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Swallowing problems

Posted , 5 users are following.

rngirl32
rngirl32

I've been having swallowing problems on and off for years .Seems like they come and go until all the sudden they "flare" and I can hardly eat.I often  feel chest pain or pressure,a globulus sensation,runny nose,and when things get bad I constantly gag,cough and vomit.When this happened three years ago I was checked thouroughly and diagnosed with an esophageal yeast infection and esophageal spasms.I was treated with Diflucan and my throat was dilated.Symptoms receded to a manageable level until two months ago.My new doctor wanted to repeat my endoscopy and monometry testing .My scope was clear but my manometry was off.Im still waiting for the official results but the technician mentioned seeing spasms and delayed swallowing.I was obviously expecting the spasms but am confused to the delayed swallowing.Does anyone else have this problem and if so what causes it?The nurse mentioned that some of the swallows were normal but others took upwards of 35 seconds to complete or did not complete at all.Just kind of nervous at this point.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • danielle59076
    danielle59076 rngirl32

    Posted

    The chest pain and the runny nose sounds like the start of my achalasia symptoms. Just make sure to not take an "I don't know" for an answer. Manometry will tell them a lot. Maybe as for a barium swallow as well. 

  • AlanJM
    AlanJM rngirl32

    Posted

    There is a booklet 'A Patient's Guide to Achalasia' that you can download from the website of the oesophageal patients association (under The Oesophagus , then Achalasia) where there are some tips about dealing with thrush / candidiasis / fungal infections in your throat area.

    There are also some explanations about manometry and barium swallow tests.

    ?What causes spasms?   Sometimes a blockage of some kind in the muscles around the lower oesophageal sphincter (junction of oesophagus and stomach);  sometimes reflux; sometimes other things perhaps?   If people have achalasia they often find that spasms improve, but spasms are still possible after surgery.   Trying to get the other issues (like the fungal infection) sorted out will probably help.

    ?Having a dilatation can help the swallowing process, but it is important to have a full diagnosis because having many repeated dilatations may not be the best answer and can make eventual surgical procedures more difficult because it might make the oesophageal area more fibrous.

  • Zak123
    Zak123 rngirl32

    Posted

    I hope you get the answers to why this is happening and hope you don't have to wait too long, keep us updated! Lisa

  • dolphinz930
    dolphinz930 rngirl32

    Posted

    you have come to the right place. I agree with EVERYTHING being said.  BUT do yourself  a favor and download the Patients guide to Alchalasia.  II did A LOT  and  I mean A Lot or research before finding this site.  Everything and then some is in this guide.  I brought this to my dr. office so that he could use for other patients or whatever.  My Doctor was not offend by me bringing in, actually he was impressed on how knowledgeable I was and told me  that I was very very well informed.  I had to explain to my primary care  dr. what Achalasia was as she had no clue and tried her best to tell me what it was ... so I gave her one as well.  Good luck on your journey and like Danielle said which is awesome advise don't take" I Don't know" for an answer and don't let them tell you that it is gerd  either.  do your homework and check on the doctor, make sure you get the best of the best.  I know how hard it is to find a doctor who even know what this is, but they are out there.  Please keep us posted on your condition 

    Beth

    • Zak123
      Zak123 dolphinz930

      Posted

      Thanks  Beth , we hope to have the barium swallow test done this week,,,! Lisa
  • rngirl32
    rngirl32

    Posted

    Sssoooo update .Despite the RN seemingly pointing out a number of things that appeared wrong during my manometry test the doctor insisted my test results were normal.They gave me a prescription for Pepcid and sent me on my way.Im glad nothing bad is wrong but at the same time frustrated.I don't know how visible spasms and swallows that don't always finish translates to normal,but I guess I'll just have to live with it.

    • AlanJM
      AlanJM rngirl32

      Posted

      It is possible that acid might have been causing the spasms.   But the unusual findings of the manometry might bear another opinion to see if an explanation could be forthcoming.  It might need (another?) barium swallow test at some point?

      ​It is possible that the body sorts itself out at times without medical help;  or you might end up trying things on a trial and error basis, which does not sound very satisfactory.   If it gets serious you would have to ask for further tests or a second opinion perhaps.   But you are right that it is good news that they did not find anything that was seriously bad.

  • rngirl32
    rngirl32

    Posted

    I requested my manometry reports from my gastroenterology doctor as I had a hard time believing everything was normal.According to my results I had normal pressures in the upper esophageal area, but high resting pressures in the lower esophageal with a normal IRP. 3 out of 10 of my swallows failed completley and another 2 swallows had large breaks. It summarized me as having 50% incomplete bonus clearance and fragmented peristalsis. According to my research( and yes I am not a gastroenterologist ) this does not meet any typical diagnostic criteria for major esophageal disorders , but hardly seems normal especially with my degree of symptoms.I am having my friend who is speech therapist look over the results.She has been highly suggested I have a modified barium swallow done.It just makes me angry that when I called they told me everything was completely normal.
    • AlanJM
      AlanJM rngirl32

      Posted

      There are some variations in how people react to these tests, and you are right that they are unusual.   It sounds like you need to consult a very experienced surgeon who deals with achalasia.   Do any particular things trigger off difficulties, or is it always as you describe?
    • rngirl32
      rngirl32 AlanJM

      Posted

      I know I can’t have gum,coffe,liquor,orange juice, large cuts of meat ,or Italian sausage.I sometimes have problems with hearty breads.Anything too hot or too cold causes chest pain.If I get up too early in the morning I have pain and regurgitation or also if I stay up too late.
    • rngirl32
      rngirl32

      Posted

      Or if I eat too much or too fast.I primarily eat vegetarian with small amounts of chicken and seafood.Soups and pastas are my go too and it helps to eat smaller more frequent meals.
    • AlanJM
      AlanJM rngirl32

      Posted

      Eating too much or too fast means that food is going in at the top faster than the outflow valve into the stomach can cope with, so it then accumulates and creates a heavy mass in the oesophagus which will then stretch and become baggy to cope with the mass of food, and it is not really designed to cope with that strain.   So eating little and often is the thing to do, boring though this can be at times.

      ​Sometimes meat texture, especially if stringy, can create problems in passing through the valve;  and some things coagulate - perhaps gum is one of those, but it might also include bread and rice.   Spicy things can create a reaction.

      ​Not sure why the coffee, orange juice and liquor would cause problems except perhaps being strong in taste and triggering nerve reactions on the way down.

      They do perform tests with a variety of textures in food, like marshmallow, popcorn, soup etc so it is not unusual for people to have differing reactions.   It  may be that there is an adverse reaction at one particular point along the length of the oesophagus.

      ​If your peristalsis / clearance is only 50% effective under test conditions, the other half would have to rely on gravity so that does mean a significant adjustment to what you can eat without problems (which you know already of course).   It might be the case that there is a set of nerves / muscles at one particular point that is causing the problem.   Usually it is the lower oesophageal sphincter area, but this is not necessarily always the case.   But a surgeon would be extra cautious about surgery, I think.

      Fatigue can set off spasms for quite a few people.

      I suppose there are three things that will be concerning you:

      Can there be some form of medical intervention ( surgery or perhaps medication) that would make a difference?

      Can you manage things without surgery provided that you make enough adjustments?

      Can you alleviate things by some form of relaxation technique to help your digestion?

       

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