About 2 years ago, I started experiencing problems with food being stuck in my throat. I would eat something and then drink something, and I could actually bring parts of the food by up through my throat (I know it sounds sick). The food would not propel down my throat as it should, and would stay there for a few hours. I dealt with it for a long while, but then it got worse to the point that I was burping almost all the time, and I felt tired and malnourished as well. I would be able to stand in front of the sink and use my stomach muscles to force the food back up from inside my throat.

I spent a while searching the internet and self-diagnosed myself with a form of Achalasia. I had nearly all the symptoms. I went to see a specialist and had an endoscopy done. The Gastro-Enterologist said that he couldn't 'see' anything wrong, and referred me to a hospital to have a manometry done (a manometry involves placing a tube through one of the nostrils and down the throat to measure pressure within the esophagus).

The manometry results came back negative. I was at a loss and didn't know what to do. The symptoms had died down to being tolerable again, so I just figured that I would leave it be and hope that whatever was wrong was now alright.

Recently though, my symptoms started up again, and it's causing me a lot of distress. I don't want to eat or drink because I don't want the food stuck in my throat.

I had thought that perhaps the combination of stress at work and home, not chewing my food well enough (I need to have several root canals done) led to the problem, but my symptoms often flare up when only drinking.

I want to go back to the doctor, but I don't know what else can be done. I know there is a barium-swallow test that will actually show the food as its going down my throat. I'm sure this test can tell them something because I can feel the food there. I'm just not sure if I can go through another battery of tests. The costs are not cheap with these tests, and I've recently lost faith in the medical field having had all these tests done and paid a lot of money with no results. I had a septoplasty surgery done recently that wasn't cheap, and the breathing situation in my nose hasn't improved an iota.

Well, I'm sorry to ramble on, I just wanted to get some insight from someone else who may be in the same situation, or may be able to offer help.

Thanks for listening,

Ryan

Hi I have suffered achalasia for 20 years and from what you describe it sounds like achalasia to me I stumbled upon a site dedicated to achalasia recently and the guy there said b group vitamins seem to help so I am 2 weeks into it and it is easing the symptoms a bit ! I had years of being treated as neurotic by my doctor and all they would say was there was a problem but it was probably in my head! Not much help when your choking on liquids and solids! Anyway I hope this helps and tell the quack that you have achalasia but don't let them operate and check out Achalasia.net good luck

Hi, I also have achalasia, have had it since 1981. WHEN THEY PUT THAT TUBE DOWN YOUR THROAT, DID THEY CHECK FOR MOTILITY IN YOU ESOPHAGUS? I AM SURE THEY MUST HAVE, BUT YOU NEVER KNOW. I HAD THAT TEST AND WHILE THEY WERE DOING IT, I HAD TO SWALLOW SEVERAL TIMES FOR THEM, IT TURNED OUT THAT I HAVE NO MOTILITY, THE ESOPHAGUS JUST DOES NOT WORK AND THERE IS NO REPAIRNG IT. DID THEY SUGGEST DILITATING YOUR ESOPHAGUS? I HAD THAT DONE AND IT RUPTURED MY ESOPHAGUS. BUT I KNOW MOST PEOPLE HAVE IT DONE SUCCESSFULLY, ASK THE DOC ABOUT IT.

There is a new surgery available called a hellor myotomy with partial fundiplication (check spelling). It's laproscopic surgery which involves cutting open the valve to your stomach to allow food in and doing a little something else (partial fundiplication part) to reduce future acid problems.

I had it done since my achalasia was pretty acute and came on suddenly. I dropped 25lbs in a matter of months since I could no longer eat and drink.

Aurgery seems to have worked although the side effect is that carbonated drinks, alcohol, and large meals cause a lot of discomfort.

It's been a year now since the surgery. Seeing specialist tomorrow to talk about the above side effects.