I apologize if I’m an annoyance on the extremely helpful forum but I desperately need help.
For the past 2 month I have been suffering. I’ve Mainly had some throat problems such as discomfort when swallowing saliva, sharp pain when swallowing saliva, but I can swallow food and drinks without a problem. Just had some sharp pain once when drinking water, but it’s usually fine. I have gone to my doctor and he said that I was fine and didn’t see anything wrong with me. My mouth and the back of my throat looked fine. I then went to a ENT doctor and he said the same thing, even did a laryngoscope and found nothing, he said everything thing looks healthy. But he did say that he thinks it may be acid reflux but no LPR. I’ve also had x rays of my neck and the doctors found nothing. I’m still feeling like there is something wrong with my throat. I feel like there are little piece of food, feel like there is something in my throat when swallowing saliva. I’m sorry for sounding like a broken record, I’m just tired of this. And I’m scared I may have throat cancer or esophageal cancer and that there’s are symptoms that may have been missed.
But I came here to ask if it possible to feel the stomach acid come up when acid reflux occurs? Like are you suppose to feel the acid burning up into your throat? I have any burning sensation in my throat or any heart burn.
I will note that I do have terrible anxiety. I am health 20 yr old male and I just do know what to think or do anymore. Please any big of information or
16 Replies
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Hello again and I’m sorry if my tone sounded mad,
I just also wanted to mention that these symptoms are sometimes off and on. Like last month it happened one week then didn’t happen the next week. And I don’t have a hoarseness in my voice.
Again I just wanted to say sorry again and that I can really use the help. Thank you all
Yes acid reflux can go as high as the back of the throat and even down into the larynx if you are laying down.
That happens over usually months.
So it takes time to cause damage that can be seen on an endoscope.
In the meantime you have periods when you appear to not have any symptoms. So I suggest you make notes of what you are doing or eating.
So when it starts up again and you make new notes. You maybe able to see what has changed in your environment and eating and other habits.
Eg if u smoke- and I would strongly advise u not to do so- did u try a different brand or someone gave u a cigar as a present etc.
The most useful doctor will be an ENT CONSULTANT- Or a specialist ORAL MAXILLARY SURGEON- who may also be a dentist in a dental hospital eg Eastmans- most large hospitals have them, eg University College London Hosp.
If you look them up it will give you info on how such a department works.
Tumours in the salivary glands are called lipomata and rarely turn cancerous- take about 25yrs to do so.
I have lipomata in my arms and have had several operations because they are on the inside of both elbows.
They grow quite slowly and rarely painful except when sitting on a nerve.
So they are slow- u have time to research.
If this effect is coming from the vocal cords u need a specialist centre. Most are environmental asthma consultants.
But since the most recent endoscopy was clear use the time to adjust what and how you eat. Make notes. That way you will have more info for the specialist clinic and for your GP if it quickly gets worst.
Worry does not help. Stress is a major cause of early reflux.
I thank you for your response but I don’t really know if I have acid reflux. Am I supposed to feel the acid come up? I’m just so confused cause I’ve never dealt with a this or acid reflux before.
And to answer you question, I’m worried about cancer because I have both drank alcohol and smoked for 3 years. Not regularly but just social. I’m still in college and like I said, I’m a health guy. I’m just worried that maybe I’ve caused some damage to my esophagus or stomach or throat.
Yes you would feel the acid come up into your mouth. Or even some food or drink.
Your dentist may even comment on acid wearing the enamel on your teeth.
I would suggest you reduce your alcohol consumption. It could be adding to the problem, or even the cause if your body is intolerant.
It’s unusual for this to cause cancer but I think it can cause ulcers.
Some people are very intolerant to alcohol+sugar+yeast combined.
I am totally intolerant and was unconscious for 32hrs 50yrs ago from a mere sip of communion wine. I never take alcohol now even in cooking, nor do I tolerate the alcohol sprays being used all the time now in shops or at the hospital.
So being observant to what your body is saying is really important.
Cigarettes have so many addictive chemicals added they are just poison to your body.
They are a major cause of cancer in the mouth particularly if chewed. I worked in ENT 30 yrs and saw men particularly with facial surgery where they have either chewed tobacco or smoked a lot.
If this reaction is your body telling you to stop then obey it.
I’v never smoked, asthma, TB and born with a deformed upper rib cage made it a non starter even if I was tempted.
You have seen various doctors who have said all is well. So try to stop stressing for the next 3 months, and begin to listen to your body. Not an easy thing for a guy of 20 but well worth doing. Regard this as a wake up call.
Your body is your best wisdom so listen to it, including in sleep.
I am sorry for the late response to you. But thank you for your information. And that what I thought, I thought that if I did have acid reflux that I would be able to feel the acid travel all the way but to my throat. But I will say that I do suffer from health anxiety which why I’m so worried about my throat and my esophagus and my stomach and cancer. I know that I’m healthy and young but I’m just worried. But to answer your question, my ENT doctor my dentist and my general practitioner didn’t say anything about my tonsils. They said everything is fine and I have looked at my tonsil and they look normal to me. Not inflamed and no white spots or stones.
Good. Tonsils ok. Dentist didn’t comment on teeth, so probably no enamel burns.
The oesophagus is fairly insensitive and most people don’t feel acid travelling up it until it reaches the back of the throat unless there are already burnt areas. It also tends to happen quite rapidly like a belch in the early stages. In fact belches are an early sign that something is wrong.
My Goddaughter belched every time she drank wine, particularly with a meal. I told her to stop drinking wine and her belching went away.
She realised she was getting allergic to it.
U say u are studying at college, is there a counselling service at college, some one u can talk to on a regular basis? Or even at your GP surgery?
I know during lockdown it isn’t easy to access people but many are still available online.
I’ve been shielded for the entire yr and can’t have the existing vaccines for medical reasons, so I know how difficult it has been and how things can play on your mind.
I have assumed u r in Uk and perhaps a long way from home studying online.
I thank you again for you response. But I should mention that I had a type-o. I don’t have any burning sensation in my throat or in my esophagus and I don’t experience heartburn. I can drink water and I don’t feel a burning sensation and I can eat food without a burning sensation. The only trouble I have is when swallowing nothing or saliva. But I don’t think I have acid reflux because I think I would be able to feel the acid travel all the way up.
I know this might sound weird but I’m just confused. No one said that I have Barrett’ oesophagitis, and I don’t have blood in stool or black stool. I guess it just my health anxiety at play.
Dear Bullet, I am so sorry that you are this scared when you are so young. What the others are saying about acid reflux is true but it is also possible that you have a sinus allergy. My daughter and i both have constant nasal drip that feels like a lump of saliva or snot (sorry) and essentially that is what it is. It never seems to get swallowed and just stays there. You have been cleared by all the Drs. so trust them that you are OK and do not have cancer. Try some simple things. Use ant acids for any acid you might have. Gargle with salt water to try and dislodge the saliva lump. Also get an allergy nose spray from the pharmacy. This will dry up the mucus in the nasal cavity and not allow so much mucus to flow into your throat. Mostly, my dear Bullet, relax. Your poor brain is doing too much whirling over non issues. You are so young. Enjoy you life. You may have to hack, cough, snort and spit to clear out that nasty sinus drip but at least you are normal like many of the rest of us with allergies and sinus drip. This is something you can live with. Go have fun with your friends, just stay away from alcohol. PS, three years of light alcohol and smoking is not going to give you cancer this soon. That is all reversible when you stop.
I suffer 24/7 with reflux symptoms (4 years now) and although doctors and consultants say all looks fine my teeth have worn down very much. It’s odd that an endoscopy shows I’m fine but my teeth are saying another story which my doctor ignores because of my results are clear. I’ve tried countless therapies and treatments and medications and boils down to anxiety that is the prob.
Sounds to me yours is anxiety related; once you start to calm yourself, symptoms will go away. Try ashwagandha route powder, lemon palm or Indian organic tea- both are great nerve agents.
You need to go to a GI doctor. From what you describe you need to have an endoscopy so they can take a look at the inside of your esophagus and stomach. I would think any reputable doctor would have sent you to one already!
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