My mother is 89 and for about 3 years her swallowing food has gotten progressively worse. I now suspect her having an increasing intolerance to certain allergens in the foods she tries to eat. Mom has had her throat dilated in January of this year and April and has another dilation upcoming on June 4. Since January this year she has lost 15 pounds. I ve tried to feed her many different foods, but a few minutes after starting to eat, she says her throat is getting choked up. She is starving to death before my very eyes. I now ask why didn t the gastro people suggest that she might need to see an allergist.