Seems to be worse lately. Esophagus has been dilated twice and swallow has been measured through testing. Nothing found to obstruct passage. It sounds like your son has a more unique swallowing disorder than the average heartburn patient. He should have had a manometry, which is a study that measures muscle contractions in the esophagus.
Several centers specialize in swallowing disorders.
Heartburn is simply a term which describes a burning sensation in the area beneath your breastbone. Therefore, the patient needs a surgeon who is very skilled and performs this type of surgery many times each year. In the hands of a surgeon who rarely performs this procedure, there is an increased risk for complications, which include difficulty with swallowing and increased bloating in the abdomen. Finally, if a patient has never had their heartburn symptoms adequately treated with medication, then it is possible that their symptoms are not due to acid reflux and the patient should be evaluated for other causes of chest pain or chest discomfort prior to getting surgery. Yes, there are support groups.