Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Feel Obstruction Below Sternum While Eating, Belching, Cough, Vomiting With Mucus. No Further Discomfort While Eating.
Question: Occasionally, once maybe twice in the preceding 30 days; restaurant eating, just received food; several bites into the meal; feel as though an 'obstruction' just below sternum. Unable to injest more. some belching ... retire to restroom; bend over ... cough .. repeatedly; one or two regurgitations of ingested food along with equal volume of clear/white mucus. several minuteslater, return to seat; resume eating; nofurther discomfort.
Hello and thanks for your query.
I shall make an effort to provide you with good professional recommendations specific to your questions.
I understand that your mucus vomiting has got you concerned.
Mucus as you would know is secreted in the nasal sinuses of the upper respiratory tract, as a protective function. If excess amounts are secreted, then the vomit contains mucus as the oesophagus gets laden with it and stimulates the reflux.
I must think of good enough reasons for you, in here - as the conditions causing this include mostly upper respiratory (acute/chronic sinusitis), lung infections, post nasal drip.
If you do not have any of cough/colds/post nasal drip in the recent past - there is yet another possibility that acid reflux from the stomach is the culprit.
I feel the latter is more close to your diverticular history, but this would obviously need substantiation with tests.
I would advise you the following for now.
1. Specialist visit must. (Gastroenterologist or an ENT later)
2. Abandon fizzy/acidic/late night foods.
3. Do not eat and recline soon, keep an hours gap.
4. Get on fluids/semi solid food/easily digestible.
5. Review your diverticular condition to see the present status of gut.
Yet again, I duly appreciate your query to me, I do hope that you have found something useful to help you and I shall be glad to answer any further apprehensions.
Sincerely,
I shall make an effort to provide you with good professional recommendations specific to your questions.
I understand that your mucus vomiting has got you concerned.
Mucus as you would know is secreted in the nasal sinuses of the upper respiratory tract, as a protective function. If excess amounts are secreted, then the vomit contains mucus as the oesophagus gets laden with it and stimulates the reflux.
I must think of good enough reasons for you, in here - as the conditions causing this include mostly upper respiratory (acute/chronic sinusitis), lung infections, post nasal drip.
If you do not have any of cough/colds/post nasal drip in the recent past - there is yet another possibility that acid reflux from the stomach is the culprit.
I feel the latter is more close to your diverticular history, but this would obviously need substantiation with tests.
I would advise you the following for now.
1. Specialist visit must. (Gastroenterologist or an ENT later)
2. Abandon fizzy/acidic/late night foods.
3. Do not eat and recline soon, keep an hours gap.
4. Get on fluids/semi solid food/easily digestible.
5. Review your diverticular condition to see the present status of gut.
Yet again, I duly appreciate your query to me, I do hope that you have found something useful to help you and I shall be glad to answer any further apprehensions.
Sincerely,
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Jyoti Patil
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
