I’ve been having difficulty swallowing and went to see an ENT. Apparently, I have acid reflux. I’m just wondering how, exactly, this causes difficulty swallowing? I should have asked my doctor but I guess I was so preoccupied I forgot to ask.
The acid that comes up eats away at the lining in your throat, which makes it sore and therefore making it hard to swallow. Acid reflux causes alot of things. Sore throat, heartburn, upset stomach, etc. Prilosec is really good for treatment. That is what I am on.
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Acid reflux, as you know, rises into the esophagus. The muscles at the top of the esophagus, known as the “upper esophageal sphincter”, or “UES” clamps shut to prevent the reflux from entering your lower throat (“pharynx”) and dumping into your airway and thus into your lungs. The tight closing of the UES is the body’s way of protecting itself from aspiration pneumonia, which can be deadly.
Because the UES clamps so tightly, it is difficult for solids (especially meat, bread, and bagels) and small amounts of liquid to get through. A large drink of liquid will work best. Alternating solids and liquids will help “wash down” solid foods.
basically my understanding of not being able to swallow as explained to me was that when i lie down and sleep the acid is like flowing up towards my throat creating a very stiff and swollen feeling that i usually get. So i’m assuming that because of the irritation the acid is providing on your throat, it is swollen and therefore making it difficult to swallow?
Acid bubbles back up into the esophagus and over time erodes the tissue in the esophagus.
Cayenne Pepper, the powder at any grocery store helps..it is HOT. but works.
eats the lining away.
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