Hello, I started experiencing esophagus problems all of a sudden about two months ago. It started one evening right after I finished supper, I felt like I had a lump of food stuck in my esophagus, rignt between my breast. It did not hurt, just felt like a lump of food just sitting there. I drank a lot of water and walked around the yard trying to get the food (?) to go down. After about an hour, it seemed to be ok. This continued to happen to me every evening after eating, but the symptom started lasting longer. At that time it was just my evening meals, then as the weeks moved forward it started happening with all meals, just worse in the evening. I made an appointment with my Gastroenterologist, who I use to see ten years ago for acid reflux. He scheduled an endoscopy, and the results showed no stricture, and no cancer. He said my esophagus was a little red and inflamed and prescribed me rabeprazole sodium at 40 mg daily. This seemed to make the stuck food feeling go away but caused me really horrible insomnia and constipation, so I had to stop taking it. I now take Nexium at 20 mg twice a day, but it is not helping at all. I am having a hard time believing this symptom has anything to do with acid reflux, as I have not had any acid reflux symptoms, or issues in years. There are no symptoms at all, no heart burn, nothing. Does anyone else have symptoms like this? Could it be anything else? Thanks.
Im not exactly sure what it is I keep that feeling constantly now feeling like I gotta cough 2 try and clear something out its all started after bein diagnosed with anxiety about a month ago and gets worse here lately and I started having stomach problems so the dr gave me meds for ibs but they make me feel like I cant breathe so I didnt take them today and my throat and chest keep that full lump sore feeling
Thank you for sharing. Having this feeling everytime you eat something will bring anxiety to mix for sure. My stuck/lump feeling is not sore. Just concerned as to why it happens, and what to do to be normal again.
Hello Raellen,
If you do have an inflamed esophagus then you should make some short of diet apart from taking Nexium. I am currently on a similar situation, I take the same dosage but I am also on strict diet after a esophagus crisis las Thursday. Since then I am feeling better but I don't eat sweets, chocolate, don't drink coffee. I eat pasta wthout sauce, boiled vegetables, boiled potatoes, chicken and very little fruit (watermelon). I believe that this situation will last for the next two or three weeks.
You need to get on top of this. When you feel food stuck rake a huge lungful of air and hold it in, I found this helped. Also sip fizzy water or juice while you eat. The fizz breaks down the stuck food. I had nissen fundoplication and it changed my whole life.
Hi Caroline - thanks for the lung tip - it has just worked.
I've an odd one.
Started a course of anti-biotics last week Wednesday (Clorum) and from then had a nausea feeling and then last Saturday had the food stuck in chest feeling after eating peanuts. An hour's walk solved that, although I've had a small pinch of pain round about the middle of the chest since the course started. Then last Saturday night had some crisps and they stuck even worse. Took 2 hours to settle and a hour-long walk. I was on the Clorum as a week-long laryngitis throat problem would not shift and I lost my voice. No trouble iwth eating anything until then, including crisp and peanuts. Now have the current pinch feeling when I eat. I've an endoscopy in the coming days. Also, I've had a history since 2008 - triple therapy, diverticulitis (re-section), diphene induced ulcerative colitis, and an incisional hernia repiared through surgery only a few months ago. Thought I was over hospital stays. I'm not (that) worried about C of the oesophagus as the synptoms started the day of my anti-biotics and cancer is an insidious disease that takes weeks and months to develop. Your nissen op is intersting. Anyway, I will see after the endoscopy, but thanks for your info.
Hi Raellen,
I exactly have the same feeling. I have a constant feeling that something in stuck in the chest. I'm not sure whether it's in the esophagus or the lower windpipe near the lungs. I try to blow out and cough it out but nothing comes out. It's been going on for 3 months and it's making me think it's something else. I've been to see an ENT specialist and a Respitory Specialist but just not convinced it's acid related. I've been asked to do a 2 months course of lansoprazole which I'm doing and it's been 2 weeks. Can't notice any difference as yet. Really worried! I'm geeting thought's what if it's lung cancer even though I've had an x-ray. I keep thinking that probably it's not being picked up by x-ray. The feeling is just hurrendous and don't know what to do. How can it be acid related - I keep asking myself. I've not had this issue before, I don't get heartburn and the feeling of this lump is constant.
Hi do you still have symptoms i had symptoms like you for 6 week now and worried xx
Heyyy I have the exact symptoms... I'm not sure whether to get a endoscopy or not since after i talk some lansoprazole the symptomps gone down but I still got that feeling of food stuck in oesophagus a little bit =/? Are you okay now?
It's necessary to distinguish if it's actually food you're feeling or a feeling of lump in throat. If it's food it means you have to swallow a few time in order for it to pass, otherwise it's a lump feeling.
Hi Hayley2629,
Sorry for the late reply.
Yes my symptoms are still there. My last visit to the specialist who was a Respiratory specialist was to get my results of the CT scan. I've been so worried and convinced I had lung cancer that I had a scan done. thankfully it came back normal. Prior to that I had a camera down my throat which came back normal, had a barium swallow again normal, various breathing tests again normal. Everything is comming normal yet my symptoms are still there. I was was on lansaprozol but that did not do anything so the latest is that I'm now trying Gaviscon - not really helping. I seriously don't know what to do! I'm going to go back and see him.
One thing I have not done is see a Gastro specialist as many people on the board have said it could be acid related. If is is so why is nothing working is my question. So this is where I am at at the moment.
How are you symptoms? Did you have similar sensations and have you seen any specialist?
Hello I had an Endoscopy 3 weeks ago now to check for ulcers?? I have had the Helicobacter Pylori bug before and had the tripple therapy treatment for it. I don't think it got rid of it as it doesnt always work. Feel like I am going round in circles and getting know where. My Doctor still hasnt got back to me with my biopsy results they took form when I had the Endoscopy. I have all the symptoms of the HP bug could this be the case? I need to know that there is nothing serious going on as I am going out of my mind with worrry. Can you give me some advice please??
Hi raellen,
I believe this is called silent acid reflux. I had this 6-7 weeks after I discontinued my PPI medication due to having diarrhoea from taking omeprazole. I'm now on another type of medication, H2 Blocker @ Ranitidine. I still have this lump feeling at the back of my throat, and stomach acid seeping into my throat and mouth. Sorry, I can't help you much as I'm still on treatment.
Hi
Have found all these posts quite reassuring! I have had acid reflux/heartburn for the last couple of weeks and the blockage in my chest sensation only recently come on. Will be consulting my GP this week. I also have some pain in my back between my shoulder blades - anyone else have this (more of an ache than pain)?
Hi Janet, i suffer with acid and heartburn and also get the ache between shoulder blades. In the past i have also had a sharp pain in same area, thankfully its only happened on rare occasions. The 1st time i thought it was heart related and took myself off to A&E. I am now confident its connected to my indigestion.
Hi Raellen , I have the same issues. Two months ago i ate a heavy meal and felt like i couldn't breathe. There was a lump in my throat, then the burping started. I had an endoscopy and i have swelling in my esophagus and congestion. Now i have acid coming up my esophagus and into my throat. The nexium isn't helping at all. I just sent an email to my gastroenterologist to ask is there something else he can give me
Frederick if you find an answer to the acid seeping up into your throat can you share. I am having the same issues
Hi there,
What I had done was sleep on a reclined armchair instead of raising the head end of my bed by 4-6 inches. Meanwhile, I continue taking my multivites to help repair the damaged tissues along my esophagus. During meals I would consume a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with water, digestive enzymes and probiotics. I now take ranitidine 150mg before bedtime instead of twice a day.
After going through this ordeal, I realised that acid reflux is due to insufficient stomach acid. Taking Proton Pump Inhibitors further reduces acid by 70-80 percent, while taking H2 blockers further reduced by 40-50 percent. When stomach acid is low, the esophagus sphincter becomes more relaxed. So, do you think it's justified to take PPI or H2 blockers? I plan to taper off my ranitidine soon. I hope to end this nightmare asap.
Vinegar is very acidic, not a good idea. Around the time my gastritis started I happened to be adding vinegar to my food, I suspected it was responsible for my gastritis.
I think you do not get the picture. Since I have taken PPI and now taking H2 blocker, my stomach acid has greatly reduced. Thus, my meals are not properly digested.
The function of stomach acid is to breakdown food especially protein, and at the same time kill bacteria that comes with the cooked food. When stomach acid is insufficient, fermentation takes place causing burping, bloating and releasing of gas. Under such condition, we may contract H. Pylori as they can thrive better in less acidic condition.
Taking apple cider vinegar, digestive enzymes and probiotics help breakdown food and kill harmful bacteria. The boating feeling is much reduced.
Last night, I tried sleeping on my bed instead of the armchair using two pillows, and I am happy to inform you that I did not have any acid reflux even though I missed taking my H2 blocker. I believe the reason is that my stomach acid has ressumed to perhaps almost its normal volume; therefore my body system has told my esophagus sphincter not to be too relaxed. As a result, no acid reflux.