Follow-up needed after GERD diagnosis?

[dje999]

Hello,

I am a 35 year old, white male, non-smoker, drink a couple glasses of wine a night, and I am in pretty good shape.
Early this morning I woke up with the feeling that I had something akin to a large "pill" stuck in my throat.  Specifically, just under my larnyx.  Also, there was a noticeable soreness in the same area when swallowing food.

I visited an ENT , and he performed the endoscopy  that doenst require sedation (cant remember the exact name).  His diagnosis of my problem after viewing my larynx was "bad reflux disease", ie GERD.    However, the pain and "lump in my throat" I am feeling is just under my larynx.  It actually feels like an area from just above my collar bone extending to my larnyx.  Could he have missed something?  Do I need further testing?  Does my esophagus need to be examined as well?  Just as a side note, I had a complete physical including abd. u/s and upper GI under a year ago (everything was fine).  

Thanks,

-Dan

[bgorniak]

Whenever I get a bad cold or sinus infection,the draining of mucus down the back of my throat ALWAYS causes a sensation similar to what you described (the "lump" in your throat).  It is sometimes so severe I feel as though I cannot catch my breath unless I sit up and swallow several times until the sensation diminishes somewhat.  It is from a combination of the drainage and a reflux problem that I have.  I now take the Prilosec OTC pill once a day, and it has helped TREMENDOUSLY.  When I get a sinus infection, I take it twice a day rather than once, and it helps a lot.

Could you have been experiencing or fighting off a cold, flu, or sinus-infection?

Barbara

[dje999]

Update:  Pain is gone as well as the majority of the "lump in throat" feeling.  It seems I can still feel something jsut under or near  my voicebox, but it could be me just being jittery over the whole thing.  The whole thing sort of freaked me out.  All that being said, any comments would still be welcome.

--Dan

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The feeling of something stuck in the throat is known as a "globus sensation".  The most common cause for this is GERD.  The most appropriate test for this would be either an barium swallow/upper GI series or upper endoscopy.  A 24-hr pH study would be the most definitive test.  

If GERD is present, treatment should be initiated with a proton-pump inhibitor.  I would suggest a gastroenterology referral to discuss these tests.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[dje999]

One other salient point I didnt mention is that I have never experienced these symptoms prior to early this morning. They just sort of popped out of the blue.

--Dan

[kevinmd]

I'll be away until January 4th.  I will answer your question when I return.

Happy New Year,
Kevin, M.D.