Gagging and swallowing difficuties..

[tinaandkevin]

Hi,

Does anyone else have problems with swallowing or gagging as a result of thyroid problems?

My 88 year old mother in law (Betty) has a thyroid problem which is at present only being treated by her GP but we are in the process of getting an appointment with Dr Boardman.. On top of this she had a fall a few days ago and hit her head, thankfully it wasn't a bad fall but the undiagnosed UTI infection has made her very poorly. we resisted her going into hospital unless totally necessary as she is so frail and the last thing she needed was another infection. She is on Trymethiprym 200mg twice a day and has made some improvement, She was very confused and didn't know who anyone was etc. but that seems to have improved considerably but she is still too weak to walk and is having to have everything done for her whereas before this infection she was having help twice a day and managing reasonable ok on her own in the day... Her problems are very weak legs and difficulty walking and gagging on everything including water, even the sight or thought of food or drink is making her gag but she isn't being actually sick. I have read that thyroid issues can cause these problems and would be grateful for anyones personal experience of these kinds of problems and if anyone had found a successful treatment. I am assuming that if the thyroid gland is enlarged it causes this gagging but perhaps it is the actual imbalance of the hormones causing this...

Thank you for your help.

Tina

[Mumtoboy]

Does she have a goitre / enlarged thyroid? That can cause swallowing problems and gagging. I'm not sure about the other symptoms though. Could it be the infection causing them? I would definitely ask to get her thyroid checked though - both under active and over active can cause a goitre. I hope she gets well soon

[batgirl]

I have the same problems not as bad now but I had streph infection from 2010 until 2012.

Coughing up blood.and a bladder infection.[sex clinics best for bladder infection antibio;buy the test strips to test for blood in urine]

Drs were useless.I would get a private blood test done on her TSH and T4 T3 and after the antibiotics get cranberry juice and drink this frequently.

You would need a thyroid scan which I have had done I have nodules its very difficult to get these things done ;Drs fundholders make excuses it sounds bad enough to have a visit to the AE as its life threatening in the respect that she is unable to swallow.

It sounds as though she needs some TSH medication the elderly are over looked.

I would accompany your mother in law should be accompanied to her Dr obviously with her consent.Blood test on TSH kidney function sputem test and thyroid scan and iron test.

Try and get her to drink through a straw ice cream sodas are soothing;and homemade soup blended up to liquid form.