Bruh, I'm cooked

Anyone have any experience with this?

Could you actually walk me through what you mean by that? I need a bit more detail...

I don't really have much to go on here, so I'm just asking because I'm in the dark.
I found out my grandfather has an esophageal tumor (he's been keeping it under wraps and refuses to see a doctor). At first, I thought maybe he was just eating too fast or choking on something, but the reality is that food gets stuck sometimes, and he's actually choking. I came across an article mentioning that in certain cases, medication might be enough to manage things without needing surgery. I’d love to hear if anyone has gone through something similar.

Hmm, if we’re talking about what’s actually happening here, this sounds more like achalasia to me—it’s basically a functional narrowing of the esophagus. There are a few different variations of it, but the general pattern usually goes like this: it causes intermittent discomfort, makes it hard to swallow solid foods, and eventually, it gets to the point where even liquids and saliva become an issue. Once you hit that stage, honestly, it feels like there's no way out but surgery... depending on how severe it is and what the underlying cause turns out to be, it might be manageable with medication, which is really handled by an internist or, more specifically, a gastroenterologist. But before anyone jumps to conclusions, it would be a damn good idea to get an endoscopy done just to rule out all the other potential reasons for these symptoms...

Now, if there’s some kind of "pocket" or protrusion in the esophageal wall because the lining has essentially tucked itself in—that’s called a diverticulum—and frankly, I have no clue what kind of pills are supposed to fix that, though maybe they could help ease the symptoms a bit...

I’m honestly lost here. My grandpa says it’s just a minor thing, and I think there might be an option at the local clinic too.
It’s weird, though—he’s totally fine eating solid food, but he can't touch liquids, which just doesn't make sense to me.
Anyway, we really need to find a way to push him to see a doctor. I read that they can even do it via laparoscopic surgery. Fingers crossed. 😢
Kevin Garcia12 thanks!

So, basically, a hiatal hernia happens when a portion of your stomach pushes up through the diaphragm and just... stays there.
Nobody really knows the exact trigger—it’s a bit of a mystery—but things like heavy lifting, sitting around too much at a desk job, or just eating poorly (like skipping meals all day and then absolutely crushing a huge dinner) can set it off.
Some people don't even deal with major issues if they start following a routine right after diagnosis. I'm talking about eating five or six small meals throughout the day, actually chewing your food instead of inhaling it, sipping water constantly—maybe just a couple of gulps every 10 or 15 minutes—and maybe doing some light swimming to stay active...
For others, the symptoms are way more intense because they also have GERD. That’s when stomach acid travels back up into the esophagus and into that hernia area, causing heartburn because the stomach contents are essentially eroding the esophageal lining. That can get dangerous, and if it becomes too frequent or extreme, doctors usually suggest surgery, which is mostly done laparoscopically these days.
As for me, I stay pretty steady at around 160 lbs. I didn't even know I had a hiatal hernia until it popped up by total accident during a routine physical; I hadn't had any symptoms before that. But lately, whenever work gets stressful, I start feeling this constant lump in my throat—right at the base of my neck—where it feels like nothing can pass through when I swallow. In those moments, it's honestly better to just skip food entirely and stick to tiny sips of water. I suspect stress is the main culprit in my case.
Besides surgery, you can take medication, but let's be real—those pills only soothe the heartburn. They won't cure the actual condition. For now, the only real fix is making significant lifestyle changes.
Anyway, cheers to everyone else dealing with a hiatal hernia. Just eat small portions frequently... and keep the water handy.

Jesse thanks so much for the info and the advice. Wishing you all the best!