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. 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.” Other pain sources can do likewise. 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 it shares with 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 the 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 upsets the mechanics and guarantees common leakage of stomach acid into the lower esophagus.