[Llarry]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I’ve been having some occasional trouble swallowing over the last several years. That’s actually what prompted the first colonoscopy. At that time I also had an endoscopy and it showed nothing. They did the endoscopy and colonoscopy at the same time. Recently the swallowing difficulty had become more frequent. It usually happens just as I begin to eat and I have to pause for a minute or two and it passes. But, recently I had an episode where it lasted at least five minutes and I couldn’t even swallow my saliva and I had to step away and go spit. Then I had to wait several minutes before it passed. That made me think I have to get it checked again. So, I went to the gastroenterologist for that and since it had been seven years since the colonoscopy I talked him into doing it again, just like before. This time he also stretched my esophagus some. The endoscopy didn’t show anything this time either, thankfully. My throat was a little sore for two or three days, but the stretching was pretty successful, because I haven’t had any swallowing issues since. Very thankful for that. Feeling like you can’t swallow is pretty disconcerting.

I've had the same thing -- a feeling that food or drink is "stuck" and I can get anything down for a while. I went to a gastroenterologist for it, and she scoped me and reported that my lower esophagus was damaged and narrowed and put me on 80 mg Prilosec per day for a while. I was to follow-up if I had a recurrence, but I've gone well over a year without any further issues.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Llarry

i’ve had the same thing — a feeling that food or drink is "stuck" and I can get anything down for a while. I went to a gastroenterologist for it, and she scoped me and reported that my lower esophagus was damaged and narrowed and put me on 80 mg Prilosec per day for a while. I was to follow-up if I had a recurrence, but I've gone well over a year without any further issues.

Careful with Prilosec, Llarry. I hear there are dementia risks with Prilosec and other PPIs after long term use (4 years).

"Aug. 10, 2023 – Prolonged use of acid reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors could increase the risk of dementia, a new study shows."

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/new...-dementia-risk

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Careful with Prilosec, Llarry. I hear there are dementia risks with Prilosec and other PPIs after long term use (4 years).

"Aug. 10, 2023 – Prolonged use of acid reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors could increase the risk of dementia, a new study shows."

https://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/new...-dementia-risk

I’ve been on Prilosec / Omeprazole (20 mg/day) for 25+ years under doctors’ direction. I’m aware of the risk, but going without it creates a risk of esophageal cancer for me due to reflux, even if diet adjustments and adjustable bed.

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

[Esteban]

Just letting him know what I read. Seems like everything has a risk or warning or a side effect these days. Do what you gotta do.

[NealfromNZ]

Had heart failure a couple of years back. Had a progressive build up of fluid around the body and lungs. Was gaining 1.5 to 2 lbs a day. Thought I had a flu of some kind initially and the local GP office operating under COVID lockdown did take a week or so trying to determine issue. Ended up going to ED. Turns out my mitral valve had torn. Got stabilised on fluid reduction and had open heart surgery. Got one of the newer mechanical valves so hopefully last 20 - 30 years. It’s a bit noisy, I can be heard ticking away in a quiet room.

Had some complications shortly after with third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, heart reacted so ended up with a resetting heart rate of around 110- 120 bpm and heart inflammation ( myocarditis ) . Had an interesting month after, but a combo of gout meds and beta blockers started to sort it over next 6 months. Two years on I have a new normal. But have an excellent rehab gym that has got me moving and fitter than before this started. Very thankful to the surgeon and team , apparently the op was close to 6 hours. Get to hang out with a bunch of post heart surgery guys and girls. It’s quite amazing how hard we can push ourselves post surgery.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by Esteban

When I got my cataracts done my doctor inserted one lens for close vision and one lens for distance vision (monovision). The brain switches to the close eye for close up vision and the distance eye for far vision. Doesn't work for everybody but it does for me. They tested me first to see if it would work for me.

My doctor mentioned this. I seriously considered it. My pre surgery vision had my left eye near sighted my right eye far sighted. This since at least my teens.

I read with my left eye and relied on my right eye for distance.

But I decided to go with distance correction in both eyes and rely upon reading glasses for well, reading.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Had my second colonoscopy recently. Thankfully all clear. Not a single polyp. I’ve been having some occasional trouble swallowing over the last several years. That’s actually what prompted the first colonoscopy. At that time I also had an endoscopy and it showed nothing. They did the endoscopy and colonoscopy at the same time. Recently the swallowing difficulty had become more frequent. It usually happens just as I begin to eat and I have to pause for a minute or two and it passes. But, recently I had an episode where it lasted at least five minutes and I couldn’t even swallow my saliva and I had to step away and go spit. Then I had to wait several minutes before it passed. That made me think I have to get it checked again. So, I went to the gastroenterologist for that and since it had been seven years since the colonoscopy I talked him into doing it again, just like before. This time he also stretched my esophagus some. The endoscopy didn’t show anything this time either, thankfully. My throat was a little sore for two or three days, but the stretching was pretty successful, because I haven’t had any swallowing issues since. Very thankful for that. Feeling like you can’t swallow is pretty disconcerting.

Back in 2009 I developed a problem swallowing. Felt like I had a potato chip caught in my throat. But no amount of water could dislodge it.

Became increasingly harder to swallow. And painful. Went to several doctors -- including a ENT specialist -- and got no where.

Was so bad I was down to eating soup and drinking coffee and water. Lost 15lbs.

Saw another ENT specialist and after a few minutes asking me questions he sprayed some anesthetic into a nostril and then scoped the nostril.

He reported seeing blisters at the back of my nasal passage and down in my throat around the larynx and beyond.

He said looked like pemphigus. Said the only way to be sure was to obtain a sample of tissue and send it to a lab. There the tissue sample is examined to look for signs the mucous membranes are separating.

So he took a sample of tissue from the roof of my mouth. (No pain he numbed that area up real good.)

Results came back in a day or two and it was pemphigus.

Started me on a round of steroids (pills) and directed me to a dermatologist. Seems the mouth/throat/nasal passages at least in this case are the domain of a dermatologist.

The steroids helped in the meantime.

At the dermatologist I was prescribed Dexamethasone rinse/spit medicine. Twice a day at first but after some time once a day proved to be sufficient to keep the condition under control.

Oh, years later, in Dec. 2020 in the ER for lower GI bleeding. Short version is diverticulitis was diagnosed. A colonoscopy didn't find this I was given some radioactive isotope (half life 6 days...) and while it took two times under the imaging machine the 2nd time blood was seen leaking into the large intestine.

(Diet changes have proved to be -- so far -- adequate to keep diverticulosis/diverticulitis under control.)

But while I was under for the colonoscopy the doctor did an upper GI endoscopy. Went all the way to the stomach and a bit beyond.

Doctor reported seeing esophagus erosion due to acid reflux. I had been using OTC anti-acids for some time prior to this exam.

I was given an IV of antibiotics for ulcers. And was prescribed Pantoprazole Sodium 40mg for the acid reflux. Have been taking this ever since and with some changes to my diet -- avoiding carbonated drinks (which I didn't drink all that often to begin with) and oranges, orange juice and other citrus fruits/juices, avoiding eating raw tomatoes, eating late in the evening -- no more acid reflux. Have not bought an OTC (or prescribed) anti-acid medicine since.

[cmyx6go]

Oldgixxer Good luck! Hang in there.

[RockCrusher]

Have a full and speedy recovery!

[NealfromNZ]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

Trip to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Fla today,leaving in a few mins for pre-op testing. Procedure is next Monday,was supposed to happen a few months ago but was postponed due to contracting Sepsis then MRSA 'cause someone fucked up in the hospital. Bloodwork,urine test,EKG,CT scan,poking/prodding etc should be a fun day.

Background story: https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2084752

Far out , as if the main issue isnt hard enough to work through. Hopefully your all clear for next stage of treatment.