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Painful Swallowing with acid reflux?

Posted , 4 users are following.

Guest
Guest

So i've had acid reflux on and off for about 8 months, its been getting alot worse recently. At the moment for the past 1 and a half weeks i've been getting pain in my throat and pain everytime i swallow my own saliva.

However when i'm eating foods i don't seem to have the pain? Can anyone maybe tell me what the problem is? Also does constant painful swallowing that isn't easing up after a week and a half even with taking gaviscon and esomeprazole mean that i have some kind of damage to my esophagus? 

I saw an ent doctor a month ago who did a nasal endoscopy and said there was acid but no damage but now since the pain is worse and the swallowing trouble I fear there may be some damage. I saw him today again but he didnt do another nasal endoscopy he has asked me to make an appointment for a barium swallow, quite concerned at the state of throat atm, is this a genuine concern or am i overreacting? 

Any advice would be appreciated! smile 

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • phil16820
    phil16820 Guest

    Posted

    Sorry to hear you're having such difficulty, Pain in the throat when swallowing is an extremely serious sign. I strongly recommend you see a good otolaryngologist as soon as possible. I have had extreme LPR for about 7 years which I control very affectively without any drugs at all. I can eat whatever I like without any symptoms whatever. LPR is dangerous. If you're still using esomeprazole and Gaviscon after 8 months, I highly recommend you do what any good doctor will tell you to do, "Take off those extra pounds". There are no other cure all's or magic pills especially esomeprazole and Gaviscon. Just get in shape, and you will get your LPR under control. If you continue to carry too many extra pounds, you will never control it, and untreated LPR can be fatal.
    • Guest
      Guest phil16820

      Posted

      I appreciate your advice! smile I told my ent doctor my symptoms only yesterday and he seemed pretty calm about the whole situation and seemed in no rush to refer me anywhere.

      As for losing a few pounds, i really don't think thats necessary in my case, i'm only 21 years old and I am 9st 7lbs which if anything is probably a bit underweight! So i'm not too sure what other alternatives I have! I was thinking of going completely organic with my diet and things but i've already cut out so many things such as fatty foods, spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol and still i get bad symptoms.

    • ted41159
      ted41159 phil16820

      Posted

      Phil I think you have offered Riggs some good advice and especially about losing a bit of weight.I just want to say however having swum biked and run for many years before I got this flipping illness I struggle to do any of them now.So I too need to lose some weight.My first love is running but it seems that every time I attempt to my condition gets worse. As it does also with cycling although I am still attempting to do both. Swimming is such a chore I tend not to bother.Have you had similar experiences as me at keeping fit. Ted
    • hevski77
      hevski77 Guest

      Posted

      Try and not eat big meals, eat little and often and not late on at night and don't go to bed on a full stomach! That's what I'm going to try and do to get rid of this, urrrrgh..
    • Guest
      Guest hevski77

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice! smile I've been trying to do that recently but i do struggle with portion sizes as i've always been a big eater! I don't eat 3 hours before bed though!  It sucks doesn't it!? Feel free to talk about your reflux and problems you have if you want! Can I ask what causes yours? 
    • phil16820
      phil16820 ted41159

      Posted

      There are three causes of LPR, hiatal hernia, a failed upper esophageal sphincter and overweight. You can do nothing about a failed upper esophageal sphincter, but hiatal hernia responds well to visceral manipulation and of course overweight is a matter of what you eat. Be aware that being in shape per se is not the issue. One can be in shape and still be overweight. Just look at some NFL linemen. Being in shape helps maintain one's weight, but weight is the key not conditioning. 

      I am a big eater too, and I eat what I please, when I please and as much as I please without LPR symptoms. I just don't do a big chow down everyday. First I lost all excess weight. I got down to my ideal weight or below. When I did that all my LPR problems went away. Now I generally eat light to maintain that weight. However when I'm in the mood (about once or twice per week) I'll have a huge satisfying meal with a bottle of wine and have no LPR symptoms whatever. Then I go back to light healthy eating to control my weight and good health.

      BTW I went through a period where I was in shape but gained back a lot of weight, and all my LPR symptoms came back big time. I took that weight off again and guess what happened? All my LPR symptoms went away again.

    • hevski77
      hevski77 Guest

      Posted

      Well, I'm a big lass.. And I think I ate too much on Sunday and it was late on and then I went to bed not long after.. :P (The food was lovely, though the Turkey was a bit dry).. This is the first time this has happened to me, though I do get Acid Reflux, more so if I don't eat, strangely.. I think I overstretched my sphincter.. Luckily for me, the symptoms seem to be easing off a bit already.. Without anything, but if they don't fully, I will go back, I'm just trying to make it go away naturally first..
    • mick20498
      mick20498 phil16820

      Posted

      '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''you can do nothing about a failed upper esophageal sphincter,'''''''''''''''''''

      There seems to be growing evidence that melatonin can strengthen the upper esophageal sphincter. Lots of interesting research going about melatonin and the gut.

    • phil16820
      phil16820 mick20498

      Posted

      it would be great if there turns out to be a fix for the failed upper esophageal sphincter. Would you cite the research to which you refer?

    • mick20498
      mick20498 phil16820

      Posted

      Just google melatonin- acid reflux. I've read some of the research in the past but didn't save links. Interesting stuff.
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