What could this be?

[ZMan287]

Alright here's the deal. Whenever I eat steak of any kind, a strange thing occurs. Very early while eating the steak (within the first 5 or 6 bites) I get a strange feeling in my upper chest and throat. It feels like very bad heartburn in my upper chest area. Usually I stop eating for a few minutes, let my chest rest and then I drink a big glass of water or soda. After drinking the water, the burn in my chest disappears and I am able to eat the rest of my meal without any problems. I dont usually suffer from heartburn (usually once in a great while). However once while this problem occured, the piece of steak actually got stuck halfway down my throat and had to be removed with doctor's help.
Am I just allergic to steak or is there something else going on here? Help anyone!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

This sounds like dysphagia, or a problem swallowing.  Any blockages, like a stricture or mass, can lead to the symptoms.

I would obtain the necessary imaging studies to exclude these possibilities.  An upper GI or upper endoscopy would be reasonable initial tests.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com