Stuck in throat or opening to stomach????

laurapar · June 13, 2006

Let me ask this...when I swallow, say a pill and it gets stuck, I feel it in my throat. Is that where everyone else feels it? It just seems funny to me that if it gets stuck and doesn't go down to the opening in my stomach, then there is something wrong with my throat. I've never brought anything back up like slime everyone experiences. I'm just eating small meals and chew a lot. :nervous :nervous :nervous :nervous

Roblynn54 · June 13, 2006

I have the same problem. My surgeon diagnosed me with esophageal spasms. He put me on nifedapine. It helped some, but I am going to see a specialist soon.

laurapar · June 13, 2006

Thanks, I'll look that one up.

nursekathy2u · June 14, 2006

I have been a GI nurse for 17yrs. When you have a feeling like something is stuck in your throat or burning in your throat it is usually (not always) a sensation that is radiated from the gastroesophageal junction (where your stomach and esophagus meet). Having said that, I know alot of patients who have had a lap band placed who now suffer from esophageal spasms. I have them too. Warm, or room temperature liquids help with the spasms.

gadgetlady · June 14, 2006

I have been a GI nurse for 17yrs. When you have a feeling like something is stuck in your throat or burning in your throat it is usually (not always) a sensation that is radiated from the gastroesophageal junction (where your stomach and esophagus meet). Having said that, I know alot of patients who have had a lap band placed who now suffer from esophageal spasms. I have them too. Warm, or room temperature liquids help with the spasms.

Sorry to hijack this thread, but . . .

Nursekathy, I was just about to schedule an appointment with an ENT. I feel like something is stuck in my throat at the very top. No burning. Over the years I have often been able to work up or spit up a very small ball of, for want of a better term, hard mucus. I don't quite know what it is exactly. One doctor years ago told me it was mucus that had gathered in the folds of my throat and eventually popped out and came up. It's usually very small, like the size of a small drop of Water. I assumed my "stuck" sensation was one of these things not working it's way up. I was in for a fill today and my dr thought it was probably sensation from the band, but then when I told him what I was eating every day he said I'm swallowing stuff fine so that mustn't be it. Any thoughts? TIA!

3loves · June 14, 2006

I have this feeling as well. It is only when I take my Effexor. I used to take the capsules and had to switch to the 75 mg twice a day. The pills aren't coated and I think it may rub my throat or something of the sorts....I don't think is actually gets "stuck".

Hey Laura, is it with all pills or just certain ones? If your like me, you keep drinking b/c it feels like Water would help it. It does eventually go away. :phanvan

nursekathy2u · June 14, 2006

Gadgetlady...

The sensation you get in your throat from your esophagus is USUALLY at the bottom of your neck. If you are bringing stuff up I would see an ENT as you were thinking about doing.

gadgetlady · June 14, 2006

Thanks, nursekathy. I don't produce too much stuff (a few times a month at the MOST) but this sensation is too annoying. I'll be going in ASAP.

laurapar · June 14, 2006

3loves, I found a solution to swallowing my pills; I take five a day. I'll have maybe a banana, crackers or something else and when it is chewed and mushie and I'm ready to swallow I then put the pill in my mouth and it goes down smoothly with the food.