Question:
has anyone else had severe throat/esophagus/chest pain?

My mom had the gastric bypass 7 years ago, and I'm not sure if this pain even has to do with her bypass, but every time she swallows anything, whether it be water or food she has this horrible intense pain going down, she describes it like accidently gulping a ton of water in a pool, or a piece of bread going down wrong. She had an endoscopy and it showed nothing was wrong, and they are guessing heart burn. Has anyone else dealt with this? What was the cause/cure?    — wecangetright (posted on December 17, 2007)

December 17, 2007
I am still new to this but it sounds like what I asked my surgeon about last week at my 1 month check up. He said it is most likely that I am taking too big of a sip or that I am not chewing enough before swallowing. Have her try smaller sips and smaller food pieces chewing thoroughly. It seems to help me. I still forget to chew enough sometimes but that pain reminds me for the next bite. Hope she is feeling better soon.
   — DsneGrl

December 17, 2007
Hello, I am 3 1/2 month post op and yes I have that pain too. I had a scope done and found I had an ulser in my pouch. I have to take lots of pills because at this pointe I can't eat nothing. But befor this pain started. If I ate bread or anything really it felt like it was stuck in my breast bone. I had to trow it up for the pain to go away. I would chew really good and if the pain is still there u need to be re checked. Don't just believe ur fine u know ur body better then anyone eles. Just do what ur body wants. Hope I helped a little
   — aluvzu2

December 17, 2007
Hi Katie, thanks for writing, and thanks for loving your Mom enough to ask your question. She needs to visit her gastric bypass surgeon and get checked out. I see mine every year, but if I have an issue during the year, then I check in with them as well. As far out as she is, she could have heartburn, and they do treat that just as if you didn't have a gastric bypass, it is with medication. She may have an ulcer in her pouch or somewhere nearby, that can be very painful, and again it can be treated with medication. The key here is to get seen. Please urge or beg her to contact her surgeon right away and get seen. I think her surgeon and not her PCM need to see her because this could definitely be surgery related. Take care and keep loving your Mom. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

December 18, 2007
I have this pain from time to time and I have not yet had any WLS. It almost feels like my esophagus/throat/chest is being stretched out by whatever it is I am swallowing and it is very painful. You said your mom had an endoscopy... this means that a surgeon looked at the lining of her esophagus and stomach. Just because the lining looks normal does not mean that everything is functioning correctly. If your mom is still having pain, I highly suggest requesting more testing, maybe a barium swallow/upper GI test or esophageal manometry. These tests show what is happening (what muscles and valves are doing) while swallowing. My guess is that your mother has had heart burn before and will tell you that her swallowing pain is very different. Best wishes.
   — mrsidknee

December 18, 2007
I have also had the "burning" in the throat. Mine was from 2 things, 1) my GERD, simply heart burn and I take Nexum once a day for that. It has helped a lot. 2) I have a cyst in my thyroid because of the acid that came up from the heart burn. the drs will not take the cyst out because it would be more poisonous to try than to let my body heal itself. So far I can say that after a year of the Prilocec, Nexum, it has desolved. How they found the cyst was from an ear, nos, and throat dr. I wouldn't let it go, just keep going to the dr and keep telling them the same thing over and over. There has to be something out here that can help your mom. Take care and God bless you all Paula
   — japaad