10-Year Old Daughter w/Lesion Outside Esophagus

[cdknmjk]

Last year our 10-year old daughter had an upper endoscopy due to constant nausea, diffculty swallowing, and constipation.  The test came back normal.  My husband and I started to think the nausea might be due to anxiety or separation issues.  Our daughter doesn't like to be away from us (sleepovers, etc) and won't sleep in her own room.  The swallowing issue went away.  Now, just last week, she started complaining of difficulty swallowing again.  We had an esophagram done and the doctor found something pressing on the esophagus from the outside.  The doctor is leaning towards a lesion, which sounds scary to me!  Our daughter has no previous health issues.  Please help!  The "unknown" is making me crazy :)

[cdknmjk]

The GI doctor reviewed the recent test and told us not to worry, that it could be nothing and she doesn't believe the stomach issues are related to the esophagus issues.  The doctor requested a copy of the disk so her radiology department can review the results and determine next steps.  I pray it's nothing.  I didn't see a "mass" when they did the test.  It just looked like the fluid was being constricted in one spot and couldn't go down as easily.  Thank you.  I try to be the best mom I can.  However, I worry too much.  She must get her anxiety from me and that's not a good thing.  Oh you can bet that I will continue talking to my daughter.  I always try to relate some of my life experiences without taking away her right to form her own opinion.  We have a good relationship.  I love that girl to pieces.  She's stubborn and isn't afraid to say what she's thinking :)  Thanks for listening.

[mammo]

You're very welcome.  I appreciate your honesty, and this type of problem is very common, unfortunately.  You sound like a wonderful mother, and I commend you for being so patient and understanding with your daughter.  I have one of my own and I know how special they are to us.  Keep talking to your daughter about everything, she may open up to you if something is bothering her.  You just never know with kids, it can be something very minor, or serious.  I got my kids to talk by telling of some of my own experiences at their age.  I think this allows them to see us as not "perfect", and that we have had, and do have struggles in life.  When we allow our kids to know we have been, and can be vulnerable too, they feel we can better relate to them.  I hope you find the help you need, and your daughter starts to feel well again.  Take care.....

[cdknmjk]

Thank you so much!  I'm feeling more positive today.  My daughter has been complaining of a stomach ache for the last three days now and didn't want to go to school this morning.  I've asked her whether there's something going on at school, etc but she says no.  I agree that talking with someone may help.  I keep praying that nothing bad happened to her that caused this anxiety.  To be blunt, a few years ago we were having issues with a few of her boy cousins (same age) taking down their pants in front of her.  I hope nothing more happened that we don't know about.  We are trying to schedule a follow-up visit with her GI doctor but they can't see her until mid-December.  Thank you!!!

[mammo]

Gastrointestinal motility disorders
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Pain in Stomach


In normal digestion, food is moved through the digestive tract by rhythmic contractions called peristalsis. When someone suffers from a digestive motility disorder, these contractions are abnormal. This disorder can be due to one of two causes:
A problem within the muscle itself
A problem with the nerves or hormones that control the muscle's contractions
Intestinal walls consist of layers of muscles. In normal conditions, these muscles contract and relax in a coordinated, rhythmic fashion that propels food from the esophagus to the stomach, and through the intestine to the anus. But in the presence of a motility disorder, these contractions don't occur in a coordinated fashion. This results in food not passing through the intestine properly. When there is a motility disorder, the following symptoms may occur:
Difficulty swallowing
Heartburn
Gas
Bloating
Nausea
Vomiting
Constipation
Diarrhea
Gastrointestinal motility disorders may be associated with the following conditions:
Irritable bowel syndrome
Diabetes
Gastroparesis — paralysis of the stomach
Esophageal spasms — irregular contractions of the muscles in the esophagus
Hirschsprung's disease — a congenital disorder in which poor motility causes obstruction of the large intestine
Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction — a rare disorder of the muscles and nerves in the intestine
Scleroderma — a progressive hardening and scarring of the skin and connective tissues
Achalasia — an esophageal motility disorder
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[mammo]

I know stress can play a role in this, but since they did find something pressing against her esophagus,  I would have further testing. The good news is whatever they found has been caught early, since there was nothing last year. I don't think she's doing it for attention because she wouldn't want to have to endure all the testing.  Do you have your daughter in therapy for her seperation anxiety?  If not I would definitely get her into it. You don't want her to continue with this anxiety which may only worsen with time, plus she's missing out on all the "pajama" parties that girls her age enjoy.  I would address the physical findings and the emotional ones.  It's tough being a kid these days, and if you intervene now, you may just be heading off future emotional problems.  There are other things that cause what your daughter is experiencing, but it's usually seen in adults.  I'm assuming her constipation has improved?  Motility Dsorder will cause her symptoms, plus GERD (acid reflux). But the GERD would have been ruled out with her GI specialist.  I will keep searching and see what I can find.

[cdknmjk]

Mammo,

Thank you for responding!  You really helped talk me down a little.  Any information you can provide regarding her symptoms, lesions (I don't know much about what these are or could mean), etc would be greatly appreciated!  Could anxiety possibly be the cause of something like this?  I wondered since the swallowing issue went away and then came back and she seems to have separation anxiety.  Thank you again.  I will be strong for her.  Thank you!

[mammo]

I know this worry, but the term "lesion" is used to describe so many things, that it's makes it difficult to say what this is.  Just that he's "leaning" towards a lesion doesn't mean that's what she has.  Lesions can also be caused by injury, has she bumped her neck at any time?  I know how hard it is to not worry, but try to remain positive.  I assume they are planning to do more tests?  Remember she will sense your fear and worry, so as moms we have to be the great pretenders.  Hopefully, someone will come on here with some ideas for you.  Wish I could have helped, I've been thru this and do understand.