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Another miserable symptom, dry swallowing and air bubbles all the ways down

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Posted 7/26/2013 5:58 PM (GMT 0)
This is another miserable symptom that drives me nuts.  My vocal folds are swollen which gives me the lump sensaton which in turn causes me to dry swallow alot.  When i do this i hear air bubble travel all the way down the esophagus into the stomach.  My esophagus even gets sore from swallowing so much.  Does anybody have this and if so, have you found anything that helps. 
Posted 7/26/2013 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know yet if my vocal chords are swollen - will find out on Monday at the ent consultant - but yes I get exactly what you are talking about and this only started a few weeks ago - I find alkaline water helps a lot - (thanks JPT) and I also do a salt gargle 3-4 times a day, and am now starting on a low acid diet to see if that helps rolleyes
Posted 7/26/2013 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hello there, ive tried all three of those things without much success. What are your symptoms?
Posted 7/26/2013 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Sensation of lump in the throat at the front, mouth gets dry from swallowing a lot - when I swallow it feels like an air bubble pushing down my gullet - sometimes getting stuck - have had a few sore throats, a bit of a croaky voice in the last 7 days and before that some trouble swallowing - I am presuming it is LPR and trying to follow JPT's advice, keeping a journal of what I eat, and adding gaviscon advance to bedtime ritual.

Are you on ppi's - I also have a hiatus hernia which causes a lot of burping as well.
Posted 7/26/2013 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
I was on ppi's for 3 months and they made my throat 100 times worse. Let me know what the ENT says.... When did your symptoms start?
Posted 7/30/2013 8:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lobstaguy,

Saw ENT yesterday, he says I have LPR and has upped my dose of ppi's and that I may also have a functional swallowing disorder, I have to now go for further tests.
Posted 7/30/2013 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Lobstaguy & GC1pink

Joy has this issue and has been through the testes for it and has exercises to help this. 1 that I know of is to hold your chin to your chest and swallow hard. This helps with mucus and such on your throat vs throat clearing. Throat clearing is bad for your throat/vocal chords.

I will contact her to come here and offer some advice.

A;so, us GERDies do swallow more often than those w/o reflux to jeep things down where they belong. It's a natural reaction to reflux, but is very hard to stop. That is a big cause for excess gas and the sir bubbles.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/30/2013 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill,

Many thanks for the advice, it's really appreciated. It would be great if Joy could come on board and give us some advice. I don't really clear my throat often, but this insane pain on swallowing with some globus is driving me up the wall!
OOh the joys of life!!
Posted 7/30/2013 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
gc1pink, can you let me know how the Gaviscon treats you?? And how your tests go? Ive had a bottle here for a month but havent started it yet. It may be my last hope.

Thanks for the tip opnwhl4. Anything and everythying is appreciated.
Posted 7/30/2013 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lobstahguy,

I get the Gaviscon advance - it's the best one - it forms a raft on top of your stomach (so no drinking after you've had it) and protects from acid, bile and pepsin damaging your throat. It's not a particularly pleasant taste, but I do find that it helps.

I'm also gargling 4-6 times a day with a mild salt solution to try to heal the throat tissues, I find sucking mild butterscotch candy helps soothe the throat, but I do think that I may have developed a swallowing problem because of the lpr - I go for the Barium on Thursday, then two weeks after that I am having a more in-depth study where they will video all aspects of my swallowing to see if I am spasming in the UES or just swallowing to hard now because of the pain. I'm told that people with LPR tend to "hard swallow", where we concentrate on the bottom of our throat when we swallow, instead of a relaxed normal swallow that starts at the top of our throat.

Although my vocal chords are clear, I definitely have inflammation at the back of the throat and a cyst now as well, this is proved by when I eat yoghurt it does not hurt at all, but eat some bread and it does, so I'm obviously tender in there.

I need to try to "soft swallow" and stop dry swallowing as this makes the pain worse. I'll update you after each test,

all the best.
Posted 7/30/2013 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
GC1Pink, if you are like me, i never even thought about my swallowing until this happened to me. Now its always on my mind especially the globus sensation. It is a true nighmare isnt it? I had a barium swallow and a modified barium swallow that showed minor problems, but the doctors didnt seem to think it was a concern.

I just asked my ENT today that exact question, whether i could drink water after taking the Gaviscon Advance. He said he wasnt sure, but it makes sense to me that you should. I read that it stays on top of the stomach for 3-4 hours but i dont see how this is possible since the stomach empties well before that. So it didnt give you any side-effects?? None??
Posted 7/30/2013 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
p.s. how do you do a soft swallow?
Posted 7/31/2013 8:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lobstahguy,

I think I would be asking you doctors what the minor problem was - just to get more information on the problem.

I don't get any side-effects from Gaviscon at all - you can use it 4 times a day, so after each meal and before you go to bed, the only side effect I have read about is that it can occasionally cause a bit of constipation - if that happens take a mild laxative or up your intake of fibre.

I have no idea how to do a soft swallow but I am looking at these -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4feUjLmwIsI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2Ce7dlUG9c

I also think that with Globus - the more you think about it the worse it gets - and yes I am like you, I am now constantly thinking about it which now makes me more anxious and then it's a catch 22 situation.

I would suggest trying to completely absorb yourself in something where you won't think about your swallowing - a task that requires full concentration, plus put on some music - distract yourself - could be anything - then afterwards see if the globus bothered you during that period, if it didn't perhaps anxiety is now contributing to the problem - or most likely like me, you are just now hyper aware of your sensations.

I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow.
Posted 7/31/2013 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
I emailed Joy, but yet to hear back from her. She has been dealing with some tough medical issues as of late, but she was by here a few days ago. Still hoping she will stop by.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/31/2013 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Bill,

I hope that we hear from Joy, and that she gets better soon.

all the best!
Posted 7/31/2013 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
gc1pink, yes, the globus does get worse when i focus on it, but it takes something very demanding for me to even have a chance to put it in the back of my mind. I can never just relax. I woke up in the middle of the night so dehydrated i found myself dry swallowing because my throat was completely parched. I dont know how long this went on but today my chest is sore. This whole syndrome is such a mental nightmare. Thanks for the Gaviscon info. I already take Miralax. It seems i have about 4 or 5 problems happening at once. Not sure if my body will every get back into balance.
Posted 8/1/2013 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lobstahguy,

My upped dose of ppi' s seem to be helping my globus today, fingers crossed it stays that way. I had the barium swallow and was diagnosed with my hernia a bit larger, reflux and a lot of spasms in the chest - this is causing all my pain and swallowing problems.
So we shall see what the next move is but at least I finally have an answer to what is going on.

All the best
Posted 8/1/2013 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Your barium swallow showed all of that? Was it a modified barium swallow?? Let me know whats next
Posted 8/2/2013 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, a simple plain Barium swallow showed all that - and it's so much easier than an endoscopy - which found zilch!

Next I go for a video fluoroscopy - this shows me eating food to see what happens with the swallowing problems, and I have been talking via email to a renowned Professor and he has recommended that I have the restech dual impedance test which will show if there is acid or alkaline coming up the gullet and into the mouth via a spray or gas which in turn may be causing all the spasms in the chest!

So more lovely tests to look forward to, but at least it's a step in the right direction.

Have you had a barium swallow or a ph study? :-)

Posted 8/2/2013 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Ive had both of the those tests. The barium swallow and the modified barium swallow that only showed mild esophageal statis. I tried the ph study but the nurse couldnt get the first tube down my nose because my nose has been broken and when i finally busted thru the cartliage it hit the back of my throat so hard it left a sore. When he pulled it out there was blood everywhere and i got sick from the pain. I have to try it again however no matter what because i also need to know if my throat problems are from reflux or irritable larynx syndrome. The problem is, i never feel well enough to do the test. They have me on miralax and i think it is making me sick but who knows. Im sick so much anymore it could be anything.

When do you have the ph test?
Posted 8/2/2013 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't been given a date for the test yet but it should be in the next 3 weeks - may I suggest that you get the restech test - this is a particular test which will pick up on airway reflux (LPR) and the probe is tiny compared to the manometry and normal PH test - I have a deviated septum and enlarged turbinate and take it from me they were painful procedures so I know where you're coming from!

If you watch the video it shows the tiny probe - plus a basic PH test does not show LPR, you need this test instead.

http://www.restech-corp.com/Oropharyngeal-pH-Probe.aspx

I've also started a new thread on a product that is in trials that can help with LPR.

Why have they got you on a laxative for reflux?

I'll keep you up to date.
Posted 8/3/2013 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
GC1pink. We had the Restech last year. Some docs have not heard about it and some don't accept it. We called the company direct and asked for the nearest physician that has their machine. We ended having to travel to his location two days in a row for insertion and removal, then a third trip for interpretation. Be sure and get a copy of the test results before you leave. Yes the probe was tiny and not uncomfortable, you could see the red lite blinking back of throat when you open mouth and look in mirror. Also, the box that you wear is constantly reading your pH and It shows on its screen. We were watching the numbers frequently. Sometimes when feeling bad/acid/burn throat the number read neutral or in the non acid range. Kinda hard to wonder! PLEASE let us know how you do with it or did you have it already. (not sure). Thanks. Pat
Posted 8/3/2013 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
gc1pink, Did you already have a 24 hour empedence test?? With the tube thru the nose and into the esophagus? And the manometry? I had digestive problems before the throat problems. My ENT doesnt know if i have LPR or irritable larynx, thats why i want to try the 24 hour empendence test again. I have so many strange problems happening at once i am overwhelmed. Thanks for the information i will check it out.
Posted 8/3/2013 8:17 AM (GMT 0)
Patfill,

Hi, no I have not yet had the restech test, I am due it in about 3 weeks, so I'll let you know how I get on. OOh I will be looking at the numbers all the time, now that you have told me that!

Lobstahguy,

Yes last year I had a basic ph test and a manometry (tube through the nose) - the manometry showed 55% failure rate in swallowing, although if I am having spasms I am frankly not surprised. The basic ph test showed that I had NO reflux symptoms at all - not even one. Even though a barium swallow last year and this week - both show that I have reflux!

My ENT thinks I have LPR because of my symptoms - I now will sometimes feel a spray of something in my throat - my vocal chords are clear, but the back of my mouth is red and I now have a cyst there. I am also losing my voice quite easily.

I would suggest having the restech test - the ph test does not show if you are having airway reflux in your throat - and that causes LPR. Yes, you will probably have to travel to get the test, but getting an accurate answer will be so worth it!

I'll let you both know how I get on.
Posted 8/3/2013 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Please do let us know. I will check the site again to see where the nearest place is.
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