I Am A Very Active 59 Or Old Male In

Posted on Fri, 14 Dec 2018

Question: I am a very active 59 or old male in pretty good condition (normally) with the exception of problems with frequent indigestion. For the last month or so, I have been iintermitently having trouble keeping food down. I blamed it on not chewing well enough as I am preparing to get dentures and have few teeth to chew with. This last week however, I could not keep anything down foodwise, and at times not even water. I'm not running fever and don't feel sick.. just scared.

Answered by Dr. Aaron Branch (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
A few questions to clarify

Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. I just want to ask a few questions first to make sure I understand your situation. When you say you have had frequent indigestion, did you have heart burn with it? And when you say you can't keep food down, do you mean you throw it back up? Does it feel like it gets stuck? Are you having normal bowel movements? Any abdominal pain?

I look forward to your response and will discuss more with you then.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Aaron Branch (1 hour later)

Yes it is accompanied by heartburn and yes, it feels like the food or liquid gets stuck. I have little panic attacks when this happens and its hard to breathe. Yes, I throw it back up. After an episode, I can't eat or drink anything for a while because it almost certainly comes back up .. XXXXXXX a small sip of water. My bowel movements seem normal and on time. And intermittent abdominal pain.. more like cramps

Follow up: Dr. Aaron Branch (2 minutes later)

P.S. I do take a daily 'prevacid' type antacid

Answered by Dr. Aaron Branch (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Another question

Detailed Answer:
Does it feel like it gets stuck down in your chest, or up near your throat? And at first, did you just have trouble with solids, and then only more recently with liquids?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Aaron Branch (2 hours later)

Down in my chest. And yes, solids only at first although trying to 'wash them down' with liquids has never been successful.

Answered by Dr. Aaron Branch (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are suspicious for peptic stricture.

Detailed Answer:
Your symptoms sound suspicious for a peptic stricture, which is a narrowing of your esophagus caused by inflammation from acid reflux over a long period of time. Eventually scar tissue develops in the esophagus and it becomes more and more narrow until you start having problems with solids first, and then liquids. This has progressed more quickly than I would expect in your case, but I think this is still the most likely cause.

The treatment is to get an EGD, or a scope that goes down to your stomach, where they can dilate the narrowing and help food and liquids pass through easier. How urgent this is depends on your ability to get food and water down, and if you are having trouble getting water down, I would suggest going to the ER, as it may take long time otherwise to get an appointment with a GI doctor who can do the scope.

There are other possible causes of your symptoms, such as esophageal motility problems, but the first step to diagnosing them would still be an EGD.

I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about that, I would be glad to explain anything or help further in any way I can.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana