Swallowing

[SueAB]

Does anyone else have trouble swallowing? I choke when eating and usually need two glasses of water when eating a meal. Has anyone found something that works for you?

[jkdavid99]

I have difficulty swallowing. When I am drinking water I can only take a sip then swallow then sip and swallow. Cannoy guzzle . This had been going on for years. I have never talked to my neurologist about this. I also cannot take pills but that might be all in my head. The water I have to concentrate to swallow. Hope things get better for you.

[rdrunrnm in reply to jkdavid99]

Be careful of asperating which can cause pneumonia. My wife has to drink thicken liquids to help with her swallowing.

[greaterexp]

SueAB , I don't know if it helps, but I watched a little miracle happen when my dad had a stroke and couldn't swallow. The therapist encouraged him to close his eyes to concentrate more easily and turn his head to one side (the unaffected side) while he swallowed. He still had to eat and drink slowly, but his swallowing improved over time.

It may be a good idea to see what your neurologist says and consider talking with a physical or occupational therapist.

I hope you can get some help quickly.

[erash in reply to greaterexp]

greaterexp that's an effective method post stroke with any hemiparesis

Did your dad have a stroke?

[greaterexp in reply to erash]

Yes, it was due to a stroke.

[erash]

I have rare issues swallowing in recent years. Eat slowly, mindfully helps. Can be non MS issue too. So if severe might want to seek help SueAB

[Morllyn]

My daughter had problems swallowing and it was found to be a rare side effect of Abilify. Talk with your doctor about side effects of medicines.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador in reply to Morllyn]

Wow good to know Morllyn !

J 🌠

[ddeadred]

Chin to your chest and arms in the air... Had a physical therapist friend give me that advice and it always works for me!!!

[Karen-x]

I have heard my Neuro say to tilt you head upward and go slowly. I have swallowing issues when I get fatigued. I just go to bed. 😃

[goatgal]

SueAB Before I was diagnosed, I had nearly a week where it seemed as if I had forgotten how to swallow. The swallow response would come and go. I assume it was neurological because that disappeared but now, occasionally, especially with very soft foods, I get a choking episode, in which my throat spasms enough to cause food to regurgitate. I do have to be careful with pills, especially large capsules. Water does help (but not with the embarrassment when it happens on a rare occasion when I eat out).

[kdali]

Only when I was taking a muscle relaxer. I would choke at least once a day. I chose foods with softer consistency and it seemed to help. Now that I don't take the drugs anymore, I'm fine.

[bavery207]

SueAB YES! I can choke on anything, but the worst foods are nuts, corn chips, and sometimes flake cereal. And as someone mentioned in their reply,I can't take swigs of a liquid such as water I have to take small sips. The speech therapist at the MS center I go to asked my Dr. to refer me for a barium swallow test. Even though I only feel food and drinks going down the left side of my throat, no sensation on my right, my swallowing was normal and symetrical. The only recommendation they had was to tuck my chin towards my chest when I swallow liquids and take pills and this does seem to help me. I also was sent to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist to check for physical abnormalities. None were found, she just attributed it to the MS.

[SueAB in reply to bavery207]

bavery207, you and I are twins and have exactly the same problems!

[bavery207 in reply to SueAB]

SueAB I always wanted a twin just not for these reasons!

[jennie62]

Here I thought I was the only one choking on my pills, food and drinks. I'm having the same issues with swallowing. Choking is no fun!

There are really great ideas on what to do! THANK YOU ALL!

[Fancy1959]

Hey SueAB it's Fancy1959. Yes, I have issues with my esophagus. It likes to spasm uncontrollably and pretty much chokes me if I'm not careful about what I eat. As an example if I'm eating meat but require a lot of chewing like steaks or filet mignons I need to cut very small pieces. If something has small pieces like rice I have to be careful because they can get caught in my throat starting a spasm or the tart taste certain foods can also set off spasms. Like you I cannot eat foods that are very dry. I too have to keep lot of liquid handy if I noticed the food is dry and sip constantly in between bites.

It took multiple swallow studies to figure out this problem. I know it can be scary when it happens to you so hang in there. I had several instances where I choked so bad that I wound up laying on the floor before I fell on the floor. I used to blame these attacks on my asthma but I think for years it's not been the asthma like I thought it's been my MS that I didn't know I had.

Bring the problem up to your neurologist as quickly as you can. It is serious and need to be addressed before you do actually choke. I got put on an old anti-seizure medicine that helps to tranq my esophagus and that has helped me dramatically. I have very few episodes now and usually when I do it's because I haven't been paying attention and watching what I eat. Keep me informed. And when you speak to your neurologist let me know what he comes up with. Once again, like I always say, we can learn much from one another!

[johnMSAA Partner]

Hey SueAB - here's an excerpt from an article in a previous issue of "The Motivator" by Dr. Barone on swallowing issues and MS, in our MS SYMPTOMS section of our site...might shed a little more light, hopefully:

mymsaa.org/ms-information/s...

- John, MSAA

[SueAB]

Thank You, John!