Cricopharyngeal muscle problem

Posted by praying4miracle @praying4miracle, 1 day ago

Has any one had trouble with their cricopharyngeal muscle and sought treatment?
Mine is strangling me and makes it very hard to swallow. Looking for remedies that will not make my healing journey worse with other complications

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Hire is it strangling you,I have a funny jump on mine but when i did a modified barium swallow my god went right over it. What are your symptoms?

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When I tried to eat even pureed food I sputter to get it through that area. Had my esophagus dilated which helped some and my physician said that the esophagus was smaller there..so the dilation helped some but it seems happen on and off. The food just pools there and I have to wait for gravity or spit it up

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I’ve had serious issues with my cricopharyngeal muscle. I can no longer swallow food or drink. Five months ago I had a Peg feeding tube put in. I avoided it for several years but weight loss and malnutrition forced the decision. I’m still struggling with the quality of life issues.
I had 6 dilations over 2 years and they helped but eventually stopped helping. I also did throat exercises but they eventually were not enough. Everyone is different so if you haven’t look into those procedures I would suggest that you do.
My situation is radiation treatment 23 years ago, I was fine but the last 4 years my condition worsened. Apparently scar tissue is a major problem.

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Profile picture for steve55 @steve55

I’ve had serious issues with my cricopharyngeal muscle. I can no longer swallow food or drink. Five months ago I had a Peg feeding tube put in. I avoided it for several years but weight loss and malnutrition forced the decision. I’m still struggling with the quality of life issues.
I had 6 dilations over 2 years and they helped but eventually stopped helping. I also did throat exercises but they eventually were not enough. Everyone is different so if you haven’t look into those procedures I would suggest that you do.
My situation is radiation treatment 23 years ago, I was fine but the last 4 years my condition worsened. Apparently scar tissue is a major problem.

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@steve55 thanks for the feedback I have heard that they sometimes cut the muscle.just not ready to do that yet

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Profile picture for praying4miracle @praying4miracle

When I tried to eat even pureed food I sputter to get it through that area. Had my esophagus dilated which helped some and my physician said that the esophagus was smaller there..so the dilation helped some but it seems happen on and off. The food just pools there and I have to wait for gravity or spit it up

Jump to this post

@praying4miracle sometime the esophagus has to be dilated couple times. Praying we can all get to the end of it.

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Profile picture for steve55 @steve55

I’ve had serious issues with my cricopharyngeal muscle. I can no longer swallow food or drink. Five months ago I had a Peg feeding tube put in. I avoided it for several years but weight loss and malnutrition forced the decision. I’m still struggling with the quality of life issues.
I had 6 dilations over 2 years and they helped but eventually stopped helping. I also did throat exercises but they eventually were not enough. Everyone is different so if you haven’t look into those procedures I would suggest that you do.
My situation is radiation treatment 23 years ago, I was fine but the last 4 years my condition worsened. Apparently scar tissue is a major problem.

Jump to this post

@steve55 my brother had radiation in his neck years ago and that killed his salvia glands, he eventually had to get the peg to.

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Profile picture for snoots @snoots

@steve55 my brother had radiation in his neck years ago and that killed his salvia glands, he eventually had to get the peg to.

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@snoots how is he doing with that? I find it affects all aspects of life. I hope to figure it out.

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Profile picture for praying4miracle @praying4miracle

@steve55 thanks for the feedback I have heard that they sometimes cut the muscle.just not ready to do that yet

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@praying4miracle … the cutting is something I’ve thought about as well but I hear it varies as far as results. It’s also hard to find an expert as far as the procedure.

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