Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
This community is a place where members can discuss current events and weigh in on what's going on in the world.
It is hard to slowly go down hill.
Living in a long term hospital I do not get to enjoy many things.
One of the things I enjoy is herbal tea & coffee. My Hubby brought in a cabinet for my tea kettle. I make my own by the cup coffee (real drip coffee) & tea. It is one of the few pleasures I have.
Now that may be gone.
My swallowing has slowly been getting worse. About 10 yrs ago it started. It was jelly beans I noticed first I would swallow them & they would stay in my throat no matter how many times I swallowed they would not go down. I would have to take a drink to get them down. It only happened a few times a yr.
Over time it got worse. Until I have to have liquid with me every time I eat.
Now I get extra liquids on my tray to get my food down.
In the last couple of months I have started to have problems with liquids. When I swallow a drop or two goes into my lungs. What is weird I do not have a choking response to it. I have a wet cough now & again.
Having trouble with liquids only happens 5-15 times/week. I am able to clear my lungs I have had no infections.
Today I had a minor asthma attack. I have not had one in 3 yrs.
I talked to my nurse & it is more then likely b/c of the swallowing problems & my lungs are a bit grumpy.
I know there is a product called "thick up" to make it so you do not "swallow the wrong way"
I have to talk to my doc about this to see if Ventolin will be enough right now. It will be his decision. He is the one who is used to dealing with this stuff.
Has anyone used this stuff. Can you still drink coffee & tea??? Does it change the taste of the liquid?? What is it made of???
I find it frustrating to lose bit by bit.
I guess I want to keep on fighting but it is hard to admit that some battles can not be won.
Living in a long term hospital I do not get to enjoy many things.
One of the things I enjoy is herbal tea & coffee. My Hubby brought in a cabinet for my tea kettle. I make my own by the cup coffee (real drip coffee) & tea. It is one of the few pleasures I have.
Now that may be gone.
My swallowing has slowly been getting worse. About 10 yrs ago it started. It was jelly beans I noticed first I would swallow them & they would stay in my throat no matter how many times I swallowed they would not go down. I would have to take a drink to get them down. It only happened a few times a yr.
Over time it got worse. Until I have to have liquid with me every time I eat.
Now I get extra liquids on my tray to get my food down.
In the last couple of months I have started to have problems with liquids. When I swallow a drop or two goes into my lungs. What is weird I do not have a choking response to it. I have a wet cough now & again.
Having trouble with liquids only happens 5-15 times/week. I am able to clear my lungs I have had no infections.
Today I had a minor asthma attack. I have not had one in 3 yrs.
I talked to my nurse & it is more then likely b/c of the swallowing problems & my lungs are a bit grumpy.
I know there is a product called "thick up" to make it so you do not "swallow the wrong way"
I have to talk to my doc about this to see if Ventolin will be enough right now. It will be his decision. He is the one who is used to dealing with this stuff.
Has anyone used this stuff. Can you still drink coffee & tea??? Does it change the taste of the liquid?? What is it made of???
I find it frustrating to lose bit by bit.
I guess I want to keep on fighting but it is hard to admit that some battles can not be won.
I remember trying to drink some water to cool myself off and spitting it up in my lap when I went to swallow--like a reverse of what I was going for LOL
Don't know what treats it besides avoiding getting too flared up :( Just offering sympathies! hope someone else has a practical suggestion!
Just as a hint of two, I thought I'd tell you about a couple of things that have helped me.
One, when swallowing liquids, sip the liquid, hold it in your mouth long enough to bend your head down slightly (as if looking at your tummy). Then swallow. When you do this, you are "opening the right tube availability, and you swallow more cautiously. As you think about what you are doing!
Also, if you have trouble swallowing larger items, that are solid-ish. It sometimes helps to look with your head, as if you are looking over a shoulder. Do that when trying to swallow. It sounds strange, but it does help!
Those two things have helped me countless times now!
I do wish you the best! I hope you can be seen by a specialist. He/she will help you, I am sure!
Sherizi
Try to see a speech therapist & a swallowing specialist as they both do different things (well here they do).
We can buy thickener from our local pharmacy so while waiting to see a specialist see if you can get that & see if it helps you too. That will be good to know for the specialists too.
Read the previous posts on swallowing too.
Take care & eat with small bites too & if you need to go to soft foods too.
All I had to add has already been said. A speech therapist can teach you how to swallow to compensate for the problems you are having.
Sherizi, thanks for those tips, I can definitely use those.