Subconsciously started swallowing air while eating?

[harryBron]

I am forming a pet theory and I was wondering if anyone could relate.  Since Chiarians have pressure in the back of their head when they swallow, maybe I subconsciously started swallowing air to help get the food down.  I realized that when I am done chewing a bite, I open my mouth and suck in some air to help the food go down without a forced somewhat painful swallow.  Maybe this causes the bad GERD and LPR symptoms I have been getting (from the aerophagia).  
      I am going to try and eat/swallow without sucking in the air from now on (takes a lot of concentration!), but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts.  Honesty I could live ok with the headache, the gastro problems are really what gets me.  Thanks for reading :)

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

I am aware that Chiari and related conditions can affect many autonomic issues that are not listed as "symptoms" .
For example I found prior to my decompression  surgery that I would take a sip of fluids be it water or whatever and when I swallowed, I did not swallow all of it and had not realized that until I went to take another sip....it was unsettling at first and I  too had to concentrate in order to complete the action which we normally do without much thought..hence the autonomic aspect.....

But I am not sure the swallowing air that you are doing would be the only reason for GERD as I did not do that  and I had and still have GERD.....it is a "symptom" and from what I am reading it is more likely linked to MAST CELL issues such as an over production to  histamines.

I do however agree that swallowing air will cause GERD issues and it may be one reason for your individual issue....or that it is adding to it.

Living with headache may seem fine for now....and I understand your thought process on that...BUT make sure your Chiari is not affecting your health in other ways....the headaches are only a symptom and there may be others lying underneath you do not recognize yet.

Have testing to rule out ALL related and non related conditions to make sure you can make a decision as to what you can live with. JMHO