Still looking for answers

Since January I have had problems swallowing. In the mornings about an hour after getting up I will begin to get a sour/burning sensation in the back of my throat.  I will take a Prilosec (as I have been directed by my doctor) and eat breakfast - symptoms will subside.  Throughout the day I will get a tightening feeling in my throat and either chewing gum/drinking/eating will resolve this feeling for a while.  I can also eat a couple antacids and the symptoms will subside.  This feeling is more like a charlie horse and will cause my throat to feel like it is tightening up and will radiate pain/stiffness throughout my neck and upper shoulders.  There does not seem to be any rhyme or reason as to any particular foods/activities, etc.. that particularly elicite this response.  By evening (5pm - 6pm) the sour/burning in the back of my throat will return, about the time I take my night time dosage of Prilosec.  The only alarming symptom that I have is that if I eat too much (sometimes too fast) I cannot swallow.  It's like the muscles in the throat stop moving and I will have to relax a moment and then swallow again - usually with success the second time.  That moment that food gets stuck part way down is rather alarming though - feels like it is stuck at the top of the throat.  My regular doctor says that I need to go to a gastroenterologist to possibly have an EGD done with possible stretching.  These symptoms came out of nowhere and I have never been bothered by acid reflux or indigestion in the past.  When this first started I had incredible chest pain that accompanied the other stated symptoms, but that has since gone away.  Doctor thinks it is a combination of GERD and stress/anxiety and is treating it with two Priolec's daily.  I guess I have a hard time believing that these throat "spasms/charlie horses" are GERD/Stress.  Please provide me with your thoughts based on stated symptoms.  I do have an appointment scheduled in the meantime with a gastroenterologist.

[Ratnakar Kini, MD]

Hi,
The symptoms are very typical of GERD. Feeling of something in the throat is called Globus and can occur in GERD and anxiety. But since you mention about swallowing difficulty, it is better to have an EGD done to see if there is any obstruction.