Swallowing

If you don’t mind my asking…

Do you plan on seeing the dr for this?

Have you had problems with your cervical spine? I’m wondering if my troubles stem from damage I did to my neck due to a fall from 25 years ago. I do have nerve problems with neck and lumbar area.

Trying to make sense of it. I understand nerves from the neck innervate the shoulders (have issues that come and go often with them too). I’m wondering if the necks nerves have anything to do with the swallowing actions (I have polyradiculopathy of neck and lumbar w/severe nerve damage) that has not gotten better. The nm doctor when asked, said its the entire neck (the PolyRad) so that covers a good surface area.

I am trying to figure out and understand why and settle one health issue at a time. Why the body seems to be revolting.

How long between the attempt to initiate a swallow and the actual swallowing action did it take you? For me, it was about 5 seconds or so (around).

It happens mostly late day to night…I think when I’m tired it happens more.
Does this happen with you? Does time of day matter when it happens to you?

How long have you been having the trouble with this swallowing? It’s just been about a month for me that I can remember.

Since 2021 I grind meds because I developed issues with swallowing pills (nearly choked on pill), I still grind larger pills, others I take w/applesauce.
There are times it takes multiple swallows to get pills down. Some pills take 4+ tries with applesauce. Other pills go down slower so follow with water until its down. I take one at a time.

I don’t know if you take meds, but if you do, do you have any trouble swallowing pills?

I appreciate your reply to my post.

Thank you.

I’m sorry for what you are going through Kathy. Nerves and the body are complicated. I hope because your symptoms are very specific they help you and find out what is causing your distressing symptoms. 💜

Thank is what I’ve been wondering myself, if something cervical could be causing some problems.

Back in 2021 they did a swallowing test with X-rays. I could not get the report from the speech dr. When the technologist showed me the action back then she pointed to a bone almost protruding into the neck area/throat. It was my neck. She didn’t comment on it other than pointing it out. I had a bad fall years before and it did damage. I guess it takes time for problems to develop?

Between the swallowing, shoulders etc I hope she does imaging to see where the neck/throat is at. Because the shoulder pain also at times runs down arm causing pins and some numbness in fingers are beneath arm/the underside that comes and goes (thats new too).

Hmmm. A few months before other lower extremity troubles, I had migraines about 18 days out of a month for a few months. I saw a neuro who threw a lot of drugs at me to see what helped. Not to find out what was causing them. I was concerned because when I’d get them it was occasional. This I could not shake. They left like they came suddenly.

I hope you find relief and get answers…feel better 🤗

Thank you Jill. I will look at the meds I take.

The only thing is, I had not started any new meds in the month since I’ve had the “flare” kick up and things have gotten worse.

Unless being on a med for a long time could cause it…

That definitely is the scariest experience next to shortness of breath…so, these automatic things are getting on my nerves! Lol. I’m trying to have a sense of humor while being in spasm now. My back and feet are a mess.

Today swallowing was ok. I was not tired and will make sure I eat early.

My neurologist told me I need my swallowing evaluated by a gastroenterologist. I thought that was a first. I always thought that was the ENT’s department. Hey thats new.

I called his office and of course - he is on leave and they don’t know for how long. It could run into the time of my appointment which is kind of out there.

So, I am not sure if I should wait and just go to him at my scheduled time or look for someone else?? (depending on if this gets more frequent). Roadblocks everywhere.

It will be okay. Thank you so much for your input.

Thank you foundry. I am so sorry about your diagnosis. My guy has a cousin who has had that for some time now.

I appreciate your input. It is terribly anxiety provoking. To forget how to initiate a swallow induces panic in me. I wait for the inspiration (whatever causes swallowing) mechanism to engage and until it does I freeze and don't take a breath in until I can swallow. So that is a coping mechanism.

I will be calling a gastroenterologist to evaluate the swallowing today and hopefully get me into physical therapy. I hope therapy helps this problem I seem to be having. I am encouraged. Thank you so much!

I have a few issues that need therapy. I hope they can be divided up to cover the bases for the year of therapy insurance allots me.

💜

Thank you Danny. I wil do that. Hopeful things work out without needing another medication. ❤️

Hello dlydailyhope,

Swallowing issues are so anxiety producing. I’m scheduled to see a new gastroenterologist who was voted ‘top doc’ about 13 years consecutively (in May) because my present doctor may still be on leave in April to evaluate the swallowing. I’m not sure where mine stems from as I have not had the biopsy for the small fiber (yet). Does a dermatologist do the skin biopsy to rule in/out small fiber neuropathy? Also, I have not had a recent cervical MRI, just nerve studies that indicated problems. I hope the neurologist visit in March addresses the cervical and thoracic symptoms. We shall see. I have a neuromuscular doctor scheduled for June. I scheduled that months ago.

Hello dlydailyhope,

Swallowing issues are so anxiety producing. I’m scheduled to see a new gastroenterologist who was voted ‘top doc’ about 13 years consecutively (in May) because my present doctor may still be on leave in April to evaluate the swallowing. I’m not sure where mine stems from as I have not had the biopsy for the small fiber (yet). Does a dermatologist do the skin biopsy to rule in/out small fiber neuropathy? Also, I have not had a recent cervical MRI, just nerve studies that indicated problems. I hope the neurologist visit in March addresses the cervical and thoracic symptoms. We shall see. I have a neuromuscular doctor scheduled for June. I scheduled that months ago.

If I had to prioritize what is most important for you to address is your cervical spine (get updated cervical MRI and ask for an urgent appointment with a good spine surgeon who will listen to all of your symptoms). You may need surgery to prevent permanent damage/injury. Then you can follow up with the neurologist and gastroenterologist for testing/treatment/monitoring. Addressing your spinal cord and cervical issue is a 911 that cannot wait longer than March! When I met with my new spine doctor, it took less than 1 month from the first appointment to surgery.

Sorry, I meant swallow study. My original neurologist recommended I get it done when I told him about swallowing issues. Neurologists can order them and depending on results, refer you to a gastroenterologist or ENT for treatment and therapy. Autonomic nervous system controls heart, breathing and digestion and cervical nerve damage could be causing your swallowing problem. I a separate post, I mentioned I was diagnosed with biliary dyskinesia yesterday and this may be tied to nerve damage (gallbladder only releasing 7% bile when it should be a minimum of 35%-40%). This is a functional/motility/muscle issue where my body is not responding to nerve signals.