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swallowing

Posted , 6 users are following.

hazel47166
hazel47166

hi im am 49 years of age and i love my food dearly these last few months due to change of medication recently i cant take my food i fear it will get stuck in my throat my doctor says its anxiety but im not sure my throat is not sore in any way but as soon as i start eating im afraid to swallow because i am afraid it wont got dowen i have never been so scared in my life please help im desperate cx

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Finally17
    Finally17 hazel47166

    Posted

    Sorry to hear about your troubles. I am frustrated to hear that your doctor says it's anxiety related without running tests. Many of us on this forum had been told we had GERD only to find out it was really achalasia. There are some tests you can ask your doctor for to see if there is something else going on. One is called a barium swallow. The other is a manometry. I am sure being anxious doesn't help your swallowing issues but it certainly may be something out of your control that is contributing to your swallowing issues. I can tell you with achalasia so matter how relaxed and happy i am i still can't swallow. So please ask your doctor for some tests. Hope you get on the right path soon!

    • hazel47166
      hazel47166 Finally17

      Posted

      im just so scared fluids are all fine but when i chew i dont want to swallow when i do it feels my heart is racing annd it feels stuck in throat im so scared x
  • tanya65267
    tanya65267 hazel47166

    Posted

    Hi Hazel, I completely understand what u are going through. My advice is to try acupuncture to help relax your swallowing muscles and to help with the anxiety. I would also advise seeing a physiotherapist . Can I ask are you in the U.K.?
  • AlanJM
    AlanJM hazel47166

    Posted

    When you do manage to get food down your throat, where does it get stuck? If it seems to get lodged in your chest area just above your diaphragm, then it needs investigation, and achalasia is a possibility. If it gets stuck just near your tonsils, achalasia is less likely. Whilst it is possible to have swallowing difficulties that are completely anxiety-related, it is more common that at least part of the problem is a physical condition of some sort. Longer term, this can affect your nutrition levels, so it needs to be sorted out.

    Meanwhile, concentrate on eating soft or liquid food to see if this helps, and do not forget to drink a healthy amount of water.

    • hazel47166
      hazel47166 AlanJM

      Posted

      ty it dont get stuff its a fear when i chew it im scared to sweaqqllow as it feels that im gunna choke i do suffer with anxiety and i am on medication but only changed recently my doctor is 100 per cent its anxiety im not im pain at all just frightened i eat soup and soft things and that seems to help but i do love my food just scared to eat bread and other things xxxxxxxxxxx
    • AlanJM
      AlanJM hazel47166

      Posted

      It is probably quite rational to worry about bread because that can tend to stick a bit in the oesophagus for some people.   I do think you need some professional help to recover from your anxiety and to perhaps regard food in a different way.   There are psychologists who specialise in food issues, one of whom is Dr Amelia Hollywood at Reading.

      ​I think I might simply concentrate on soup for a while, and then just add something extra each week as you can cope with it ands as your confidence gets restored.   Your GP might be able to recommend somebody.   Overcoming fear is difficult, and you should not underestimate it, but many people do manage to combat their negative feelings, and there is no reason why you should not also be able to do so.

    • ed95295
      ed95295 hazel47166

      Posted

      Hi Hazel,  I don't get on here much because I'm doing much better since having surgery.  I had the same anxiety and would go to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack or couldn't catch my breath.  These were both reactions to achalacia.  If this hasn't been ruled out with a motility study it should be performed.  Also, part of the feeling I had was due to esophagus spasms.  When I first had issues I thought I was having a heart attack and kept going to the ER ($100 a visit plus tests, other).  They gave me something called a GI cocktail (numbs and relaxes esophagus).  My doctor felt bad for my pocketbook, told me how to mix it, and also gave me Dicyclomine Hcl 20mg tab for spasms.  The Dicyclomine was a life (and wallet) saver.  Any time I start to feel like my chest will spasm I take 1/2 a tab, which usually works.  If it doesn't work I take the other 1/2.  I also try to avoid stress, which causes most of my chest spasms, stay hydrated and drink something warm.  Good luck.

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