Poop Hips

Hmm – low tech – how to confirm? Swallow a pill which has a nontoxic dye or use a plastic tube to place that dye into the stomach. Wait. Does the tongue start to discolor from dye coming back up? Faster high tech? Use a pH meter in the mouth and measure acid. So, it does not need to be mystery. Raised & contorted arms in a dystonic patient is semaphore for “Hey! Acid is eating holes in my esophagus.” That message needs attention for another compelling complication… the gut and the lungs share a common entry segment. We do NOT want acid going into the breathing tube that shares the mouth & throat.

The diaphragm, which separates chest cavity from abdominal cavity has two big holes of interest here. The open one seen here is where a big artery passes (aorta). The other is seen here allowing the esophagus access to the stomach. The diaphragm muscle can assist the valve that squeezes stomach entry closed. But – if torn or dilated somehow… the

stomach can herniate (poke through) and go in part (even 100%) into the chest. This goobers the mechanics and guarantees common leakage of stomach acid into the lower esophagus.