Swallowing or choking problem

[Joanne_Joyce]

After having PD for 11 years I have been having a problem with food particles and even liquids starting to go down my trachea and I start coughing. Is this the swallowing problem often occurs in PD or something else. What can I do about it?

[garygjs]

Yes, it's a feature of PD. Sluggish swallowing muscles = liquids can enter the larynx before the epiglottis has fully barred entry.

You will need to thicken your liquids to slow their passage. Xanthan-based products are superior to starch-based ones.

dysphagiacafe.com/2018/07/2...

For my mum, I use a xanthan thickener but also use fruit puree in fruit drinks and yogurt in milk drinks ( mixed to the desired consistency). A number of commercial milkshakes - eg Mars - work fine (for my mum) without the need of a thickener.

Lumps of meat, nuts etc also present a challenge. Softer food cut into manageable pieces is considerably easier.

You might consider strengthening the swallow and the cough. Expiratory Muscle Strength Training will likely help:

amazon.co.uk/EMST150-Expira...

Consider engaging a speech therapist for further exercises...though decent resources can be found online.

There's also sensorimotor training for airway protection (smTAP). This is fairly new - I think - and I have not fully investigated it. (My initial take is that it may be a little too involved for my mum who has moderate dementia.)

tc.columbia.edu/media/cente...

[Joanne_Joyce in reply to garygjs]

This is very useful information garygis. Thank you. I even feel relieved to know what is causing the problem.

[MissRita]

Have you talked to your doctor about this? Are you doing any kind of swallowing exercises to strengthen your throat? Are you trying to eat regularly or do you not eat a lot? The reason I ask is the less you eat the harder, it will be to swallow because the muscle will not be used.

[Joanne_Joyce in reply to MissRita]

Thank you so much MissRita. I told my doctor who advised me to chew my food well and concentrate on swallowing. If there are throat exercises I can do I will be more than happy for them Where can I learn about them,?

[MissRita in reply to Joanne_Joyce]

Yes that is exactly what you need to do in terms of chewing your food well. The one thing that could happen although it’s different for everyone with PD is something called ARFID and that has to do with having anxiety around certain foods and you can become avoidant to them and lose a lot of weight but hopefully that won’t be the case. There’s a lot of anxiety with that disorder because we are so afraid that we will not be able to get the food down in a normal fashion.

in terms of swallowing exercises I found this to be very helpful:

hopkinsmedicine.org/health/...

[Boscoejean]

Davis Phinney video tips for swallowing

youtube.com/watch?v=29-Pvve...(Not working as expected?)

[Joanne_Joyce in reply to Boscoejean]

This is an excellent video explaining things that happen to us as we swallow . ..

[Gallowglass]

I had problems with a constant dry cough. Not CoVid. No reflux. Not allergy. Neuro sent me to a voice therapist who told be to chew gum as often and as long as possible. I chew PUR brand gum with no sugar or aspartame. Also did voice and breathing problems. Also avoid sift cushy chairs or sofas. Sit bolt upright on harder chairs

[JayPwP in reply to Gallowglass]

That's what Bolt_Upright would recommend

😆😆😆😆😆

[Joanne_Joyce in reply to Gallowglass]

Thanks for the tips, Gallowglass.

[Copperbullet]

We use Coconut Water A small amount added to all water and no choking at all.

Thickens with good taste.

[CaseyInsights in reply to Copperbullet]

We use Coconut Water… Thickens with good taste.

This surely must be coconut milk! 🤷🏽‍♂️

[Joanne_Joyce in reply to CaseyInsights]

CaseyInsights and Copperbullet, This is good news. Now I know what to put in my water. Thanks.

[Copperbullet in reply to CaseyInsights]

Carton says “coconut water”. Several different brands.

[CaseyInsights in reply to Copperbullet]

Oh my!

Coconut water is the clear liquid inside coconuts. I have never drunk coconut water from a pack. Don’t know what else there is in your pack of “coconut water”. 🤷🏽‍♂️

But I can guarantee you unprocessed coconut water, does not thicken.

[CaseyInsights in reply to Copperbullet]

…it may be that the soft jelly from the young coconuts is pulverized to give thickness to your “coconut water”.

This is the only thing I can think of, if no thickening agent is stated on your package.

[Copperbullet in reply to CaseyInsights]

No thickening agent!

[104L]

Talk to your doctor about getting a swallow test done and then make sure people around you know that you need a diet consistent with the results of that test. Also, choking on your food may be a risk so make sure people around you know how to do the Heimlich maneuver. Just in case. Again, discuss this with your doctor.

[Joanne_Joyce in reply to 104L]

Thanks 104L. for your advice. I will immediately make sure everyone around me knows how to do the Heimlich maneuver.

[Gallowglass]

I think so. My speech therapist said it was actually vagal neuropathy (vagus nerve) The Gum and breathing/vocalizing exercises really helped. It all comes back if I skip a day of chewing gum. But usually 15 minutes does it.

[Gcf51]

Did HDT (B1) work for you? Maybe try again.

As for me the biggest improvements have been from High Dose Thiamine (B1) and exercise. I recommend Dap1948 's book and her Facebook Group.

amazon.com/gp/product/B09TZ...

facebook.com/groups/parkins...