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Feeling of a small piece of food stuck in the back of my throat

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Posted 9/29/2011 4:17 AM (GMT 0)
I am new to this forum:
I was in the medical field as a nurse for 12yrs.
4yrs ago I was diagnosed with ARDS.
I was put on Nexium 40mg.
It worked for about a yr and a 1/2.
I was having alot of difficulty that required a Gi cocktail quite often.
a period of approximately 3 months go by, and My Ards became worse where either there was chest pain(gas) or a feeling of a small piece of food felt Like it was stuck in the back of my throat after i ate.I felt fine before i ate something,but the minute i ate,i felt that irritating piece of food in the back of my throat.it hasn't been painful just irritating.Then 50% of the time when i felt this irritant I would go into the bathroom,cough,and throw up.That little irritant is gone.
I started on a new ppi dexilant 60mg,and i feel like its helping(day 2) although i still have that piece of food irritant in the back of my throat.
I had a barium swallow which indicated no barrettes,no stricture,no ulcers.
I am seeing a gi the apt isn't till 3 more weeks.
This feeling is so irritating!
I tried thick liquids to chase it down.The only way to relieve this is to throw it up,but i am tired of throwing up.(This is not psychological)Throwing up gets rid of that piece of food feeling.Vomiting can cause more damage.What can help in the meantime til my apt?,Would an Ultra sound show anything that a barium swallow didn't?I have 3 weeks tell me how to get out of this discomfort.Thanks so much! would prilosec help?How would that help along with dexilant?
Posted 9/29/2011 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
Gettysyork-
Welcome to HealingWell.
sorry you are having such problems. I haven't had these symptoms before unless I actually had food stuck in my esophagus. I have had that many times even before my nissens. My esophagus would fill up and i would throw it up. More like a cat does with a hairball. This doesn't sound like the issue you are having though.

I am not so sure they can't detect or rule out barretts with a barium swallow. My understanding is they have to do a biopsy to see if the esophagus cells are changing into stomach like cells. I do have barretts and that was the only time I know they saw it. I have had very many barium swallows and never been told one way or another regarding barretts. I do hope you get into the GI soon and have an EGD done to see how much damage you have.

I have never heard of ARDS and lately it has been popping up here so I googled it. I am going to do more research on it, but I did find the definition...Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Since you were put on nexium I am thinking they believe it is related to GERD. There are a few members who have had bad symptoms lung wise from the reflux and are doing much better after having nissens done. Not saying it is the best solution for everyone, but it did help them. 2 I know for sure is Denise and Joy. Denise may have even fell into the ARDS category.

Please stick around and I am sure more will comment here. Sorry I can't be of much help.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/29/2011 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
well something you stated sounded like some of my symptoms your statement like a cat coughing up a hairball.
Thats how irritating this small piece of food felling is i have felt in the back of my throat.
I had plans of talking to the gi about an endoscopy.
However,as normal,i am scared to death.
I know they do these procedures all the time,but not like me.
I am only 40 and have been diagnosed with polycistic lung disease.(I have approximately 80 cysts in my lungs,both rt,lt,upper,and lower lungs)
although the scope goes nowhere near the lungs,the pressure of the scope exploring plus,anesthsia is why i am worried.

Can priloec help remove this small food irritant,can an ultrasound see anything?
what can i do for the next 3 weeks till my apt.My pcp doesn't have a clue
Posted 9/29/2011 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
I was taking PPIs twice a day pretty much the last 5 years before I had my nissen. Might see if your PCP will switch your PPI tosomething like aciphex or dexilant. Dexilant you can take anytime, even right before or after you eat unlike all the other PPIs. I don't believe an ultra sound would see anything they didn't see during the barium swallow.

Have you noticed any certain foods trigger this or is it all the time no matter what?

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/29/2011 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
When my "hairball" would get stuck I'd cough it up or get a little sick. It would be back within a few minutes with me.
My manometry test found out I had a third unprotective movement as well as a large hernia and weak LES.
The surgeon did a 270 degree wrap on me because of this. It's worked very well for me.
Posted 9/30/2011 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gettysyork,

Welcome to Healing Well!  I'm so sorry to hear you're having so many problems.  It sounds like the throat symptoms are the most bothersome to you.  Have you tried Maalox or some other liquid antacid?  Sometimes it can coat your throat and stomach and provide some comfort.

It sounds to me as if you've got some irritation that mimics food being stuck.  Like Bill, I don't think they can diagnose or rule out Barrett's with a Barium Swallow.  That can only be discovered with an endoscopy.

If you read my posts around this forum, you'll find that I'm a big fan of Carafate Suspension.  It has the ability to coat and protect the esophagus and stomach for up to 6 hours.  That's a big advantage when you're trying to heal irritation.  I'd suggest asking your PCP about it. 

I agree with you...vomiting is only making the situation worse.  Whatever you do, avoid vomiting. 

Be very careful what you eat while you're healing...smooth, non-acidic, stay away from spicy foods...chew your food very thoroughly before swallowing.  (try to get it as close as possible to a liquid consistency.)

I also had a lot of lung problems due to reflux.  I suffered for four years with very unhealthy lungs, and finally decided that I had no choice but to try the Nissen fundoplication surgery.  I had it in February 2009, after two and a half months of healing, I've got healthy lungs again!  I don't know if the surgery would help in your case. but after having your visit with the GI and any testing he might order, you'll have a better idea as to whether or not it might help your condition.

Don't worry about the endoscopy.  They just give your some Versed so you don't remember what happened.  I've had it three times...once mildly sedated, one with no sedation, and one with enough Versed that I didn't remember a thing.  It's no big deal.  You'll do just fine!

Take care and good luck!

Denise

Posted 9/30/2011 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
hello,
i recently started feeling sharp pains in my shoulder by my neck and it would fade then come back i have tried everything from hot rags to hot tea to a heating pad and maalox but i am beyond it now. I know it is gas because it moves now and i have no idea what to do about it now. i have also tried rubbing it hard or tappin lightly on the area... please it there anyway u think i can get comfort because i have exhausted most of the options i know.
Posted 9/30/2011 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for your posts and comments,and for all so sharing your experiences.They have been very comforting.
I appreciate all of your help.
What is a carafate coating?
Bill mentioned it in one of his post.
I tried drinking maloxx because of the thickness.
regarding the feeling/discomfort of a small piece of food stuck in the back of the throat,
it varies.
One meal i can eat tacos,and be fine,then the next time it feels like a little grain of hamburger meat stuck in my throat.
It doesn't happen everymeal.
Maybe lets say 3 meals and four snacks the whole day.one those will trigger it.today it was a peanut,
yesterday it was a piece of very small cut up ham.

just out of curiousity does anyone know if you have had your tonsils out say(34yrs ago can they grow back)

since i have to wait to see the gi specialist think it would be to much to see an ears,nose and throat doc?

Do i ask my pcp about a script for this 6hr coating carafate?

Hey thanks all god bless everyone of you!
Posted 9/30/2011 10:04 AM (GMT 0)
Gettysyork-

carafate comes as a suspension liquid or pills. If you can only get the pills as I do, just mix the carafate pills with a little water to make a suspension. they dissolve very easily. Then drink it ad wait about 30 minutes before you eat to allow it to coat everything.

kimmie- Welcome to HealingWell.
It is hard to say what is going on or what will help without some more info. Are you currently diagnosed with gerd? Have you had surgery? Are you on any medications?
Also I would recommend starting your own thread as you will get more responses that way.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 10/1/2011 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Gettysyork,

You mentioned tacos, peanuts, and hamburger.  All of these may be too rough for your esophagus until it heals.  I would suspect that the feeling like something is "stuck" is, instead, an irritated/scratched spot.  If you can try to pull back on the foods you eat and only eat things that are smooth and mild in consistency, it might give your esophagus a chance to heal.

Carafate Suspension is a prescription drug.  My PCP told me that it was a good thing it worked so well for me, since it is a very benign drug and very little is absorbed...most is excreted through the digestive tract. 

The reason it is better for healing than Maalox is that it lasts a lot longer. 

I hope you get relief soon!

Denise

Posted 10/1/2011 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hey thanks all with the help.unfortunately i read this too late,I ate a bowl of Cheerios,and i had that stuck feeling again,and got sick,my throat is very sore.
your right though,I made an apt this a.m. with my pcp I see him Monday a.m.so I will ask about the carafate suspension,maybe that will get me through till i see the gi at the end of the month.
Posted 10/1/2011 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
I appreciate everyone's,comments and patience.
I was a nurse for almost 12 yrs i worked in orthopedics.(I can answer almost any question about any bones,or orthopedic procedures)
but it's different when you can actually talk to some that has had a personal experience.
Since i moved from the area which i use to work,some of the doctors here,are so rushed to get you out of the door you can't hardly ask a question,and if they do let you ask a question,they have no idea what you are talking about.Not all doctors just some.(alot where i live)

Anyway maybe i have a muscle that just doesn't want to work right,something in the degree Denise posted.

Thanks all,
Would you consider bread hard on a diet.
Where could i come up with ideas for soft things?
Like I said this swallowing thing doesn't happen after every meal.
today 2 meals out of 4.
Lightly toasted english muffin-irritated(bread stuck
hamburger-fine
cheerios-irritated food stuck
Pizza fine

(that feeling of I have a pill stuck in my throat and i can't get it to go down,not even if i rub my fingers on my throat,or drink hard,or drink something thick)


Just fyi I take 3 pills at night i crushed them i did not want to get sick after the cherios

again thanks for every thanks for everything.
Have a good weekend all!
Posted 10/1/2011 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gettysyork,

I did some research online to find a good diet for you while you heal.  While I'm no doctor, and don't play one on the internet turn it sure sounds like you have developed a sore in your esophagus that makes you feel like something is stuck.

Here's a site that discusses esophagitis.

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/esophagitis/hic_esophagitis.aspx

This one seems even more to the point.  See what you think.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/174337-esophageal-ulcer-diet/

The same type of diet that is good after a Nissen surgery would give you some good guidance:

slhhn.org/docs/pdf/keystonesurgical-fundoplication%20diet.pdf

(This link will have to be cut and pasted into your web browser to work.  I couldn't get it to work with a direct link.  Sorry!)

 

Good luck getting things healed.  I know what you mean about how good it is to have a forum like this to share and recieve information from others who have experienced similar issues!

 

I think you will be helped by following this type of diet.  It's going to take lots of patience to get this healed, so try to relax into the recovery.  I hope you push your PCP for Carafate Suspension.  If you have prescription coverage, that's the one you should get.  The generic pill can be used as Bill has described (I've done that), but the suspension is much easier, and I think better.

 

Have a great weekend!

Denise

Post Edited (dencha) : 10/1/2011 7:48:57 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/2/2011 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Gettysyork-
I think you may have some issues with soft bread kind of like we do after the nissen surgery. My reasoning is because as Denise says, it seems like you may have some esophagus damage and with that swelling. As far as what are soft foods, anything you can chew to a liquid or close to it. I'd be careful with softbreads though. When I was in the hospital a while back they gave me fish and chicken as soft foods.

As for the carafate suspension, I agree with Denise that the suspension is better than watered pills. I had the suspension at the hospital and had to use the pills at home. The suspension just feels like it coats better and definitely tastes better. Not that the pills are bad tasting just that they flavor the suspension and the pills are just a bland taste.

Take care,
Bill devil
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