G’day, new here

[Harpy]

Only 2 years.

Yeh, wow that’s not long.

I may be possible to tackle the mental aspect separately, I'd think. I love my food just the same as ever.

I suppose I make the dysphasia worse when I am hesitant to eat because of the fear of the food getting stuck.

And the physical one by firstly analyzing which foods to avoid most. E.g. the term steakhouse syndrome for a milder form of it (without ring) shows how meat is a big one. As I don't eat meat/fish anyway, no problems for me there, nothing I'm missing.

I basically only eat fish. With a little chicken maybe once a month.

Next finding treatments - for steakhouse syndrome drinking something fizzy may work. For me drinking something on top only works in a certain (preliminary) state. After that it stacks and stacks and stacks. So any liquid is the first thing to get out. Also saliva - gathering it and spitting it out. Once there's discomfort never ever must I put anything on top, never. That used to work before the gastritis, I could massage it a bit, it hurt like hell, but I could get it down after a while. Now it hurts less, but it's got much harder to get things down. If I'm chewing anything and realize there's the slightest discomfort, I take it out immediately, to free any additional pressure.

I definitely will use these tips. Thanks

Another trick aside from chewing to liquid might be mixing it in a (?)blender, I don't know if that really works, because even yogurt can cause problems, often it can be cold things, so I take things out of the fridge earlier now.

Hehe, I forget to blame the pills, I blame myself for not preparing each pill properly....
More than enough liquid, no saving on that. Then cup in hand. Then popping in one, sometimes up to 4 is possible, if I'm concentrated, and juggle them in my mouth. Then with each pill one whopping slug, preferably making a grunting noise to make sure I've pressed it down as far as it'll go....

Yeah, but mine's progressed more maybe: If it gets stuck, there is no meal, until it is unstuck. Once it is I can continue the same meal. Whether it takes 5 minutes or 20 minutes (that's the max. I tolerate).
On the other hand I'm still wondering how you can have it for 24 hours.

The meal I ate when it was stuck was a coleslaw salad, no meat at all that night.

Is it praps cos you eat more difficult stuff than me, like meat, then wait too long before getting it out, or not getting it out enough?

Definitely won’t wait till to long next time.

Never. You sure it's associated? If so, I'm wondering whether you have a stricture higher up, rather than at the bottom of the sternum, above the stomach. That might also explain why you first said "choke", that sounds as if it's more in the throat area? So maybe the the block puts pressure on your vocal chords?

Where I feel it gets stuck is just under where your collar bones meet.

 

[johnsalmon]

Is what you're describing praps again AU marmite, johnsalmon?

don't know have never eaten marmite - I'm a good little "vegemite" as the saying goes

 

[Harpy]

As bright as bright can be .

 

[JayCS]

I suppose I make the dysphasia worse when I am hesitant to eat because of the fear of the food getting stuck.

Hmm - I think I've generally now grown into a fairly fearless person, and these conditions, knowing my body inside and out, and mindfulness play a big part in that. But also I don't care if food gets stuck, cos I know I can easily get it out inside of 10 seconds, without even any acidity - unless I wait too long. In worst cases I had to go deeper and deeper, cos I didn't go deep enough first time. But usually it's just a superficial "clog", that needs unclogging and that then seems to reset the esophagus muscles, so that it never happens again. So with that experience there's nothing for me to be afraid of - nothing like the 24 hours you endured it.

I basically only eat fish. With a little chicken maybe once a month.

I'm pretty sure the fibres in both could be an issue, same as with other meat.
At the beginning I tried keeping note, and had certain things with a certain possibility to clog. Carrots and tofu. What's clear recently is that I have to be very careful during and after my supp pills, preferably with a break before eating anything. Testing taking those meal pills before during or after I now find before best, even tho that litre of almond milk does fills me up for awhile.

The meal I ate when it was stuck was a coleslaw salad, no meat at all that night.

I do eat mainly raw, by choice, and do think eating cooked veggies would be better for that. As in the case of my yogurt it might often be that the actual clog came from before, so it's a bit difficult finding the culprit. The bolus is always finely chewed. The amount I drink I can't increase any more, so it won't be that, but maybe the dryness I have in many parts of my body is adding to it. If stomach hyperacidity is not enough water in the acid, then praps my esophagus membranes are also too dry. (TCM says dampness is there, but in the wrong places in me, which I've now learnt to understand (e.g. sinuses), but the "solutions" they recommended made me lose my appetite, not sure if I'm gonna try again....)

Definitely won’t wait till to long next time.

Good on ya! Hope it works.

Where I feel it gets stuck is just under where your collar bones meet.

Wow, that high! If there isn't any other technical difficulty in that area, it might be easier cos higher, if it is really there and doesn't just seem it. Also then it won't be a Schatzki ring, I can't imagine.

 

[JayCS]

don't know have never eaten marmite - I'm a good little "vegemite" as the saying goes

Wait, wait, that's a saying? Awww, think you're kidding me...
Hmm, so maybe you read about AU marmite, not UK marmite...

 

[Auriel]

Tofu can be very bland (if there's no other flavours added) a bit like a makeup sponge (not that I've ever eaten one, that would be weird) They can be quite hard too sometimes (trouble digesting) do you miss cooked food Jay, like cooked vegetable dinners or jacket potatoes?

 

[JayCS]

Tofu can be very bland (if there's no other flavours added) a bit like a makeup sponge (not that I've ever eaten one, that would be weird) I can be quite hard too sometimes (trouble digesting) do you miss cooked food Jay, like cooked vegetable dinners or jacket potatoes?

Sort of agree, but I find whichever type of tofu each company makes, it taste totally different.
What I mean and like best is smoked tofu, sometimes almond-sesame, but the others always have onions or garlic added. I do actually like natural tofu, like I liked eating tomatoes and eggs without salt.
But best with salt, provencial herbs, mustard or fried. Without anything a few I even find yucky, need a lot of pimping, others quite good with hardly anything added.)
Well if I I miss cooked veggies, I do cook them, today actually jacket potatoes with marge smelted all over. Had a solanine reaction (the green stuff, in this case not visible), burning cheeks, but it was OK.
But my fave "cooked food" I can almost always eat is (org.) green beans from a glass (carefully prepared), and when I'm up to histamine reactions and my appetite is slightly better then baked beans and red beans (washed reduces problems greatly, fortunately not necessary with baked beans )....
But carrots, sweet potatoes, fennel, etc. I almost always prefer raw, so it's mainly cabbages I cook, then mix the sorts (e.g. red & white) and put some of the other stuff in. No additions, just best oil, a bit of salt, sometimes herbs.
As I can always eat quite a lot of muesli in the mornings I was amazed that I only managed 3-4 mouthfuls today, but instead - as I often do - peckish for apple, I had two. Just have to keep offering me lots of little things, like some old person - not buy or prepare too much, so it doesn't go waste.
I am actually eating a bit more dairy at the moment, don't want to start hating the alternative stuff.

This by the way was actually more about my bad appetite, and general elimination diet (MCAS).
I try not to let my esophagus deter me from anything. Occasionally it may be a mixture tho....

 

[Auriel]

Your post has made me hungry

 

[johnsalmon]

I suppose I make the dysphasia worse when I am hesitant to eat because of the fear of the food getting stuck.

I find with essential tremor it has become a fairly regular occurrence to have food go down the airway or simply be unable to swallow it. it is most frightening when food goes down the airway. Also with ET my voice has changed to a deep husky voice and now and then what you think you are saying comes out as Gibberish all due to ET's effect on the muscle. You know I don't mind getting old its just all the rubbish attached to it that I dislike

 

[Auriel]

Yes, Jay bitter, black, and not really sweet sounds more like uk marmite

 

[Harpy]

I find with essential tremor it has become a fairly regular occurrence to have food go down the airway or simply be unable to swallow it. it is most frightening when food goes down the airway.

I am lucky , only once food went down the air hole.

Also with ET my voice has changed to a deep husky voice and now and then what you think you are saying comes out as Gibberish all due to ET's effect on the muscle.

My voice is been crazy the last 3 days , had a handful of peanuts. One tiny piece got caught in side of throat. I can still feel it , know it’s not there now but maybe scratched where it got stuck. So throats very raspy and making me have to clear my throat a lot.

You know I don't mind getting old its just all the rubbish attached to it that I dislike

Oh this getting old totally sucks. We’re all going through enough without all the, shall I say it “wear and tear” and the pain that come with it.

 

[Harpy]

Wait, wait, that's a saying? Awww, think you're kidding me...
Hmm, so maybe you read about AU marmite, not UK marmite...

JayCs there is an actual song about our Vegemite.
It was a very old advert on television.
Here goes,,

We're happy little Vegemites

As bright as bright can be

We all enjoy our Vegemite

For breakfast, lunch and tea

Our mummies say we're growing stronger

Every single week

Because we love our Vegemite

We all adore our Vegemite

It puts a rose in every cheek

how cute is that.
google it, it comes with an old clip too.

 

[johnsalmon]

brought back memories Harpy
I used to love putting butter and vegemite on the biscuits with the holes and then place them together and squeeze - and out would come all these little vegemite and butter "worms"

 

[Harpy]

That was my mom’s favourite way to eat them, lost of butter, Vegemite on vitawheat biscuits. When I was younger, one stage that’s all I can remember mom eating we used to laugh when the worms fell off on her work uniform lol lol

 

[Eff2013]

Harpy, this little song brought back memories of my childhood. Loved it then and love it now. It’s kind of comforting. I am the only Vegemite eater in my house. Everyone else would not go near the stuff.