[wdnsl_hope]

Hello,

I have been having difficulty swallowing for several months. I am trying to determine if the problem is physical or mental. It might be both.

When I sit down to eat, I am not afraid to swallow and do not have a fear of choking. What happens is I can't swallow unless I touch my nose or put a napkin to my mouth as I am swallowing. If I don't do either of these things or something similar, I kind of choke on the food I am eating. Sometimes I can swallow a few bites without touching, but not often. Other times, I need touching just to swallow saliva.

I have had swallowing problems since childhood. I had open heart surgery when I was 4 years old and was sick much of the time. My swallowing problem started when I was maybe 5 or 6. My parents struggled to get me to eat. The swallowing problem went away until I was 8 or 9, and then came back in both junior high and high school. It always came for short periods of time and resolved on its own without my noticing. This time, however, it will not go away. I am 36.

Doctors suggest the problem is related to acid reflux. I saw an ear, nose and throat specialist who said I have minor acid irritation in my throat. He prescribed Omeprazole, which I have been taking for a month. It has not yet eased my swallowing troubles. I have had acid reflux on and off for several years (likely due to stress) and have experienced many of the common side effects of the condition. Stomach problems are not unusual for me, as I often experience nausea and other digestive issues.

I have been treated for anxiety (in the past) and am pretty sure I have obsessive compulsive disorder. I am prone to having obsessive thoughts that trouble me for days and make me severely depressed, and I have minor checking and counting rituals. Mental disorders run rampant in my family.

I am scared I will have to touch my nose to swallow for the rest of my life, and that is upsetting. Swallowing is supposed to be an automatic bodily process. My concern is that now that it's voluntary, there is no way to forget about it and make it involuntary again.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thank you.

[CANDC]

Hi wdsnl. Welcome to Psych Central. Sorry you are having trouble with swallowing. Here are some articles that might be of interest.
http://forums.psychcentral.com/ocd-t...d-related.html

Many people meet with a psychiatrist to discuss medication options for diminishing symptoms.

Some people find a therapist helps them talk through some of the roots their challenges stem from.

Feel free to private message me or other Community Liasons (left click on the name to the left of the post you want to private message, select Send Private Message)

Thanks for sharing your story.

[emwell]

I clicked on your thread because I too have swallowing problems, but mine are very different.

My first thought was to suggest seeing a general practitioner to rule out physical problems. But you have done that.

I have OCD that was finally diagnosed almost 3 years ago. It first surfaced when I was very young. What you are experiencing could definitely be that. My symptoms can vary depending on what is going on in my life.
Presently I am on medication and involved in very intense therapy. The combination seems to be helping.
Every day I challenge my compulsive behaviors. Sometimes I am successful sometimes I am not.

I hope you are able to get the answers you need.
Thank you for sharing with us.