This nerve is SUPER important. Please use common sense with this.
Everyone is at very different stages of your illness.
If you are short of breath, have difficulty swallowing, this is definitely NOT for you.
The gut and brain are connected via 8 systems. One is the wandering nerve or vagus nerve. It can easily be stimulated in the comfort of your home.
Our bodies are built for SPEED (to deal with immediate situation).
The SPRINT for the wandering nerve includes brushing the tongue.
Go as far back as you can.
Stimulate your GAG reflex a few times.
It’s not pleasant but I am sure compared to the other awful symptoms you have had; it is nothing.
Or gargle water in the back of your throat, your favourite tunes.
The ENDURANCE is singing.
It doesn’t matter if you are tone deaf, sound like a strangled cat.
Choose those songs which are BELTERS.
Those long notes to hold.
Clinicians use tongue depressors for a reason.
Not only to look for growths, infections but if a person does not produce the gag reflex, the next question is :-
ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO SWALLOW ? (Medical speak - Dysphagia).
People think I am a complete WEIRDO.
I do not care, I have battled too long and hard to be heard.
Random strangers may comment, ‘Did you see that WENCH singing and running ?’
On a personal note, one of my belters is Laura Brannigan’s 1982 hit Gloria.
😘