Esophagus Problems?

[Leenerbups]

Tell us all about it.

What does yours feel like?

Mine feels like I have a lot of mucus in my throat after I eat and throughout the day. I'm constantly coughing and clearing my thraot, it's so sore from doing that too.

Not sure what is going on yet as my surgeon only is in office once a week now, and I've been rescheduled twice!!!:wacko:

[DonnaB]

I have esophogeal irritation.

I didn't have reflux before being banded and don't have the common symptoms of it now, but if I don't take Nexium every day I get a heavy feeling of pressure at my sternum. If I don't take the Nexium for a week, I have pain, front and back at my sternum. It sucks.

I have only had one fill (well, one fill, one overfill (damned doctor - another story for another day) and one unfill) because of the problem and have only lost 44 pounds since March. The good news is, I'm going for my second fill tomorrow. Yikes - I'm really nervous. The overfill has made me very wary of restriction.

Leener, are you sure you're not suffering from allergies? I didn't think I had allergies but I found out this season I do! It might be worth having a tine test to be sure.

[paula]

Mine feels like I have a lot of mucus in my throat after I eat and throughout the day. I'm constantly coughing and clearing my thraot, it's so sore from doing that too.

are you sure this isnt sinus/allergy related?

Although Ive heard that being too tight can cause the food to start backing up into the esophagus.. and cause you to feel a 'choking' feeling in the throat.

I would take some sinus/allergy stuff for the next couple of days and see IF the symptoms get any better.
Keep your scheduled appt, treat the symptoms, and if it works then cancel the appt. If the meds dont work - youve lost nothing and you can still see the MD!
Good luck!

[sunta]

Hi,

Recently, I've been having a painful esophagus with almost every bite I take (not just the first bite). I do notice more mucus too, but the main problem is the pain. It's to the point where I'm starting to dread eating a little bit. I have to stick more closely to my protocall of either a hot drink or a glass of wine before eating, both of which seem to help alot. And taking much smaller bites.

[Leenerbups]

Hey all. Thanks for responding. I do have allergies, but I take Flonase everyday.

To tell you the truth, I'm just not sure what it is.

I do get pain in my left shoulder after eating too.

Maybe it is eating too fast?

In any case, I was readfing "somewhere else" that the chances of having esophagus issues increases to 80% the longer you have the band.

That's not encouraging. :-(

[NotSoFunny]

the pain in your shoulder is your diaphram being irritated. could be that it is one of your signals that you are full. maybe try a bit less.

[Leenerbups]

It defo could be, I'll eat smaller and see. Although it tends to happen immediately after I start eating. Perhaps I'm eating too fast?

[barbara465]

I overheard the PA talking to one of the patients about excessive mucuos. She said to drink something warm before trying to eat. That is supposed to clear the mucus and allowing you to eat more comfortably. I would think warm water, weak tea, or broth would be good choices. I don't think it takes much, but helps clear the way.

Hope this helps.

[NotSoFunny]

Leener sometimes if i eat too much or two fast i get that pain myself, but i haven't in a while because i have been watching how i eat a lot. try it and see if it helps. i hope it does!!

[Leenerbups]

Will do, and thanks ma band sista! :-)

[NotSoFunny]

you are welcome hon. let us know how it feels and how it is going.

[Richard Froshiesar]

I have a test scheduled to see if the band slipped that is causing my problems

[Murphles]

Wow-I just came in for a fill and my doctor said that I really had good restriction. She said that some people use their esophagus like a stomach. I think I may have been ignoring those symptoms. I am going to watch my portions really closely-but honestly-if I were good at that, I would not have this problems.

[Murphles]

You could see the barium just hanging there-eew!

[ReginaK]

Not banded yet but what your describing is gas pains, try something for gas for the pain. I am a RN and see alot of shoulder gas pain.

[MoOrLess]

I'm not banded - but Leener I know what you mean about the mucus! I have allergies and there are days my family thinks I am nuts - choking/gagging/almost turning blue - then I cough from the irritation for another hour or two.

WARM liquid of any type helps me and is a 'must' before eating breakfast. Honestly - I read these threads and think "I'm not even banded - what would happen if I was?" It's not fun - drink warm stuff and test a tiny bite - that's what I have to do daily.

[kebsa]

THis extra production of mucus in the oesophagus (different to "nose/sinus mucus") is one of the ways your esophagus can act when its irritated either something is not passing into the stomach properly, or you are over full. The esophagus has muscle contractions that help to push food through, the mucus ( more like very thick clear saiva), is the boddies lubricant to help the food through, if food is not moving as it should, so that it is not sitting in the esophagus, the contractions pick up, and you produce more mucus, if its not all flowing through easily, it reluxes the other way. The shoulder tip pain, pain between the shoulder blades ( about bra strap level) or heartburn type pain are often signs that the esophagus is irritated and inflammed- its not designed to hold stomach contents. try easing back to easier foods ( my Doc used to advised going back to full fluids for 24 hours) then mushy for 24 then carefully back to your normal diet. I also find I have to take losec all the time as well

Do not ignore this though, long term this can cause permanent damage, tears in the esophagus, ulcers, scarring and strictures- even without a band chronic reflux should never be ignored- over a very long period of time some people get changes in the cells of the oesophagus ( Barrets esophagus) that if ignored can increase the risk for esophageal cancer.
Not trying to scare anyone, but chronic reflux type symptoms should never be ignored