And the beat goes on--the doctor merry-go-round beat

[essdipity]

Today I saw my ENT. Not just for follow-up from my month-long allergy attack in Jan., but also because the swallow study report strongly recommended it. And because of tinnitus and vertigo.

Well, the long and the short of the swallowing part is that he wants me to see a GI doc. He doesn't want to do the naso-whatsis test because, as he put it, he'd wind up sending me to a GI anyway. This is based on my symtoms from throat to stomach valve. The only good part is the doctor I'll see will do the esophagus testing when she does a colonoscopy, which I'm due for anyway. Sort of one-stop shopping. That will be sometime in April, details to follow.

So then to the tinnitus problem. That could be from anything, zillions of people have it, etc., etc. So who knows?

Moving on to the vertigo. I'm now scheduled for a VNG test on April 6. That will at least tell whether the problem is central or peripheral.

I know I should be grateful for all these opportunities, and really, I am. Lots of our members wait forever just for basic neuro care, so I shouldn't complain. But still I'm SO SICK of shuttling round and round. It's very depresssing when I have a week that's shaped around medical appointments, and that's happened quite a few times, even well after my (wimpy) MS diagnosis. Maybe it's because of my already ancient age, but I have this great fear of turning into one of those old ladies sitting around retirement homes and talking incessantly about their various ills. I do have a real life, honest.

ess

[rendean]

Sorry to hear you're having to jump back on the merry go round but with possible swallowing issues, etc, you know it's the right thing to do.
Chrissy sounds like you're an old pro at the GI stuff, sorry you have earned that badge.

My son and I both have had reflux issues and after EGDs done by different docs, we both were both  put on PPI (proton pump inhibitors) which seemed to calm the situation.

I wish you both luck in solving your health issues.

BTW, Laura, believe I can beat your all time doc appt. record for a month - I have 8 this month plus 7 sesssions of PT thrown in for good measure all around a full time job and 3 kids. Good thing my work understands flexibility!

Best wishes to all,
Rendean

[goofysmom1]

Well I would imagine that they will do an endoscopy (probably when they do your colonscopy since you will already be drugged up!)...they will look for narrowing of the esophagus, damage from acid reflux, erosions (ulcers) and hernias.

I have had problems with swallowing - not quite like what you have experienced, but food getting stuck.  The last endoscopy I had, they did a dilation of the esophagus, they felt my esophagus was narrowed (probably from the severe acid reflux I have).

They may also do an esophageal manometry test - to see if you are having esophageal spasms.  I have those & they are quite painful.

My GI symptoms began rather suddenly also.  Other than the occasional bout of heartburn, I hadn't had any issues with my GI tract until July of 2007 when all heck broke loose.  

Something that I find interesting with all of the GI stuff is that when I went to the Mayo clinic in January, I saw 2 GI doctors there.  I told one of them that I thought it was interesting that my symptoms started so abruptly (at least to me it seemed that way) and I asked him if my GI symptoms could be related to the neurological symptoms that I am also experiencing.

He told me that the acid reflux could stand on its own, but that the spasms could be a part of another disorder.  He wouldn't go any farther than that since I was still in the process of getting all of the neuro testing done.

Another curious thing - just like you, my symptoms come in "episodes" just like my neuro symptoms do too...

I am curious - has anyone put you on a proton pump inhibitor yet?  That is usually the first thing they do - there is some thought that the other GI disorders (spasms, hypersensitivity etc.) can be from longterm overexposure to the stomach acid.

I hope you get some answers - believe me, I know how painful and scary this is for you!  

Sending you hugs,
Chrisy

[Lulu54]

Ess,
If you are having the reflux regularly, the odds are pretty good they will find irritation someplace in your throat.  I had a small red patch from the acid burn.

Please stick with all the doctor appts - it does get better.  I had a record month in January and had 7 appts- I am not entering the "see you in 3 months" cycle and the bunch of appts are going to repeat them selves, starting this coming week.  In between all that I actually had time for other things! :-)

my best,
Lulu

[essdipity]

Hi, Chrisy, and thanks for your response. I had a modified barium swallow study several weeks ago. The results were abnormal in some respects, thus more referrals.

My symptoms in this regard started late last summer. Out of the blue, I would get very occasional excruciating pain immediately after swallowing solid food. It felt as if I'd swallowed something huge and jagged, and that my throat was being pulled inside in all directions. Nothing helped, including sipping water. Eventually the food would go down and the pain disappeared. No choking, no getting food caught in my trachea. One time, though, I swallowed some soup, quite normally, and it came gushing out one nostril.

After a number of these attacks, which were widely spaced, I began having trouble instead lower in my esophagus, and these include horribly painful acid reflux. This disappears like magic when my stomach valve closes. Have been having variations on this theme randomly for all these months, the last one about a week ago, but the vast majority of the time things work very normally.

I'm thinking that if the problem isn't acting up when the testing is done, nothing will show. Does anyone know whether this is right?

ess

[goofysmom1]

ess,
Can you tell me what problems are sending you to a GI doctor?  I have had extensive testing for acid reflux, esophageal spasm & esophageal hypersensensitivity.

Curiously, I also have tinnitus and vertigo (only when laying down).

I have had an ENG/VNG test that was normal with the exception of a bilateral weakness to air caloric testing.  The doctor who performed the test suggested CNS involvement (based on how I performed on other tests, he didn't feel it was peripheral).  Of course, the neuro who ordered this test told me it was normal....

So the vertigo has not yet been treated.

Please feel free to ask me about the GI stuff - I have been through the testing ringer this past 18 months with the GI symptoms....

I am happy to help if I can!  :)

Chrisy