Dysphagia

Published

Specializes in ICU.

I'm not looking for advice or anything on this. Definitely not medical advice. I have researched it as much as possible and know what the options are and it is what it is. I just come in the forum often and this has been a good place to read and I just want my mind at ease.

Over the summer I have been having difficulty swallowing. Food has been getting stuck in my esophagus and I choke. It takes anywhere from 30-45 minutes to get it down. It obviously doesn't compromise my airway, it just makes me wretch and vomit. I try everything to get it down, it just takes time. It has gotten progressively worse and now getting down liquid is difficult and painful. I have a weird medical history and was just thinking it was one of my weird quirks. I didn't even associate dysphagia with this at the time.

I went for my annual physical a couple of weeks ago and mentioned it to my family doc who immediately I could tell was worried. He is a great a thorough doctor and I trust him implicitly. He said this wasn't a good thing and I needed to get into a gastro. I have had one for years. I was treated for gastropareisis ten years ago. I asked if I could see him again and the referral was sent. They called me with the referral and are just going to scope me right off the bat. So my endoscopy is on Friday and we should be able to get to the bottom of it. My dad has Barrett's esophagus. His mom had esophogeal and stomach cancer that eventually went to her pancreas and she died. I'm moderately worried due to the history in my family.

I'm hoping it's just from some scar tissue and I just need my esophagus stretched. I can't have this interfering with school since I am so close to graduating. I graduate in May and I don't want to miss any lecture time, and I can't miss clinical time. I could kick myself now for just not taking care of this when it first started in May but I waited and what 's going to happen is going to happen. Hindsight is 20/20.

I have not been feeling well all day and I got a piece of strawberry stuck this morning that almost made me late for clinical orientation. Liquid was just almost impossible to get down today and it was very painful. It's frustrating and scary all at once. I'm ready for all of this to be over. And I'm hoping in 48 hours this all going to be a good result.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Not much we can say without bordering on advice, save for a best of luck and a hang in there.

I can say, remember the old mantra: if you hear hooves think horses....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

Thanks Boston, it turned out to be a fungal infection. I've had them before, but never to where I was choking on food so I didn't think it was that. I took Diflucan for 10 days, and I feel as good as new. I didn't realize how it was sucking my energy as well. I just felt so dang tired all the time. Now, my energy is back and thank goodness no more choking, and no more vomiting. The gastro said he could not even see my esophagus it was so covered. Plus it was getting into my stomach and that's why I have been vomiting so much. It's crazy.

They are doing some blood work to see if there is anything wrong with my immune system. My family doc did all of that two years ago and it all came back normal. He thought I had just had some really bad luck in getting these infections. But I will redo the bloodwork and see what the gastro thinks.

So, this was honestly the best case scenario for me. A little anti-fungal medication and I'm back to my old self!!! Just super glad it's not cancer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Well I learned something new thanks for sharing. Glad you are better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion