Very scared. Cant swallow food. - Dysphagia Message Board

rockmonster · 07-09-2003, 01:00 PM

I am very frightened.
About 5 weeks ago I started to get a feeling of a lump in my upper throat from time to time.
About 2 weeks ago, i started to get this feeling further down, sort of behind my sternum and a feeling of food getting stuck and very slowly moving - which caused a panic attack. I had been pretty stressed at the time and had a job interview - i thought when this was over it would pass and put it down to anxiety but it didnt go.
I went to the doctor 1 week ago and he put me on Nexium which I have took, i also had some bloods(ok) and a chest xray that "looked ok" but needed "reporting on by the radiologist"
Over the past few days, though, I feel like everything I eat is getting stuck, it is causing panic and I went to the doctors again who has arranged a oesophagoscopy for in five days and an urgent ENT referal. I have just had fluids for the past 3 days.
I am scared to death, am planning my funeral because I am so scared I am dying. I have a five yr old daughter.
I have lost weight and am so frightened. I am 31.

Katie G · 07-09-2003, 01:30 PM

Hi there - don't plan your funeral yet - it's not definite that what you have is fatal. And the more you stress over it, the more you will notice the symptoms.

You may have a stricture of the esophagus or motility problems of the esophagus - both which can cause the sensations you're having. The stricture can be diagnosed by endoscopy and the motility can be assessed via an upper GI or barium swallow. Rather than an ENT, you might want to consider referral to a gastrointestinal (GI) doc. At least that's what they're called in the States.

Please, please, please never give up without knowing what you're dealing with. Many people on this board may have been convinced they were dying only to find out their problem was easily solved.

I'm praying for you to have strength and serenity,
Katie G

phxgem · 07-10-2003, 04:58 PM

I had this problem at one time. It came on very quickly, within a matter of hours and I could barely get liquids down. It turned out to be thrush (a yeast infection) caused by antibiotics, which burned a hole in my esophagus. Oral medication helped immediately. It was really very minor compared to how frightening it was!

hry33 · 07-14-2003, 04:50 PM

throat and swallowing problems can sometimes be caused by anxiety effecting the muscles, valium relaxes them for a while

prostator · 07-15-2003, 09:02 PM

hry33, do you happen to know if all anti-anxiety medications have muscle relaxing properties like Valium? I was hoping my throat problem was due to anxiety tensing up the throat, but when I took Xanax, it didn't help my symptoms.