| Difficulty with Swallowing
I am having difficulty swallowing food .
I visited my ENT surgeon about 3 months back ( he also has an clinical interest in swallowing/Desphagia problems) as small bits of food were getting stuck in my throat and would work their way back up into the mouth. I also explained I was having difficulty swallowing . The ENT surgeon had a look down my throat via a camera inserted into my nasal passage and I was also sent for a barium meal with another doctor. Nothing could be found out of the ordinary and as less food seemed to be getting stuck he said only to come back if things didn't improve or I was still concerned.
Just over a month ago I was eating toast and when I swallowed the action didn't complete and it stayed at the back of my mouth , but I could still breath through my nose . I then stupidly tried to breath through my mouth, my airway become blocked and I was gasping for air .For some reason my lungs began to tickle and I coughed which forced the food out . If I hadn't of coughed I'm pretty certain I would have choked to death. The experience has made me even more anxious when eating and I'm sure this adds to the problem.
I often feel it's difficult to get a decent swallow sometimes even when I'm not eating or drinking . Typically when eating I will need to swallow some liquid to help push down a mouthful I have taken , and I sometime have to clear my throat
Moist and soft foods seem to generally go down well without issues.
For over two years now I have had what I can only describe as "the muscle in my throat feeling strained " , slightly more on the right side. When visited my GP he put me on beta blockers as he thought it could be stress and after they didn't help I was sent for a thyroid scan , which was normal. These muscle seem to be used when I swallow and I'm not sure if this could be related to my swallowing problem. Whenever I've told a GP or specialist about this they look at me with a blank expression.
I was at a bit of a loose end on what to do next so I started to search the internet . I see a number of articles that say people with Swallowing problems are often referred to a speech therapist in the first instance . I found a London hospital where the speech therapy department provide a swallowing examination . I called to asked if a referral was needed and the person I spoke to had an informative chat with me for about 5 minutes and asked me more details about the issue and test I have had so far . I was confident a visit could be beneficial , but a referral was needed. So I visited my GP last Friday to asked to be referral . I had to spend a few minutes
explaining the history .She said visiting the speech therapist this was not the right thing to do and I would need a gastro entropy first . I explained I had previously had a barium meal and she said but that would not show acid reflux. However the report back from the barium meal specifically said there was no acid reflux .Who is right ?
My GP then said we would have to concluded the consultation as we had "extend passed the time slot". I was flabbergasted and angry could not believe she finished the consultation before I was able to ask more about the Gastro endoscopy, just because we had exceeded the time slot.
Can someone confirm the Doctor was right to send me for a Gastro Entropy and does she have the right not to refer me for my original request?
Any other advice on the issues would be appreciated to.
PS: My treatment would be covered by BUPA and my GP is aware of that
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