I am suddenly unable to swallow solid foods

I am a 57 year old male. About 1 month ago I was eating a salad at a restaurant and after swallowing a piece of lettuce or mixed salad greens something stuck in my throat. It felt like I had a golfball. About fiftteen minutes later I threw it out. However since this time I have been unable to eat solid foods and I am becoming increasingly  anxious about this issue.  Does anyone know what the problem may be?

[texas_girl]

Sorry that you are going through this. My husband started this 5 years ago. He has gone through a monometry, endoscopy and xrays. He has had a balloon to stretch the sphyncter and nothing has helped. His problem is that the muscles in his throat have almost stopped working. The Gastro told us in elementary terms, your throat works like a snake, the muscle contract all the way down and push the food down into your stomach. His are not contracting normally. We were told that there is nothing else that he can do because there is no known cause for it. This Gastro is a highly recommended by a lot of people in this field, so, to hear him say this is a little disheartening. Husband takes meds that are only allowed for this type of disease and we have to get it from Canada. It does help a little, but, he still can't eat a lot of things, salad is one that there is no way he can eat. There is suppose to be a new enzyme test that has surfaced and he will get this test after his preexisting clause is up on his insurance. We pray this will be it and he will go back to normal. Just don't let anyone tell you that it's nothing and try to get them to send you to a Gastroenterologist. Most times, Dysphagia is because the little trap door that keeps the food out of your esophagus is week or not opening and closing correctly and the balloon will help that. Good luck!!