They're guessing it's acid reflux because those who have acidity problems often get esophagus problems which can cause a problem swallowing. Without a diagnosis, such as an ulcer, though, or seeing it with a scope that would go down the throat, a doctor can't really diagnose it. Docs often give meds to get rid of you. Those meds can then cause problems. Too many antibiotics really mess up your digestive system and your immune system and even your mental health. Meds for acid reflux actually cause the problem to get worse, and if you didn't have it in the first place, can cause it. If you suppress stomach acid, the stomach must then make more because without it you can't digest protein and some minerals. So you get a rebound. If you have reflux, you'd know it, because you'd be having heartburn regularly and it would be especially bad if you laid down soon after eating. If you don't have those issues, you don't have acid reflux. It's basically just acid from your digestive system coming up into your upper body rather than doing what it does and then evacuating it out the bottom. Unfortunately, I can't tell you why you have this. Again, acid coming up can cause it, but you can see that with a scope. Some people have this problem because of an anxiety problem. Some have it because they eat too fast or take too big of bites or swallow large pills a lot and irritate the area. Lots of reasons other than reflux. If your tonsils are in fact red, which any doctor would see so they apparently aren't, you might have tonsilitis, but I've had that and you get pretty sick from it. So don't know, but in the end, when your docs aren't helping you, get better docs.
I hear you. I just seem to have gotten confirmation that it's not GERD, LPR, acid reflux, etc. Went to get a barium swallow test done. During the test they had me swallow soda type liquids that were quite uncomfortable going down (large swallows) considering I have to eat and swallow small amounts now.
Here are the results:
No laryngeal penetration or intratracheal aspiration. Esophagus is normal in caliber without evidence of stricture or dilation. Mild stasis at the level of the aortic arch where there is vascular impression on the esophagus with mild stasis of barium tablet passage which resolved with water. No hiatal hernia. No gastroesophageal reflux identified on this examination.
Mild vascular impression on esophagus associated with aortic arch demonstrating some minimal stasis in this region but no other abnormality.
What does this mean? Lots of doctor lingo but I think I understand most of it. No acid reflux. Esophagus itself is fine. But sounds like aortic arch (of heart) is pushing on the esophagus. Or does this mean something else? If that is what is constricting the esophagus, what is the treatment for this? Surgery? To remove the vascular obstruction.
These mouth problems may not be related at all to this breathing / swallowing problem. I've been to urgent care, er, primary healthcare dr, ENT dr, barium swallow. Every time I've been to one of these, my breathing is said to be within normal ranges. But I seems like I'm having a breathing problem. But the big problem is the swallowing. These other mouth problems may be some bacterial infection that is unrelated to the swallowing issues (as seems to be shown by barium swallow results).
During the barium swallow test, the pill went down the esophagus. It then got stuck in there. I had to take a drink for it to go down all the way. So this sensation (that feels like it's going down the wrong pipe), is actually it going down the esophagus but not going down all the way. Due to the aortic arch constricting it?
The barium dr mentioned it got stuck. And says in the results:
Mild stasis at the level of the aortic arch where there is vascular impression on the esophagus with mild stasis of barium tablet passage which resolved with water
So it's been a while since I last posted here. Been through a few dr visits and have some new information.
One of my doctors though I might have LPR. And others mentioned GERD. As was talked about in previous posts. So I was on a waiting list for GI endoscopy. Got that done in December. The findings were: Grade A mild esophagitis (not eosinophilic but another form). I have something called gastric ectopic mucosa (an inlet patch in the throat that produces acid and mimics GERD symptoms). So it's not technically GERD. But it is like GERD. The treatment is typically is 1-3 months on Omeprazole. I did the recommended 1 month and it seemed to help but hasn't cleared up my swallowing disorders completely. In fact after getting off PPI, I have continued to have problems with swallowing and regurgitation. I can eat something and 10-15 minutes later regurgitating it back up. The regurgitation seems to be going on all day.
I have had some lumps (sharp stabbing pain) in the back of my neck since this all began. And have gotten mri of cervical spine and another of the neck, to figure out what the lumps are. Is this related to my swallowing disorder? A cyst? Swollen lymph node? Thyroid problem? Goiter? Just confused what the correlation between the esophagitis is to the lumps in neck. It seems like food isn't always going where it's supposed to.
I just took a manometry test to check for achalasia. Maybe my throat muscles aren't working properly. Got the probe down into the throat without problems. No gagging reflex. But once I got to the saline swallowing segment, started choking on third swallow. Like aspiration is taking place and going into lungs.
Any suggestions or possible scenarios that would cause these problems. Highly doubtful it's an anxiety issue. More a mechanical issue.