@cila Cila, so glad that you are feeling better also. Hugs!

Dear Cila,

Like you I do not have problem breathing but like you I have that problem hurt in my chest when I eat or drink. I haven’t explore that aspect yet. I will ask my lung Dr tomorrow because my appointment was postponed tomorrow. Thank for sharing.  

If you take medication it could be a secondary effect from one pill . Check the secondary effects of the medication you take if anything for whizzing and being tired. 

You eat oatmeal lol 

They do! Check NAET food sensitivity!

@bschaper2 , Barb, I used to cough so violently that I would constantly pull muscles in my torso. My sputem tested positive for pseudomonas. Once that was treated, my cough went away completely.

@nick52, Nicole, I know all of this info can be confusing. That is because many doctors have different theories for testing and treatment. The Gold Standard (although not official) for testing sputem is by taking samples three days in a row (refrigerate the samples) If all three come back positive, then that is a pretty good indicator for full blown infection. Some MAC goes away by itself, but has the chance of returning at any time.

Thanks Windwalker!

@cila Hi. I was just re-reading your posts to get a recap on your journey with us. I too have had the sensation of pain when I swallow and that the food is just sitting there in the bottom of my esophagus. I had my esophagus widened during an endoscopic procedure. I was told that I had narrowing in that area, and I would likely need it in another 5 yrs. It is five yrs later now, and I do feel like I need it done again. It is a piece of cake. They put you in a twilight anestisia (sp) and do a balloon thingy like when they do angioplasty on heart arteries.

What causes the swallowing problems? Is it advanced COPD or MAC? My husband is in the hospital with pneumonia and yesterday they did a swallowing test because he is also having some problems.

I have to "have my throat stretched" once or twice a year. It's the "balloony" thing. Not painful at all, nice drugs and takes about 20 minutes. I have what is called a "web" in my throat. It is over grown scar tissue caused, I believe, a few years ago by a pill I was unable to swallow and stuck in my throat until it dissolved enough to get down. I am fortunate to have a good doctor at University Hospitals here in Cleveland who has done the procedure many time. It does improve swallowing. My doctor said it is important to have someone very experienced with the procedure or s/he can "blow your throat out."