February 10, 2012
Topics A-Z Acid Reflux Causes of Difficulty Swallowing
Causes of Difficulty Swallowing |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: My throat has been feeling tight since the end of January and it is hard to swallow food. I have seen a gastrologist and have had an endoscopy done. The doctor said that there was nothing wrong, but I still can't eat. He put me on so many medications and still nothing works. I can breathe fine, but my throat is really tight and I can't eat, but I can drink. I have lost over 50 pounds since January and I don't know what else to do. Dear Sherri: Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) can be quite a distressing symptom. There are numerous causes, most of which can be assessed with endoscopy. Since your endoscopy did not show any abnormalities, it suggests that the cause of your symptoms may be a problem with the nerves that control the muscles that allow you to swallow. There are a number of diseases which can affect the these nerves but they usually have other symptoms as well such as difficulty with speech, difficulty chewing and choking. You should see a neurologist for a complete physical examination and workup. Some conditions to be considered include:
Rarely no cause is found for the dysphagia. Many of the conditions are not life-threatening and can be easily treated. |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 08 October 2010 ) |
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