Hi, I just joined today and I need your collective brains to pick. I am a tongue cancer survivor and am so happy and blessed. I was diagnosed in 2009 and ready to face the world by 2010. Didn't need surgery, had chemo and 8 weeks of radiation. I have as much saliva as I will ever have. The big problem is eating. Not so much the swallow but the landing in my stomach. I have terrible burn, pain under my right breast, pain directly behind that in my back like I've been impaled straight through. I have terrible gas and bloating. I am taking Dexilant and Prilosec. Was on protonix but this is supposed to be easier on the esophagus. Nothing works. Feels like each bite gets all balled up in the middle of chest and grows to a size that is too big to go down. I sit up straighter to move the food but it doesn't help. Eating takes me hours and I get tired of cold food. I get the burn with anything I put in my stomach even plain water. I keep losing weight because I suffer painfully through every meal. Had a normal endoscopy, normal gall bladder test, all signs lead to no indication of any problem anywhere. Except I keep a bag handy at all times for dry heaves and constant pain. I would call it discomfort, but that is a good day. Most days it's just pain.
Sorry for the length of my whining, I just have no answers and pretty soon my only solution will be to stop eating. It's getting worse.
Anyone feel like I do, especially after so long since treatment?? Am I losing my mind?

Welcome to OCF! I completely understand your stomach issues. I go thru something very similar. It has become so bad that I finally went to my family doc who drew blood to check for several things. He said it may be an ulcer or gastritis. I suffered on and off for months and finally am taking care of this. I suggest you see your family doctor right away. There is no reason for you to suffer with this. You are not whining, you have a medical problem. It is correctable but does need attention. Get yourself checked out and fixed so you can move on.

Best wishes!!!

Hi SB

the medication is treating reflux which, if not working, means it may not be reflux.

Could it be that your gastro-intestinal tract is actually going into spasm?

I would suggest getting a referral to a speech pathologist and asking for a modified barium swallow. This will allow the pathologist to see in real time what is happening whilst you are swallowing.

Alex had similar problems - but not quite. He also complained of the "landing". For him, it manifested as heartburn AND nausea. For him Maxolon (metoclopramide - think it might be called Reglan in the US???) worked in combination with the anti-reflux medicine. It is a short acting anti-nausea medication that works by stimulating clearance of stomach contents. Sort of like clearing a blocked drain. He took it 30 minutes before he planned to "eat" (nutrients through PEG and later swallowing liquid formula)and then did it very slowly.

My only other suggestion is Gaviscon which is used for heartburn but works differently from other antacids and anti-relux medicines by forming a barrier when it hits the stomach that stops the stomach contents heading north. It is available over the counter so might be worth a try after discussing it with your pharmacist?

good luck