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.

1,101 Members
21,517 Posts
0 Online
Brain & Nervous System
/ Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

Throat closing intermittently

jlynn032
jlynn032
Does anyone else have problems with their closing for a split second intermittently? It's almost like there is a flap that slams shut for just a second and then opens back up. It has been happening for a few weeks now. It is right at the back of my throat at the top of my windpipe. The weird thing is, for months before that I would have intermittent numbness in that area. Drove me crazy. I couldn't feel myself swallow. I no longer get the numbness there, but the closing thing really has me worried. I have a very large lesion on the belly of the pons. I have many others, but that is the largest and most worrisome. I have also had labored breathing and what I believe is called the MS hug. A tightening around my midsection with occasional bouts of pain near my shoulder blades. That has also gone on for weeks now. I see my PCP again on Monday. However, he is stumped as to how to help me with the MS symptoms and wants my neuro to address it, but my neuro has been extremely slow in getting back to me. My PCP has offered to refer me to a new neuro. I guess we will discuss that on Monday, but in the meantime, this throat thing really has me concerned. I worry that I will go to bed one night and my throat will close completely and I will suffocate. I don't obsess about it or anything, but the thought does cross my mind when I go to bed at night...
Thanks in advance.
~Jlynn
deleted_user
deleted_user
I do have throat issues sometimes, but not the one you described.

My issues are with swallowing, with things not going down the right way.

Throat issues are not uncommon and are certainly dismaying.

There was an article about it in a recent issue of MSAA's "Motivator" magazine.

One of your last sentences struck me quite a bit: "I worry that I will go to bed one night and my throat will close completely and I will suffocate." It reminded me that MS with all of its cruddy symptoms is still preferable to death. Thanks
deleted_user
deleted_user
I too have had swallowing issues but more along the lines of Lotte.. I had some speech and swallow therapy and just got quiet for a bit without outside influences that caused any stress, and though still a little bit of an issue, Its manageable

I have learned for MY LIFE, that if i say something will happen, then guess what... It happens. I have been able to reframe my thoughts and be manageable! I wish the same for you!

I hope all will be ok!
kellygrn
kellygrn
Ask for a referral to a speech therapist. With docs, we need to find out what the problem is likely to be before we go in.

I will not eat in front of others because of my throat closing. Food & meds not going down is one thing but when your breathing stops it is good to have someone around who knows what to do.

You can do the Heimlich maneuver on yourself. Lean over a chair or something that hits the correct spot. Falling on that spot will open your throat.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/1100.htm
heather1
heather1
bump
Posts You May Be Interested In
  • deleted_user

    Food Allergy?

    Posted by: deleted_user
    Last Reply: Iafaforallergy
    7
    My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...