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Crohn's of the esophagus?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 6/29/2014 7:19 AM (GMT 0)
This is my first time posting here so hello everyone!

For the past few weeks I've been having problems swallowing. It has been coming and going, I will have it for a few days and then it will go away and then it will come back again. It started by feeling like pressure when I would swallow, like food was having a hard time going down and almost like things were getting stuck. Now for the past few days I have been having severe pain in my lower throat, right above my collarbone. It hurts so badly to swallow that I don't even want to eat or drink anything. It feels as if I am swallowing razorblades. I looked with a flashlight to see if my throat was red but it looked okay, it feels like it would be too low to see anything. It doesn't feel like a normal sore throat. Should I go to the ER? I am really starting to worry as I have never felt anything like this before. Could it be crohn's in the esophagus? Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

Post Edited (kelpster1) : 6/29/2014 1:57:45 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/29/2014 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
this sounds like an esophageal stricture or spasms. I don't know if it's from Crohn's or not - do you have Crohn's? People with chronic reflux can get stricturing of the esophagus, and anyone can get spasms. Sometimes spasms are stress-related.

While I don't think this is an ER sender, I do know that it is a miserable experience, having had it myself about 10 years go. Call your DR first thing tomorrow morning and either see him/her or get a referrral to a GI as fast as you can. I lost about 10 lb before my GI did a scope and dilated my stricture - this was after me complaining for a year that I was having trouble swallowing.

Good luck!
Posted 6/29/2014 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
kelpster,

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  Crohn's disease, also known as Crohn syndrome and regional enteritis, is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus.

 

If you want to read more re Crohn's Basics you can find it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crohn's_disease

Many Crohn's patients also have problems with acid reflux and heartburn etc. Its actually quite common. If you're concerned, then contacting your GI would be a good idea and maybe they can do an upper GI barium follow through or scope to check and see what's really going on. If certain medications like Pepcid and the like don't work for you then further tests are a good idea.

As kazbern posted - try to be seen by a GI Physician tomorrow.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

 

Posted 7/1/2014 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi kelp,

There are many things that could be going on, some Crohn's-related, some GERD (esophageal reflux disease). Look up "globus sensation", which is the feeling that you have something stuck in your throat. It's very common with GERD. The pain could be acid moving up your esophagus. I have a hiatal hernia, which means my stomach pushes up into my esophagus and can cause pain and make it difficult to swallow.

It can also get inflamed due to post-nasal drip, asthma, and allergies. You can have Crohn's in your esophagus, as Ides mentioned. There is also an anxiety component, especially as the feeling you're describing can make you feel like you're choking/not getting enough air. It could just be a respiratory infection.

I definitely second calling your doc in the morning and getting an appointment, especially if the pain is ongoing.
Posted 7/1/2014 7:37 AM (GMT 0)
sounds familiar. i had very similar symptoms: pain in throat (like when you get all choked up at an emotional movie, and then stay that way for so long the muscle begins to ache), difficulty swallowing, a feeling of stuff stuck in your throat. all coming and going.


i had completely forgotten about it, until i was checking in for a colonoscopy and it happened. nurse asked if i was in pain, so i mentioned it. they did some administrative jujitsu and got me an endoscope as well. i had striatic ulcerations all through my esophagus. they put me on omeprazole, which is typically for acid reflux. that helped a lot. i rarely have problems with it, these days.

my CNP said it started as Crohn's sores but the acid in my stomach made it worse.

Definitely recommend you get in to see the doctor.
Posted 7/1/2014 10:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the responses. Kazbern- I do have a crohn's disease, but it has been in remission for a few years now so this kinda came out of the blue.

I've never felt before like I've had heartburn before but maybe it is something new that just started. My gastroenterologist is booked until august, but I'm hoping they will be able to squeeze me in sooner. Until then I'm seeing my GP tomorrow to see if she has any ideas. Hoping to get this resolved soon, at first it was coming and going but now it's stayed pretty constant since the pain started.
Posted 7/1/2014 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
From my own experience CD in my esophagus felt like chest pains. I couldn't eat or drink anything without horrible pain across my chest. An endoscopy confirmed that the crohns had spread -- now it's from "the in to the out". I would at least call my GI's office and let them know what is going on. Hopefully it's just reflux.
Posted 7/1/2014 12:43 PM (GMT 0)
I'll bet if you tell your GI that you are having trouble swallowing you'll be able to get in sooner than August.

Welcome to our forum!
Posted 7/1/2014 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome,

Ditto what kazbern said, plus report the severe pain you're having so they hopefully will get you in sooner.
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