Yet One More Question From Dr. Park

[Steven Y Park, MD]

How many of you have any or all of the following:

Chronic cough,
Hoarseness
post-nasal drip,
mucous
throat clearing
lump sensation
tightening
throat pain
difficulty swallowing
or burning?

[Steven Y Park, MD]

If your father snore that badly, he probably has obstructive sleep apnea. This can aggravate reflux into the throat. Even your own bowel migraines could be attributed to a sleep-breathing problem, since you're your father's son.

[opie74]

My gaterso speculates that I have been having Migrane pain in my assending colon.  There is no other explination that he can find.  I obviously have some motility problems in that area.

My father had reflux so bad that he had the valve on the top of his stomach rebuilt as he says.  Now he absolutely can not vomit!  But, the reflux is improved.  He is a  radicle snore machine!

[Steven Y Park, MD]

Laura,

I believe Nutcracker esophagus is a motility problem due to spasming and  poor coordination of contractions, and this is different from achalasia, where you have damage of the nerve bundles that supply the esophagus. I think we have to consider these conditions separate from LPRD, but it's possible to have both. Sometimes it's really hard to tell the difference just based on symptoms and without any testing.

Barrett's is a condition where chronic acid regurgitation into the lower esophagus irritates the lining and causes pre-cancerous lesions. Yes, acid reflux medications and dietary changes do help, but these treatments don't address why acid comes up in the first place. It's speculation on my part, but I have a "gut" feeling that the sleep-breathing problem that I describe may be involved.

One other thing to consider which takes us back to the migraine theory is that you can in theory have migraines in any part of your body. This is what Dr. Buchholz (the Hopkins neurologist that I interviewed recently) postulates, and I agree with him. Whenever nerve endings go haywire and are overstimulated by certain "triggers", you'll get specific symptoms depending on where this process is happening. If it happens in the sinuses, you get sinus headaches, pain, pressure, post-nasal drip and a stuffy nose. If it happens in your jaw muscles, TMJ. If if happens in your stomach, bloating, diarrhea or constipation.


ShadowSidter,

You're absolutely right. What I'm describing should not be taken as information in place of the standard MS explanations, just in addition to it. This is such a common thing that's seen in other chronic conditions as well.

[ShadowsSister]

So much to read, so little time.
As I stated earlier my problem was related to the MS. The trachea Tube has been a life saver for me, but I also realize not every one has spasms as bad as I do, and I would not recommend this for anyone. That's the thing about MS no two cases are alike, we are all very different.
My fear is that there might be someone who is having spasms like the ones I have in my throat area and it will be overlooked and they will be treated for "LPRD", and the connection to MS will be over looked.
Thank you for your time and all the information you are sharing with us.

[saveone]

Today I have undergone esophageal motility testing and tomorrow is the videoscoping.   We all undergo so much looking for answers.  I have to say you have provided more info than most.  Thank you.

terry

[sllowe]

Thank you so much. You've explained this so well, and I'm so very grateful.  Not to self diagnosis, but I fit the symptoms to a T. I never feel anything from the stomach, and the "stuff" I get up everyday is clear, think and 'feels' like it's from my lungs - but maybe it's not. I need to make time to stop in your forum.

Thank you again,
Shell