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What does a damaged esophagus feel like?

A damaged esophagus can cause several uncomfortable symptoms. The specific sensations felt often depend on the underlying cause and severity of the esophageal damage.

Common Causes of Esophageal Damage

Some of the most common causes of esophageal damage include:

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Eosinophilic esophagitis
  • Infections like candida or herpes
  • Radiation therapy
  • Medications like NSAIDs or bisphosphonates
  • Caustic ingestion (swallowing something toxic like bleach)
  • Structural problems like strictures or rings
  • Cancers of the esophagus

Many of these conditions can lead to inflammation, ulcers, erosion, or scarring of the esophageal lining. This damage interrupts the normal function of the esophagus and causes unpleasant symptoms.

Common Esophageal Damage Symptoms

Here are some of the most common sensations and complaints from a damaged esophagus:

  • Pain – A burning, stinging, or sharp pain is often felt behind the breastbone or between the shoulder blades. It may worsen with swallowing.
  • Difficulty swallowing – Also called dysphagia, this refers to problems getting food and liquids to pass down the esophagus. Solids may be more likely to get stuck.
  • Food getting stuck – Individuals may feel like food is sticking in their chest and won’t go down. This is known as food impaction.
  • Regurgitation – Rather than refluxing up as heartburn, some contents come all the way up and into the mouth due to poor esophageal motility.
  • Unintentional weight loss – Dysphagia and poor appetite due to discomfort can lead to weight loss.
  • Coughing – Irritation of the esophagus can stimulate coughing, sometimes leading to vomiting.
  • Hoarseness – Stomach acid backing up into the throat can cause vocal cord inflammation.
  • Chest pressure – A vague squeezing sensation behind the breastbone may be felt.
  • Bleeding – In severe cases, erosions or ulcers can bleed into the esophagus.

What Does It Feel Like to Have an Esophageal Ulcer?

Esophageal ulcers are sores that form in the lining of the esophagus. The most common cause is acid erosion from severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Common esophageal ulcer symptoms include:

  • Burning chest pain that worsens with swallowing
  • Pain that worsens on an empty stomach
  • Difficulty and pain when swallowing (dysphagia)
  • Feeling like food gets stuck in the chest
  • Nausea
  • Unexplained weight loss

The pain from an esophageal ulcer is often described as a burning, gnawing, or stinging sensation. It typically worsens when food or liquids pass over the ulceration. Pain can be severe and debilitating in more serious cases.

What Does Esophageal Stricture Feel Like?

An esophageal stricture refers to abnormal narrowing of the esophagus. This can occur as a result of scar tissue formation, cancer, radiation therapy, or chronic acid reflux.

Common esophageal stricture symptoms include:

  • Difficulty and pain when swallowing solid foods
  • A sensation that solids are getting stuck in the throat or chest
  • Food impactions requiring medical procedures to dislodge
  • Regurgitation of foods that cannot pass through the narrowing
  • Unintentional weight loss from reduced food intake
  • Dehydration due to avoiding food and liquids

In many cases, a stricture starts with difficulty swallowing solid foods. As it progresses, even swallowing soft foods and liquids can become problematic. There may be discomfort, chest pressure, or choking sensations when trying to swallow.

What Does Esophageal Thrush Feel Like?

Esophageal thrush is an infection caused by an overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans. It often occurs in people with compromised immune systems.

Common symptoms of esophageal thrush include:

  • White plaque-like patches seen on endoscopy
  • Pain or difficulty swallowing (odynophagia)
  • Food getting stuck (food impaction)
  • Chest pain behind the breastbone
  • Feeling like food is sticking mid-chest
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite

In severe cases, candida overgrowth can eat away at tissues leading to erosions or ulcers. The pain may be described as sharp, burning, or stinging.

What Does Esophageal Cancer Feel Like?

Esophageal cancer is a relatively uncommon but serious malignancy. Symptoms depend on the location, size, and how advanced the tumor is.

Early esophageal cancer may not cause any noticeable symptoms. As it progresses, common symptoms include:

  • Progressive dysphagia starting with solids and advancing to soft foods and liquids
  • Odynophagia – pain with swallowing
  • Food impaction requiring endoscopic removal
  • Weight loss
  • Chest pain – pressure, burning, or stabbing sensations
  • Hoarseness or chronic cough
  • Hiccups
  • Bleeding into the esophagus
  • Enlarged lymph nodes

As the tumor grows and protrudes into the esophageal lumen, swallowing becomes more difficult. Pain levels vary but can become severe and unrelenting later in the disease process.

What Does Esophageal Rupture Feel Like?

Esophageal rupture, also called Boerhaave’s syndrome, refers to a full-thickness tear in the esophageal wall. It is a medical emergency.

Symptoms of esophageal rupture include:

  • Severe chest pain with vomiting
  • Feeling or hearing a “pop” in the chest
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Shock
  • Mediastinal crunch – a crunching sound heard with a stethoscope

The pain is typically severe, described as ripping or tearing, and worsens with breathing, swallowing, or movement. It starts suddenly and spreads across the chest. Shock and cardiovascular collapse can occur rapidly.

What Does Caustic Esophageal Injury Feel Like?

Caustic injury refers to erosion and ulceration from swallowing something damaging like a chemical cleaner or battery acid. Symptoms include:

  • Immediate throat and chest pain
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Drooling
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Shortness of breath
  • Hoarse voice
  • Blood in vomit or stool

The pain is immediate, severe, and burning. Strictures leading to problems swallowing can develop in the weeks after injury as scarring occurs. There may be periods of symptom improvement followed by recurrence as damage progresses.

What Does Eosinophilic Esophagitis Feel Like?

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an allergic inflammatory condition. Symptoms include:

  • Dysphagia – primarily with solid foods
  • Food impactions
  • Chest or abdominal pain
  • Heartburn
  • Food regurgitation
  • Food stuck sensations
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

Discomfort is often described as a painful “stoppage” sensation when swallowing. The symptoms tend to come and go as the inflammation waxes and wanes. Young children may have trouble feeding or display food avoidance behaviors.

What Does a Mallory Weiss Tear Feel Like?

A Mallory Weiss tear refers to bleeding from a tear at the junction of the stomach and esophagus, usually from violent vomiting and retching.

Symptoms include:

  • Severe pain after prolonged vomiting
  • Seeing blood in the vomit
  • Chest discomfort
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Nausea

The pain is typically severe and described as burning or gnawing. The chest discomfort may feel similar to heartburn. Symptoms often improve within a day or two as the tear heals.

When to See a Doctor

See a doctor right away for:

  • Chest pain that starts suddenly or worsens
  • Painful difficulty swallowing that persists
  • Food getting stuck with an inability to swallow
  • Vomiting blood
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Hoarseness lasting over 2 weeks

Seek prompt medical care for worsening esophageal symptoms that interfere with eating and drinking. This could represent a potentially serious underlying problem that needs further evaluation.

Diagnosing Esophageal Damage

To evaluate symptoms and pinpoint the cause of esophageal discomfort, doctors may order:

  • Barium swallow – This is a special X-ray test that has you drink a chalky liquid that coats the esophagus. It looks for abnormalities in swallowing and esophageal anatomy.
  • Endoscopy – A lighted instrument called an endoscope is passed down the throat to provide direct visualization of the esophagus. Biopsies or tissue samples can also be taken.
  • Esophageal manometry – Measures muscle contractions and esophageal motility.
  • pH monitoring – A small tube placed in the esophagus tracks acid levels to diagnose reflux.
  • Impedance testing – Measures the resistance to the flow of food and liquid down the esophagus.

Bloodwork, CT scans, and other testing may also be used to look for related problems.

Treatments for Esophageal Damage

Treatments depend on the underlying cause but may include:

  • Dietary changes like eating smaller, softer foods
  • Acid reflux medications
  • Steroids or immune modulators
  • Dilating strictures with endoscopic balloons
  • Surgery in severe cases
  • Treating infections or cancers
  • Alternative feeding routes like a nasogastric tube

Lifestyle modifications like quitting smoking, losing weight, and avoiding triggers can also help improve some esophageal conditions.

Living with an Injured Esophagus

Having an injured or chronically damaged esophagus can have a significant impact on quality of life. It may require adapting in areas such as:

  • Eating – Choosing soft, easy to swallow foods. Taking smaller bites, chewing thoroughly, and eating slowly can help.
  • Body position – Sitting upright while eating and avoiding lying down right after meals.
  • Hydration – Sipping fluids throughout the day if needed.
  • Weight maintenance – Supplementing with shakes or purees if eating is difficult.
  • Smoking cessation – Quitting smoking to optimize healing.
  • Stress management – Learning techniques to manage discomfort and related anxiety.
  • Medical care – Seeing a gastroenterologist to manage symptoms and treat any underlying conditions.

While living with esophageal discomfort can be challenging, the right treatment regimen and lifestyle adaptations can help minimize symptoms.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Seek emergency medical care if you experience:

  • Sudden severe chest or abdominal pain
  • Choking accompanied by difficulty breathing
  • Vomiting blood or passing black stools
  • Fever over 101°F with vomiting
  • Chest pain spreading to the arms, back or neck
  • Persistent chest pain lasting more than 5 minutes

Call 911 or have someone drive you to the ER right away if you have any of these alarming symptoms, as they can signify a potentially life-threatening problem requiring immediate treatment.

Conclusion

In summary, a damaged esophagus can cause symptoms like pain and difficulty swallowing. Specific sensations can include burning, pressure, food sticking, nausea, and more. Symptoms often correlate with the underlying cause. Serious conditions like rupture require emergency care. For persistent symptoms, see a doctor for an evaluation, diagnostic tests, and treatment options. Lifestyle changes and appropriate therapy can help control discomfort from many types of esophageal injury.