Upper GI Disorders

June 27, 2010

Understanding Dysphagia

“Individuals who suffer from dysphagia are often ordered onto
thickened fluids. The thicker consistency makes it less likely that an individual with dysphagia will aspirate while they are drinking. Individuals with difficulty swallowing may find liquids cause coughing, spluttering or even choking and thickening drinks enables them to swallow safely. A range of commercial thickening agents are available to purchase for the dietary management of dysphagia.”

 Wikipedia

Videofluoroscopy

In a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS), the patient swallows a variety of liquids and foods mixed with barium, as a radiologist takes video X-rays of the mouth and throat. These images show how food passes from the mouth through the throat and into the esophagus. They may also reveal aspiration — foreign matter entering the lungs — if barium enters the windpipe.

Diets for Medical Conditions : Gastritis Diet

{ 166 comments… read them below or add one }

laf2 June 25, 2011 at 10:33 pm

Getting older is a life changing. I have heart burn alot and it depends on what I eat and drink. I drink diet drinks and never had a problem with heartburn with them.

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lwalker July 14, 2015 at 3:06 pm

I agree, seems like the older I get…the more problems I have. I seem to have heartburn more often than usual. I love drinking coffee every morning, but I didn’t know until after watching this video, that it could cause heartburn, because I never had issues with heartburn after drinking coffee.

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Atheroux November 4, 2015 at 11:32 pm

Coffee will give me heartburn when I am pregnant. Thank goodness for Tums!

vgibson April 6, 2016 at 5:13 pm

I have recently been getting heartburn, I love coffee. There are certain brands that give me heartburn. Hopefully it never gets to the point that all brands give me heartburn.

MEE November 3, 2016 at 10:31 pm

Coffee, soda, spices…..all the good stuff!

Micah Thomas November 6, 2016 at 8:44 pm

Exact same with me, I know i’m still young but I’ve noticed how much more heartburn the older I get.

RAPAPM November 8, 2016 at 8:05 pm

I didn’t have problems with heartburn until I got pregnant. I cant live without coffee. It is awful while being pregnant. I am on medicine for it. just so I can I drink it.

kherrick April 5, 2017 at 7:16 pm

I hear ya. I have tumbs on my night stand. I try to eat earlier and that does help some. I am a soda drinker myself. But its so hard to just up.

mbarrett2289 April 12, 2017 at 4:25 pm

I’m only 18 and I get heartburn quite frequently. I can’t imaging how bad it may get as I get older.

Awolfe September 3, 2017 at 10:38 pm

i agree

KatelynOstrem November 29, 2017 at 11:17 pm

I love coffe.. I really should cut my intake down. Might help to stay away from heartburn.

aperet1 April 10, 2018 at 12:14 am

Tums are great but overuse can cause a rebound effect so just have to balance it all!

Stephanie Rogers April 11, 2018 at 5:33 pm

I’ve never had much of a problem with heart burn. I also don’t don’t drink coffee which seems to cause that a lot.

A Diehl November 9, 2019 at 11:24 pm

I have recently been getting heartburn, I love coffee. There are certain brands that give me heartburn. Hopefully it never gets to the point that all brands give me heartburn.

amazander March 17, 2022 at 5:00 pm

I have had problems with heart burn and especially GERD since I was about 5 years old. I actually had to have my throat stretched due to the severity of it before they got it under control. I have been on Prilosec and other similiar types of medication since then. I was instructed on things I should and should not eat or drink and especially before bed time. It seems that these problems get worse the older I get.

Astefanovic November 12, 2015 at 12:15 am

I’m starting to get heartburn bad too and it’s terrible!

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jpatino July 26, 2016 at 5:10 pm

GERD is never fun. I have it 24/7. 🙁

Morgan Long April 6, 2017 at 5:17 pm

HEARTBURN is no joke it really does suck.

klane September 21, 2018 at 10:12 pm

Heartburn does suck, its completely awful.

Catapult1 November 7, 2018 at 10:24 pm

Coffee is the number one drink that will for sure cause heartburn in most people. However, this is not the only drink or food item. Beans especially pureed ones too. Knowing what causes your heartburn and avoiding such foods or eating in moderation is a better choice than having to take TUMs all the time.

bmichael January 13, 2022 at 12:57 pm

Eating earlier in the evening has been a cure outside of some chalky tums, but it has only progressed worse as I age and I don’t even have to worry about age, yet here we are.

swhitfield April 4, 2016 at 8:18 pm

Me too!! The older I get the more acid reflux I have. I use to NEVER get this when I was young, could eat whatever and never had it. It is no fun!

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Ashleigh W. July 15, 2016 at 6:03 pm

That’s awful, I hope I do not develop this!

srussell October 11, 2016 at 2:29 pm

my daughter is only 20 and has acid reflux but from crazy foods like poptarts and bread….she can eat spicy all day and never bother her.

mjones13 April 12, 2017 at 12:23 am

I’ve had GERD for years and it sucks when it decides to make an appearance.

Awood April 12, 2017 at 1:57 pm

so glad I don’t have this problem.

Awolfe September 3, 2017 at 10:39 pm

most deffinetly but i am also pregnant now so that may be a factor of mine

lefj1979 April 6, 2016 at 7:55 pm

i agree the older i get the same problems.

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Pauffmomma March 5, 2017 at 2:12 pm

I did have the same problem but some how I managed to get it to go away

kfendley July 27, 2016 at 9:23 pm

I agree that aging can be a life changing event. I think that there are many different tips that can be performed to help decrease the risks of heartburn. Avoiding certain foods will help decrease the problem.

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autumnd October 29, 2017 at 5:19 pm

I have not gotten heart burn. I agree that not eating certain foods will help.

Hailee Cooper November 8, 2017 at 5:13 pm

I love spicy foods when it start causing me heart burn Ill be disapointed

sgerhardt October 7, 2016 at 8:33 pm

Peanut butter. Who gets heartburn after eating peanut butter…this girl. Not coffee or Italian food. Diet drinks never give me heartburn.

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Aflores1965 November 11, 2016 at 11:32 pm

Dang… girl…. I feel so sorry for you. I love peanut butter! I do not have a problem eating anything.

abane July 19, 2018 at 1:44 am

I am the same way. It is so weird it use to never bother me then I got older and it hit me like a rock.

kbrasfield October 31, 2016 at 11:10 am

I have noticed as i get older more and more foods give me heartburn also. I used to love spicy peppers but now they kill me if I don’t take a heartburn prevention such as pepcid.

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eramsey4317 April 11, 2017 at 6:46 pm

I never had heartburn before in my life until my first pregnancy! I didn’t even know what was going on! Although heartburn isn’t bad compared to other conditions, it is terrible!

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Amay0216 November 6, 2018 at 7:21 pm

I never had heart burn either until I was pregnant!

kwomble April 17, 2017 at 1:37 pm

I agree, as you get older I think heartburn is so much common!

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jrousu November 7, 2017 at 6:13 pm

The best thing I ever did for myself was to eliminate soda which is the caffeine and bubbles. It is true about not eating 3 hrs before bed. This can help aid in digestion and limits reflux. Staying away from spicy foods is the hard part for me.

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mclark8 November 8, 2017 at 9:46 pm

I seem to have heartburn with everything I eat! I am younger but my dad suffers from heartburn really bad. I need to start watching what I eat and how I eat. It is so uncomfortable and causes my body stress.

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Natalie Fusilier November 8, 2017 at 11:37 pm

I am 19, and I have had heartburn for a few years. It is not severe, but is very discomforting after eating certain meals.

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smcneely24 April 11, 2018 at 4:49 pm

My mom gets heartburn, too. She on some type of re-flux medicine to help control it, but sometimes it doesn’t do the trick and she complains about her throat burning.

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mpurifoy May 1, 2018 at 5:40 pm

Its funny to think what you eat can affect you. I sometimes get acid reflex it just depends on what I eat and when.

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tnewborn August 27, 2018 at 8:34 pm

I agree, after my baby there are a lot of things I cant eat anymore. Some foods bother me now

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Cwatkins7091 November 6, 2019 at 2:22 am

Heart burn has definitely creeped into my life as I have gotten older and comes depending on what I choose to eat or drink.

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Cwatkins7091 November 6, 2019 at 2:38 am

Heart burn has definitely creeped into my life as I have gotten older depending on what I consume.

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havenhughes14 December 1, 2019 at 2:29 pm

I agree that getting older is rough on your body. I am young myself but I have seen within my family that the older the age rises the more problems surface. These problems within the GI should not be ignored – they could be a much bigger problem then you think.

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RLD82 November 9, 2020 at 7:37 pm

I have suffered with acid reflux for years and years and something I have found to work better than rolaids and tums, for quick relief, is Aloe Juice. It’s been quite an interesting discovery for me.

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laureneleslie April 6, 2022 at 5:14 pm

although I am young, I experience heart burn quite often especially when i eat greasy food.

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nbarganier October 12, 2023 at 4:40 pm

I dont have heart burn or anything like it. I do however have stomach issues and I cant eat spicy stuff. I love the smell of mexican food but most of the spices hurt my stomach. As I get older it seems that I am getting better which I am very grateful for.

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wjh2 June 24, 2011 at 8:49 pm

I worked with the elderly and I have seen them get chocked on taking their pills. It is sad that as we get older everything that use to work dont work as it should.

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laf2 June 25, 2011 at 10:34 pm

It is sad that when you get older everything changes.

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lwalker July 14, 2015 at 3:10 pm

Yes, I agree. It really is sad how our body seems to break down over a certain period of time. Something that I’m not looking forward to, even though…I hope! I live to be a 100!

Kfalcone July 17, 2018 at 3:29 pm

Yes everything changes when you get older but it is all in what you eat and how you live your life. The older I get the better I feel because I have learned how to eat and what to eat.

Bbates4 March 10, 2015 at 12:14 am

I work with the elderly as well and it is sad when this happens. but at least now we have ways to compensate for this.

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kbrodin November 5, 2015 at 9:06 am

It would be hard for me to work with elderly and have to see them suffer trying to swallow; getting older is not fun.

Ashleigh W. July 15, 2016 at 6:04 pm

Exactly, I’m in healthcare and I think its wonderful that residents can still enjoy beverages of their choice and we have the means to thicken it to the consistency care planed.

lbabb April 1, 2015 at 11:28 am

That’s hard to watch. As you get older everything starts to wear down and not work as well.

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CLovell April 8, 2015 at 11:39 pm

I hate seeing that when my grandpa got really old and had a harder time taking his meds.

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pharvey March 4, 2016 at 8:36 pm

This can be a scary experience for both the person witnessing the choking and the person doing the choking. My father has Alzheimer’s and he has had problems in the past with choking on his food and liquids. He has been known to pocket his food and aspirate it later. We finally had to puree his food and thicken his liquids. It is sad, but it is something that many have to deal with every day.

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lmitchell April 4, 2016 at 10:02 pm

My father has had issues in the past with feeling like he is choking when he eats. My grandmother, his mother, had the same thing. He has had at least a couple of procedures to stretch the muscle so that he can swallow better. It is scary to see this happen. He does better now but he has learned he has to chew things better and there are certain foods he avoids to prevent this from happening.

Ashleigh W. July 15, 2016 at 6:06 pm

I am sorry about your father. It is something we have to deal with but thank the good Lord we have to tools to make life a little bit better for our loved ones.

mcunningham April 5, 2016 at 9:44 pm

I agree it is so sad. It is something everyone faces and is just part of it. My grandmother always talks about how “getting old is something” because of how her body has changed over the years.

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wevans July 24, 2016 at 2:57 pm

It is a shame that all we have mainly, for most of us, is our personal experiences and what a family member may comment about aging, but it is true as you say “everyone goes through it”, and it “is just part of it”. The facts about aging should be taught to us all through our life, not just old age but every decade of aging that we are approaching and the physiological changes that it will bring with it. No one tells you about this stuff, what to expect or how to deal with it. It just comes up on you unexpectedly. I think we should have a chance to prepare, or at least not be ambushed.

Cbrown1900 April 6, 2016 at 6:50 pm

It is sad but it’s a fact of life and we just have to accept it! 🙁

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knichole April 7, 2016 at 7:02 pm

I agree, I hate the thought of getting old and things not working anymore.

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tlampinen July 17, 2016 at 4:22 am

i have worked with elderly patients for over 15 years, watching the decline in health that comes with age is definitely eye opening

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csmart January 25, 2017 at 6:36 pm

I agree. Watching the daily decline makes you think about how its going to be as we get older and how it could happen at any time.

bjohnson November 9, 2016 at 10:29 pm

It is very sad to know that as we age, our body begins to shut down. It’s just the circle of life but it is still very sad. I could imagine how scary it would be to see someone get choked on taking their pills when it is a viable part of their health.

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nwade November 8, 2017 at 9:52 pm

This is such a huge thing specially with all ages. My sister is a speech pathologist and tells me all about it, haha.

With your patients have them put water in their mouth and have them put their chin to their chest as the swallow. That should actually help.

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sawadjihe October 30, 2018 at 6:35 pm

I understand your point but dysphagia can affect you at any age. Its depend what condition you have. Not all older have dysphagia.

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AEvans2 November 7, 2018 at 11:16 pm

I worked for a senior living facility where we had a few residents who has to use the thick it solution to eating it is really hard to see them struggle to swallow.

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AAtkin2020 November 11, 2020 at 2:30 pm

I agree with this. My mom has a difficult time eating (though she isn’t much older, and its from a disability). She often clears her throat or coughs while eating, she also tends to have left over food residue in her mouth after eating. I think it is a very difficult thing to deal with, as it is a everyday thing. This video cleared up some confusion for me, even though I already knew of dysphagia because of nursing school. I definitely recommend, it is worth the watch.

AAtkin2020

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Jerrica Ballance April 29, 2011 at 11:30 am

I have seen swallowing disorders first hand with the elderly and it is a sad thing. They have such difficluty with the most basic function that we all take for granted. As for heartburn i’ve never had a problem with that until late in my pregnancy. It was awful! I continued drinink sodas so maybe thats why it was so bad.
-JB

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wjh2 June 24, 2011 at 8:51 pm

I also worked with the elderly and seen first hand the struggles they go threw.

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atolleson November 5, 2015 at 11:41 am

It is sad to see the elderly go through what they have to go through! If I work with the elderly one day I will really take the time to care for them.

vrogers November 9, 2016 at 5:06 pm

I also work with the elderly and it is sad to have to have them drink thickened liquids and they hate it and understand why it is like that.

Kaycie Bullion April 6, 2016 at 3:43 pm

Yes it is so sad. I hate seeing it in the hospital

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Ashleigh W. July 15, 2016 at 6:07 pm

I completely kicked sodas out of my diet due to the heartburn.

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wmccoy3365 November 5, 2019 at 1:06 pm

I have never had heartburn until after I had my children and now I get it with everything I eat or drink. It is awful.

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SRS April 8, 2011 at 8:57 pm

I did not realize there were so many swallowing disorders. I suppose we take swallowing for granted in our everyday lives. From what I heard on the video this is a problem we will possibly face as we grow older. It said more than 50% of elderly people have trouble swallowing. In the videofluoroscopic videi it was very interesting to watch as the liquid moves through the different areas.I have always thought that drinking a small amount of Dr. Pepper or Sprite after a mean would help me get rid of my heatburn but from what the video tell us it is the factor in helping create the heartburn.

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Lindsey Thompson November 9, 2015 at 6:29 pm

I agree that we take simple tasks like swallowing for granted. Its a scary thing to think about that you might not be able to do these simple tasks with aging.

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aekwelle March 16, 2016 at 11:50 am

Totally but if we had the option to be stay young or grow older majority of us would rather stay young, so we can avoid all the health problems that are involved with aging.

dasmith February 18, 2016 at 3:46 pm

I find that its the things I like the most that are the causes of so much of my problems. Soda, spicy foods, etc….it’s hard to make so many changes when your taste craves these things, and I’ve found the craving never goes away.

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sparrish March 29, 2016 at 2:59 pm

I was surprised too! I had a relative in hospice care that had difficulty swallowing and it was going into her lungs. She ate pudding only. Very sad. I did think the xray on the videoflouroscopic video was really COOL!!! Technology today is fascinating!

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J-H April 6, 2011 at 3:57 pm

Well that is not making me happy about what i have to maybe deal with when i age but at least we have the technology to help find out the problems before its too late and maybe find a solution.

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Jerrica Ballance April 29, 2011 at 11:30 am

The resources they have today are amazing that help make our life easier as we face problems as we age.
-JB

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K-H April 5, 2011 at 3:48 pm

It is very sad that 50% of elderly people suffer from problems swallowing. I watched my Grandaddy in the last year of his life have this problem. It is heartbreaking. Not being able to eat the foods that you like and choking just from taking a small drink is an awful way to live.

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aak2 June 29, 2011 at 4:34 pm

It explains why a majority of the elderly are so little. They can’t eat without choking on it. That’s so sad.

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msorters April 22, 2015 at 5:34 pm

Oh my gosh this is so sad.. makes me miss my grandparents

kmclane1426 November 8, 2015 at 10:37 pm

I agree. It is very heart breaking and I am so thankful the we have the knowledge and supplies to be able to help those who are not able to eat very well.

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SJ April 5, 2011 at 1:21 pm

Never thought of caffine as something that could cause heartburn but it totally makes sense.

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SJ April 5, 2011 at 1:18 pm

So many people, including myself, take for granted the ability and even the simplicity of swallowing. It takes so much together to be able to swallow but it seems like such an easy process to those of us who have never had problem with it.

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kmclane1426 November 8, 2015 at 10:37 pm

Very well said. We do take the smallest things for granted. I could not imagine having this problem or even one of my family members.

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S-G April 3, 2011 at 10:20 pm

The barium study was neat to watch. I did not realize 50% of people have problems swallowing. s-g

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R-E April 3, 2011 at 7:33 pm

RD-
It is not a good illness to have because there is not a lot of things they can do for you other than stretch you esophagus which does not even last a year for me.

RE

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R-E April 3, 2011 at 7:31 pm

i have esophageal dysphagia and esophagus reflux. It is not a pleasant feeling when you have to go 2 times a year for an Upper GI and all they can do is prescribe you medication that causes other side affects. This video is really true and is very painful and sometimes scary. I have not been able to eat a baked potatoe in 6 years because each time that I have, its blocked my air way and caused me to pass out and be admitted into the hospital. It is not a pleasant illness to have.

RE

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SheDM April 3, 2011 at 1:17 pm

I like the tips for managing heartburn. I am going to use the tips because I suffer alot with heartburn. I have found that it happens at night and with no real explantation for it’s occurance.

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R-D April 2, 2011 at 5:08 pm

the procedure and study looking interesting but I had no idea so many people suffered from dysphagia.

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E-A March 29, 2011 at 8:10 pm

It is sad knowing that so many adults suffer from dysphagia.This is worse even because most of them do not eat for fear of aspiration.This just break my heart.
EA

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SheDM April 3, 2011 at 1:13 pm

I also feel sorry for a person with comlications in swallowing, who can’t eat the foods they want to eat. I worked in Dietary in the hospital and the pureed foods we fixed for the patients was not in the least bit appealing to the appetite.

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Ashleigh W. July 15, 2016 at 6:08 pm

I agree, it is so sad to watch.

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kneal October 16, 2016 at 10:17 am

It is sad but appropriate thicken liquids and proper foods helps them too. I have seen patients benefit from proper diets and thickened liquids.

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C-S March 28, 2011 at 3:36 pm

Definately the tips for gastritis are very good tiups, I have tried to eliminate all of these and have eliminated my gastritis……It is a great feeling to not have heartburn!

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Holly Bean December 3, 2010 at 5:36 pm

I had never seen any of these studies before. I think it is pretty cool. I hope to become a nurse one day and so that kind of thing is really amazing to me. I found it interesting that caffine can cause heartburn. Watching these videos eventhough I thought it was cool makes me want to never have a swallowing problem.

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Laken Teague December 3, 2010 at 2:19 pm

I liked the video that talked about heartburn and listed several precautions to take to avoid heartburn. I get horrible heartburn and this video gave me ways to help control it.Such as eating small frequent meals and not going to bed right after I eat. I will see if the tips work because i will put them to the test.

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Salvador V. December 2, 2010 at 12:49 pm

Its crazy that you would have to learn how to swallow again! On the third video; I now know that I do not need to take a nap after my meals.

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Tyler B December 1, 2010 at 2:09 pm

I really like these videos they really focused really well on swallowing problems and what effects them and how simetimes heartburn is a effect to swallowing problems many people i know could learn from these videos.

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Lindsey E December 1, 2010 at 1:52 pm

It is so weird to think of having to learn how to swollow again. It is not really something you learn. My grandpa has had problems swallowing for the past couple of years. He has always had acid reflux pretty bad. Video two was neat. I think that through this course one thing I have definatly learned is that small frequent meals will help with alot of different nutrition problems.

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Krysten A November 29, 2010 at 11:29 pm

these videos are very informative and it’s going to help tremendously when i do my nursing.

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Lacey H. November 26, 2010 at 11:39 am

The second video was pretty interesting in how you could see where things would get stuck. Also it is so sad to hear that 50% of elderly people over the age of 70 suffer from this and I had no idea that many people suffered from this problem.

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D beard November 5, 2010 at 4:17 pm

The burium study wa very interesting. Its amazing how much technology can help. This video was very informative because we may all need this at some point in life

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vera, A October 29, 2010 at 1:04 pm

thanks to technology.the barium studies reall helps save a lot of lives.because i helps identify swallowing problems therby improving on most peoples nutrtional lives.

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Madge C October 27, 2010 at 11:51 pm

It is hard to imagine that 50% of the population age 70 and older expierence some form of swallowing difficulties.

The second video looked prety cool….though I had no sound on it so thank goodness for the caption below. It is so awesome in how God designed our bodies to work.

the third video was prety much common sence…if you monitor what you eat then you can keep track of what bothers your system and make the changes as need be

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Donnie H. October 27, 2010 at 10:50 pm

The videos were good and knowing that the lack of being able to swallow can cause so much trouble. I could only imagine what it would be like to see this type of thing daily on the job.

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ppendergrass June 21, 2016 at 8:10 pm

It is sad to watch, but most people in the career having to watch this daily will eventually get use to it.

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Marcie G October 27, 2010 at 7:20 pm

The videos are real informative. The studies that they do to understand how the human body works is real cool. Being a cna I see this all the time but, learning more never hurts to learn about.

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Ashley M October 27, 2010 at 3:44 pm

This is the type of stuff I live for. I love how complex the human body is and how it functions. I guess this is one of the reasons I want to be a CRNA. I have never seen a study like the videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS). This study shows the variety of foods and liquids passing through the mouth, throat and into the esophagus. This can really help elderly patients with stroke, parkinson diease or other neurological problems that may affect the esophagus and digestive process. I have never had problems with heartburn but now I know that laying down after and eating small meals help with it.

I could never imagine having to deal with problems swallowing. I’m very costerphobic so I would hate the feeling of chocking or not being able to control my body. It makes me scared to grow older because all the complications, sideffects, and struggles they face.

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vera, A October 29, 2010 at 1:08 pm

@ Ashley,there is no need to be scared of growing olde.even though difficulty swallowing is sometimes associated with age,certain disease situations, can cause swallowinf problens in just any body.we just need to thank God and keep praying for a healthy life.

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Lacey H. November 26, 2010 at 11:41 am

I’m the same way with getting old when you see so many people being affected by this and many other things.

Jodie Hammonds April 9, 2018 at 11:00 pm

I totally agree with you! The human body is so amazingly complex, it never ceases to amaze me! It also makes you grateful for the proper functioning of our bodies, yet sad for those who struggle with this type of issue.

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Debora M October 27, 2010 at 2:09 pm

Have you realized that the same thing applies for almost everything? Small frequent meals. If we were raised this way I think it would be a lot easier to do. My family had 3 big meals together everyday. My mother has difficulty swallowing and sometimes just gets choked while she talking on her own saliva.

I think the barium swallows are interesting to watch. I feel for the patients though. Have you ever tasted that stuff? Its horrible, no matter what flavor they give you.

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Lindsey E December 1, 2010 at 1:54 pm

Yes! small frequent meals, excercise, eating healthier foods. I guess do all of these things can greatley improve your health and also help with certain health problems.

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Salvador V. December 2, 2010 at 12:51 pm

It is interesting how all those things end up witheach other.

Lauren D October 27, 2010 at 12:46 am

I found the video about heartburn the most useful. I had terrible heartburn when I was pregnant. I’ve never heard that chocolate can give you heartburn either. That is crazy. The videofluroscopy was pretty cool to watch also. I hope to never develop a swallowing disorder but it’s still something new to learn about.

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Debora M October 27, 2010 at 2:10 pm

I found it useful too as I found out a couple of weeks ago that I have reflux and an ulcer.

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Glen L October 26, 2010 at 11:24 pm

I am not a big fan of whatching these videos of the gi tract. Being a victom of these procedures i already had a little bit of briefing on the subject. Knowing how hard acid is on the esafagus it makes me not ever want to throw up again.

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Terrie H October 26, 2010 at 6:45 pm

I love my caffeine. And can now better understand why i have not so frequent heartburn. I am trying to dial it back a notch or two since I started this class. Like alternating water and tea.
I found it really sad that the elderly have to go through so much. And that there is no easy fix for some of the problems. I do like that the dietitian gave some good ideas for helping with heartburn it also helps with a few other problems they suffer also.

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Lauren D October 27, 2010 at 12:48 am

Yea they mentioned quite a few things that I’m gonna have a hard time watching. These videos will come in handy one day for us all but it is sad.

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Jessilyn R. October 25, 2010 at 4:10 pm

The best video of the 3 for me was the last one that talked about heartburn and listed several precautions to take to avoid heartburn. I liked this video because I have horrible frequent heartburn and it taught me ways to help control it such as not laying down soon after a meal and eating small frequent meals. I had never heard these tips before and will definately try them to avoid my heartburn.

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JHR July 29, 2010 at 2:05 pm

I’ve never seen a barium study before. That was pretty amazing to watch.

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ARB July 27, 2010 at 12:42 am

Thank goodness modern medicine has developed good tests like the videofluoroscopic swallow study test to enable radiologists to see what is happening as patients swallow their food. Such tests are really good for being able to diagnose an elderly patient’s problems following a stroke or other neurological problems that may affect the esophagus and other parts of the digestive process.
The last video in this group discussed things we can do to help prevent heartburn. We can limit our intake of caffeinated drinks such as Cokes to help keep the pH of our stomach lower. Also, small frequent meals help to avoid pushing acid up into the throat as well as eating a high fiber diet.

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Ashley M November 2, 2010 at 5:00 pm

I totally agree that modern medicine and technology have helped the medical field tremendously! It has truley saved a lot of lives in the end.

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jreyes November 4, 2015 at 9:21 pm

Agreed!! We’re blessed to live in an era that technology has evolved so much. People seriously died from such simple things that could’ve been prevented with such simple treatments.

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MEL July 13, 2010 at 11:05 pm

Wow… this is really sad. I haven’t heard much about this until I watched the videos but it was interesting. So much changes the older you get and I’d have to say, not being able to eat certain foods or liquids would be awful. But the Burium Study was pretty interesting to study.

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Ashleigh W. July 15, 2016 at 6:09 pm

I agree, it was very interesting!

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RTP July 11, 2010 at 1:39 pm

I have never seen one of these studies. I feel that even if the procedure is uncomfortable if it helps then it is worth it. So many people are scared of operations and even simple tests, but the reality is that they do help in the long run and they can eliminate everyday pain or ease it at the very least.

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SDS July 10, 2010 at 10:51 am

Diets for Medical Conditions : Gastritis Diet
I like the third video, it is recommended that you eat small frequent meals through out the day and it also recommended that you don’t lay down after a meal because this will cause discomfort. Laying down after I eat is a major problem with me especially and feasting times such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. I will have to do better. But this is a habit that will hard to break.

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SDS July 10, 2010 at 10:47 am

Videofluoroscopy
In the barium study, it looks funny how the liquid flow into different streams and channels in the mouth. I never thought about where fluids go I thought all fluids went directly to your stomach. I guess now I can better understand the saying when you choke on a drink and start coughing and then you say, “It went down the wrong pipe.” …lol

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Terrie H October 26, 2010 at 6:38 pm

I can agree totally with the never thought about where it goes statement. I am not in nursing but have learned so much this semester.

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kferguson November 6, 2017 at 9:18 pm

So true! I say “it went down the wrong pipe” a lot, and I never really thought about how that actually worked. Seeing that video was really interesting because it shows exactly where the liquid goes!

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SDS July 10, 2010 at 10:43 am

Upper GI Disorders
I thought swallowing was an instinct, you would have to be taught to swallow if you have be fed interveniously. But I could understand a swallowing problems if you have a dry mouth. Nuerologic disorders could cause swallowing problems, due to a stroke. It is amazing the things we take for granted, such as swallowing can be a major problem for others. Especially for people with parkinson diease or elderly people recovering from a stroke.

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admin July 1, 2010 at 8:58 pm

Most patients I have seen with a swallow problem resulted from a stroke. The saddest is when a patient with head and neck cancer and under went radiation treatment. This patient usually has lost a lot of weight and really need the nutrition, and the enjoyment of real food. If you have ever tasted thicken liquids, you would understand.

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eljaye28 April 3, 2022 at 10:22 pm

That is really sad. That’s why it’s so important to eat healthy to try and avoid the risks of having a stroke.

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SAF July 1, 2010 at 7:07 pm

On a side note the barium study was extremely cool!

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SAF July 1, 2010 at 7:02 pm

I was at courtyard gardens at the beginning of the summer for a cna nursing class for henderson and I was assigned one resident that had problems swallowing. It really bothered me to listen to him tell me what foods he missed and how he couldn’t really enjoy it anymore. Its sad how things change, and I can only hope it doesn’t happen to me one day.

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RTP July 11, 2010 at 1:40 pm

I worked as a CNA before college and seem similar things. It is definitely sad to see how peoples life change and they cant enjoy things that they once loved.

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QAL July 1, 2010 at 11:25 am

I was thinking that maybe the reason some of the seniors do not eat what they are supposed to for a nutritious diet is that they are suffering from a disorder that prevents them from swallowing and have not been properly diagnosed for it.

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SDH July 2, 2010 at 11:33 pm

Those with gastric problems that have to watch what they eat will really be limited in their food choices from those they were use to.I feel sorry for them having to give up foods they love, however it is for a healthier body.

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Beth McRaven June 30, 2010 at 5:17 pm

I can not imagine having to learn to swallow again. It is a scary thought. I imagine that you would feel like you were drowning and it was self induced. And again now the thought that old folks would suffer through something so terrible. I have felt like I have had a pill “stuck” and it drove me crazy, so I can not even put myself in their shoes of dealing with this on a daily basis.
That second video was hard for me to watch. I felt like it was happening to me.
I hate hartburn, but I must be lucky because a lot of the things to avoid are the things I do. I love my coffee and tea and I definately like spicy foods. And last but not least, a nap after a huge meal is the only way to go! I am teasing. I have battled heartburn before but mostly during pregnancy…that was rough.

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LMM June 30, 2010 at 2:32 pm

I think having a swallowing disorder would be one of the scariest things to have. Barium studies are very neat to watch. I enjoyed these videos!

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RLM June 30, 2010 at 12:52 pm

My sister has major acid reflux this will help alot. Thanks!

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JEB June 29, 2010 at 11:04 am

I have never seen one of those studies before that was pretty cool.
and the heartburn I did’nt know that caffine would or could cause that.
the not laying down after you eat sounds like a pretty good idea too.

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SDH July 2, 2010 at 11:25 pm

I enjoyed the barium studies. My aunt is a radiology technican and I have heard her talking about the studies and how the elderly react to the procedures. I have had reflux a few times and it is not fun. When I lay down I have to have an extra pillow. I think it is sad for the elderly to have to go through these types of tests which can be painful to their body, however it is necessary to help them get better.

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JHR July 29, 2010 at 2:04 pm

I loved watching it also. i didn’t know alot of the things that we said in these videos. I know now what to do to help me from getting heartburn

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LNS June 28, 2010 at 2:09 pm

I have always enjoyed watching those barium studies. I was working as a cna and I have got to sit in and watch on one of the studies. The patient yes was unconfortable during the procedure but it helped her in the long run they found that her liquids needed to be thicken and after that she was able to actually enjoy a glass of tea without choking on it. One thing that is sad is how something so simple like drinking can become an issue as you grow older.

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JEB June 29, 2010 at 11:08 am

Yes I know, I have worked as a cna as well and I did’nt get to see the study but she already had thick liquids but she still had problems swallowing we had to remind her to swallow sometimes she would just hold it in her mouth we would have to rub her throat to get her muscles working in order for her to swallow. sad

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SAF July 1, 2010 at 7:04 pm

I know thats what I ran into during my time at the nursing home. Its almost as if your feeding a child. You have to watch every little thing they do or atleast I felt as I needed too.

RLM June 30, 2010 at 12:53 pm

I love to watch the barium studies.

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Beth McRaven June 30, 2010 at 5:20 pm

I imagine that the barium study is tremendously helpful. I just had a very difficult time watching it. I kept taking deep breathes as if I was suffering…I am such a baby. The funny part is that when I first started thinking of going back to school I considered nursing. I could never do that kind of work. I am way too much of a whimp!

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QAL July 1, 2010 at 11:27 am

I have never watched the barium studies, but I do find it sad that as you said you grow older and all your functions slow and inhibit your life to such a sad state.

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Micalah Bailey July 23, 2015 at 12:00 am

I haven’t either and yes it really is

TrinityT October 7, 2018 at 4:47 pm

It is amazing the things we have been able to accomplish and I agree the side effects of getting older are horrible. We do often take for granted something as simple as swallowing.

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AAA June 28, 2010 at 1:00 am

Ive always thought that barium studies were kinda interesting. well maybe not to the person getting them done. Its better than having gastritis.

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LMM June 30, 2010 at 2:33 pm

Its always better to be the one watching vs the one having it done. =)

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