Ahhhhhwtfbbq! Okay, so I'm doing FODMAPS to deal with GERD/IBS. That severely limits my vegetable options, PLUS I'm avoiding fruit for the meantime to go VLC (GERD as well). So far, the protocol, plus other measures, seems to be working nicely. Here's the problem:

I suffer from TMJ as well as pretty bad allergies. I don't asphyxiate, but when I get a sinus infection--let me just say, the flu would be a welcome deviation. Anyways, I've been having some swelling right under my jaw (neck/throat area). It could possibly be TMJ, and I'm going to my acupuncturist and chiropractors for help in the immediate future, and possibly my doc who can do prolotherapy.

This issue also seems to be causing some trouble swallowing. Let me start off by saying, I can swallow, and there's no pain. It just seems like that beginning part behind the tongue/where the jaw and neck connect is inflamed/swollen.

My dentist swears TMJ doesn't cause trouble swallowing. Interestingly enough, the people I've seen on forums, WebMD, and PubMed disagree. I cannot imagine that inflamed neck/jaw muscles cannot impact swallowing. After all, that's where swallowing begins (doctors baffle me sometimes).

The other option is this thing I've recently come across OAS. Basically, an allergic reaction to environmental and food allergies. The symptoms are mainly throat and mouth related.

http://www.allergyclinic.co.uk/oas.htm

Here's the quicker. Down at the bottom it lists some foods to avoid. And guess what? Several of them are FODMAP friendly foods I eat right now (carrots and celery primarily).

So...do I just eat spinach, fish, meat, and bone broth for the rest of my days?

I've been tested for food allergies four times in my life. I have none except gluten. I did have an IgE allergy test done and found that the results should have just printed off the words "PALEO" on the sheet. Sensitivities to: nuts, legumes, grains, and dairy.

I'm starting to understand why people just give in and take a pill sigh. This is definitely not helping my stress.

If it's TMJ, no big deal. There seems to be over a dozen treatment options to try. Not sure if I can handle too many more allergies though. Oh, and for those interested, I live in the Ohio Valley, or as we like to call it, "Satan's Allergy Pit".

Screw it, I'm going to go have some nitrate-free, sugar-free, hormone-free, antibiotic-free pastured bacon.

PS. I've been scoped by a GI and two ENTs not even a year ago. Last time I had a much more severe globus feeling that felt like a softball was lodged in my throat...after eating a grilled cheese sandwich no less. They found nothing. No inflammation, nothing.