silent aspiration

@melinda561 Many years ago, I was prescribed similar medications but they made me feel more short of breath. and some contained steroids which can hinder our immune response. There have been occasions where I had antibiotics and steroids temporarily for an acute exacerbation and pneumonia treatment. Again our specific needs and treatments are individual and what works for one may not work for another. Hope you can find a treatment plan
that is effective for you.

I have same problem. Barium swallow and endoscopy didn't show dysphagia, but I know I have it. Also drinking liquids makes me breathless for a few seconds. I do the chin tuck. I hope you know that one. So helpful. Tuck your chin as you swallow. Opens something not sure what.

you might check out swallowing exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles used- Masako Maneuver and Mendelsohn Maneuver are tw that NJH recommends for silent aspiration

Neither gastroscopy nor bravo capsule showed gerd but a consolidated spot shows on my recent ct and my dr at NJH thinks is aspiration. I had manometry and impendence insertion. The impendence did not show silent reflux but we still wait for the manometry results. So it could be another option for you.

@smtdoc For those that have not been referred to a Speech Therapist. My experience.
My new OKC, head of pulmonology, doctor referred me to a Speech Therapist.
He is the first of the several pulmonologists I have seen since being diagnosed with BE in 2022 to refer me or suggest my seeing a Speech Therapist. He also referred me to an Infectious Disease doctor, again the first one to do so. I have a low load of Intercellular bacteria, so far. So it will be interesting to see what she is going to say.
Now that I have worked with her and all she is teaching me it makes me feel that this is one medical professional that we all should have the opportunity to see with all the problems that may or may not go along with Bronchiectasis or a breathing problem.
I have been seeing one here in OKC who is really good, very involved , dedicated to understanding what is needed for patients and what works for patients.
She has me do the Masako Maneuver of which I do at least once a day when I drink my glass of water. She also has me follow and work with the app that goes along with the Breather Respiratory Muscle Trainer. I do not use the Breather because you can't fully disinfect all the parts without damaging the prongs on the mouthpiece. We have me use the 5 3/4 inch Daxwell Slim Milk Straw to help with type of exercise.
We also do other breathing exercises that I believe have helped me with releasing mucus and those 'darn' mucus plugs I have that always seem to form for me.
Last night I thought that I might ask her to video me as we do the different techniques and verbally say what each technique is called before I start....It is hard to remember the names of each technique and probably might be good to have the video for various reasons.
Barbara

My swallow studies normal too, but i clearly have swallowing problems. I think the tests only show what you're experiencing at that moment of swallowing. Do you get many infections as a result of micro aspirations?

@smtdoc

When I was having more mucus production I had to eat slowly and be very care when swallowing. These exercises would have been very helpful. Thank you for letting us know about them.

I tried them just now and can tell the Marika one in particular is one to work on!

Thanks,

Leslie