Has anyone experienced swallowing/choking incide... - Ataxia UK
Has anyone experienced swallowing/choking incidents? Not always occuring during meals, also saliva 'going down the wrong way'.
Oh, all the time!
Really embarrassing cos you sound like you are dying too.
Choking can happen any time but mostly when I am drinking. You usual tips off the speech therapist help - Try not to talk, chin down when swallowing. If it is a long one, my lot gently tap me on the back, but near the top, cos it is my throat normally. I have found that blowing my nose can help too! Bit odd, but works sometimes!
I think the technical term is dystharia.
You are not alone!: )
Yes, all the time same as Litty
I was diagnosed about 6 years ago, however, only been have these problems for the last 2 years.
Litty's tips do work for me too. It is worth having a word with a speech therapist, they have loads of usefull tips, it's just a matter of experimenting what works for others might not work for you.
Take care
Bob
I don't have choking episodes YET, but I do snort, almost a snore, without warning
Just seen speech therapist yesterday, now for more Neuro Physio, dietician and occ health, no time to work
yes, it happens to me all the time.
Yes,my hubby chokes now+then.has to watch what hes eating,certain foods set him off.salads,nuts,fibrous things mainly,some times drinks.hadnt thought about saliva but that may answer my last question bout clearing throat a lot.hes due a review in speech+language dept.you are definately not alone!x
Helllo
Choking happens any time. It is embarrising Litty's solutions help other than that there is nothing.
Alway have plenty of tisses to hand!!
Take care
Regards
Fifa
I am very simmilar to you Litty. I have choking episodes moreso when I drink but only occasionally. It can happen at any time and suddenly. I do choke but much less during eating.
What I do find odd is that I can swallow two large paracetamol tabs no probs with a little watter? How is that?
this has recently happened to me to it tends to panic my husband but i just try to stay calm as i know it happened to my dad as well i dont see speach therapist or anyone else apart from seeing consultant once a year .
I thought everyone may find this publication from Ataxia UK helpful:
ataxia.org.uk/data/files/in...
Harriet
Very interesting Harriet. I had a barium meal test done at hospital about two years ago which showed a slight disturbance after eating a dryer food. I had no problems then with fluids but now I do. The advice on the link you show has good advice on both eating and drinking.
Oh that is good Harriet.
I have remembered some things while I was messing with my clay -
It is all about keeping the old throat muscles as toned as you can (use it or lose it). Try to read stuff aloud, singalong with the radio (dog hates this!), hum and try to whistle, swallow twice and chew gum (be careful).
Hope it helps : )
Hi,
I was diagnosed with CA in 1996.
I always had a cough that sounded like a smoker's cough. After 1996 things got worse.
I was also diagnosed as being an 'asmatic', I also had swallowing problems.
As someone mentioned, I was aware of my food. If it was 'scratchy' and hard. I avoided it. All food I take in is thoroughly chewed!
With liquids, I took small mouthfulls and didn't swallow it. I kept it at the side of my mouth. Then squirted it down my throat. It sounds very complicated, it's not, it became very natural. The size of the vessel where I'm drinking from became important. The bigger the glass the more likely I would have a coughing fit. Obviously, the smaller it was easier to control.
I can't give you a remedy for swallowing saliva but because I'm asmatic I found Ventlin (blue puffer). Stopped the coughing fit.
I used to sleep on my back. Saliva going down the wrong hole stopped that. I learnt to sleep on my side. I moved around when I slept, so I ended up having a coughing fit. I tried all sorts. At present I'm using a 'Foam Wedge'. It seem's ideal. It raises my head and if I move, my head is still raised.
I am aware of accidental saliva swallowing. Although I still do it (far more frequently than I'd like) because I am aware I have devloped some natural preventions, mainly the tongue blocking the 'airway'. It might sound complicated but it's all very natural to me.
Alan Beckley
P.S. You end up doing what work's for you.
Following on from my original question - I wear a splint (mouthguard) at night, because
of jaw pain caused by grinding my teeth while asleep. If anyone has considered one of
these and dismissed the idea, from my own experience I can say it does work. It takes
a while to adjust to having a 'foreign body' in your mouth, but it stays firmly in place and
I barely notice it now. The jaw pain, including clicking, has stopped.
