How do you stop crumbs or water going down the wrong way?

[hilarypeta]

[gazelleuk]

I am no expert but having had conductive education I can tell you that each action we do is governed by muscle memory so what we need to do is remind our body how it should react instinctively instead of waiting for a signal.

We should educate our conductor of our brain & help to remind it or the conductors " how it needs to feel" for the want of a better word.

We need to remind the brain that it has another method of helping us to swallow. The only way you can do that is by practise without drinking anything at first.

Try to exaggerate swallowing reflex try it 5 times about 5 - 10 times a day what ever is comfortable . But remember to do it . I can tell you within a week or less you will notice a difference because you progress with swallowing withoout anything then add water, then progress with softer more solid foods.

Only you will be able to judge how slowly or quickly you introduce foods. But take your time it isn't a race !

I hope this helps because it did me !

[hilarypeta in reply to gazelleuk]

thanks i'll add it to my list of exercises!!

re getting muscles into good habits;; hard to practise with my weak hand - somehow your brain is trained to use the stronger hand with the other one helping occasionally!

[gazelleuk in reply to hilarypeta]

Hilarypeta

your signals are lost in your affected side so that is why you use the non effected side every time. If you use your weak side after you have used your good side it will be reminded how to work. It takes patience and the capacity to remember hence I stuck notes all over the hourse , it was hard going but I taught my self to type again too

[hilarypeta in reply to gazelleuk]

Thanks i tend to do it from time to time and then lapse. I fund the basic typing programe on the computer good;;but little and ring fingers on bad hand tend to jam together and three fingers lock from time to time..any advice for locking fingers;;; some one told me to soak them in epsom salts! am waiting on splints from hospital but am not convinced that will work!

[drew410]

I was told to lean slighty forward when I swallow. Works for me

[gazelleuk in reply to drew410]

Good Lad Drew I knew I should have tried to practise while I was writing the answer above because leaning forward allows the throat to relax forward before it realises it is being sent something backward and doesn't have time to close or contract

[hilarypeta]

I do that but when you get to the bottom of a glass you have to make a conscious effort to remember to hld the water in your mouth and then lean forwards and swallow!

[jazzfan53]

Thank you all very much for the comments and advice. I was diagnosed in 2003, had DBS in 2010, doing better but hadn't had the swallowing issue until recently and it freaked me out: very scary. Now I will practice-swallow and remember to lean slightly forward.

[Hidden]

I am just beginning to have the problem.

Sometimes when I swallow the piece of food seems to be stuck almost behind my nose...don't understand that! I have to swallow several time to get it "unstuck".

[gazelleuk in reply to Hidden]

All passages connected just practise ensures it goes down the right route ! good luck

[Hidden]

Thank you!

[blackcat]

this was one of my early problems i contstantly was choking. i was sent for a swallow test, which i failed with flying colors. that put me into speech threrapy for 6 months. the other reason i ended up in speech therapy was the fact that it was getting that i could no longer project my voce. people standing next to me couldn't hear me. the one most difficult exercise i was given and i still do is take a small bit of water into your mouth. stick you tongue out just a little bit and put your teeth on it but don't bite try to swallow the water with out moving your tongue from between your teeth. it is difficult but really retrains all the muscles in back of your throat and throat in general

[hilarypeta]

just ried it good idea -still kept tongue in my mouth as water was coming out?! thanks -will try to remember to do that;;waiting for speech therapy..

[jillannf6]

hi

i hav e PSP and the swallpw adn speech problesm r getting worse for me

i too have had A SALT 0speech therapist) to help me and use THICK AND EASY IN MY FRUIT JUICE DRINKS to help me swallow iwhtout gulping

and choking

worksup to a point but i too find if i bend myj head fwds it si easie rto take pillls and swallow

lol JIll :

[jillannf6]

the smiley did no tappear

[hilarypeta]

Speech therapist told me to bend forward to swallow..not to lie and drink in bed..and to always sit straight when drinking...never lean back.. It helps.