Re: Ear-throat Pain/Discomfort

[Guest guest]

Olga,

My pain is different than yours but I do have pain when talking

and occassional hoarseness. This started a few months after my

swallowing problem started. I was just diagnosed with achalasia

( " A " ) after three years of symptoms so I haven't had surgery yet.

Dr. Patti told me he didn't think the pain when talking was related

to " A " . He said hoarsness could be related in that when food gets

stuck above my sphincter it could sometimes go up and aggravate my

vocal cords. But given how much pain I have when talking, I think

my problem is more involved than that.

My doctors also thought I had reflux at first but I tested

negative for reflux using a Bravo pH test and I've tried several

proton pump inhibitors that did not help.

I have never had ear pain. Sounds like an ENT doctor would be

good for you to see. Let me know what the ENT says. (If you happen

to live near San Francisco, CA, I like Dr. Courey at UCSF. He is my

ENT doctor. I have had speech therapy through UCSF as well).

Good luck!

Vicki

>

> Hi all,

>

> I'm just wondering if anyone has felt an ongoing ear-throat

> pain/discomfort that began during their achalasia experience. GIs

> seemed to think it was related to acid reflux, but nothing they

> prescribed ever helped. Even after my myotomy, the problem has

> continued. (It kind of feels like a lump in your throat when you

find

> yourself getting emotional while the ear discomfort feels like an

> earache in both ears.)

>

> Until I see an ear, nose, and throat doctor, I thought I'd ask the

> people most familiar with achalasia what they might know.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Olga

>

> P.S. I have posted my 7-page typed achalasia story in a new

location.

> I only recently noticed that there is a folder in the " Files "

> sectioned entitled " Member Stories & ... " so it now resides there

> under the name " Olga's Achalasia Story " .

>

[Guest guest]

-

Hi Olga,

I often get throat and ear irritation. Had it all the time before I

had surgery. I only get it when I am more stressed now. I don't know

if it is associated to A though. It is like getting a viral flu that

doesn't seem to eventuate into anything. I get all the aches and

pains too.

Sorry I am not much help to you.

-- In achalasia , " back2normal2006 "

<back2normal2006@...> wrote:

>

> Hi all,

>

> I'm just wondering if anyone has felt an ongoing ear-throat

> pain/discomfort that began during their achalasia experience. GIs

> seemed to think it was related to acid reflux, but nothing they

> prescribed ever helped. Even after my myotomy, the problem has

> continued. (It kind of feels like a lump in your throat when you

find

> yourself getting emotional while the ear discomfort feels like an

> earache in both ears.)

>

> Until I see an ear, nose, and throat doctor, I thought I'd ask the

> people most familiar with achalasia what they might know.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Olga

>

> P.S. I have posted my 7-page typed achalasia story in a new

location.

> I only recently noticed that there is a folder in the " Files "

> sectioned entitled " Member Stories & ... " so it now resides there

> under the name " Olga's Achalasia Story " .

>

[Guest guest]

I've had the ear/throat pain problem for several years. I've been

diagnosed with GERD and motility disorder, but as of yet, not a

diagnosis of achalasia. I even had a direct laryngoscopy in 2002

because of the continual throat pain and lump-in-the throat feeling.

At this point in time I am having rather sever throat/ear pain again

and am scheduled to see an ENT doc at University of Michigan in June.

What has always concerned me is that my throat/ear pain and

swallowing difficulties have always been on the right side. But so

far no ulcers, dysplasia or Barrett's have showed up in my esophagus.

Still I'm always worried about the continual throat pain and

irritation, because I read an article that stated that it was possible

taht long-term reflux into the throat could lead to precancerous

tissue or lesions in that area. Anyway, I thought I'd throw my

experience with this out there. I'm glad to finally know I'm not the

only one with this problem.

Anita in Michigan.

GERD/REFLUX/MOTILITY DISORDER sufferer

>

> Hi all,

>

> I'm just wondering if anyone has felt an ongoing ear-throat

> pain/discomfort that began during their achalasia experience. GIs

> seemed to think it was related to acid reflux, but nothing they

> prescribed ever helped. Even after my myotomy, the problem has

> continued. (It kind of feels like a lump in your throat when you find

> yourself getting emotional while the ear discomfort feels like an

> earache in both ears.)

>

> Until I see an ear, nose, and throat doctor, I thought I'd ask the

> people most familiar with achalasia what they might know.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Olga

>

> P.S. I have posted my 7-page typed achalasia story in a new location.

> I only recently noticed that there is a folder in the " Files "

> sectioned entitled " Member Stories & ... " so it now resides there

> under the name " Olga's Achalasia Story " .

>

[Guest guest]

Anita,

Does your throat pain cause you pain when talking (I am asking

because I have this problem)? Do proton pump inhibitors help with

your throat/ear pain? Maybe you could try a different one or a

higher dosage? (I have read that occassionally people need to try a

few PPI before they find one that works for them.)

Thanks,

Vicki

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I'm just wondering if anyone has felt an ongoing ear-throat

> > pain/discomfort that began during their achalasia experience.

GIs

> > seemed to think it was related to acid reflux, but nothing they

> > prescribed ever helped. Even after my myotomy, the problem has

> > continued. (It kind of feels like a lump in your throat when you

find

> > yourself getting emotional while the ear discomfort feels like

an

> > earache in both ears.)

> >

> > Until I see an ear, nose, and throat doctor, I thought I'd ask

the

> > people most familiar with achalasia what they might know.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> > Olga

> >

> > P.S. I have posted my 7-page typed achalasia story in a new

location.

> > I only recently noticed that there is a folder in the " Files "

> > sectioned entitled " Member Stories & ... " so it now resides there

> > under the name " Olga's Achalasia Story " .

> >

>

[Guest guest]

There are times when my talking does cause my throat to hurt. I am on

Nexium 40 mg a day for the last four years. Before that I was on

aciphex. I don'te really feel the PPI helps with the throat pain. I

belive my pain is from food and/or acid backing up into my throat.

While the PPIs turn off some of the acid pumps in the stomach, they do

not fix or cure the reflux, so stuff still washes back up into the

esophagus and in my case into the throat.

> > >

> > > Hi all,

> > >

> > > I'm just wondering if anyone has felt an ongoing ear-throat

> > > pain/discomfort that began during their achalasia experience.

> GIs

> > > seemed to think it was related to acid reflux, but nothing they

> > > prescribed ever helped. Even after my myotomy, the problem has

> > > continued. (It kind of feels like a lump in your throat when you

> find

> > > yourself getting emotional while the ear discomfort feels like

> an

> > > earache in both ears.)

> > >

> > > Until I see an ear, nose, and throat doctor, I thought I'd ask

> the

> > > people most familiar with achalasia what they might know.

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > > Olga

> > >

> > > P.S. I have posted my 7-page typed achalasia story in a new

> location.

> > > I only recently noticed that there is a folder in the " Files "

> > > sectioned entitled " Member Stories & ... " so it now resides there

> > > under the name " Olga's Achalasia Story " .

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hello ladies,

I hope I clicked the right button to best respond. Thanks for writing

back and sharing your experiences. I've also tried Aciphex, Prilosec,

and something else I can't recall that all the GIs and internists

thought would eliminate my ear-throat pain. (Nexium made me so sick

the first time I tried it that I immediately stopped.) They believed

it was related to my GERD symptoms via achalasia. I don't buy it

because 1) nothing they gave me ever worked despite their assurances

that it would 2) my problem did not start for many months after the

onset of my achalasia symptoms 3) although for a long time I had

heartburn symptoms that would often aggravate the ear-throat pain

(especially if I got heartburn in the middle of the night), I

eventually became heartburn free (read my posted story, if you wish)

and finally 4) and don't laugh, I tried acupuncture with an

acupuncturist who had never heard of achalasia so after getting no

results during my fourth treatment, I showed him an article citing

needle positions for persons with achalasia. The day after he tried

the info, my problem began. If it is a coincidence, it is a strange

one so that's why I wanted to know if this discomfort is common with

achalasia patients or if the acupuncturist screwed me up.

Finally, after having a successful myotomy, I still have no

heartburn/GERD/whatever but the discomfort persists. I have access to

NYC's best doctors but I won't have insurance for a couple of more

months. I might go back to the acupuncturist before then but I will

post again when I have gotten to the bottom of this problem.

Thanks again.

Olga

P.S. Talking never affected my discomfort and for me, I experience

the ear problem equally on both sides of my head. I have noticed that

when I take Excedrin Migraine for my occasional allergey-related

headaches (pressure felt mostly in the T-zone of my face) I

experience some ear-throat relief (maybe it's an allergy issue?).

Otherwise, the discomfort is pretty bearable though it's only because

I've gotten used to it and have forgetten what it's like to feel

normal in those areas.

P.S.S. Anita - A GI can have you take a barium swallow video test if

you both suspect achalasia (that's how I first found out about the

disease). By all accounts, the gold standard test for determining

whether you have achalasia, though, is to have a manometry

(uncomfortable, but no sedation is necessary). Try to get someone

like your GI or a good technician to administer this test. Mine had

to be done over because the first one was done by technicians who

didn't know what they were doing. The second time, it was done by an

excellent GI at the hospital where I eventually had my surgery.

Anyway, just something to think about.

> > > >

> > > > Hi all,

> > > >

> > > > I'm just wondering if anyone has felt an ongoing ear-throat

> > > > pain/discomfort that began during their achalasia experience.

> > GIs

> > > > seemed to think it was related to acid reflux, but nothing

they

> > > > prescribed ever helped. Even after my myotomy, the problem

has

> > > > continued. (It kind of feels like a lump in your throat when

you

> > find

> > > > yourself getting emotional while the ear discomfort feels

like

> > an

> > > > earache in both ears.)

> > > >

> > > > Until I see an ear, nose, and throat doctor, I thought I'd

ask

> > the

> > > > people most familiar with achalasia what they might know.

> > > >

> > > > Thanks,

> > > >

> > > > Olga

> > > >

> > > > P.S. I have posted my 7-page typed achalasia story in a new

> > location.

> > > > I only recently noticed that there is a folder in the " Files "

> > > > sectioned entitled " Member Stories & ... " so it now resides

there

> > > > under the name " Olga's Achalasia Story " .

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Just for info: I did have a barium swallow and two pH manometry

tests a couple of years ago when my swalloing problems started, but

at that time the only result of the tests was significant reflux on

one manomatry but " No symptom correlation " on the second one (who

knows what that means); and the results of the barium swallow showed

an abnormal stripping wave (meaning that the food got stuck and went

down very slowly) but as of yet no diagnosis of achalasia. But from

reading the posts on this site and doing my own research, I

personally feel I'm headed in that direction with all the swalloing

difficulties I have had for the past four years. Hope this info is

useful. I am scheduled to see an ENT and my gastro in the next

month, and hoping for some real answers this time.

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi all,

> > > > >

> > > > > I'm just wondering if anyone has felt an ongoing ear-throat

> > > > > pain/discomfort that began during their achalasia

experience.

> > > GIs

> > > > > seemed to think it was related to acid reflux, but nothing

> they

> > > > > prescribed ever helped. Even after my myotomy, the problem

> has

> > > > > continued. (It kind of feels like a lump in your throat

when

> you

> > > find

> > > > > yourself getting emotional while the ear discomfort feels

> like

> > > an

> > > > > earache in both ears.)

> > > > >

> > > > > Until I see an ear, nose, and throat doctor, I thought I'd

> ask

> > > the

> > > > > people most familiar with achalasia what they might know.

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks,

> > > > >

> > > > > Olga

> > > > >

> > > > > P.S. I have posted my 7-page typed achalasia story in a new

> > > location.

> > > > > I only recently noticed that there is a folder in

the " Files "

> > > > > sectioned entitled " Member Stories & ... " so it now resides

> there

> > > > > under the name " Olga's Achalasia Story " .

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Anita,

Please keep us posted on how your appointments go this month. I

know I'm curious to see if Dr. Nostrandt is any closer to a more

specific diagnosis for you. Maybe you should mention achalasia and

see if he thinks you have it, yet. He didn't get specific for my

husband's diagnosis, either (do you remember, he has Diffuse

Esophageal Spasm, not A?), except to tell us he didn't have A, yet

(sometimes DES people develop A). Maybe if he realizes that you are

researching motility disorders, he will be more specific with you.

When you mentioned your test, did you have the pH test or manometry or

both? Manometry measures muscle contraction in the E and pH probe

(different sensor on the tube) measures acid. Sometimes, they do both

the same day. The nurse or tech that did my husband's mano. at U of M

wasn't too pleasant. His name was . Did you have the same one?

The nurse at Cleveland Clinic was much better at making him less

uncomfortable (if that's possible). Also, U of M had him sitting up

while CCF allowed him to lay down (it at least looked to me to be

easier). Good luck with your appointments!

in SE Michigan

>

> Just for info: I did have a barium swallow and two pH manometry

> tests a couple of years ago when my swalloing problems started, but

> at that time the only result of the tests was significant reflux on

> one manomatry but " No symptom correlation " on the second one (who

> knows what that means); and the results of the barium swallow showed

> an abnormal stripping wave (meaning that the food got stuck and went

> down very slowly) but as of yet no diagnosis of achalasia. But from

> reading the posts on this site and doing my own research, I

> personally feel I'm headed in that direction with all the swalloing

> difficulties I have had for the past four years. Hope this info is

> useful. I am scheduled to see an ENT and my gastro in the next

> month, and hoping for some real answers this time.

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks. I will keep you posted. I too would like to have a more

definite diagnosis after suffering and worrying for four years now

and losing 40 lbs in 2002 because of the swalling difficulty (but I

think more from worrying about what was causing it). I belive I had

the ph twice (where they leave the probe in 24 hours), and the first

time along with it I had the manomatry where I was sitting up and

they kept moving the tube up and down my esoph. and doing some

measurements (very uncomfortable but tolerable). I don't remember the

tech's name but it was same one for both tests. He had long hair if

that description helps. I am going to mention A to Dr. Nostrant at

this next visit. He does know that I have had the painful chest

spasms in the past but never as sever or long lasting as your

husband's. And I have read that DES can eventually turn into A.

Anyway, I hope your husband gets relief and I really appreciate this

site even though I haven't been diagnosed with A, I feel that the

people on this board know what I'm going through when family and

friends who have no clue about GERD, swallowing disorders, etc.,

sometimes think it's a psychological problem.

> >

> > Just for info: I did have a barium swallow and two pH manometry

> > tests a couple of years ago when my swalloing problems started,

but

> > at that time the only result of the tests was significant reflux

on

> > one manomatry but " No symptom correlation " on the second one (who

> > knows what that means); and the results of the barium swallow

showed

> > an abnormal stripping wave (meaning that the food got stuck and

went

> > down very slowly) but as of yet no diagnosis of achalasia. But

from

> > reading the posts on this site and doing my own research, I

> > personally feel I'm headed in that direction with all the

swalloing

> > difficulties I have had for the past four years. Hope this info

is

> > useful. I am scheduled to see an ENT and my gastro in the next

> > month, and hoping for some real answers this time.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Anita,

That's a big part of what makes this group so great, they can

relate to spasms and swallowing difficulty so much better than most of

our families and friends. For the longest time, when I told family

and friends about 's problems, they would relate what worked for

them for their acid reflux. They had lots of suggestions about what

to eat or not to eat. Even last fall, my brother sent me an e mail

telling me about an informational presentation about acid reflux that

might help ! They just can't relate like the people from this

group can. Even as a support person, I'm still very grateful to have

found this group! I'm so glad it's been a help to you as well!

in Michigan

> > >

> > > Just for info: I did have a barium swallow and two pH manometry

> > > tests a couple of years ago when my swalloing problems started,

> but

> > > at that time the only result of the tests was significant reflux

> on

> > > one manomatry but " No symptom correlation " on the second one (who

> > > knows what that means); and the results of the barium swallow

> showed

> > > an abnormal stripping wave (meaning that the food got stuck and

> went

> > > down very slowly) but as of yet no diagnosis of achalasia. But

> from

> > > reading the posts on this site and doing my own research, I

> > > personally feel I'm headed in that direction with all the

> swalloing

> > > difficulties I have had for the past four years. Hope this info

> is

> > > useful. I am scheduled to see an ENT and my gastro in the next

> > > month, and hoping for some real answers this time.

> > >

> >

>