Swallowing problem

[Kbjockey]

I have recently experienced mild symptoms of GERD. In addition I seem to have a spot in my esophagus where it feels like some of what I swallow gets caught. Swallowing gulps of water will wash it down but otherwise it stays stuck and become very irritating. Is this characteristic of GERD or is it something else? I have been told I may have something called a zanker.
The spot feels like it is at the bottom of my larynx. I am 58 years old and in good health otherwise.
Thanks.

[pikamom]

This is a good question. I am having similar symptoms and have just scheduled an appt. with a gastroenterologist. I've very worried about problems with my digestive system as I've had severe heartburn and stomache pain for the last 10 years. Actually it started with my first pregnancy with heartburn so bad I had to sleep sitting up. Then when the kids were still toddlers I got interstitial cystitis and the meds started. I've been on so many meds it's rediculous and they really seem to irritate my stomache. I eat tums or rolaids like candy. I have indigestion and when I burp little bits of food come up or sour liquid. I alternate with constipation and diahrea. But what I'm really worried about is that two of my uncles had cancer, one just died two days ago of a highly hereditary polyp colon cancer, when he was diagnosed all his brothers and sisters had to take colonoscopy's. Mom's other brother has esophogus cancer and she said he used to eat tums like candy too. I'm wondering if colon and esophogus cancer are related. My throat the last year or so besides the constant burning, feels constricted. I can't stand a shirt collar around my neck. Anyway, my appt. is not till the end of May, they were all filled up. So till then I'm trying to watch what I eat and taking some kind of new OTC stuff that relieves heartburn and gas as my stomache gets filled with trapped gas after I eat and I have constant burping. Also I was wondering if reflux is related to heart arrythmia's. I was in the hospital twice with heart attack symptoms in the last year and didn't have a heart attack but they thought I was going to as my EKG's were so abnormal. I have some sort of electrical problem causing a tachycardia with resting heart rate of 120-140. The cardiologist said if I don't take medicine for it (cardizem) my heart will get weak. I think the cardizem is making the reflux worse. It's a calcium channel blocker.