Severe pain with swallowing... help, please! - Digestive Disorders Message Board

morose_symphony · 12-22-2003, 04:38 PM

Hey Everyone,

Ever since my problem arose last month, I have been posting on the boards. I am fifteen years old and was recently told that my symptoms were most likely GERD. I have not been to a GI doctor or had any tests done as of yet, but I am hopefully going to be seeing a GI doctor in January. My ENT told me that I most likely had a post-viral esophageal spasm, and put me on Medrol. He said that the Medrol would take about three days to kick in.

Four days later, I went to see my pediatrician, who put me on Nexium. I have been on 40 mg of Nexium for a little longer than two weeks now. At first, I had fantastic results. Within two days, I felt about 60% better. My symptoms started out as severe acid reflux, belching, the feeling of a lump in my throat, watery eyes, spitting up food, itchy ears, chest pain, and shortness of breath (however, I was still able to talk and everything).

Last night, I went to bed feeling terrible and woke up feeling worse. I'm having a hard time swallowing and really severe pain when I do swallow. It was so bad that I could hardly eat. I'm not having any signs of acid reflux - like the burping, or the regurgitation - just severe pain when I swallow. I have been popping Pepcids for almost a week now, though, because the heartburn was coming back.

Could the Nexium have stopped working all of a sudden? I haven't felt this bad since I went on the Nexium and I'm really scared. I have no idea what's wrong with me. Has anyone experienced similiar symptoms? Could be something other than GERD? At first, I thought I had Achalasia. But, if I had Achalasia wouldn't I have continued to have difficulty swallowing after starting the Nexium? I'm very confused, someone please help me out!

Best wishes,
Haileigh

Pagegurl · 02-06-2004, 06:56 PM

I, too, have started having those same symptoms: feeling of a lump in my throat, and chest pain. Also, I feel the urge to burp, and I try, but it doesn't help at all. Right now, I feel as though my chest is tight and feels like I have something lodged in my esophagus.

I went to the cancer center yesterday to have a followup of my thyroidectomy, and now I have to go for a Barium Swallow on Monday. They feel like there is another growth, etc. But, until then, how can I make this weird pain go away?

Harry · 02-07-2004, 11:27 PM

You could try taking a magnesium supplement 3 times daily for good absorption. It certainly helps muscle spasms of all types.
My wife used Prilosec for 6 years and she stopped in October because of unknown nausea. She has been taking a magnesium supplement since then and she swallows OK and the lump went away.
You only absorb about 13% of the Mag you take -- taking it 3X daily increases the absorption to about 40%.

It is estimated that 70 to 75% of people lack magnesium but we are not that way with calcium with the dairy products we consume.

Pagegurl · 02-07-2004, 11:45 PM

harry---

That sounds great, however, I wonder if it would work for me since I take a thyroid med, beta blocker, diuretic, cholesterol med, and an IBS med. Seriously, I just don't know what vitamins, supplements, etc to take anymore. What do you think?

I see a lot of your posts and enjoy reading what you write. Very intersting!