Not sure what's the cause - General Health Message Board

RebaAnn · 03-31-2009, 11:28 PM

I've been feeling like there's food stuck in my throat after eating. This has happened a few times within the past couple of weeks or so. One time it felt like food was getting stuck on the left side of my throat and then I felt like a piece of a potato chip was stuck on the right side. After I ate dinner tonight it felt like food was stuck in the back of my throat.
It feels like I need to keep clearing my throat. But, when I do nothing comes up and I don't actually feel a piece of food coming up or anything like that. I just have the feeling like it's stuck there. I have also had a feeling of like when you have flam stuck in your throat, but again when I clear my throat there's nothing coming up and I don't actually feel a piece of flam.
This feeling usually lasts for a while after I eat and then it goes away. It's not something that I feel constantly, only after eating. I've also had the feeling of my mouth being dried out once in a while. It's like my mouth and throat are dry and pasty feeling. It feels dry and pasty right now.
Just some other info: I have had heart burn and indigestion in the past. When I was little I was told I had gastritis, but that I may out grow it, which I believe that I did. We've also had viruses going around in our house within the past few weeks...my mom had pneumonia last week and is just now getting over it, my step-sister and her fiance live with us and he's had something with a bad cough, their daughter just came down with coupe (not sure of the spelling of that as I hadn't heard of it before) and an ear infection, and my step-dad seems to have had something as he wasn't feeling well and had a 102 fever.
It's a scary feeling to me to feel like food is stuck in my throat. I've had anxiety for as long as I can remember, so it causes me to get anxiety as I think there may be food stuck that will cause me to not be able to breathe right or something. But, that's never happened...I just tend to "freak out" about things like this.
So, I would like to know what the cause of this could be or what I could do about it. I am not able to go to the doctor due to having no medical coverage and not being able to afford it. So, what do you all think? Could it just be a virus causing my throat to be irritated and sore and when I eat it just irritates it and makes it feel that way or what? Any advice or suggestions of what to do would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

janewhite1 · 04-01-2009, 06:54 AM

That actually could be a symptom of heartburn, or rather reflux. Look up Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. It's usually not too serious. Eating smaller meals and staying upright after eating can help.

Or, could be a virus. No way to tell for sure.

Your daughter's illness is spelled croup, I believe. Hope she is improving.

RebaAnn · 04-01-2009, 08:44 PM

I believe it is due to reflex. I had heart burn a earlier, then I ate a hot dog and it felt like I had acid reflex from my throat all the way down to my stomach. So, that seems to be what it is. It was just like pressure built up from my throat to my stomach too and it kind of hurt. I drank some milk and it feels somewhat better now. So, yea, that does seem to be what it is. I will be sure to get some Zantac and keep it around in case this does happen that has always helped with just heartburn.
It does feel more like flam stuck in the back of my throat then it feels like food is stuck, at least today it has. I did have a bit of a stuffy nose this morning and was slightly flammy in my throat. So, it seems I could have a virus as well though.

mo0622 · 04-01-2009, 08:54 PM

you know, you should probably see your dr. it sounds as though you have some pretty serious reflux going on with your phlegm (correct spelling) and stuffy nose in the morning and your "lump in throat" symptoms. i'm sure he/she could prescribe something to help you with that. in the meantime, try not to eat any acidic or fatty foods, and avoid alcohol and caffeine.