Let us know what the results are. I am especially interested as this runs in my MS family.

Hi Sherizi,

I had a swallow study a few months ago. Sitting there waiting for them to 'set up' for it took longer than the actual study did.

They have you step into an area behind an x-ray machine and face the speech pathologist. She then hands you small amounts of 'flavored' barium liquid in different thicknesses and the radiology tech x-rays you as you swallow it. You may also be given a spoonful that is pudding consistency and a cracker with a little of the 'pudding' smeared on it.

It is fast and fairly easy. The main thing they look for is to make sure you are not aspirating anything into your lungs.

Mine showed a delayed swallow response and the speech pathologist took a couple of minutes right then and there and explained to me what she saw and what I could do to avoid choking.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Lisa

Thank you Lisa, I appreciate the detailed account of what to expect!
I will give a report.
I have had so many choking moments lately, that I do know my issue is valid. (Had an issue just the other night at dinner, as I couldn't get potatoes down! Potatoes aren't even a hard substance!)
I just really hope the study shows something is really going on. I mean, I 'know' I choke often, but, I just want them to see it.
I worry that they may not detect my issue, and they may just say ...'don't see it'...then, I just keep choking.

Don't want that to happen! One time is one time too many!

I was tested because I had moments where I simply could NOT swallow and would have to try over and over and then half the time spitting out what I was trying to swallow to avoid choking. It is scary.

Even if they don't see this happening tomorrow, speak to the pathologist and ask her for suggestions for when it does happen. I pray you get someone that is willing to listen and help.

Something that helps me with swallowing is to use a straw with liquids whenever possible. I even use it for coffee after it has cooled a bit. You don't drink hot coffee with a straw but once.

When we tilt our heads back it tends to open up our airway.

I do know not to tip the head back when trying to drink. One therapist told me about how it blocks the passage way. So, she suggested that I actually tip my head down to swallow. That however, causes my the Le'Hermitte's issue. So, I try to tip, not too far. Ah, MS joys.

I was also told that when eating foods, if I had trouble, I could turn my head to look over a shoulder, and it usually helps the swallowing mechanism to work better. I have learned to do that. But, still having choking moments. Thus, the study tomorrow!

I really appreciate all of you on this site, who offer advice and knowledge! It is such a blessing to be able to turn to fellow ms'er's here, and have confidence in knowing others understand!

Thank you all!
I will let you all know how tomorrow's appt. goes!
Sherizi

Sheirzi...I wrote this to you last night & could have swore that I posted it. You see...I now have to write my posts in my iPhone note pad...due to so many typos & wording issues. So...since I forgot to actually POST it online last night...LOL...some of this will be a repeat of your last post...as I don't have the energy to go back & change it all...had to add this "explanation" as it is...due to my forgetfulness. Having my own issues to deal with today, & mind isn't working well! What's new...right? LOL. Anyways...

Lisa has given you a very detailed and accurate description of what to expect. There are so many things that can go wrong with swallowing...& with MS, it could be due to many things...muscle weakness, spasticity, muscle spasms, nerves giving wrong signals/mechanical failures, etc...which ALSO means that it can come & go at will.

I am a Speech Pathologist...& need to have a swallow study (MBSS/Modified Barium Swallow Study) done on myself. LOL. However, I just keep putting it off. Guess I just don't want to face the inevitable!

I've been having swallowing issues for over 10 years. They were mild at first...but have grown worse over the years (as have most of my symptoms). I've had several scary episodes myself over the past couple of yrs. It's truly embarrassing when it happens at a public restaurant!

I had my last ENT to perform a FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) on me (this is where they stick a tube with a tiny camera down your nose & have you say vocalizations while they watch your anatomy function...SLP's can perform these as well)...but said he could find nothing wrong, other than my severe acid reflux problem...which I've long known about. The MBSS is next on my agenda...but makes me wonder if THAT will even verify anything...especially after reading so many posts on this issue here.

I'm constantly performing swallowing exercises on my patients (currently working for a ReHab Co. in Nursing Homes)...& I always have to "demonstrate them" over & over for my Cognitive-deficient patients. Therefore...I guess I'm keeping things in order for myself the best I can for now...without a definitive Dx of my specific issues.

My SEVERE choking spells seem to come & go & seem to coincide with my other severe-symptom spells...which tells me that it's more than likely neurological...& not a mechanical failure issue. However, I also have a problem where debris backs up into my nasopharyngeal cavity...which has me questioning an anatomy...vs...mechanical failure...for this particular issue. Either way...anytime you have residual debris in ANY cavity...it puts you at risk for aspiration.

I began "tucking my chin" down to aid my swallow about 13 yrs ago (when I learned this trick in Grad school)...& found that it's not only helped me out over the yrs...but that I can no longer swallow "safely" without this compensatory strategy. It helps to close off & protect the airway during the swallow. Of course...it's good to have a swallow study performed, because if you happen to have a specific problem on just one side...then you can tuck your chin toward the affected side for better benefit.

The "small bites" you mentioned is definitely good advice. You may also want to alternate food/water & try an extra swallow after every swallow of food. Just follow whatever advice your SLP performing your study offers you...as he/she will have visible, first-hand knowledge of your issues at hand from the study.

Feel free to PM me anytime if you have questions. However, I must warn you that I don't consider myself to be an "expert" in swallowing...as this has never been my "specific" area of interest or expertise...although it's expanding...due to my own personal swallowing issues! Most SLP's branch off into their own little "specific"areas of interest...as the entire field of Speech/Language Pathology covers many areas...much like Dr's often branch off into fields of specialty.

Most of my career has been spent working with children...particularly in the public schools. Although, you tend to run into almost anything & everything in the schools! I've only had about 3 yrs (off-&-on) working with Adult neurological & acute Sp/Lang disorders (CVA/Strokes, TBI's, etc).

I'm also not on here nearly as often as I used to be...especially since I started working again. THAT (my working again) is an entirely different story though! It's about to KILL me!!

Hope this helps. Keep us posted.
~tj ;)

tiquiver, wow! Thanks for all the info! That was helpful!
I did do the study today. It looks like the bottom line of things right now point to my issues with eating different textures (soups with veg. pieces, or burrito's with beans and tortillia) things they think I need to avoid or at least eat very cautiously. Also my main issue is the fatigue issue. So, she recommends that I eat more at mid-day meal, and less at eve. meals. Due to the muscle's getting too over fatigued by later in the day times.
So, I guess I will need to adjust some of my eating habits, and keep being extra careful.
Now I have to drink plenty of fluids to avoid the barium left-overs in the system!
Thanks again everyone!
Sherizi