Dysphagia + Gluten Intolerance

[Peace41]

Hello Board,

I have just joined, but don't know how much time I will be on here because I have now to start making another change in our life, re gluten free diet. I have just had a diagnosis, of gluten intolerance, H Pilori Bacteria along with lining damage. As well as my other disabilities. I have extreme sensitivity so if anyone responds to this question, can u respond sensitivetly please, because words can and do affect me.

What my question is, is dysphagia a symptom of gluten intolerance? Or is it part of something else.

I can deal with the stomach problems, can deal with a modified diet, although I am recovering from an adverse reaction to herbal suppplements and medication of which has caused the dsyphagia and gluten intolerance etc...could only eat five things since Christmas, now after having a flation (throat stretch), I can now eat double that amount. But the dsyphagia that is like anaphylaxis at the voice box and then mucus overload that stays in the one spot, is a little harder to deal with and take. Especially when ur muscles constrict at the voice box and u feel like u r being strangled and choked from the inside also by mucus overload and is made worse at night.

Or could this be what I suspect, I have multiple food intolerances or allergies or hypersensitivities caused by the adverse reaction?

And because my throat feels like it is swollen as well as sore, I can not eat a lot of things on the gluten diet as yet, can only drink one type of water nothing else, hope to one day that improves, but for now, have a lot to deal with. Would appreciate an answer quickly from someone who knows, thanks.

I am about to have another flation this friday and don't want this one, to be affected by what I eat. The last one, brought relief only lasted for hours, then I ate something, and then the constriction has been since that meal again, along with mucus overload.

Peace41

[SGWhiskers]

I'm sorry you are dealing with so many health problems. It really takes a toll on our stress levels when our bodies turn on us. I hope you get through some of them as soon and easily as possible.

Before I start my post, I want to make two things clear. First, I am not a doctor and speaking with your doctor about your symptoms is the only advice I can suggest. Second is that everything I say is said with compassion and caring. Remember that in case I proceed to stick my foot in my mouth.

As part of my job, I work with patients with upper airway dysphagia. I'll give you the same information I would give if a coworker asked me the same question. I'm not aware of Celiac specifically causing dysphagia. Some causes which might be related to Celiac include: Neurologic damage leading to poor control of the swallow mechanism, a deficiency in one of the B vitamins (i forget which one) causing a laryngeal web that may affect the swallow, and the ever present possibility of other autoimmune disorders. Some of the ones that specifically cause dyphagia include dermatomytosis and sclerdomera. I did some research a while back, and saw about half a dozen autoimmune diseases that cause dysphagia, but celiac was not on the list, and I don't remember all the ones I came across. Additionally, GERD can cause symptoms that mimic or contribute to dysphagia. And certainly, an allergy causing an anaphalactic reaction would cause airway distress.

If you have not already had the following tests, I would talk to your doctor to see if they are appropriate for you. A Videoflouroscopic Swallow Study (also called a modified barium swallow, a VFSS, or a cookie swallow), and a esophagram (also called a barium swallow). Both are x-ray tests which look at the movement of different parts of the swallow. The first looks at the larynx and the function/safety of the airway during the swallow. The second looks at the function of the esophageus as food travels to the stomach.

People who have GERD sometimes develop irritation of the esophageus. The nerves which innervate the esophageus are the same or attached to the ones that innervate the larynx. Sometimes those irritated nerves get confused about where the signal is coming from and in technical lingo, freak out and tell the larynx to slam shut. Laryngeal spasm would be the term to google. It is scary as can be, but my understnanding is the body automatically release the spasm if it goes so long that you pass out. tight control of the GERD is the treatment.

Now the flip side is that you could be getting food or liquid into the larynx when you swallow which is dangerous. That is what the VFSS is to test for. As for the mucus, I don't know. It could be food residue from the pharynx, it could be allergy related, it could be lung related. The VFSS and asking your doctor about the mucus is the way I would go.

I wish you the best and hope you and your doctors can get to the bottom of your symptoms.

[mommida]

Hello,

I have a few questions, because my daughter has eosinophilic Esophagitis. Dysphagia can be a symptom of EE. Eosinophils are usually the bodies defense against parasites, and would be associated with H. Ployri.

Have you been tested for for any other medical conditions that cause dysphagia?

In Eosinophilic involvement with the gastro. system, gluten can be a "trigger" for the disease/disorder. So gluten can be related to dysphagia.

Have you found any things that are comforting when you are having dysphagia problems? Have you tried an elimination diet to determine if you have any "trigger" foods?

((HUGS))

[Peace41]

Hello SGWhiskers and Mommida,

Thanku for replying and sharing and will have a look at the larynix spasms. I hope ur daughter gets better Mommida. What do u do for ur daughter or did ur daughter and does ur daughter have dysphagia with it? I am hoping the flations will solve the dysphagia it is suppose to solve majority of swallowing problems.

I believe the dysphagia came from the herbal supplement and medication induced esophegus injury which in the cases I have read, all of them got dsyphagia. Because I never had it before, even though I have had gerds for years, and at different times difficulty in swallowing things from time to time, but nothing like I am living with now.

And I will also look into the neurological component, because my brain was affected through the whole ordeal and my stomach can spasm when I am in severe stress and distress.

And as for the stomach and bowel thing, yes I have the H Pilori, but can't do anything about it, and yes I have gerds and irritable bowel and have the worst reflux and constipation with it. But when I have the throat stretch, I have normal burps and no reflux. It feels so good, just after I have it. I do have esophegitis and also gastritis. But I am also blessed that nothing is getting stuck anymore, it did when I first ate toast after it happened, it was dreadful, but the hospital that gave it to me, just sent me home, thinking I was imagining the whole thing, while I had to put up with toast sticking at the back of my throat. Thank goodness it cleared.

I also got some gluten bread, and I really like it is easy to eat, and soft to swallow, its lovely to eat right now. But a chocolate gluten biscuit is not, it burnt the back of my throat along with worsening the constriction.

As for the comfort, I get my comfort, from God, who gives me peace through this at different times along with patience, I also don't swallow at different times to get a break. and to give my throat a rest. I go to the local hospital for them to check my vitals, when I feel really bad and have chest pain with it, along with when I was bad with it and became breathless and pain in my chest had an ecg. I also have panick attacks and become so tired that I fall asleep after it. When I fall asleep I stay asleep alnight and that is a blessing. And hugging my son, is lovely and he talks to me also when I am bad with it at night. And sleeping at 45 degree angle also helps, can't sleep on my side. I am also starting a distance ed course on accounting, going to still be learning to draw, paint etc...and am learning the keyboard, which helps to take my mind of this throat thing, and doing ballet. Going to be starting a private lesson, with a ballet teacher who is aware of my disabilities and knows I need to be gentle, so i will be trying to do a 30 minute lesson, also do a baby bit of pilates, just the posture stance for now. I have to ask my doctor if ballet is okay as well, but hopefully it will be.

And thanku for the hug and hugs to u, thanku for u both for ur help will also talk to the doctor again after the flation, probably next week, and seeing my doctor this week and will discuss some things with her. Re my son getting tested to see if he is gluten intolerant, but also for both of us to get referred to an immunologist/allergist. We are going to look into getting desensitised etc...so if I have to take medication I possible can, through a desensitation program, or the very least, dealing with the hypersensitivities which have worsened as a result.

Peace41

[drdoug]

My body started having trouble swallowing when I was 15. I went to several doctors and did the barium swallows etc. and they sent me away and told me it was all in my head, but I still couldn't swallow even water sometimes.

Last year I started doing yoga and my swallowing improved but I still couldn't eat a steak at a restaurant without having to excuse myself with a bite stuck in my throat. Then I had a friend suggest Enterolab.com and I got tested. I have genes for celiac from both mom and dad. So, I went completely off gluten as best I can. Within 1 month, I can now swallow a LOT easier, I even ate a steak at a nice restaurant recently and everything went down easily.

In conjunction with the swallowing issues, I used to get regular nose sores that looked like herpes (herpatiform lesions) and now I haven't had one since going gluten free. I also used to have migraines fairly regularly which are now just history.

I still have some issues with hot peppers, they seem to mess with my throat and digestive symptoms, but I can live without them.

I can now tell when I've had gluten, my hands (more in my right) swell up just like rheumatoid arthritis the next morning, I get a headache that will last for 2-3 days and my digestive system shuts down for 2-3 days and one rash over my temple starts to itch badly.

So, I continue to do my yoga, I believe the stretching helps my esophagus still, perhaps it is still healing. I have put on some good weight (I was really thin) and I am feeling a LOT better these days.

Good luck all!

[mommida]

Interesting to hear that yoga helps!

My daughter is doing well. She has not had and dysphagia. (Knock on wood) We are heading into the bad time of the airborn seasonal alergies.

Always take your time for eating. No rushing rushind aroud for a quick bite.