diverticulum in the esophagus/feel like food/meds are stuck

Hi,

I post on the lupus forum which is considered an overlap to scleroderma which I have. Most people are not familiar with sclero, so for starters it can affect any part of the digestive system.

In the past month, I have had several tests all related to the digestive system. The endoscopy showed inflamation of the esophagus, gastritis and an esophageal hernia. This is a different type of hiatal hernia than the one between the esoph. and the stomach although I have one of those too. I had a barium swallow as a follow up to this. It shows a diverticulum in the esoph. rather than the hernia. Is anyone familiar with this? If so, what have you been told regarding causes and treatment. I don't see my GI doc until next week.

I also feel like food is stuck right at the top of my breast bone--or the bottom of that indentation in our chests. (I wonder if that has an official name :tongue) During the barium swallow they also did an esophagram which follows some food down. after I swallowed, the doc asked me if I felt like anything was stuck. I told him where and he told me that nothing was showing. I KNOW stuff gets stuck there because it comes back up; in the case of meds I taste the med (icky) or capsules come up all squashed. Anyone else experience this?

Thanks. I'm glad healing well has so many different forums! I read several that apply to me and continue to learn!

emmie

I too have had that feeling of food getting stuck. It's NOT fun. Are you eating too quickly? Inhaling air at the same time? Try eating VERY slowly and chewing to the point everything is MUSH.

Sorry I don't have much else to add.

Hi! I have two kinds of feelings where foods get stuck. The KNOWLEDGE that they are stuck---and also just the FEELING that they are stuck. When I know they are stuck it is very painful, and the pain radiates around the chest. I have to sort of walk around or I start to panic. This eventually resolves itself (usually within an hour). When it does, I can clearly feel the food or pill "move" or "pop" out into my stomach.

When i just have the feeling that something is stuck, I do not have the awful pain in the chest. It is just a feeling of fullness, and I usually feel like I have to burp, but cannot. I am okay resting in bed and do not feel panic, but feel uncomfortable. It's usually also accompanied by a lump in the throat type thing. I think this is more of a reflux problem of things backing up into my throat and chest.