Trouble swallowing

[Hollithia]

Has anyone had trouble with swallowing? As I continue to deal with my MS this is my latest symptom. Any suggestions or advice?

[jimeka]

healthline.com/health/multi... this article will help, blessings Jimeka

[LynnB18]

Yes I have had problems for a while. When I take my tablets I always make sure I have some grapes around as they're soft and squishy

[goatgal in reply to LynnB18]

I have trouble sometimes, especially with large oblong tablets. I have learned that if I coat them with butter (a tiny bit, smeared on the surface), they will slide right down.

[goatgal]

This affects me occasionally. It was frightening when it first occurred, but I have learned that despite the embarrassment it doesn't last long. It is often accompanied by what I assume are spasms in the esophagus. I stay away from slippery foods like pasta with alfredo sauce because these will set off a flurry of choking and regurgitation. If you have a neuro who listens, be sure to mention this at the next visit AND the swallowing problem lasts for longer than a few minutes, call your doctor sooner.

[Weaver9]

A speech language pathologist Izzy Wondrful addition to your team. They can give you exercises and strategies that will make a big difference in your life.👍

[Brindisi1]

Rule out other causes before attributing everything to ms. Maybe ENT. to follow & would have resources. Hope all goes well

[Goldilockssearching]

Yes on occasion. Worse during allergy season due to stuffiness. Neck stretches do help bc I think it may be spacicity that contributes.

[NorasMom]

Mine seems to go in cycles. I'll be fine for days, and then suddenly I'm choking on everything, including my own spit. On those days, I make a point of only eating soft foods (no stringy pasta) and making sure that I cut my food into baby-sized pieces and eat slower. I've also found that temperature extremes give me problems on those bad days, so I drink my coffee at room temperature and let the soup cool down a lot.

[twooldcrows]

have to make sure they are really small pieces so they don't get stuck...scary...

[Mommamoon]

Yes I noticed for part year my swallowing has gotten worse. I'm constantly choking on some solid food depending how dry it is and liquids as well. Its getting to the point of on not wanting to eat because I'm scared in really going to choke and die! My doctor put in a referral for swallow test but the food items are non realistic and then again I feel like I'm just crazy ,I still have one more test to do and I'm waiting for a call back to schedule. In the meantime just taking my time and making sure I take as much tme as I need to eat and chew with foods I'm most comfortable with. I eat a lot of ice , I'm taking about huge fountain 66 Oz of ice all day for hydration, I go through a bag of ice every 24 hours. Now my k+ is low because of the amount of urine output in a day I have. I know this is a new symptom but yet I don't have a new lesion identified so it leaves me questioning is this part of MS or something else? From what I've researched this is common on MS patients yet my neuro doesn't seem to be concerned since no lesions are present. Sometimes I think she really doesn't take my concerns seriously or that their studies or opinions are accurate when new symptoms appear and how it relates to lesions! In SA there isn't much for options for MS patients as far as choosing neurologists that specializes in MS is very disheartening. Good luck and always remember , you are your best advocate and you know your body best so be relentless until someone takes you seriously! Love and light to you ! 🧡

[Tazmanian]

When I have trouble swallowing I drink some water that helps the food go down

[BlanketTime1 in reply to Tazmanian]

same! whenever i eat almonds, i take a swallow of something afterward. i do the same with pills. first i swallow the pills, then add more water to make them go down all the way.

[Tazmanian in reply to BlanketTime1]

I heard that changing the consistency of what you drink helps but I just drink water

[BlanketTime1]

i noticed choking a few months back and it turned out i have a disintegrating disc in my cervical spine. i did get an epidural and though the pain lifted (it went down both arms as well), i still have to be careful. mostly i take smaller bites, especially of hard foods like almonds.

[stepsforNeeC]

Hello, I'm sorry just getting to you; yes I struggle with this -chunky foods and big pills, avoid if you can. Break in half or take large medication in pill form with Apple Sauce or Pudding; it helps!Blessings

NeeC

[Ontheroadagain4now]

Several years ago, I swallowed a bite of a casserole which was spicey. The muscles in my throat reacted and I could not breath. I couldn’t catch my breath and I started to panic. After a minute or so I was able to start breathing again. As my panic attack subsided my breathing returned to normal. I did not eat anymore of that casserole. A few days later the same thing happened again. This time I was able to control my panic and it only lasted a short time. My Family Dr. set up an appointment with a dermatologist. I was tested for allergies to nuts, chocolate, all kinds of spices and a host of other things. As I expected, I was not allergic to any kind of food. My Dr. then sent to to a speech pathologist. I was taught exercises to strengthen my throat and tongue muscles.

I still continue to do the exercises.

I also was sent to a gastroenterologist and was diagnosed with GERD. The medicine I was started on caused allergic reactions so the prescription was changed to a new drug. I was allergic to that one too, and the next and the next and the next. My family Dr, who worked his way through med school as a Pharmacist, recommended I try an over the counter drug and it worked!

So, as I said before I continue to do throat and tongue exercises, take my over the counter medicine and watch what type of foods I eat.

I also have trouble swallowing anything that is not moist and keep water and apple sauce on the table at every meal.

Hope my story helps.

[ekelks]

i have recent,y had some trouble swallowing pills. my former neurologist (she is very ill & has resigned her practice), told me to take pills with apple sauce... haven't yet, just drink more and more water till they go down. Food -- coughing more, maybe because of that. So again just keep drinking more water. i live in a place where i don't trust my tap water anymore, & everything's so $$$ these days, I bought a thin Brita filter pitcher. It's so small it apparently can fit into those minirefrigerators. Our current fridge is short and this is so slim, it works perfectly.

[kycmary]

Just do small bites , chew well & plenty of water to help things go down.