I've had difficulty swallowing for at least 5 years now and had a videofluoroscopic swallow study done (VFSS). They put barium in different consistencies of food and take an x-ray movie of you swallowing. The study showed some retention and reflux as well. Notice when I swallow the pudding or nuts that food comes back up in the esophagus. I also appear to have limited esophageal motility as the food isn't moving down the esophagus like it should be, which is why there is food from my esophagus all the way down to my stomach. It's just not moving quickly. So, to all you out there who have ever eaten with me and heard me cough and choke, this is why. ETA: It is now 3 years later and still no diagnosis has been made, though scleroderma is suspected. I've since had an esophageal manometry (motility study) which showed little to no peristalsis. Swallowing seems to be getting progressively worse so the GI doctor is going to do another endoscopy to see if the regurgitation is doing any damage to my esophagus.

• published: 21 Aug 2010
• views: 109638