swallowing problems and post nasal drip :(

Hi Harry,

              I am sorry to hear you are suffering has the GP not suggested any further investigations into the problems you are having? In my case I had to visit the GP lots of times before I was taken seriously and referred for differnt investigations.

   Hannah

 

I think you ought to have a barium swallow test and an endoscopy so that the doctors can diagnose the problem.   If you have trouble in getting referred, then you can always ask for a second opinion.   The post nasal drip might possibly be a reaction from food not clearing your oesophagus into your stomach and fermenting (sometimes this can lead to candida - thrush).   I do think that a young man of your age ought to have a proper diagnosis of what is going wrong.   As a layman, I am not sure, but it might possibly be the case that sensitivity to some things might possibly be consistent with nerve system issues elsewhere, so to that extent it might be a pointer towards achalasia.   So you might just think about politely but firmly asking the GP (or a different GP in the same practice) for a referral to discount achalasia.   If it is achalasia, it will need to be treated at a specialist Upper GI (gastrointestinal) centre. 

Hi harry, I've just been diagnosed with eisinophilic oesophagitis and my symptoms sound the same as yours. No acid reflux, swallowing problems but no pain and the clearing throat thing. My oesphagus has strictures which have left it half the diameter it should be in places. This is a result of inflammation caused by an as yet unidentified allergen. This appears to fit with you again. This was diagnosed by biopsy via endoscopy and also a barium swallow. This is a relatively new condition but numbers are rising dramatically, particularly in men. I'm looking into sulphites as a possible allergen in my case. It can be treated by stretching the oesophagus and with steroids. I'm having that done but am going to look for the cause of the allergic reaction rather than take steroids longterm. I've asked to be referred to an allergist.

I hope this is helpful. You can Google the condition. It's often referred to as EE because of the American spelling of oesophagus without the o.

I am sorry to hear of your problems Harry.  It took over 2 years for my doctors to refer me to a specialist and I was diagnosed immediately with Achalsia when I went for a water swallow test.  I would insist with your doctor to send you for this, and for the barium swallow.  When I had the endoscopy, it showed nothing!!!!

Hi Harry. Yes i miss hamburgers too but I also have the same symptoms as you. I have achalasia and I have also undergone surgery for it. I am also on acid reflux medication and I find that it helps a little. I have swallowing issues and my food gets stuck and i also get bad chest pains. Usually when my food gets stuck I tear up and get a runny nose. If they are unsure whether you have achalasia or not I suggest doing an endoscopy of barium swallow. If you live in the US i suggest Dr. Anil Darbari and Dr. Timothy Kane at Children's National Medical Center. I'm not sure if you will be able to be admitted to Children's as you are 18 (i'm 13) but its worth a shot.

Achalasia occurs more often in people with thin (weak) necks.

Try to exercise more and strengthen your neck/swallowing muscles.

 

Hi Harry,

I'm sorry that you're going through this. Since June 2014 I also have been experiencing these problems, first it was just tiny difficulties with swallowing but a glass of water would help with that. Fast forward to August and I was on a soup & noodle only diet (with the odd attemps at real food every other weekend).

By then I was already being ignored by my Doctors until I firmly put my foot down and said that their treatment to my symtoms were simply not good enough (I was well used to Doctors doing this to varies family members which helped me build up the courage to put my foot down).

I have the camera down my throat test done, then referred for more tests (which took them weeks) I went through Christmas not having a Christmas dinner (you mentioned missing hamburgers, I feel your pain there) these days I literally am eating nothing but maybe a packet of crisps if I'm able to. Usually this comes back up again but I keep trying. I found bread to be the worse thing for me to eat (which sucks as I love fajitas but even wraps are horrible to swallow).

Then finally on the 5th January 2015 I was dianoigsed with Achalasia.

Now I'm waiting to see what my options are to finally improve my health again.

It took some time but if you keep pushing it, you will get somewhere. They might try and say its nothing but until they've done tests how can they be sure.

Please keep pushing for them to at least investigate into it. And let me know how you get on.

Sorry for the long post!

Dawn