Undiagnosed dysphagia

I am a 19 year old female and I have been experiencing difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) for about 1.5 years. I first began experiencing it during my senior year of high school. I had two incidents where I felt like I had taken too big of a bite of a sandwich and it didn't go down immediately so I took smaller bites. These incidents were spaced out, so I thought nothing of it. Then, in January 2015, I was in my AP Chemistry class going over the answers to homework before a test. I was eating lunch because it was a double period and I would not have the opportunity later in the day. In the middle of my peanut butter sandwich, I felt the food stick in my throat and I also felt nauseated. Naturally, I thought it was flu-like symptoms and went home. During the next week, I stayed home and the swallowing seemed to worsen. I got to the point where I was not able to swallow even applesauce. This may have been apprehension as I did not know what was going on. I made an appointment with my physician and she suggested that it was acid reflux due to stress (I had a pretty intense schedule as I like a challenge and I am one of those people that strives for A's). She prescribed omeprazole and I was on it for months. It helped a little, but was overall, ineffective. In May, I had an endoscopy performed and was told, once again, that it was acid reflux and that my esophagus was inflamed and I was prescribed pantoprazole (omeprazole had previously caused joint problems in my knees). I went on like this for about 9 months with no improvement. Earlier this year, I have gone through a series of tests. I had a chest x-ray because I had a spot on my chest that was painful (it has gone, so I still do not know what it was) and blood work. Both came back normal. I, then, had a barium swallow study performed. This also came back normal. They suggested speech therapy to teach me how to swallow again. I felt that this was not the proper course of treatment and wanted a second opinion. I was referred to another hospital and I saw an ear, nose, and throat specialist. He thought it may have been my thyroid. I had a CT scan and an ultrasound and both came back normal. He wants to refer me to Cleveland Clinic, which is 5 hours from where I live, but I have researched their swallowing clinic and it seems that they offer the same tests that I have already gone through. I am not sure if it is worth it to go this far. My symptoms have come down to the following: difficulty swallowing solids (severe enough that I have to turn my head to the right and forward in order to swallow; worse in public and social situations in which I am uncomfortable); I have recently been lethargic even though I get more than enough sleep; I have also been irritable for no known reason about almost everything lately (could be something as simple as a text coming through at the wrong time when I know the person doesn't know that they are doing so); sometimes experience a burp-like sensation in the back of throat after meals; post-nasal drip from allergies makes swallowing more difficult; food seems to get stuck at base of throat; dry mouth as of late; have not noticed specific foods that are causing symptoms; occasional light-headedness; within the past couple of weeks, I have noticed a dull ache on either side of my neck that does not seem to be triggered by anything. I am at a loss for what it could be and all of the doctors that I have seen do not know what to do. Could I be allergic to something and not realize it? Could it be an anxiety disorder? Is it worth it to go to Cleveland Clinic? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time. - Lesley

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