Update

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to update all of you on where I am now. I went this

past Monday to have my Barrium Swallow and Upper GI. The radiologist

said that the esophagus apprears structurally normal, there was no

stenosis, no mass identified, no evidence of hiatal hernia and no

indication of reflux. He said the stomach, duodenum and proximal

small bowel appear normal. I swallowed the barium tablet with a

swallow of water and it was held up in my esophagus for about 10-12

seconds at the thoracic inlet level T1, and then went down after

swallowing another mouthful of water. The radiologist had me

immediately drink more barrium and looked at the contour of the

esophagus in that area and he did not see any narrowing of the

esophagus and no structural abnormality or spasms. I asked what was

going on and he said he wasn't sure why it got held up and maybe it

was lack of lubrication or something! This was after a couple glasses

of barrium and taking it down with a mouthful of water...lack of

lubrication? I insisted on a second tablet which I took with a

mouthful of water, that one went right down. I must have been

lubricated! I told him that I had trouble with food going down and

feeling as though something was in my throat, he had no clue why.

They only thing he did find was a very tiny Zenker's diverticulum not

more than 2 mm. But he said this is not a site or cause of any holdup

of anything that is swallowed. All I know is I have dealt with so

much pain in my chest, back, dizziness and some swallowing discomfort

for months. I KNOW I am not imagining this! I am scheduled to see a

Thoracic Surgeon next Wednesday, Dr. Herrera at the MD

Cancer Center here in Orlando. I will see what he says. I am also

going to see a Neurologist on the 23 and then having a stress

echocardiogram done on the 25th by my Cardiologist. Let's hope

between all these specialist one of them will figure this out. I know

something is wrong with my esophagus, I know I have DES, I cannot

believe they said there is no indication of reflux. I don't think the

Zenker's is the main problem, it is too small right now I think. It

may become a problem as it grows. Not sure if the Thoracic Surgeon

will even want to do anything with it right now. But I do need him to

figure out what is causing all these symptoms daily.

Here is a very good article about the esophagus and diverticulum:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FSL/is_5_73/ai_74571579/pg_1

In this article it mentions:

The development of a Zenker's diverticulum is thought to result from

a defect in the upper esophageal sphincter. It is believed that there

is motor incoordination between the closing of the glottis and

nasopharynx and the failure of the cricopharyngeal muscle of the

upper esophageal sphincter to relax during swallowing. This causes an

increase in the intrabolus pressure and demonstrates the concept of

pulsion diverticula developing in a high-pressure hypopharynx. The

cause of incomplete sphincter opening still is unknown. Other

hypotheses about Zenker's pathophysiology include spasm of the

cricopharyngeus muscle(upper esophageal sphincter at the junction of

the pharynx and the esophagus) and cricopharyngeal achalasia (ie,

failure of a muscle, such as a sphincter, to relax).

Notice the mention of high pressure, spasms and failure of muscle to

relax - Achalasia? I think for me my nerves are also being affected

by all this causing the dizzy sensations, etc.

Orlando, Florida