Esophageal Dysphagia ... Help

[MissyMouse]

Anyone know anything about Esophageal Dysphagia?  I'm starting Nystatin today and am having an esophagram done tomorrow.   There was also discussion about going on nitro glycerin for this.    Can hep or treatment cause this?  I can tell you it is very painful when it happens.  It feels like food and even water are getting "stuck".  It hurts so bad that I get up and walk around to see if I can get it to go down the rest of the way.

Mouse

[Snowflake]

Mouse, I was dx with it in 97 right before I started my first round of TX for hep c, when I couldn't even swallow my spit without severe pain...The first couple of years was hell..but it is still no picnic..I am still dealing with it on a daily bases...

As far as tx causing it, I had before I treated..It could be the hep c breaking down the body...It seems almost every year I am dx with a new chronic illness.. This year it is IC/PBS...oh joy number 6 of chronic issues...

I wish you well in finding something that will help you..I have learned to swallow differantly and it help alittle..I know of no cures for it.. There is some info on line you might want to look at...

Take Care
 Winona

[MissyMouse]

Wow!  Thanks Winona, it's nice to know when we aren't alone with weird stuff.  I did some looking online and there really isn't a whole lot out there on it.  Nice to know someone out there knows how bad it hurts.  But not nice to know that someone out there has to feel that kind of pain.

Did you take anything for it?  I was so dumbfounded over the discussion about nitro that I forgot to ask if Hep caused it.  You would think that it's a bit of a coinky dink that they are both gastro issues.

Mouse

[DougV]

Missy,

I think the reason you aren't finding much is it is a symptom not a disease.  For example my wife has it but it is caused by her hernia.  Hopefully the esophagram will provide an explanation for the cause, then you can guess wither it is related to hep or not.

Ain't gettin' old so wonderful.  Screw hep I need a cure for oldagedness.

Doug

[MissyMouse]

Well... hopefully I'll get the barium down.  Last time I tried to do a barium test it wasn't pretty ... neither was I, talk about being a beotch LOL.


Mouse

[MissyMouse]

All done.  I managed to wear my "big girl panties".  I might know as soon as tomorrow.

Mouse

[Snowflake]

Mouse, Glad you made it though the test with the barium...that was the first test I did..The next was a dropler thing(can't remember what it was called, thought I would never forget that test name) they insert it in your nose down into your throat...It measures how you swallow
( the contractions)...Mine showed my throat is having spasms, grabbing the spit or food instead of pushing it down..like when you swallow something wrong and it gets hung up.. this happens even to this day every time I swallow..

I don't take any medication for it, I have learned to swallow differantly, by collecting and limiting how many times I have to swallow my spit, food ect and swallowing really hard..it doesn't work magic, but does help alittle.....I don't know how the nitro would help, I think I would ask about that...

It seems there are quite afew differant causes (or kinds of) Esophageal Dysphagia...maybe yours will be caused by something differant..

If you have to do the test down the nose, one thing I would say is to relax, relax, relax...otherwise you are in for some pain..exspecailly when it is being pulled out...ouch!

Good Luck
 Winona

[MissyMouse]

Ain't know way they're sticking anything down my nose LOL. (I said that about a biopsy too).

My tummy is upset.  I'm assuming it's a combo of treatment and the barium.  Just did a shot yesterday.

Winona, thanks for all the input.  It does help.

Mouse

[MissyMouse]

Esophogram was normal (how's that for speed).   Next step, another endoscopy.  Sigh. 

Mouse

[DougV]

Ain't know way they're sticking anything down my nose

Hmmm, perhaps I should remind you there are limited routes down there.  Let's see, you got your mouth, your nose, the exit route, oh and a surgically created one.

Does that make the nose sound like a slightly better option now. 

I might now also add, have you ever had a test in your life that didn't require at least one more follow-up test?

Just think if Linda Lovelace would have had all them problems we probably wouldn't have the modern porn industry. 

Of course on the slightly more serious side, I sure hope they find out what's causing it quickly and that they can fix you up even quicker.

Doug

[Jazzdenova]

I just had to have an endoscopy done Friday. They claim I have Esophageal Varices stage 1, whatever the heck that is.
Then while I was still woozy they put me on a scrip called nanadol, which when I looked it up was a high blood pressure medicine.
I am not a happy camper and not a big fan of pharmacology or having to take a pill everyday.
I feel fine and only did this stuff because I turned 50 last year and they said they wanted a baseline.
Supposed to do a colonoscopy next month and not sure if the trust is there....

[MissyMouse]

Jazz,

Sounds like that might be trying to keep portal hypertension under control.  Varices is not something to mess with.   I had an endoscopy last year and mine came out great.  Don't ya just love the "I turned 50" tests.  Bill and I both had to do them this year.

I've canceled my endoscopy which was scheduled for next week.  My body had a long discussion with me after the esophagram.   It told me it was tired and it needed some rest so I'm going to wait until treatment is done.  I only have 3 more months left.  I had the esophagram last Thursday and I finally got rid of the barium this morning.  Sheesh.

Do the colonoscopy, it's a necessary evil.

Mouse

[DougV]

Varices is not something to mess with.

Why yes and funny that could cause esophageal dysphagia.  Course they wouldn't find that out 'cause somebody wants to put off a test.  Oh and for that matter esophageal cancer could cause it too, oh yeah but somebody don't wanna practice what they preach and get a test done.

Reminds me of a song....

I know it's late,
I know you're weary,
I know your plans don't include endoscopy...

Okay maybe that ain't exactly how the song went, but dang it Missy, pick up the dang phone, call 'em back, blame Bill, blame RIBA, blame whatever, just get the dang appointment back.  Practice what thou preaches.

Doug

[MissyMouse]

 

I will in a week or two.  I'm not worried about varices, I was just scoped last year,but I swear I'll get 'er done soon, just need a tiny rest.

Mouse

[DougV]

That's better.  But still, nope I ain't buying the "got scoped last year" bit either.  That's why we get it done every year 'cause for us it don't take a year to develop.  Few days will do just fine.  First symptom can be really mild, just a touch of esophatel dysphagia maybe, if even that.......

And not that I don't trust you, mind you I'd trust you with my dog (and you've met my dog, I wouldn't trust my baby with just anyone), but you WILL tell us tomorrow when your appointment is so we can follow up on you?  Hate for it to slip your mind. 

Doug