Guest guest Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 Hi , Â Achalasia of the upper esophagus has been mentioned in the past on this site. I don't have much information to offer you. Based strictly upon what you have written, the unusual nature of what is happening dictates that you set up an appointment with Dr. Luketich, and let them know specifically the reason for it at the time you make the appointment. Â Dr. L is held in very high regards by the members of this group who have used him. Please contact his office tomorrow. Â From: pletchsr <pletchsr@...> Subject: swallowing issues - advice desired achalasia Date: Sunday, December 4, 2011, 2:53 PM Â Hi all, Has anyone ever had problems with the actual swallowing function? Like there is something in the back of the throat, and it won't go away? Like the back of the tongue to the upper part of the esophagus is numb and sometimes even paralyzed? Has anyone ever had slurred speech, or difficulty saying the G, K, and ing syllables? Food feels like it's stuck the top of the E, about two inches down from the ear lobes? This has been progressively getting worse since about 8 weeks after my heller myotomy with Dr. Luketich. Sometimes it's coffee related but sometimes it just gets worse without coffee. What would you do if this happened to you? Help! I thought achalasia was just a problem with food not getting into the stomach. That's a lower E issue. What I have is totally new, it's up at the top, at least from what I can tell. At least I can eat again, I gained 11 pounds in 3 weeks! Everything still works it's just getting slightly more paralyzed every week. I'm starting to freak out because I've never heard of this part of A. Gunn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2011 Report Share Posted December 4, 2011 Hi , I haven't had an HM yet, but do share upper E symptoms, however not to the extent you mention with slurring and numbness. From what I understand, we can develop a pouch or diverticulum in the upper E that catches food - this is likely what I have. I do on occasion get burning and numbness at the back/upper pharynx area. Please check with your doctor asap. Kim ________________________________ From: pletchsr <pletchsr@...> achalasia Sent: Sunday, December 4, 2011 2:53 PM Subject: swallowing issues - advice desired  Hi all, Has anyone ever had problems with the actual swallowing function? Like there is something in the back of the throat, and it won't go away? Like the back of the tongue to the upper part of the esophagus is numb and sometimes even paralyzed? Has anyone ever had slurred speech, or difficulty saying the G, K, and ing syllables? Food feels like it's stuck the top of the E, about two inches down from the ear lobes? This has been progressively getting worse since about 8 weeks after my heller myotomy with Dr. Luketich. Sometimes it's coffee related but sometimes it just gets worse without coffee. What would you do if this happened to you? Help! I thought achalasia was just a problem with food not getting into the stomach. That's a lower E issue. What I have is totally new, it's up at the top, at least from what I can tell. At least I can eat again, I gained 11 pounds in 3 weeks! Everything still works it's just getting slightly more paralyzed every week. I'm starting to freak out because I've never heard of this part of A. Gunn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 Hey, ~~ Google Cricopharyngeal Spasm. I've had it from time to time, but then I used to get DES, too (for 25 years/ onagain offagain). Seems stress related. So once it starts, it creates its own stress. . . I would *definitely* report it to my doctor! Good luck! xox > > Hi all, > Has anyone ever had problems with the actual swallowing function? Like there is something in the back of the throat, and it won't go away? Like the back of the tongue to the upper part of the esophagus is numb and sometimes even paralyzed? Has anyone ever had slurred speech, or difficulty saying the G, K, and ing syllables? Food feels like it's stuck the top of the E, about two inches down from the ear lobes? This has been progressively getting worse since about 8 weeks after my heller myotomy with Dr. Luketich. Sometimes it's coffee related but sometimes it just gets worse without coffee. > > What would you do if this happened to you? Help! I thought achalasia was just a problem with food not getting into the stomach. That's a lower E issue. What I have is totally new, it's up at the top, at least from what I can tell. At least I can eat again, I gained 11 pounds in 3 weeks! Everything still works it's just getting slightly more paralyzed every week. I'm starting to freak out because I've never heard of this part of A. > Gunn > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 Hi I have had serious upper oesophageal spasm and have just had a crycopharingeal myotomy. I didn't have the numbness you talk about just huge amounts of mucous and trouble with my voice box where it was spilling into it due to not being able to get past the upper sphincter (plus constant retching when it would finally come up). My consultant now says that it is recognised that Achalasia is just one part of a general global spectrum on Oesophageal spasm. My advice would be a barium swallow which shows up things so well and will tell you if this is what the problem is. Hang in there - I totally sympathise. All the very best to you. Kay xx > > Hi all, > Has anyone ever had problems with the actual swallowing function? Like there is something in the back of the throat, and it won't go away? Like the back of the tongue to the upper part of the esophagus is numb and sometimes even paralyzed? Has anyone ever had slurred speech, or difficulty saying the G, K, and ing syllables? Food feels like it's stuck the top of the E, about two inches down from the ear lobes? This has been progressively getting worse since about 8 weeks after my heller myotomy with Dr. Luketich. Sometimes it's coffee related but sometimes it just gets worse without coffee. > > What would you do if this happened to you? Help! I thought achalasia was just a problem with food not getting into the stomach. That's a lower E issue. What I have is totally new, it's up at the top, at least from what I can tell. At least I can eat again, I gained 11 pounds in 3 weeks! Everything still works it's just getting slightly more paralyzed every week. I'm starting to freak out because I've never heard of this part of A. > Gunn > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2011 Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 Hi , When my problems first began I had the feeling you describe of food getting stuck but not the slurring issues. I was first diagnosed as a " double swallower " and told not to swallow in quick succession as that could make the problem worse. See this link: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BUM/is_8_85/ai_n16740662/ I think I double swalloed to get the food to move down because of lack of peristalsis in my e. If I were you I would call my doctor to find out if they can help. Best, Lynn > > Hi all, > Has anyone ever had problems with the actual swallowing function? Like there is something in the back of the throat, and it won't go away? Like the back of the tongue to the upper part of the esophagus is numb and sometimes even paralyzed? Has anyone ever had slurred speech, or difficulty saying the G, K, and ing syllables? Food feels like it's stuck the top of the E, about two inches down from the ear lobes? This has been progressively getting worse since about 8 weeks after my heller myotomy with Dr. Luketich. Sometimes it's coffee related but sometimes it just gets worse without coffee. > > What would you do if this happened to you? Help! I thought achalasia was just a problem with food not getting into the stomach. That's a lower E issue. What I have is totally new, it's up at the top, at least from what I can tell. At least I can eat again, I gained 11 pounds in 3 weeks! Everything still works it's just getting slightly more paralyzed every week. I'm starting to freak out because I've never heard of this part of A. > Gunn > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 6, 2011 Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 Thanks everyone on the replies. I looked up all the info and made an appt with my local doctor. I told Dr. Luketich in my follow up that I was having trouble actually swallowing (on the upper part, not lower) and his PA said something like " you will always have achalasia, that's just another part " and sort of dismissed it. It's better now today, and I'm testing to see what foods seem to trigger it. Corn chex. What the heck. Definitely have the double swallow problem, and lots of air gets trapped as well. But it was scary when I was slurring my speech on Saturday while proctoring the SAT. I'm looking for a scope or something to just see if there is actually something stuck, or if it's like that top part of the E/throat is paralyzed, and thus it feels different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 7, 2011 Report Share Posted December 7, 2011 Thanks for the prod. Spoke to Chuck, PA for Dr Luketich today. He said it sounds like something called Bolus (sp?). Basically he said the upper sphincter muscle will close up as well if there is food stuck in the esophagus. Last Thursday I got a piece of hamburger that got stuck and that's when this started to get bad. He told me to cut out all caffeine ( a probable trigger) and go on a soft food diet for a couple of weeks. If it doesn't get better he can do a scope and stretch. No long term cure, and I'm worried once those nerves are gone, they're gone. An esophagectomy wouldn't fix it because they only replace the bottom half of the esophagus. And so I'm plugging along. Thankfully I can still eat fine, just feels like a golf ball in the back of my throat. And difficult to say g k and ing. Hi , Achalasia of the upper esophagus has been mentioned in the past on this site. I don't have much information to offer you. Based strictly upon what you have written, the unusual nature of what is happening dictates that you set up an appointment with Dr. Luketich, and let them know specifically the reason for it at the time you make the appointment. Dr. L is held in very high regards by the members of this group who have used him. Please contact his office tomorrow. Sent from my iPhone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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