Regurgitation

Hi Tippigirl,

Yes I have this problem, I have upper dysphagia which means the food gets stuck at the back of my throat and I have to wash it down with a lot of fluids, this was caused by LPR. I had one dilitation which helped for 10 days, and I've just had 50 units of Botox injected into the upper sphincter which has reduced the pressure but changed the tone of my swallowing and actually made it worse.

I would recommend getting a barium study done, as it might simply be spasms rather than a dysfunction that you are having.

Hope that you feel better soon,

All the best,

Pink

Hi again,

A manometry does often not show up any problem with the upper sphincter as the manometry tube has opened the sphincter and most are not sensitive to show dysfunctions. I had a manometry in December when I was having really high pressures at 196 and 207, when your normal pressure is around 60, the manometry said full coordinated opening - utter rubbish a barium swallow 1 week later showed a full crycopharyngeal dysfunction.

A barium swallow, or better a Videofluroscopy will show the swallowing of your whole mouth, pharynx, and sphincter, and any problems related to it - and it's a breeze to do, drink some chalky liquid while being x rayed.

I would ask for a Videofluroscopy this is the same as a barium swallow but with food, and a speech therapist will spot any abnormalities.

Hope that this helps

Hi Tippigirl,

Yes I am in the UK, I have private insurance so I can get the barium swallows anytime ,but the videofluroscopy is always done on the NHS, I would push your GP for a referral for a videofluroscopy with a speech therapist - this is how my dysphagia was first diagnosed.

With a non relaxing or tight cricopharyngeal sphincter food can get caught above the sphincter and lie there until you regurgitate it - I get this and it's odious.

It may well be spasms that are causing this, and if so, there are many treatments to help. In the meantime try massaging your own neck with oil and working the lower neck, and then put a warm wheat bag on several time a day, and keep stretching your neck so the muscles don't tighten up.

Hope that this helps,

Pink