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Avatar universal

Swallowing with possible blackout

So, at times, if I haven't eaten recently and my throat is somewhat dry...and I attempt to eat something bulky and/or sticky, the food ball doesn't go down.  It's not blocking my airway, it's lower.  So, I then drink some water and can force it down. What I've done when some food is stuck is drink water and do a forceful swallow to push the food down.  And when it gets stuck, it can feel briefly like I might black out as it goes down.  It's almost like the food ball is pressing on a nerve or blood vessels and cutting something off at one point in the process.  I haven't blacked out yet, but it's seemed like it could happen a couple of times.   The more water I drink before eating, the less likely it is for food to get stuck.  It seems like a dry throat is part of the problem...but not the whole explanation.  This has been going on for several years.  Mostly, I'm careful enough to drink water before eating anything likely to cause a problem, but every now and then I eat something sticky on a dry throat and this happens.  Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.  
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Avatar universal
Thanks,

I will bring this topic up at my next yearly physical exam in June.  At my last exam, the doctor took a quick look down my throat but didn't see anything.  Obviously, more work is needed to determine whether something is happening in my esophagus.  One issue is all the push back against "unnecessary" testing by physicians.  So, I will have to fight to push this issue.

Thanks,
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi, the common causes for difficulty in swallowing are enlarged tonsils and GERD. Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is caused due to reflux of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. It could also be due to disorders of the esophagus. You will need to consult your primary care physician who will examine your throat and may ask for some tests like barium swallow or endoscopy to determine the cause for difficulty in swallowing. Regards.  
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