Not getting it down, but getting it past the bottom of my esophagus (judging by the feeling of where it's stuck).

I have pretty severe reflux, with erythema (don't have the paper in front of me) that was biopsied for Barrett's (negative). I didn't say anything to the GI - I was actually being tested for celiac - had no idea I had reflux...so wasn't exactly relevant. His report mentioned nothing about anything that would make it hard to swallow all the way (ie no hernia, etc).

Like I said, I don't think it's related, it doesn't really sound like a symptom related to reflux.

TIA for any opinions :)

[namratasnv]

It becomes very problematic to swallow food when there are some symptoms of GERD and it requires proper medical guidance to over come this problem.

Thanks

[selmaS]

Hi....glad u r on meds....knowing u have damage I am sure the dr gave u a med that can help heal the damage.

Good luck with the healing : )

"selma"

[run4you]

Thanks for the help :)

I'm on Zegerid 40mg 2x/day. It's working really well (my stomach doesn't burn anymore, and I'm not throwing up). The whole food getting stuck is just not going away... maybe the damage just needs to heal or something.

The endoscopy I had (with esophageal biopsy because the acid had eaten the lower part of my esophagus... so perhaps the roughness of it is catching food?

Dunno. If I try to take my fish oil pill, I can feel it from the outside of my neck as it gets stuck in my throat. I have to drink about 12 oz of fluid to get it to move past the lower point... And I get the hiccups if I can't get it down in a few minutes... so uncomfortable!

Those symptoms do look really familiar. The dang food sometimes goes up towards the nasal stuff as well. Thank you for the info!

Weird that 6 months ago I had no idea what reflux was... and all along it was probably causing these problems.

[chris998]

When I was first sick I had the exact symptom.  I couldn't swallow.  I'd go through the motion a million times but the food would not move.  If it wasn't for gravity I might have starved.  I was diagnosed with Endoscopy Negative Reflux Disease.  It is different from GERD.  I was given Nexium for six months.  It helped me get better but my life has never been the same.  Good luck

[selmaS]

Symptoms of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux are:(N this is also called silent reflux)

Continual throat clearing
Chronic throat irritation
Chronic cough
Hoarseness
Excessive phlegm the throat
Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
Constant sensation of something in the throat
Swallowed food comes back up
Post nasal drainage
Weak voice
Cracking voice
Blockage of the breathing passage
Spasm of the larynx (voice box)
Wheezing
Heartburn
This condition is a result of both UES and LES not working correctly.
And it is possible not to have typical gerd/acid reflux  symptoms