@ghandigirl sending prayers for your complete healing in body and mind. Your people have you wrapped in their love and light. You focus on you. We got you.
@ghandigirl I've also had this condition for years. It was brought on, i believe, by a combination of stress and a misaligned bite (probably also caused by stress), although I know there can be many other causes. When I first began experiencing it I was terrified that it could be something neurological, but in the end it was stress. It flares up when I'm most under stress.
I don't know if your dysphagia is present when consuming both liquids and solids, but if it's mostly solids, I would suggest always having a cup of water with you when you are eating, because it's easier to chase down food when you have something to drink. To this day I don't ever eat anything unless I have some sort of liquid nearby, because just the thought of having no liquid near me makes me anxious and the anxiety leads to the difficulty in swallowing. Also, make sure you always eat sitting up, and try some breathing and calming exercises before you eat. Finally, you might also want to meditate and focus on the throat chakra, since blockage there can manifest into difficulty swallowing.
@ghandigirl -- I've had this condition for over 30 years and I'm still here. I've learned to manage it and it has not limited my life or diminished my happiness. It's just annoying, like a bad lower back.
I do hope yours resolves completely and I will be sending good thoughts for that to happen. xoxo
I have long experience with heartburn, acid reflux and dysphagia. It started when I was in grad school and undergoing a lot of stress. The usual drugstore antacids didn't work and the heartburn was occasionally downright disabling. The dysphagia came later, likely as a result of the acid reflux.
The doctors at the student clinic pretty much blew me off, one even suggested I was making it all up to get out of class. (Like really??? Going for a degree like mine (lots of work for not big bucks) is not something anyone *makes* you do-- you do it because you want to.) Finally I saw a kind Indian doctor who suggested trying an antacid containing aluminum hydroxide instead of just calcium carbonate. Two brands suggested were Amphogel and Alternagel. One swig of that, wait 15 minutes, and it gets all better. Currently I use Rugby Aluminum hydroxide Gel, from Amazon. (I don't need it often, just if I have an extra load of stress or eat certain foods.)
My experience with dysphagia has been that sometimes foods like apples, carrots, or even bread just won't go down. Cold water helps but not always. I mentioned it to my gastroenterologist when I was going for a colonoscopy (fun fun), and he said well, while you're under anesthesia I can take a look at the other end, too. Turned out I had what is called a Schatzki Ring-- which is basically a ring of scar tissue inside the esophagus, usually caused by longstanding GERD. The doctor broke the ring down by using some sort of implement to expand the esophagus at that point. No pain from the procedure, and my dysphagia is about 95% gone.
I hope this helps. I wish I'd gotten the scar tissue taken care of years ago and I would have if I'd known the cure was so simple.
Rereading all your messages tonight. Went to a wedding today where I could eat barely anything due to food allergies and GERD issues. What a disappointment.
Tomorrow will be better. My test is on Wednesday. I have decided that I am going to have a 100 percent complete recovery and will look back on this as the time GERD saved my life by causing me to give up every unhealthy habit, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
When I shattered my arm 20 years ago I made this same decision. I have full function of my arm, even though the doctors believed I could not achieve over 30 percent function. Along with shattering my arm, I developed bronchitis, pneumonia, and C diff one after the other. I have survived all of that and more over the years through sheer force of will and I will do it again.
Thank you to all of you who wrote and those who didn't but wished me well.
I love this community. You help keep me grounded.
All I am recovering from heat exhaustion/dehydration (treated at the ER) followed the next day (day before yesterday) by a dose of wasp venom while getting in the mail. And would like to request any light people can send my way.
I have never had much of a reaction from bee stings but wasps take it to a different level. Am resting and hydrating and improving - and finally learning that when you're in the 7th inning in life things take a little longer and and it is ok to ask for help. With much gratitude ~
PSA: it is true that when you are outside in the sun (I was walking) and start to feel overly hot and thirsty - it is too late. Remember to hydrate in this weather!
Also to be clear I am not in an emergency type situation. it takes a while to recover from both. Family is around and I am resting and hydrating and mending a quilt - soothing.
@marigold I'm sending thoughts of strength, good health and light to you. I'm so sorry for your recent troubles. Thanks also for talking about your dehydration. I walked a mile a couple of days ago mid-afternoon on our steep mountain property, and even though I thought I was well hydrated, I came back unusually exhausted for the rest of the day, had no appetite and slept for 11 hours that night. I didn't immediately tie it to being dehydrated, but I'll bet that's what happened. I'm glad you shared this information and will carry and drink water while I'm walking now.
@marigold Wasp stings are terrible! I remember when I was a child I was stung by three wasps while playing under a cedar tree in my grandmother's yard. It required a doctor's visit and several days of resting. Please take care of yourself! Healing, calming energy to you! 🙏🏼
I have a couple of tests to be done next week. I'm uneasy about them. If you all could send healing vibes to my liver and digestion, it would be much appreciated. I had a alt med physical therapy treatment and felt awful about a month ago, and am just hoping that did not make existing things worse. The heat so early in the day where I am is not helping. Hope you all are keeping cool too.
@anya Sending you healing and calming energies for your upcoming tests. ❤️ Let us know how you are doing.
Please friends, please send healing and light to my nephew J. Just learned he is at this exact moment suffering from severe mental health crises including suicidal ideation. I feel very sad for him and his parents. I always worry about him and pray for him.
I don't know what can be done, I am hoping for a miracle.
I know our group here is powerful. The night I wrote about not being able to swallow, and sleep was elusive, I suddenly felt the lump in my throat lessen enough to allow me a window to fall asleep. I believe that happened because of all of you. I could feel the love and support you all sent to me.
So please send whatever light you can spare, and join me in praying for his safety, for a successful intervention, and that they can get him on to the next phase of care he so desperately needs quickly.
Thanks friends.
@anya, you were in my Circle healing meditation this morning. I'm praying for a good outcome with your tests this week and a successful resolution to your health challenges.
@ghandigirl I don't know if this is coincidence or synchronicity, but I was just researching properties of lavender, and according to the internet, so take this with a grain of salt, Tibetan monks used it to treat psychosis. I use lavender soap to help with sleep, so perhaps in addition to medical care, that may be of help. I send an intent for St Luke to assist the docs to do the right thing. Prayers and healing thoughts too.
I do not recommend only treating this with lavender, just to be clear.
@ghandigirl Sending all the Light and Love and Healing Energy I can muster!!! For the Highest Good for All Concerned.
@ghandigirl, I've been praying for your nephew and his family. Mental illness is such a painful and challenging thing to be dealing with, whether for ourselves or our loved ones. I know that many of us have experienced it in our own families, myself included.
May your nephew receive the help he needs and find the clarity, hope and strength to move forward in his life. Sending love and peace of mind to you and J.'s entire family.
Thank you to all for the light. Felt better within a few hours and am about back to normal. You all are something when it comes to healing! ❤️
@ghandigirl Oh my, you both have all my love and support.
Thanks everyone. I've been giving them space and no news is good news. I will hear from one of my brothers what is happening soon. For now, I am thinking of all the memories of myself and him and sending so much love.
Speaking of news, I had my first swallow therapy session today and found out exactly what is wrong and is going on. It is a combination of a genetic predisposition to acid reflux due to a differently formed digestive tract, a yeast infection of the throat similar to thrush, and a sluggish epiglotis and esophagus/digestive system.
I will be learning about carbs for the yeast infection further restricting and tweaking my diet (what will be left to eat now I wonder?) and doing swallow exercises just a few a day. This is the worst I plan to ever feel. Knowledge IS power.