Swallowing issues with liquid and food

[J3334r42]

Hi there,

Sorry I might be in the wrong category but to be honest I’ve no idea what’s wrong with me so I don’t know what category I do fit in...

I’m a female under 20 years old and I’ve been having trouble swallowing liquids and foods now for months.

And occasionally, I’ll swallow my water wrong (or fail to swallow it at all) and have a ‘laryngospasm’ (and stop breathing for a very short time, very scary but harmless.)

I also have IBS symptoms and abnormal levels of inflammation in my bowels (about not too high but not normal) Despite a very bland diet, I suffer feeling painfully full after a mere few bites and have lots of pain in my upper abdomen that seers up to my chest, and often very a small appetite. I’ve always had tummy issues but these I think specific tummy issues feel different to my usual IBS symptoms.

A few years back I had a negative coeliac test but I’m having another one in the near future. I’m currently ‘gluten free’ but I tried to begin eating gluten, however I was in more pain than normal, it was horrible - so I’m kind of dreading this I admit!

It’s also worth saying I had shingles just over a year ago and although it’s really hard to pinpoint when my swallowing symptoms seemed to begin, I think it was around this time as I remember struggling to eat and blaming my illness for this.

Fairly recent tests showed inflammation in my throat and I was put on a H2 blocker (cimetidine) and I was told it could be indigestion, but although I think it exasperates my problem - as the problem continues - I’m just not convinced that is the answer. It feels like a problem in my ‘higher up’ ...

I can barely manage 1ml at a time of water sometimes. I don’t believe the problem is oesophageal - It’s not ‘feeling like something is stuck further down’ or ‘feeling a lump in my throat’, nothing like that. It definitely feels ‘further up’ than that, it’s the initiation of the swallow and the general weak feeling in my throat. I don’t really feel like ‘head and throat’ are that well connected as bizarre as it sounds. It’s so difficult to explain, but it just feels so wrong. And it’s constant, some times worse than others. The whole process of swallowing from simply having water in my mouth and trying not to choke on it / getting / waiting my body to do what it should do is hard - and it’s so far from a ‘subconscious’ thing anymore.

As things stand, my life is severely restricted and defined by this issue as I spend a great amount of the day simply eating and drinking, spread out across the day. And it isn’t pleasant due to the struggle.

Tests I’m having include a coeliac blood test and a blood test for myasthenia gravis - I’m really glad I’m having these tests, but deep down I think this is more to rule it out, and is a rare condition of which I seem to lack or at least not have severe other symptoms of this making me think it is unlikely.

I’m also having an MRI scan and blood tests. I’m scared, I don’t understand what is happening to me or why. I just wanted a space to share my thoughts and wondered if anyone had any ideas or suggestions or anything.

[edwangy]

There's a condition called 'acalasia'(look it up) could be that? Also 'globus pharnygeus' is another condition where there is a sensation of lump in throat.(I had this when I was younger) Look them up

[Kazzacrazy]

I had problems swallowing food and a gastroscopy identified a hiatus hernia and I had candida too...I take daily medication for the hernia now I hope you find some answers x

[johnjerry]

Hi. I'm sorry to hear you're having trouble swallowing. I know how that feels. I had trouble swallowing liquid for the first time in my life one night sipping on a beer. It happened exactly as you described. It was as if I was standing at the edge of a cliff and every time I got ready to swallow it felt like I was going to fall, if that makes sense. Not a blockage, not a lump. Just a halting in the initiation. I didn't have trouble swallowing food, although some foods brought me close to that sensation, such as soup and macaroni. I searched high and low online and came across a lot of conditions for what you have. Hiatal hernia, barrett's syndrome, esophageal spasm. They all described some of what I'd experienced, but not enough since they also pertained to swallowing food. Long story short, I went to my doctor and she told me it could be a "stricture." She really had no idea, my opinion. Referred me to get an endoscopy. I pushed to get a barium swallow instead, which came up showing nothing. The first couple weeks I suffered the way you described, barely taking in enough liquid to prevent dehydration. And took me so long to finish a half cup of water. I tried gelatin, which I had a less difficult time swallowing, but still not good. Using a straw made it worse. It was so nerve wrecking. By the fourth week I noticed when I swallowed I started to feel full, as if I needed to burp but couldn't. I tried GasX etc. Nothing helped. Then a week or so later I started to burp every time after taking a sip. That went on for another month. So now I'm thinking, does it have to do with my stomach? I started thinking perhaps my kidneys or liver weren't processing the way they ought to. By the time I had the barium swallow I was able to sip water okay, so long as I didn't take in a mouth full. Just two weeks ago I was able to take two gulps of orange juice, then more. But again, no solid food issue, although still I have a weird falling sensation swallowing soup liquid and beer and wine. As if my mouth/tongue is extra sensitive. Perhaps it has to do with its texture/acidity. In your case you didn't describe being able to swallow some things better than others. I wondered if it has anything to do in the brain. Neuromuscular, I think they call it, which is the wiring going to the swallow mechanisms. I really don't know. I don't think doctors know either. Their guess is as good as ours. It's one of those unexplainable areas, which sucks for us. Anyway, I don't mean to talk about my condition. It's just food for thought. Know you're not alone. Others like me are out there wondering what the heck is going on with our swallowing! I read someone with a similar problem as you had say they would wake up in the middle of the night to drink/eat. Something about the brain and muscles not being as hyper aware, which allowed her to get more food and liquid down. I hope you feel better. Keep us posted.

[johnjerry]

Did your swallowing condition go away? Please update.