Swallowing problem

[sharon429]

This is very weird and very hard to describe. I just did a search on the computer but it was hard to pin-point. I've been having this swallowing problem for about 6 months now but now it is really bothering me. Whenever I swallow it feels like I have a lump or almost like a piece of food in the back of my throat.
I know this sounds disgusting but - you know how after you've thrown up - how theres a feeling like theres still something down there ready to come up? Thats how this kind of feels. Like I said its very hard to describe and really bothering me. I used to think it was because I take so many pills that it was always feeling like I just swallowed pills again. Now I really cut down my pill intake and its even worse. I used to take Prelief with everything but I've stopped. My IC has been really good but I have all these other problems. I have IBS, hypoglycemia, watching my IC, and now whatever this. Does anybody have any clue about this swallowing thing or experianced it?

Thanks,

Sharon

[yvette]

As far as I know, problems witht the throat/swallowing isn't connected with IC. I would recommend you push this issue with your doctor. It could be indicative of a serious problem, especially since you've expereinced this symptom for a really long time.

Good Luck! :)

[ICNDonna]

You definitely need to see your doctor about a swallowing problem.

Donna

[Jean12]

Please see your doctor about your swallowing problem. I once had the same problem and it turned out that I had thyroiditis. It could also be a result of an allergy to medication, food, drink etc. I noticed when I had a severe allergic reaction to medication one of the first signs was that it felt like I had a piece of food stuck in the back of my throat. There are a number of things that the doctor will need to look for and rule out so please don't hesitate in calling him.

Jean

[sunshine_77us]

You should see your doctor. I had that problem and it was a growth on my thyroid. I had to have my thyroid removed.

[VickiB]

I had an experience like that once. It began a few months after moving to west Texas and reached a point of being terribly uncomfortable. I went to doctor after doctor, had multiple tests done (thyroid, allergy, etc), but none could find a reason for this. I went to visit my sister for a week who lived elsewhere and within two days I felt like my old self. As soon as I returned to west Texas the swollen feeling returned as well. Thinking it was something in the house we were renting, we moved to another house, but it didn't help. Eventually we left that area for greener pastures, immediately my throat cleared up and has been fine ever since. I'm convinced that my swollen feeling was caused by an allergy to something relative to that environment.

Definitely, see your doctor to rule out possible causes first. If they can't find a reason for it my suggestion would be to start looking at anything new in your life that might be the cause.

Vicki

[rubjen]

See Your Doctor. I Had The Feeling Like I Was Choking Or A Had A Large Lump In My Throat,had Too Have A Endoscopy Done An They Did A Little Stretching Now No Problems,good Luck
Ruby Jean

[sharon429]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for your response. I just got back from the emergency room. My throat kept getting worse as the day went on. I didn't mention it in my
message that I had some other weird symptons going on as well. My right eye has not stopped tearing for four days now, I have a sore in my mouth that I went to the dentist for (ruled out decay) and put me on antibiotics and the other thing I took up to smoking one cigarette a day and everytime I would have a cig in the last four days my right arm would go numb. Well, today after my throat was feeling much much worse I had a cigarette and my hand turned completly blue. My husband freaked out and said I better go to the emergency room because I'm not getting enouph oxygen.
I was there for four hours and what a waste of time!!! They got me in really fast and I thought "great, they must think its serious". But when I got my doctor he immediatly started asking if I had ever seen a phyciatrist(?) or had anxiety. When I told him I used to take Zoloft for panic disorder but mostly IC he started saying that "swallowing" problems are a common anxiety disorder. I was really angry and said "I'm not imagining this". He scheduled a barrium x-ray which I was really happy about and said he suspected he would not see anything. When the woman who gave me the x-ray - the woman doctor said ususally they DON"T ever see anything. That its very rare that the barium x-ray shows anything and I would have to get further testing. WHy do they even bother I thought. The woman doctor and x-ray technician were very understanding and said it must feel awful. They also saw my eye tearing like mad which the male doctor totally blew off saying "I don't see your eye doing anything. I looks fine." Leave it to the man doctor to not see anything!
When I had to go back for the doctor to read my report he wanted me to see a Crisis person. He would not give me a referral until I did - so I sat and waited and waited and waited. After another hour I said I was leaving. When I asked him about the referral the doctor said "I was going to give you a referral for anxiety." I am not having anxiety!!! I might sound like it now but its so infuriating!!! The one good thing is - is that the doctor said that even though the barium x-ray was negitive it ruled out cancer, tumor, or anything serious.
I feel like I did when I was trying to get my IC diagnosed. I should have never lumped all of my symptons into one thing. Thats when they start thinking your crazy. I should have just told him about my throat and left out the eye and mouth. On Monday I am going to have to go to my regular doctor (who I don't really have) and get a referral to go to a eye, nose and throat specialist.
What a horrible day.
Sharon

[Judith56]

Sharon, I have a swallowing problem. At times it feels like things get stuck and I have to wait till my throat opens up again for the food, liquid, pills etc. to go down. It can be very painful. I had an X-Ray done and they could actually see things stop on the way down. I have what is known as a dismotility disorder. I was also scoped, but there are no strictures. I also had amnometry done to test teh pressures in my throat , but it came back within normal limits. I was told to wait till things get a lot worse and they will test me again. I am not going to bother as there is nothing they can do about anyway. Oh well, at least I know what is wrong so it makes it easier to deal with. Judith

[VickiB]

Sharon, I'm sorry you had such a horrible day!

I know that feeling when you seek medical help and all you get is a "crazy lady" label! That's what I got on my throat problem too. -Doctor after doctor. At the same time I was trying to get help for my bladder pain (IC) only to receive "perhaps you should speak to a psychiatrist.....". I think there's a lot of doctors out there who when unable to figure out what is wrong are way too quick to the 'it's all in your head' answer.

Sorry to vent in your thread! I just feel so bad for those who's very REAL problems get this shabby sort of treatment. I hope your next appointment to an ear, nose & throat specialist will bring you some answers!

Vicki

[brett]

hi sharon,
I had a swallowing problem and that lump feeling as well. After many tests and procedures it was discovered that I had GERD(reflux) and also esophageal spasms(dismotility in the esophagas that causes the food to "stick ")on its way down. hopefully a gastro doctor can help you ... That is their speciality...

[sharon429]

I can't tell everyone how much your response has helped me. There are so many possiblities of what this can be and defintly makes me feel like I'm not "crazy". I'm starting to think part of it might be an allegery to the ciggerettes I started smoking. I used to smoke over ten years ago (along with other bad habits) and I think my body just won't tolerate it anymore. I stopped smoking (even though it was very little) and I notice a slight difference.
I totally agree with you - Vicki - that when doctors can't diagnose or help a patient they immediatly say its in their head. Its really frustrating.
I'm going to call my insurance this morning and find a ear, nose and throat doctor. Hopefully, they will find out what is wrong. But I'm not in a panic like I was thanks to everyone's response.

Sharon

[adrie]

I had problems swallowin. I couldn't even get my pills down and they would dissolve in my throat. It turned out that I had an endoscopy and they noted that my esoughagus needed to be dialated. I have had to have it dialated twice now. It work for a few months and then they stick that tube down my throat and dialte my esoughagus again. At least then I get a few minutes of good pain medication but it hurts for about a week after. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt near as much as IC. Hope this helps.

[neal1044]

I was having swallowing problems for about a month when I finally went to see my doctor and she suggested I have an EGD done. It showed I had a hiatal hernia with severe GERD. Been taking Prilosec OTC and lots of tums and it's much better now.

[sharon429]

Hi,
I was diagnosed with a some sort of hernia years ago after I had my 10lb.12 oz. son. I wonder if that might have something to do with this.
I have an appointment (with a woman doctor) Wednesday morning at 9:30. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

Sharon

[Betsie]

I am sorry you feel so dismissed. Without me giving you my entire health story, please go to a gastroenterologist. I experienced your symptoms many years ago and was given anti anxiey drugs....nothing changed, it got worse daily...I ended up meeting my beloved GI Dr in an emergency situation, my swallowing became no existent...after an endoscopy (much easier and non threatning than it may sound) it was found that I had a serious esophagus inflammation and several stomach ulcers. I have been treated for severe GERD ever since...it is such a common thing to hear about..GERD/Reflux, etc that it sounds so simple....do yourself a favor and do whatever it takes to see someone ASAP...the worst you can experience is to find out you are in perfect GI health.

I can't express enough how important it is that we DO NOT always try to associate our symptoms with IC...the potential to neglect serious, but very treatable symptoms is a shame. Good luck and sorry if I sound like Ms. Know It all...not really, but about this subject I am vigilent. Sorry typos galore, but just hitting send :)


p.s. I just fixed the typos. :)

[Sarojini]

Hi,

Yeah, I have this problem occasionally -- with me it is also due to GERD, and it is often made worse by meds that give me dry mouth like my antihistamine (no saliva = no lubrication = food feels stuck). I'm asthmatic, and was told that GERD is highly common in asthmatics, and the two can make each other worse! However, I would definitely see another doctor about the problem... you don't want to ignore it because as Betsie has pointed out, it can only get worse if it is GERD.

[Betsie]

Jen that is interesting...I was born as a serious bronchial asthmatic-which I did eventually outgrew, but I was in the hospital quite awhileas an infant---anyway, I am now finding myself going from bronchitis (very common for me) straight to episodes of asthma related difficulties....I have something like an inhalor as a preventitive use, but have not used it this time yet...my vocal cords have been taxed, my range to sing seriously lousy ( I mean it was bad before, but I can't get the words out) so an interesting side effect for us both....I swear by my GI health being in control... it goes a long way in the treatment of other chronic issues.

Now I am going to edit my previous post, those typos are just WRONG!!! :hmm: