I don't need to worry about this, right?

[Jenny in Florida]

I spent a few hours at a social event last night where I couldn't eat anything (vegan, gluten free). By the time I got home and went for a walk, I was hungry and kind of scarfed some GF pretzels and hummus followed by some vegan ice cream. By the time I was done, I felt very uncomfortable -- trouble swallowing, discomfort in my chest when I did swallow, feeling like something was stuck in  my throat -- but I assumed I got what I deserved for eating too quickly. I went to bed knowing I would feel better in the morning.

Except I didn't.

And the feeling hasn't gone away yet. It's uncomfortable enough that I have focused on only liquids and soft foods today -- coffee and applesauce for breakfast, mashed potatoes for lunch. I tried some corn tortillas warmed up with some margarine, but even that hurt going down. I've also discovered that cold liquids are worse than warm ones.

After lunch, I called my doctor to ask if this is something I should be seen about, but had to leave a message. It's only been a little over an hour, but given that it is mid- late afternoon on a Friday, I'm wondering if I should get any more proactive about this.

I've tried hitting Google with my symptoms, and haven't found anything especially helpful. I'm sure this isn't life-threatening, but it is pretty uncomfortable.

Has anyone had this? Did you find anything helpful to make it go away? 

[Tap]

My guess is that you ate too fast and your esophagus got a little irritated. You might have had a bit of acid reflux also which can further irritate the bottom of the esophagus. I would continue with the soft diet and maybe take a tums when you eat to reduce any further irritation. If you have gaviscon try that instead of tums, following the directions on the bottle (it creates a barrier to acid, not just reduced acid like Tums—-not certain if it is vegan tho).

 

Otherwise I would try to imagine if they were unrelated to see if anything stands out health wise. Sometimes we see a causative reason when things occur coincidentally at the same time. 
 

Hope you feel better! That sounds uncomfortable!

Edited November 19, 2021 by Tap

[EmilyGF]

Sulfites? Sounds like the symptoms my grandfather developed when he got older and developed an allergy to sulfites. 

N/M I agree with @Tap. My grandfather's discomfort swallowing was due to swelling in his tongue due to sulfites.

Edited November 19, 2021 by EmilyGF

[PeterPan]

Did you take an antihistamine? Is your breathing or swallowing currently affected? Personally, I'd take an antihistamine, give it a bit to kick in (maybe one hour) then go to an urgent care to get some care if it doesn't resolve. 

Edited November 19, 2021 by PeterPan

[bookbard]

I would agree with Tap. I used to get something similar and apparently it was due to reflux. But as soon as I noticed it, my throat would tighten and get worse, because there are so many muscles in that area that it's hard to relax. It became a bit of a cycle (but improved immensely once I finished my Masters degree!)

Definitely talk to your doctor though. 

[Pawz4me]

6 minutes ago, Tap said:

My guess is that you ate too fast and your esophagus got a little irritated. You might have had a bit of acid reflux also which can further irritate the bottom of the esophagus.

Agree. Happens to me all the time. If I think there's reflux involved I take famotidine (Pepcid).

[ktgrok]

1 hour ago, bookbard said:

I would agree with Tap. I used to get something similar and apparently it was due to reflux. But as soon as I noticed it, my throat would tighten and get worse, because there are so many muscles in that area that it's hard to relax. It became a bit of a cycle (but improved immensely once I finished my Masters degree!)

Definitely talk to your doctor though. 

Yup. Esophogeal spasms maybe, as well. 

Agree with taking pepcid, and tums as needed. Sometimes peppermint can help, supposedly, as it relaxes the muscles that are spasming. 

[catz]

This is totally a reflux response for me.  Stress is a big trigger.  I even saw a gastro for it and had an upper endoscopy for it when it was bad for me.  

[PeterPan]

nt

Edited November 20, 2021 by PeterPan

[Catwoman]

How are you feeling now, Jenny? I hope you're feeling much better!

[Harriet Vane]

@Jenny in Florida Hope you are feeling better. 

[Jenny in Florida]

Thanks, all.

It may be completely unrelated, but I did also run a fever last night, which seems to be gone this morning.

Still hurts this morning. Trying to take my pills this morning was . . . bad.

More applesauce for breakfast this morning.

[Jean in Newcastle]

This might be out in left field, but any chance that you could have Covid?  The fever plus chest tightness/inflammation tells me that it’s not out of the running. (I have had many esophageal spasms due to allergic reactions and they have always subsided much more quickly and never involved a fever). 

[lmrich]

Sorry you are not feeling better. I have lots of food allergies and have EoE so you might want to ask your doctor about that. 

[mominco]

Jenny

11 hours ago, Jenny in Florida said:

I did also run a fever last night, which seems to be gone this morning.

Still hurts this morning. Trying to take my pills this morning was . . . bad.

 

Jenny it could be strep!

[Jenny in Florida]

So, I gave up today and went to CentraCare. They did test for covid and flu (both negative) but very quickly diagnosed bronchitis.

[Harriet Vane]

So sorry you’re sick. Soup and rest and vitamins for you.

[Jenny in Florida]

For those keeping track on their What's Wrong With Jenny scorecards: I followed up with my primary today, who scratched her head at the concept of it being bronchitis and agreed with me that it is more likely to be something gastro-related. She took me off the antibiotic and steroid and prescribed an acid reducer and . . . something I don't remember off the top of my head. She also sent me for a chest x-ray. She suspects some kind of esophageal irritation and that the cough is caused by "silent" reflux. 

It was really nice to be treated like I wasn't crazy or annoying for thinking the previous diagnosis didn't feel right. 

So my new marching orders are to take the adjusted meds and follow up with a gastro if the issue doesn't resolve in a week.

[Harriet Vane]

Yay for an awesome primary doctor who listens and who uses her brain. I hope you are able to get to the bottom of this.