Hi ginnie - how's going!? Pretty miserable here - stomach flu for 4 now and counting (the third kid came down with it today and I'm still not recovered!).

I was told that my DYSPHAGIA is a part of my ganglioneuritis. That may be in part due to wher it is located in the spine? I don't know ginnie - I wish I had a better answer. I know that the more severe my PN symptoms or pain; the more severe my dysphagia is. My PN symptoms are dependent upon virus, bacterial infections, allergerys, and such. That is why Feb through July is the worst time of year for me. This last virus, the stomach flu has destryod me. It brought back both my dysphagia and allodynia :D:rolleyes::o this is so fun I have never used these big words so much - in fact I never knew/remembered the name for my "sensitivity pain" until I read the post. So now I can use these new words all in one thread and feel like i'm one of the intellecctuals for a moment - :yahoo: - of course you sort of lose the effect when you read my typo's but - I think I got run - my tummy is churning.... byyyeeeeeeeeeeeeee....................:thud:-

Getting scoped from GI doctor or ph test are not going to tell you anything about your swallowing. You need you get a high def manometry. This will tell you what your upper and lower esphogus sphincter pressure is as well as your swallowing motility. Obviously,if your refluxing into your throat (lpr reflux) then that would cause swallowing issues. Tightness in the throat, phlem can be a vagus nerve distinction. Amitriptyline, lyrica, gabapentin are drugs of choice to treat that.

Google you should also see an ent to examine your vocal folds. It's important to see if they are working properly.

I'm on myipad right now but I can give you more information about all this if you need. This is how my PN started.

Zenker's Diverticulosis
 

I had a problem swallowing several years ago--I think it may be different from what you all are experiencing, but I had difficulty swallowing some of the larger supplement pills as well as chicken and beef. I told the Endocrinologist about it at my 6 months visit, and he said I had to get to the bottom of it. He scheduled an appointment for me with a surgeon who was an esophagus specialist.

It turned out I had Zenker's Diverticulosis. In layman's terms, this is a pocket that forms in the esophagus that catches food, named for the physician who discovered the problem. He told me that in ancient times, some people with this disorder used it to their advantage for smuggling jewels into the country. Anyway, I had to have it repaired surgically by stapling the pocket closed. I had a long nasty scar for a while, but it has healed nicely now and is really not even noticeable any more. Joan

**********the tube is a sensor to monitor over 24 hrs the pH of the stomach, placed while you are awake, swallowing and maybe drinking water while it goes down, it is typically lubricated with jelly (lidocaine) to make it easier. After it is placed it can be annoying, but tolerable. When removed the monitor box is connected to a computer and downloaded, reported to the GI doc. The MD is just looking for more info to treat you better, however, they can assume you have excess acid levels and treat anyway. The problem with under treated acid conditions is that the esophagus can narrow down ( that's why food gets stuck) they (the MD's ) have a nifty trick for that....repeated dilalations of the esophagus. So much fun, try to get proper treatment before that is needed.
Daily hints, eat slowly, especially the first bite, eat something like a few Cherrios after difficult meds, tap temp water ( not cool). If food does get stuck and does not move ( like when you try to unstuck by vomiting, it is a medical emergency) the hospitals always have a GI team on call. Beware of the fresh grilled juicy steak!!!:wink:

Actually, there is a swallow test called, video flouriscopic swallow study. The radiologist views your swallowing with barium or other contrast--in various forms (liquid, solids, crackers, pills, etc) right there (of course it's recorded also). Better then manometry, (IMO) The probe for manometry is further down in the esophagus so great test for ruling out esophageal spasms and motility disorders.

Inquire about a swallow study for an accurate diagnosis of swallowing problems.

:(
 

Hello to you all. Thank you for wellcoming words. I feel much better knowing some of you experience something similar. My neurologist told me to wait a little, she thinks it may have something with me reading the side effects of lyrica (drug I am taking)! can you believe it? I have to chew food really good before swallowing it and my heart beats pretty hard when that stucking takes place... If you know what I mean...
Anyway, I was diagnosed with polineuropathia sensorica two years ago. I have done EMNG of the both feet, done all kinds of blood tests including one for tumour markers which was negative, thanks God... EEG of lungs, heart, uzv of abdomen, etc..Anyway the cause was not found yet so they are treating only consequences... Pretty stupid... My left foot is all numb, I feel it but different from the right one. I also have a problem with wearing socks, it kind of starts to cramp and pinch and I have to wear socks which are much bigger (my husbands!)... Does anyone of you have that also as a problem?
I am so happy to find you... There is a forum here in Croatia about these problems but nobody wrote a post for several weeks!!!! so, I am so glad to have found you all. Love you all!!! I am so sad and helpless... It is winter, cold, and I cannot wear socks and tight shoes and I could only a month ago. And now this swallowing sensation...it is not just in my mind...I feel something is wrong... Awaiting your kind replies.. Regards.
Dea

Hi to you all, first of all let me thank you for the warm wellcome 
There is a forum for the similar issues here in Croatia but nobody visited it for few weeks, can you imagine?
Now, for the swallowing problem, I told my neurologist but she thinks I red too much the side effects of the lyrica (drug I am taking) so it may be only in my mind!!! Can you imagine? Now I see I am not alone and that I am not mad or stupid
I was diagnosed with polineuropathia sensorica two years ago, I ve been taking lyrica in small dosage ever since. Now, since my problems became bigger doctor has prescribed me higher dosage… This swallowing problem is like I am eating and if I dont chew it too good it kind of stuck in the throat, like I cannot swallow it all through. Then my heart starts to beat really fast and soon it seems like I cannot breath. It lasts only like couple of seconds but quite enough to be scared…
Also, wanted to ask You, how about wearing socks? I am having trouble with that, namely, I cannot wear tight socks or shoes because I get cramps, pins in my legs…Looks like both legs are made of ice… It is hard to walk…
I am so scared. I have a small baby and insstead of enyojing him all the time I worry non stop and I am scared of all of that…
I thank you again for all the posts. Hope to see them again.
Regards from Croatia,
DEA

The Test you are referring to is called a FEESST test and it’s not better than a Manometry. You can use a FEESST test once you understand want is going on with the swallowing to aid in the diagnosis of the dysfunction. There are exercises you do with a speech pathologist where the FESST can assist with.

There are several reasons why your swallowing motility could be affected.

Medication, Thyroid, Zenker's Diverticulosis, Achalasia,Diffuse esophageal spasm, Barrets, Non Specific motor disorders, Sinsus, Reflux or a combination of multiple reasons.

The easiest test to determine if it’s Zenker's Diverticulosis or some type of visible blockage is an Esophogram. You swallow barium and the Xray you while you are doing it). If everything looks normal then you do the Manometry.
By the way, for the person who commented on 24 ph test, if they didnt perform the manomerty first how did they know how long your esophagus is? They need that in order to place the sensors in the correct position otherwise the data from the test is useless. There is a new ph test that measure acid fumes, as well and has a LED that can determine the correct placement of the sensor but I doubt they used that one as only a few doctors have it.

Why play games with ph test when you can first understand if the LES is weak to begin with.

Here is a link to Doctor I went to when I had throat problems. This article talks about people with chronic cough but really is applicable to people in general who has Laryngeal Sensory Neuropathies.
Because there could possibly be multiple underlying causes of issues going on, some people never get relief of their issue until all aspects are treated aggressively.

I wasn’t until I went on reflux med, domperidome, and amitriptyline that my globus went away.
http://www.chronic-cough.net/2012/02...related-cough/

It all depends on what the potential/suspected problem is as for what test is best. I've had both. Manometry cannot determine if aspiration is taking place which is the most important factor in swallowing problems (IMO)...fluoriscopic swallow study can tell immediately. It can also tell lots about delayed swallowing and other mechanic problems in that first few motions of the swallow, that the manometry cannot. Manometry is great for suspected motility problems, spasms, reflux, etc...where the fluoriscope is pretty much useless for these. So comes down to what you're looking for.

PH test is good to determine reflux. I don't think they put patients through the trauma of manometry just to determine length of esophagus. I believe they have been doing PH probes long before manometry was even widely used. Don't they just do a couple follow up x-rays for ph probe placement? Been a long time since I had it done, can't remember.

If you are doing a bravo PH test where they attach the Sensor to the lower part of your esphogus then you dont do a manomerty. That PH test is useless. If your are doing a dual sensor ph test where the put tube through your nose and into your stomach then yes you need a manometry to figure out sensor placement. Yes there are GI doctors who dont do manomertys but the tests are flawed.

I had 2 ph tests and 4 manomertys done. I would rather have a tube in my mouth for 15 mins then for 24 hours. PH test is pure hell.

Many GI and ENT's dont want to do them. I think its because they dont know how to interpret them. The ones who do have equipment dont have High Def ones so the test is more torture as its a pull through system. Test takes 25-30 mins instead of 10 mins.I am not knocking the ph test all I am saying is your show know your motility and LES pressure to start with. Obviously, if someone has LES pressure less the 10hg's then need PPI's. If that doesnt work, you need surgery. There is ofcourse the poor folks who are refluxing Bile (non acid) and are waiting for a drug to supress both.