Help - it's been five hours and I am light headed and desperate for water

Achalasia
#1

I have not been officially diagnosed, but today, after years of suffering, I finally came across this term and I KNOW this is what I have. I had the barium swallow test, but the person performing the test just though it odd that the pill I swallowed did not go down and just waited and waited until it finally dissolved and passed.

But today I accidently swallowed some food and an episode started with the “choking” and not even getting saliva down.

I am unable to force myself to throw up (as I have seen on other boards someone was able to do). So I continue to carry a cup around with me, regurgitating foam into it. I regurgitated as much of the food as I could, but something is STILL blocking it because it has been 5 hours now, and I am light headed and desperate for water. How to force something to happen so I can at least drink (which I have thankfully never had problems with unless the food had caused the episode).

Thanks for any help.

#2

This story brings back bad memories for me. To me it sounds like your sphincter has already closed up on you (when I had your symptoms, mine was closed and I had a feeding tube…i got the feeding tube because I was pregnant and they couldnt perform surgery on me) or is very close to doing so. Please, get help ASAP and tell your specialist that you feel this way. If that specialist doesnt want to help…call someone else (maybe ask here who the best doctor in your area is, I am from The Netherlands so I dont think I can help).

Please keep us updated and you are in my thoughts.

#3

Hi lvg,
I’m sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I used to get those episodes all the time mainly when I tried to eat solid food. I would attempt to eat a sandwich, choke, vomit, and feel like my throat closed up. Even saliva will not go down. I would not eat or drink anything for 24 hours and it would eventually go away. After numerous episodes I changed to a liquid/very soft food diet. Now, I hardly ever get these episodes all though I still suffer with spasms and waiting for the liquid to go down before taking the next sip. You need to see your gastro ASAP and tell him everything you stated on this msg board. You said you have not yet been diagnosed… don’t wait any longer, make an appt. Meanwhile, I would go on a liquid/very soft food diet until you can get some professional help. I know what you are going through… it’s really hard. Hang in there and I hope you feel better soon! Keep us posted…

#4

Hi Ivg - your doctor MUST be able to at least give you nitro or nifipine to relax the spasm. Please ask him about this. These drugs seem to be the only ones to help in this situation. I hope by now something has been done for you.

#5

I did end up going to the ER and they did give me some sort of relaxant (the first one was not strong enough so they had to give another one). Usually the episodes only last 5- 25 minutes. Thanks to everyone for the help! :slight_smile:

#6

Glad to hear it - keep me posted.

#7

Have not heard from you in a while and wondering how you are. Have you gotten any help?

#9

Thank you for asking.

I am doing OK. Things are so busy caring for my son that I have not had a chance to try to get in with a doctor for myself.

I usually do really well, remembering to chew chew chew my food and avoid foods that make it worse and trigger it. So I usually don’t have the episodes. But it seems that when I forget to chew chew chew my food, that I have an episode and it lasts for a much longer time than it used to in the past. Seems to be getting worse. Thankfully, I have only had one episode since I wrote the first post.

Thanks again for checking in. :slight_smile: