trouble swallowing?

[ImGisele]

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Dear Friends,

I am having trouble swallowing. I can be eating and I'll have a sort of muscle spasm in my throat and choke. I am so tired of these "little" things. I've not been able to follow up on my medical care because I have no coverage and I've been putting it off. I'm not sure how much longer I can do this.
style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Thanx.gif I am Gisele

[pennylp]

Hi Giselle,

It sounds like you need to have this looked at....Has this been happening for a long time? I know that you are saying about all the little things that keep happening... I have had the same thing happen to me and it gets so frustrating... But you just have to keep on trying to deal with things and talk to people.. That is what keeps me going... My family and friends and my wonderful friends on this site... It really does help....

I have never had this problem myself.. but maybe someone else on here has experienced the same thing that you are going through and might be able to steer you in the right direction.... I just wanted to let you know you are not alone... Hope you get some answers... And get some help real soon...


Love Penny

[halfpintfl]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wavey.gif Hi Gisele, this probably goes along with sjogrens. There are a couple
of things to do that might help. First, when this starts, have a bottle of
room temprature water always available, and take a swig of the warmer
water, even tilting your chin down a little bit then swallow. That has always
worked for me. In fact, I now drink all my liquids at room temp and it has
changed my life, especially when taking my meds.


Be well and keep posting. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif

[tzookm]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif I have that problem at times. I need to drink lots of water with a meal, which I NEVER did before. I had thyroid problems they thought was the cause. It comes and goes. Does this sound familiar?
Tess

[lazylegs]

There are numerous things that can happen with the esophagus. I had trouble with drier foods like bread, crackers, potatoes, etc. They would start to go down and the muscles would spasm. I had extreme pressure as the food moved all the way down. It was intermittent so I thought I was taking to large of a bite. The first day I saw my rheumy he asked if I had trouble swallowing. After doing the baruim test they found that the esophagus had narrowed, was spasming and had actually grown a web from one side to the other. He diagnosed it as Crest syndrome. Another thing in the autoimmunne family. They put a scope down to see how bad the web was. It only had a small opening for the food to pass through. The scope broke the web and they expanded the esophagus at the same time. I only have occasional problems now.

Crest may or may not be the cause for you. If it is really bothersome you should get it checked out.

Take care,
Lazylegs

[macfamily53]

I found that very interesting breanne what you had to say about your esophogus. I have had trouble for soemtime now with the same thing with my throat to. I just figured it was from the reflux i have and never ask anyone about it. I also have sjogrens to. I would think about having a dcotor look at you somehow some way gisele. It is not only very frustrating kind of scarey.I have troble with swallowing peices of meat real small even so be careful.take care

Tammy style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hugbetter.gif

[ImGisele]

thank you guys soo much,

Some times its nice to hear that someone else has gone through something similar. It's great to have a little support. I get so tired and angry at my body style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hissy1.gif . I'm lucky to have such a wonderful family, and to be able to ask you about things that I don't want to freak them out about. If I asked them about every little "thing", they'd either think I'm ready for the looney bin or on death's door. Thanks guys...I am Gisele

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/goodvibes.gif

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/foryou.gif

[Suz81]

Hi Gisele,

Although I rarely choke on food, I am often unable to swallow, or gag if I try to swallow. This has resulted in some really embarassing incidents, for example on Friday I was having lunch with some new colleagues in Germany who took me out for a traditional meal. Unfortunately I ended up spitting some half eaten chicken out in my napkin. I tried to explain that this was due to sjogren's but I think they thought I just didn't like their food and no-one has volunteered to have lunch with me again! When I told my boyfriend about this he really made me see the funny side, and I can still picture everyone's shocked faces! However, it can sometimes be quite distressing, and is just one more annoying thing to deal with. I'm afraid I can't offer you any advice apart from to always have a bottle of water handy.

Take care
Love and hugs
Suz style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Ooohmeknees]

Gisele,

You need this checked out. Sjogrens can give some problems with swallowing. You'd be well noting which foods this occurs with. They might want to discount a few other things too.

I also have a problem on occasions coughing. A sort of, whats difficult to go down, is difficult to come up,... and that really is distressing.

[Ms.Louise]

I have had this problem for awhile now. I have come to notice that
it occurs mostly after long periods of not having anything to drink. So before
I eat or chug down some liquid , I always take some small swallows of liquid first
to get things moving. This seems to work for me.

sincerly,
louise

[CaseyMV]

there were times when i couldnt swollow, however it felt like someone had put a sock in my mouth and made it super dry and tight.

[iris.phillips1]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wavey.gif hi ther gisele,
i so know how you feel ive just come out of hos with my throat ive had problems with it for ages now and everytime i eat i chock and the back back of my mouth is always swallon ive been on antibiotics for so long now they do work sometimes but there sending me for test for that cause they dont think its to do with my lupus.
please go to the doc and get it checked out they might beable to help you
please let us know how yu get on take care
love genette xx style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/foryou.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/foryou.gif

[missdk]

I was diagnosed with SLE with Raynauds 13 years ago when my son was 11 months old. I have had various ailments over the years helped with steroid treatment at the time. Five years ago I started having trouble swallowing food and never bothered seeking advice as I have just put every health problem down to Lupus over the years.The food is mainly starchy foods such as rice,potatoes, bread and fatty foods. It feels as if it is getting stuck and I can only push it down by gulping a glass of warm water. Occassionaly, It makes me heave and I choke up a clear mucous. My consultant sent me for a Barium Swallow this week and I am extremely nervous as to what they may find. Has anybody else had this and choked up the mucous?