I have had the sensation that something is caught in my throat for over two weeks and I have been running to all these doctors trying to figure out what is going on. On Monday, I went to an ENT who looked at my throat and larnyx. Before he looked, he sprayed this disgusting banana flavored stuff in my throat and pull out my tongue as far as it could go and looked in. Now I have had numbing in my tongue and my bottom lip. Is that normal?

Hi,
That nasty numbing medicine was probably Hurricane Spray. It generally keeps things numb for a couple of hours. Did the ENT find out why you are choking? It sounds like you might need to see a GI Dr., to see if you need your esophagus stretched.

Michelle

I had that sensation when my esophagus(spelling?) was spasming. I went in countless times complaining about pain in my throat and discomfort, and they couldn't tell me a thing. Finally, when I began to spit up blood, they did an endoscopy down my throat and saw that I needed surgery to close my upper stomach sphincter. It was all caused by severe reflux that was eroding my esophagus, causing the spasms. I didn't really have any other symptoms of GERD, but I had lived with it so long, I didn't know you weren't supposed to feel that way. Surgery cured it all.

Lynn

LibraryLynn,
Would you please tell me what kind of surgery did you have, was it painful, & how are you doing?
Thanks Sandy

I had a nissen funduplocation(that may not be the proper spelling). That involved putting five small holes in my torso and basically tying my stomach around my lower esophagus. I had it done after they discovered extensive bleeding and scarring because my les (lower esophagul sphincter) no longer closed and the acid just sat and burned through.

The surgery was not bad with the five hole method. I had a friend who had it done with the standard stem to stern incision, and I had FAR fewer problems then he. I was out of the hospital in a day, back to work in a week and fully recovered in a month. I had some pain because a great deal of the work is done around the diaphragm, and it's difficult to sit up, laugh or cough for awhile.

Would I have it again? You bet! The only downfall is that I can no longer vomit, but since my surgery in 1996, I've only had the stomach flu once. I went to emergency and they gave me a shot to make me stop being nauseous. That was more difficult, but the pain in my neck and chest went away completely after a few months.

I'd highly recommend the surgery,if you have a surgeon who has performed the procedure many times before. I was told it's like a video game, and the surgeon needs to have skilled eye-hand coordination.

Hope that answers your question. Please feel free to ask more.

Lynn

Lynn,
Thankyou for your kind response. I'm so glad that everything turned out so good for you. It's so rewarding & wonderful when you go through a surgical procedure & it turns out so well.
I am 61/2 wks post-op, of having my Gallbladder removed (also lapriscopaly) The surgical pains are almost all gone now, however, I am still having similar symptoms, I had before surgery. Although, I can eat foods that I couldn't before the operation, it still hurts as the food passes through the upper epigastric area (by the sternum) & I'm careful of what I eat. Everything is soft low or no fat. My Gastro thinks my esophagus may be spasming, & I may also be having some reflux..but it's just guessing. I've had just about every test necessary, & they all come out good. I've just been sent for another CT-scan, but no results yet. None of the PPI's help, I've tried Nexium,w/Librax(anti-spasm med) Aciphex, Protonix. He just gave me Previcid to try & Robinul (anti-spasm) I'm trying to give my system of rest before I try them.
Sry to ramble, but my main concern was that I'm wondering if my Lower esophageal sphinter could have something wrong with it. Before your Fundo, did you have any problem or painful discomfort with eating or after?? Any input you can offer is appreciated.
Thanks Sandy

Sandy,

Before my fundo, I didn't really have pain in that area. Most of my symptoms were concentrated mainly in my throat area. The spasms were making everything freak out, so it's very possible that it could bother you in your lower esophagual (sp?) area. My spasms were much more severe after eating, most definately.

They were able to easily tell with an endoscopy that my LES didn't close properly. I didn't have a hiatal hernia which surprised the doctors. Perhaps that's an issue for you, particularly since your pain is in that general area.

It's so frustrating when they can't figure it out. It's a miserable way to live; you're in my thoughts.

Lynn