Will the Barium swallow test help determine if I have dysphagia or not?

Question

Hi doctor,

I recently visited an ENT because food gets stuck in my throat when I eat, which is quite painful. It mainly happens when I eat bread, fries, meat, and pasta. I will take mini Ibuprofen pills, fill them and keep them in my throat for hours. This has been going on since I was a child. I was just unaware that it was not normal. I thought it was dysphagia. The ENT did a nasal endoscopy and said that there was nothing wrong. Can nasal endoscopy even detect dysphagia? The doctor said I should take a barium swallow test if the symptoms continued for six weeks. Will the Barium swallow test help determine if I have dysphagia or not? It is easier to breathe through my nose when this happens instead of my mouth. I have been experiencing the symptoms since childhood. Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern. Your symptoms seem to suggest globus pharyngeus. It may be due to subclinical reflux of gastric acid in the throat. Do you feel a burning sensation in your stomach or sour eructations? If it had been an organic cause of dysphagia, and you have been feeling it since childhood, it would have progressed by now. As far as a nasal endoscopy is concerned, it cannot detect the presence or cause of dysphagia. For that, you need a fibreoptic laryngoscopy. If it is dysphagia, barium swallow will help us know any obstruction along the food pipe or movement disorder. Thank you.