1. < Digestive Health

Esophagus issues

Posted by Brie @brie87144, Mar 17, 2017

Hello I'm not sure this is where I should ask or not but I need help understanding what all this is telling me and if anyone knows possible treatments or outcomes. I'll give a little bit of history. I've only had what I know as swallowing issues for the last 4-5 months at most. Sometimes I can't even get things to go down into my throat at all, other times I can but whatever it is just gets stuck and that's consistent. I've had chronic heartburn since 2006 ish and been taking Prilosec and or 300mg of Zantac daily since. Which neither of these mess seem to help. But they help better than anything else I've tried. I also have a condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which is a collagen disorder, and I have type 3 (hyper mobile) with mild over lapping of type 4 (vascular). I also have POTs and other autonomic dysfunction. With that being said, I was sent to GI for a consult and so far have had the pudding esophageal motility test, and the Barium swallow X-ray. They have both come back abnormal. The esophageal motility test says:

Esophageal Motility
IMPRESSION: Esophageal transit is normal for water but delayed at mid esophagus for thin and thick semisolid boluses.
FINDINGS: Esophageal transit scintigraphy performed per protocol. Graphic processed scintigraphic display reviewed in addition to the dynamic imaging.
WATER BOLUS:  The water bolus passes normally into the stomach within 10 seconds.
BOLUS 1, THIN SEMISOLID: There is hang-up of the thin semisolid bolus in the mid esophagus and at the junction of the mid and lower third, with the tracer in the mid esophagus clearing after 25 seconds and the residual activity in the distal third of the esophagus clearing x 45 s.

BOLUS 2, THICK SEMISOLID: The thick semisolid bolus shows considerable retention in the mid esophagus which predominantly clears after the second dry swallow at 40 seconds.
---
The Barium swallow X-ray says:
Esophagus
Moderate esophageal dysmotility is present with interrupted primary peristaltic wave, intermittent ineffective secondary peristaltic waves which are nonpropulsive. Subsequent peristaltic waves then stripped the barium bolus normally.

There is a small hiatal hernia present with free spontaneous gastroesophageal reflux noted with esophageal distention to the thoracic inlet. There is however no ulceration, stricture, or mass present. Barium pill was administered, which passed freely through the GE junction into the stomach.
---

My Drs impressions says esophageal motility disorder with cervical and esophageal components. 

My question is what is this all telling me. I keep looking things up but then get super confused and mixed up. I still have to go back for a upper endoscopy, an esophageal manometry, neuro speech assessment, and a video X-ray barium swallow. I can't find anything on the speech assessment. And I'm not understanding why I have to repeat the barium test? Since medicine isn't working what are some of the treatments or fixes to any of this. Can my esophagus just die? What happens if it stops working all together?

Sorry for the long message. I don't live near Mayo and have to travel to get there so I don't get a lot of time with the drs to ask these questions. They are just more concerned getting the tests done before they make sense of it to me it seems, and I am super lost and confused. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Brie | @brie87144 | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @danybegood1 "I wish they had a Mayo Clinic here in Washington state. Ive been having problems swallowing..." + (show)
@danybegood1

I wish they had a Mayo Clinic here in Washington state. Ive been having problems swallowing since the early 2000's. Ive had tests but so far i only know what i dont have, which is a blessing too. Best of luck to you, Judy

Jump to this post

Thank you. I live in New Mexico so I've been traveling back and forth to Arizona every month for a number of issues but the last 2 it's been for GI. Over all I'm more impressed with them than anything the drs here at home can offer

REPLY
Brie | @brie87144 | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @brie87144, I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @brie87144,

I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much Teresa. I wanted to welcome you to Connect as well, and introduce you to a few members who have discussed some similar symptoms.
@amoll157, @dhuffman, @ladawki143, @lee28, @sfrigon, @klsxoxo, @tammyjean, @tgirl, @fjg827, @jimhd, @ryman, @margo42, @dash99999, will you join me in welcoming Brie, and adding your thoughts and experiences?

You may also wish to view this discussion on Connect: Achalasia, http://mayocl.in/2n7zND4, where you can read about a recent update from Mayo Clinic on Peroral endoscopic tumor resection, or POET, which has been been shown to achieve very successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal dysmotility. Here's a direct link, too: http://mayocl.in/2mxsMJ7

It must be quite worrisome to undergo all these tests, but according to what I found from a bit of research, the video barium test and endoscopy will look at the 'body' and muscle of the esophagus, whereas the neuro-speech assessment and the manometry will determine how well you can swallow water, and whether that affects your speech.
I would encourage you to view the link that @hopeful33250 has given, which describes the test in detail.

@brie87144, do you have any suggestions or insight for Connect members who share some of these symptoms? Did you have to make major dietary changes?

Jump to this post

This was for @ryman sorry for it not going to the right place.

REPLY
Brie | @brie87144 | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @brie87144, I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @brie87144,

I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much Teresa. I wanted to welcome you to Connect as well, and introduce you to a few members who have discussed some similar symptoms.
@amoll157, @dhuffman, @ladawki143, @lee28, @sfrigon, @klsxoxo, @tammyjean, @tgirl, @fjg827, @jimhd, @ryman, @margo42, @dash99999, will you join me in welcoming Brie, and adding your thoughts and experiences?

You may also wish to view this discussion on Connect: Achalasia, http://mayocl.in/2n7zND4, where you can read about a recent update from Mayo Clinic on Peroral endoscopic tumor resection, or POET, which has been been shown to achieve very successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal dysmotility. Here's a direct link, too: http://mayocl.in/2mxsMJ7

It must be quite worrisome to undergo all these tests, but according to what I found from a bit of research, the video barium test and endoscopy will look at the 'body' and muscle of the esophagus, whereas the neuro-speech assessment and the manometry will determine how well you can swallow water, and whether that affects your speech.
I would encourage you to view the link that @hopeful33250 has given, which describes the test in detail.

@brie87144, do you have any suggestions or insight for Connect members who share some of these symptoms? Did you have to make major dietary changes?

Jump to this post

@jimhd I agree! I don't see how that will help my mid esophagus issues at all

REPLY
Brie | @brie87144 | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @brie87144, I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @brie87144,

I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much Teresa. I wanted to welcome you to Connect as well, and introduce you to a few members who have discussed some similar symptoms.
@amoll157, @dhuffman, @ladawki143, @lee28, @sfrigon, @klsxoxo, @tammyjean, @tgirl, @fjg827, @jimhd, @ryman, @margo42, @dash99999, will you join me in welcoming Brie, and adding your thoughts and experiences?

You may also wish to view this discussion on Connect: Achalasia, http://mayocl.in/2n7zND4, where you can read about a recent update from Mayo Clinic on Peroral endoscopic tumor resection, or POET, which has been been shown to achieve very successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal dysmotility. Here's a direct link, too: http://mayocl.in/2mxsMJ7

It must be quite worrisome to undergo all these tests, but according to what I found from a bit of research, the video barium test and endoscopy will look at the 'body' and muscle of the esophagus, whereas the neuro-speech assessment and the manometry will determine how well you can swallow water, and whether that affects your speech.
I would encourage you to view the link that @hopeful33250 has given, which describes the test in detail.

@brie87144, do you have any suggestions or insight for Connect members who share some of these symptoms? Did you have to make major dietary changes?

Jump to this post

@hopeful33250 I did read that I seem to have trapped air when swallowing. I haven't ever tried holding my breath but will give it a try! That could be a simple fix hahah thank you.

REPLY
matrix | @squaredancer | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @brie87144, I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @brie87144,

I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much Teresa. I wanted to welcome you to Connect as well, and introduce you to a few members who have discussed some similar symptoms.
@amoll157, @dhuffman, @ladawki143, @lee28, @sfrigon, @klsxoxo, @tammyjean, @tgirl, @fjg827, @jimhd, @ryman, @margo42, @dash99999, will you join me in welcoming Brie, and adding your thoughts and experiences?

You may also wish to view this discussion on Connect: Achalasia, http://mayocl.in/2n7zND4, where you can read about a recent update from Mayo Clinic on Peroral endoscopic tumor resection, or POET, which has been been shown to achieve very successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal dysmotility. Here's a direct link, too: http://mayocl.in/2mxsMJ7

It must be quite worrisome to undergo all these tests, but according to what I found from a bit of research, the video barium test and endoscopy will look at the 'body' and muscle of the esophagus, whereas the neuro-speech assessment and the manometry will determine how well you can swallow water, and whether that affects your speech.
I would encourage you to view the link that @hopeful33250 has given, which describes the test in detail.

@brie87144, do you have any suggestions or insight for Connect members who share some of these symptoms? Did you have to make major dietary changes?

Jump to this post

Hello pattitoo.
I am new at being on these sessions. I read the daily news everyday and I saw that jimhd wondering why he was being sent to speech therapist or pathologist (one of the same) and what the connection was. Nobody seemed to telling him why.

But as far as voice changes I have no ideas on the causes for that problem.

As far as your swallowing issues and the use of the EGD/Dilatation procedures to stretch the esophagus is a good thing to do if you have a restrictor area somewhere along the esophagus. What type of dilators was your doctor using?

I understand your situation about having a good GI doctor and having to find a new one.
It is a hard task, especially when you have one that listens to you and understands you.
I'm back and forth between two states. I still have all my doctors from my home state.
But have a feeding tube and having the possibilities of having it come out for any reason has forced me to find a good GI doctor in the other state.
First of all, I am a proactive patient in my health care.. S I am hiring the doctor, he is not hiring me.
Need I say more.
I went through 4different interviews with GI doctors that were recommended to me from other doctors.
Yeah you probably guest it, they were all given the same information and my condition and what my needs were.
One didn't want to do anything until he did a colonoscopy. Like "Hello, your at the wrong end of my problems".
But I finally did find one on the fourth interview and he is just as good as the one from my home state.

I have a restrictor that is approximately 3/4 inch below the airway.
There are 3 types of dilators. My home state doctor prefers to use the metals dilators.
His reasons being are that the benefits last longer then say the balloon method.
When I was still able to swallow and eat certain foods up to 2014 these procedures did help me.
I have had 22 of the dilatation procedures since 2009.
But I have another problem that effects the size dilators that can be used during the procedure..
That problem is limited mouth opening due to the damage from the radiation from 1973, and now the radiation from 2012 is also contributing to the problem.
I can only open my mouth to about 12 to 13 mm. I do have a Dynasplint stretching instrument I have to use daily an exercise my mouth.
By the end of those session I can usually get my mouth opened to approximately 16 mm but it doesn't last long.

So this is getting long and probably more information then you needed.
But my problems get very complicated real fast.
A lot of this is all due to the radiation from 1973, which was so different from the radiation used in 2012.
But the 2012 radiation is contributing to new problems and what I am currently going through.

I hope this helps you.

REPLY
matrix | @squaredancer | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @brie87144, I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @brie87144,

I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much Teresa. I wanted to welcome you to Connect as well, and introduce you to a few members who have discussed some similar symptoms.
@amoll157, @dhuffman, @ladawki143, @lee28, @sfrigon, @klsxoxo, @tammyjean, @tgirl, @fjg827, @jimhd, @ryman, @margo42, @dash99999, will you join me in welcoming Brie, and adding your thoughts and experiences?

You may also wish to view this discussion on Connect: Achalasia, http://mayocl.in/2n7zND4, where you can read about a recent update from Mayo Clinic on Peroral endoscopic tumor resection, or POET, which has been been shown to achieve very successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal dysmotility. Here's a direct link, too: http://mayocl.in/2mxsMJ7

It must be quite worrisome to undergo all these tests, but according to what I found from a bit of research, the video barium test and endoscopy will look at the 'body' and muscle of the esophagus, whereas the neuro-speech assessment and the manometry will determine how well you can swallow water, and whether that affects your speech.
I would encourage you to view the link that @hopeful33250 has given, which describes the test in detail.

@brie87144, do you have any suggestions or insight for Connect members who share some of these symptoms? Did you have to make major dietary changes?

Jump to this post

Thank you for the greeting.
Also Thank you very much for correcting my mistake of putting my email address in my post.
I do have some questions but right now I do not have the time. I just spent a lot of time answering a post that was sent to me.

REPLY
Brie | @brie87144 | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @brie87144, I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @brie87144,

I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much Teresa. I wanted to welcome you to Connect as well, and introduce you to a few members who have discussed some similar symptoms.
@amoll157, @dhuffman, @ladawki143, @lee28, @sfrigon, @klsxoxo, @tammyjean, @tgirl, @fjg827, @jimhd, @ryman, @margo42, @dash99999, will you join me in welcoming Brie, and adding your thoughts and experiences?

You may also wish to view this discussion on Connect: Achalasia, http://mayocl.in/2n7zND4, where you can read about a recent update from Mayo Clinic on Peroral endoscopic tumor resection, or POET, which has been been shown to achieve very successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal dysmotility. Here's a direct link, too: http://mayocl.in/2mxsMJ7

It must be quite worrisome to undergo all these tests, but according to what I found from a bit of research, the video barium test and endoscopy will look at the 'body' and muscle of the esophagus, whereas the neuro-speech assessment and the manometry will determine how well you can swallow water, and whether that affects your speech.
I would encourage you to view the link that @hopeful33250 has given, which describes the test in detail.

@brie87144, do you have any suggestions or insight for Connect members who share some of these symptoms? Did you have to make major dietary changes?

Jump to this post

@squaredancer Tim, thank you so much for sharing your story. You really helped me make sense of why they sent me to a speech therapist. I'm having the MBS video esophagram next month when I go. What is FEES?

REPLY
matrix | @squaredancer | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @brie87144, I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @brie87144,

I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much Teresa. I wanted to welcome you to Connect as well, and introduce you to a few members who have discussed some similar symptoms.
@amoll157, @dhuffman, @ladawki143, @lee28, @sfrigon, @klsxoxo, @tammyjean, @tgirl, @fjg827, @jimhd, @ryman, @margo42, @dash99999, will you join me in welcoming Brie, and adding your thoughts and experiences?

You may also wish to view this discussion on Connect: Achalasia, http://mayocl.in/2n7zND4, where you can read about a recent update from Mayo Clinic on Peroral endoscopic tumor resection, or POET, which has been been shown to achieve very successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal dysmotility. Here's a direct link, too: http://mayocl.in/2mxsMJ7

It must be quite worrisome to undergo all these tests, but according to what I found from a bit of research, the video barium test and endoscopy will look at the 'body' and muscle of the esophagus, whereas the neuro-speech assessment and the manometry will determine how well you can swallow water, and whether that affects your speech.
I would encourage you to view the link that @hopeful33250 has given, which describes the test in detail.

@brie87144, do you have any suggestions or insight for Connect members who share some of these symptoms? Did you have to make major dietary changes?

Jump to this post

Hello brie87144.
FEES is a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing .
I believe you can get the listing of the website that will give you more detail information by typing "EES tests" into google.
That would be more beneficail then me trying to explain it here.
If you still have questions please ask,

REPLY
Brie | @brie87144 | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @brie87144, I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @brie87144,

I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much Teresa. I wanted to welcome you to Connect as well, and introduce you to a few members who have discussed some similar symptoms.
@amoll157, @dhuffman, @ladawki143, @lee28, @sfrigon, @klsxoxo, @tammyjean, @tgirl, @fjg827, @jimhd, @ryman, @margo42, @dash99999, will you join me in welcoming Brie, and adding your thoughts and experiences?

You may also wish to view this discussion on Connect: Achalasia, http://mayocl.in/2n7zND4, where you can read about a recent update from Mayo Clinic on Peroral endoscopic tumor resection, or POET, which has been been shown to achieve very successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal dysmotility. Here's a direct link, too: http://mayocl.in/2mxsMJ7

It must be quite worrisome to undergo all these tests, but according to what I found from a bit of research, the video barium test and endoscopy will look at the 'body' and muscle of the esophagus, whereas the neuro-speech assessment and the manometry will determine how well you can swallow water, and whether that affects your speech.
I would encourage you to view the link that @hopeful33250 has given, which describes the test in detail.

@brie87144, do you have any suggestions or insight for Connect members who share some of these symptoms? Did you have to make major dietary changes?

Jump to this post

@squaredancer thank you! I found it on google with the full name. That's another thing what I'm having done when I go back. Didn't know what it was called though.

REPLY
matrix | @squaredancer | Mar 19, 2017
In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hi @brie87144, I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much..." + (show)
@kanaazpereira

Hi @brie87144,

I see that Teresa, @hopeful33250 has given you some great information; thanks so much Teresa. I wanted to welcome you to Connect as well, and introduce you to a few members who have discussed some similar symptoms.
@amoll157, @dhuffman, @ladawki143, @lee28, @sfrigon, @klsxoxo, @tammyjean, @tgirl, @fjg827, @jimhd, @ryman, @margo42, @dash99999, will you join me in welcoming Brie, and adding your thoughts and experiences?

You may also wish to view this discussion on Connect: Achalasia, http://mayocl.in/2n7zND4, where you can read about a recent update from Mayo Clinic on Peroral endoscopic tumor resection, or POET, which has been been shown to achieve very successful outcomes in the treatment of esophageal dysmotility. Here's a direct link, too: http://mayocl.in/2mxsMJ7

It must be quite worrisome to undergo all these tests, but according to what I found from a bit of research, the video barium test and endoscopy will look at the 'body' and muscle of the esophagus, whereas the neuro-speech assessment and the manometry will determine how well you can swallow water, and whether that affects your speech.
I would encourage you to view the link that @hopeful33250 has given, which describes the test in detail.

@brie87144, do you have any suggestions or insight for Connect members who share some of these symptoms? Did you have to make major dietary changes?

Jump to this post

Hello brie87144.
I'm glad you found it, especially after my typing error in leaving the F off of the "FEES".
Ha! Ha!
I will have to get caught up and read your initial post, but you keep referring to go back.
Where are you going back to?

REPLY
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