Post AqizG8cPAnE6BymnWS by MedeaVanamonde@chaosfem.tw
(DIR) More posts by MedeaVanamonde@chaosfem.tw
(DIR) Post #AqiyT4KUKZOKhV0XGC by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-02-03T00:16:48Z
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My husband has always had trouble swallowing pills but in the last year it's gotten worse and he only eats soup and soft foods. I told him this was very serious and made him see the doctor. The doctor gave him pills for acid reflux. He might not take them because they are pills. I don't know if it's even acid reflux and I'm becoming worried. It's not healthy to avoid solid food all of the time. Isn't that very serious?
(DIR) Post #AqiylkUoINiAgqk87U by CStamp@mastodon.social
2025-02-03T00:19:30Z
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@futurebird I think the most important thing is that he's getting all the nutrition he needs: proteins, carbs, veggies, fruit...
(DIR) Post #AqiyoJ6WarlCbZbTqC by Crow@pagan.plus
2025-02-03T00:20:36Z
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@futurebird yes, that sounds serious. im not a doctor.
(DIR) Post #AqiywyAJoSs4GqVaoC by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-02-03T00:22:12Z
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@Crow I will keep pressuring him to take more actions. He's not as worried as I am. I was hoping the doctor would make a fuss over it.
(DIR) Post #Aqiz1DkZoL8zlSUlKy by Sharksonaplane@mastodon.sandwich.net
2025-02-03T00:22:55Z
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@futurebird It can be. My stepdaughter's stepdad had something similar, where his esophagus (I think) had slowly shrunk over time. By the time they treated it, I think they said the opening was no wider than a quarter (he's fine now!). Did your husband see a gastroenterologist or was that a PCP? Might want to look into a referral, just for peace of mind?
(DIR) Post #Aqiz9ADep4kB87svyK by philtor@fosstodon.org
2025-02-03T00:24:23Z
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@futurebird presumably the doctor checked him out and seems to think it's reflux. GERD can do this. It can scar tissue in the throat and cause inflammation that can make it difficult to swallow. In addition to the pills (most likely proton pump inhibitors) he could get a wedge pillow that raises the head above the stomach.
(DIR) Post #AqizDbTnPa3MpoYCo4 by hal_pomeranz@infosec.exchange
2025-02-03T00:25:11Z
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@futurebird I am not a doctor but it sounds serious to me. Can’t take solid food? I had to be successfully on a solid food diet before they would release me from the hospital after my intestinal blockage.The medical profession is maddening. I hope you can keep trying until you find a doctor who actually takes this seriously and does more than dispense some pills.Hope this turns out to be any easy fix. Take care—both of you.
(DIR) Post #AqizF1BPKfdGqGclMW by GeoWend@kosmos.social
2025-02-03T00:25:18Z
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@futurebird...have they looked at his esophagus to see if it is smaller?(I only say this as I had mine act up today...I am very careful with shredded meats because it can easily catch things. And after that happens, it can feel really off for a while)
(DIR) Post #AqizG8cPAnE6BymnWS by MedeaVanamonde@chaosfem.tw
2025-02-03T00:25:12Z
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@futurebird @Crow So many things that could be wrong.Does he take meds for a chronic condition besides not swallowing ?
(DIR) Post #AqizHMiOFRAiCYAeP2 by joninalbany@beige.party
2025-02-03T00:25:27Z
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@futurebird i had to take some big capsules and the tilt forward method helped me get them down. Never had a problem before that prescription. It's the second method here. Hope it helps.https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/two-tricks-make-easier-swallow-pills-201411137515
(DIR) Post #AqizIaY4Ii4bOXvTrk by 7sleepersmusic@mastodon.social
2025-02-03T00:25:43Z
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@futurebird I *think* there is liquid medication for acid reflux, maybe the doctor can prescribe that? But if that doesn’t help, then yeah, it could be more serious. Probably wise to see a specialist.
(DIR) Post #AqizQzthwBx4KX3cQa by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-02-03T00:27:37Z
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@MedeaVanamonde @Crow No other meds although the issue with pills has been a problem when he's needed to take them in the past. For example when he had a tooth implant he just didn't take the pain meds for three days after and stayed in bed instead because he couldn't swallow the pills. I told him to tell the doctor since he wasn't supposed to be in that much pain but he didn't want to do anything. But back then solid food wasn't an issue. It's worse now.
(DIR) Post #Aqizbs9d4DANV5gqoq by Meowthias@mastodon.world
2025-02-03T00:29:33Z
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@futurebird This sounds like a situation that calls for a second opinion. I have difficulty swallowing pills, and don't exactly understand why. If I eat something after I swallow a pill, it helps. Otherwise I feel like something is stuck in my throat.
(DIR) Post #Aqj0IEXWEGbD5d40dU by MedeaVanamonde@chaosfem.tw
2025-02-03T00:37:13Z
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@futurebird @Crow Could be fall out from not taking pain meds after oral surgery.How long ago was that?
(DIR) Post #Aqj0JN2o5vDfkwEz7g by dan@discuss.systems
2025-02-03T00:37:16Z
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@futurebird IIRC, acid reflux would be the most common cause and PPIs are generally safe so there's not much downside to starting with that -- apart from whether he's willing to take the pills.I am surprised they did not recommend a barium swallow or upper endoscopy (from experience, neither is particularly fun but certainly bearable as far as medical procedures go). It'd be worth seeing a gastroenterologist specifically.obligatory disclaimer that I am not a doctor (I did read up a lot on this kind of stuff due to some symptoms I was having, but that was ~20 years ago...)
(DIR) Post #Aqj0LQOqadJKk4Wsbo by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-02-03T00:37:51Z
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@MedeaVanamonde @Crow Like 7 years.
(DIR) Post #Aqj0RuzFmRIHLOedAO by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-02-03T00:39:00Z
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@dan The endoscopy is on the table if things don't improve with these acid reflux pills. Knowing that there is some kind of progression is helping me to calm down a little.
(DIR) Post #Aqj0dRtdlQe0b2WkBU by MedeaVanamonde@chaosfem.tw
2025-02-03T00:41:00Z
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@futurebird @Crow Ouch.Back when They still gave pain meds for oral surgery
(DIR) Post #Aqj0tu2msc1kWmeS3M by Crow@pagan.plus
2025-02-03T00:43:53Z
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@futurebird @MedeaVanamonde having a healthy distrust of doctors may be (unfortunately, historically) wise; nevertheless, not being able to swallow solids is a big deal. If he was 2 or 3 years old I suspect there'd be a minor freak out.In any case, I hope this is resolved easily, and soon.
(DIR) Post #Aqj1iD2cWS9HvTYrJo by mcnado@mstdn.social
2025-02-03T00:53:07Z
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@futurebird if I had a patient with this history, I would tell them they need urgent GI referral for an endoscopy to rule out a mass, esophageal web, or esophageal stricture. I don’t sit on that complaint.
(DIR) Post #Aqj1khCXMLaM2pNx9k by ohmu@social.seattle.wa.us
2025-02-03T00:53:35Z
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@futurebird I have reflux episodes from time to time. For one of the worst, I was prescribed something that was an entirely liquid suspension. It wasn't any of the usual suspects.It worked. And yes, trouble swallowing would be alarming to me. I hope it's not the things I'm imagining.
(DIR) Post #Aqj2JMIX4MHNLjiaMC by paulc@mstdn.social
2025-02-03T00:59:49Z
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@futurebird ask the pharmacist if the pills can be crushed and mixed in a liquid.
(DIR) Post #Aqj2Yz8mw1FQA7bzCS by futurebird@sauropods.win
2025-02-03T01:02:40Z
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@paulc This is my first task for tomorrow.
(DIR) Post #Aqj2l3GnPO6MRZ6wWu by quinn@social.circl.lu
2025-02-03T01:04:49Z
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@futurebird if he has acid reflux that bad he should see a gastroenterologist and probably should have an endoscopy. Not only are there easy treatments (including PPIs) there's several possible things (including h pylori) this could be and it should be identified. I have several problems with my throat, esophageal junction and stomach. They are treatable but should get treated.
(DIR) Post #Aqj3zKFDC7iv65jx6u by jeremiah@tldr.nettime.org
2025-02-03T01:18:36Z
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@futurebird it's really really bad to avoid solid food all the time. My friend's wife had something similar happen with an aversion to solids and her health has been rough and she got very weak. She even had to do physical therapy for eating solids.
(DIR) Post #Aqj6RKcnZcAOIHFrFo by notthatkaren@mstdn.social
2025-02-03T01:46:05Z
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@futurebird See your doctor and ask (adamantly) for a referral to a Speech Therapist- who can then do a swallow study (if needed) or give you guidance/treatment for dysphagia.
(DIR) Post #Aqj6Z70u3zqOOcEukC by pelha@mstdn.social
2025-02-03T01:47:29Z
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@futurebird i had the same swallowing problem. Then was diagnosed with gastritis last summer & started taking pepsid. Now I have no problem with all but the massively large supplement tablets. Highly recommend pepsid!
(DIR) Post #AqjWFijIiwX4O3Q78K by nlovsund@mastodon.acc.sunet.se
2025-02-03T06:35:18Z
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@futurebird Does this match his issues: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophageal_achalasiaDoes your husband's œsophagus cramp out of the blue?If you suspect achalasia, I can talk more over DMs.
(DIR) Post #AqlOIldnwfn2y4i9IW by lufthans@mastodon.social
2025-02-04T04:15:39Z
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@futurebird multiple people I know were prescribed to raise the head of their bed when they sleep ( along with taking medication ) to reduce acid reflux at night