I have swallowing problems related they say to the scleroderma component. Things like bagels are hard to swallow i also have alot of GERDS etc. I do believe mine has improved with the meds kicking in and getting the overall disease under control. You will soon come to see there is no "pattern" to MCTD. Things just.......happen and you go with it and move on smiling. --Michelle

i have a fear of choking, my throat and mouth are not good. but i have a fear of falling too, muscle weakness i guess. not really fears, my brain at some level knows things are crook in Tullarook. so, i try to eat slowly, chew and masticate. i try to keep my strength up too so these legs will hold me for many more years to come. keeping up with the pred keeps both at bay.

The docs say I dont have scleroderma or polymyositis ( which i doubt!), but I do have severe GERD and trouble swallowing. I get choked a lot. I have to be very careful when I eat. Food will slip down without warning. It comes and goes. Hope your problem GOES!
Mary Ann

I had trouble swallowing but also my tongue really hurt and the roof of my mouth so bad I had to take painkillers it lasted for a week

I have two separate swallowing issues. First, things seem to be loose in the throat area and so I get food, drink and saliva in the wrong area and it causes major coughing attacks with breathing around such. Second I get muscle spasms in my esophagus. Right behind my sternum, food just gets stuck there. It is extremely painful. The second I can remedy with drinking fluids with my meals to keep stuff moving, or if I know it is happening early in the meal, a puff of albuterol calms all of the muscles in the region.

I hope we have helped.

Oh lord...the lack of motility in my throat was actually my first symptom. I can tell if i'm going to flare that way too. I had swallow studies and what not. The bottom line is...it's muscles that give you the ability to swallow, if you're in an active disease process, it can be compromised. I had to be very cautious...eat very small bites, swallow two and three times and I aspirated like crazy all the time. When my disease process is under control, which is the case most of the time, I don't have those issues.

Wow, it's been a long time since I've replied. Swallowing is a problem for me too. After a series of tests and going back and forth to the ENT and Gastro doctors, I have a couple of problems one with the throat ( doesn't always close right), esophageal dismotility ( the esophagus doesn't always cooperate when food is going down), GERD, and osteophytes 'impinging' on my throat (from my spine... Like bone spurs). Both docs think MCTD is the culprit (with the exception of the osteophytes, which is common with aging) my eyeing disagrees.... But never says why. Anyway the Gastro doc doubled my Prevacid, the ENT said when it worsens there were some surgical things she could do and she referred me to a speech therapist specialist to learn more more about swallowing...I.e. Take smaller bites, chew well, drink water and so on. Personally I think the Plaquenil has helped the most before I started it I had terrible dry mouth now my saliva is back. Have to have saliva to swallow. I also avoid antihistamines and anything else that is so drying.
Bottom line if swallowing is an issue there are self help measures plus changes in meds... The Prevacid increase helped a lot too and simple paying attention to how you are eating. I also think the MCTD probably affected me first in this area as I have been on Prevacid for years. I still have to go back to the Gastro doc to see if she wants o do anything else but have been putting it off....sick of going to appointments.
Sorry this is so long hope it helps a bit.
Terrilynne

Just reread my post ..it is supposed to be rhuemy not eyeing ..stupid computer spelling haha!

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm only at the stage where I'm having a little difficulty and really conscience of swallowing. I just wasn't sure what can be done about this and the choking part is a little scary. I'm seeing my rheumatoligist on April 14th and will mention it to her then and maybe get some tests done.

I've been conscious of my swallowing since I was in my 20's (I'm 48 now) but I wasn't diagnosed with any autoimmune disease until the year 2000. So you aren't alone and I know what you mean by saying you're conscious of it. Everytime I swallow I know.
I have had food get stuck, but I think I've been taking bigger bites .. I've gained weight in the past year. I always have a drink with my meal. (always have).
I've also been having much more acid reflux and am wondering if that's due to a lousy diet, overeating, or the MCTD.

Years ago (20??) I had the barium swallow test, etc, they couldn't find anything. I was diagnosed with PM in 2000 and did well for many years.
A couple/few years ago I flared up bad and was re-diagnosed with MCTD.
I can't say my swallowing has gotten too much worse, yet I've lost so much muscle all over ... it's depressing. I'm flaring now too. I haven't been taking good care of myself. That's changing now.

I'm a little down lately, so I'm sorry if this sounds like a bunch of self pity. I've had so many life events happen in the past few years, I don't know how I keep up.

Anyway, you aren't alone.
Carol

Don't worry carol we can all wallow a little and do. Yes on swallowing problems. Always concious now. Also if eating or drinking I can start coughing and food or drink will go in my lungs. Very uncomfortable till I get it out of there. hugs Marilyn

Thanks for your comment.

I am still only conscious of swallowing, but always wondering what comes next.