BDS gets an upper GI with a barium swallow.
7/2003 - Acid reflux. Concern - possible GERDS, or the beginning of it. The film from the tests clearly shows what we mean when we talk about dysphasia. The constriction of the esophagus due to radiation is evident in the following two photos. And, my particular case is probably less severe than many due to an esophageal block that was in place when I was undergoing my radiation treatments.
Figure 1. The shadows to the left of my esophagus are my neck vertabrae. The little arrows are pointing to constriction caused by the radiation. It looks almost like someone tied little rubber bands around my esophagus.
Figure 2. Another shot of the "pinched" area in my esophagus as the barium makes it's way down my esophagus. You can see my neck and get an idea of about where this constriction is. Approx at my Adam's apple - about where the esophageal block stopped. To try and describe how it feels to try and swallow food or pills is difficult. Even a small pill that is only a few millimeters in diameter can cause a gag reflex. Most things have to be washed down due to the swallowing difficulty and dryness. Small bites at meals is pretty much a given. Best (easiest) things (for me) to eat are high in moisture content, like casseroles, soups, salads, sloppy Joe's, cereal, mashed potatoes and gravy (yum), vegetables, and you get the idea...
- BDS