Feeling like you are "vapor locked" while eating.

[Epuddle]

This happens when you are eating something that seems to get stuck somewhere after you swallow it, and it will not go down, is very painful, you can't bring it back up, and if you try to drink something, it can't go down either.  It hurts in your esophagus midway between the stomach and throat.  It's a frantic condition, and nothing you can do till it resolves itself.  

[iancrane]

I get this too. A "vapor lock" sensation after swallowing where you can feel your entire esophagus, as if it's is in a spasm. It's like you wish you could burp the lump up or wash it down, but it's stuck like a cramp that slowly, slowly works down and loosens up. Often times as it's starting to pass I'll get some tiny bubbles that work their way up and gurgle a bit on the way out. It seems to happen more when I'm stressed.

What did you find out?

[Epuddle]

Thanks for the helpful information.  I have since tried chewing more thoroughly and eating more slowly.  I will be seeing my doctor soon and I'm going to see a GI doctor as well, as soon as I find one in this area.  So far, I've had no more events of this nature happen to me.  I found out that it happens to one of my daughters also.  I'll let you all know how this turns out for me.  This has happened a couple of times before this last time, but it was way worse this time and lasted a longer time before I recovered enough to even swallow some water.  

[Lu_Goeke]

My husband has this. It got progressively worse over 25 years. We quit eating out because he would always end up in the men's room desperately trying to open his esophagus which would be tightly clamped around whatever he had eaten. ER shots of muscle relaxant did nothing. The final episode ended in surgery to force the esophagus open.  He was finally diagnosed as having acid splash up from his stomach and damage his esophagus. Nexium was a godsend for him and totally solved this problem. If it had not been diagnosed, it could have eventually caused stomach cancer. His grandfather died of stomach cancer and our son also has this spasming issue, so that suggests there is a genetic component to it.  

[twopack]

In the mean time it might help (and certainly won't hurt) if you take very small bites, chew completely (like until it's mush), and DON'T talk while you are eating (because that takes your focus away from eating with purpose.

See your PCP and pick a good GI doc  It  seunds like the food might be getting strck up   dtuc

[Epuddle]

Thank you for the reply.  I have an appointment for just that with my primary care physician.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  If this is happening frequently, then I would recommend seeing a doctor about this.