ENT/advice

[hawk78]

First, I need to thank everyone who has taken the time to read or respond to any post that I have made. I never thought that I would participate in a forum of any kind, but I have seen how many people are helped, supported, and relieved with others who share similar stories and experiences.

One of the best pieces of advice that i ever saw was to get off of the site and get your mind doing other things. Easier said then done but a necessary one for myself. But first, I do have a question. Before, i listed a problem with mucus, seeing an ENT,feeling chest pain during eating, gurgling, etc. The mucus has been 7 weeks old. No choking or slurred words. A few times I have physically tried to start the swallow, but it didnt work right away. I have heard that swallowing is involuntary and trying to do it, may actually give the idea that its not working. (paying too close attention to every bite and chew) Anyway, the ENT said vocal cords were good and the muscles look good, for as far as she could look down, just redness in the esophagus (what she could see). The only thing she said that I later freaked out about was an epiglottis feature that usually went way but i still had it. I dont know if that should keep me worried or not. Finally the question, (and I asked my GP this question) can I be ok with the ENT finding nothing strange on laryngoscopy and quite worrying about Bulbar? My GP told me I should not pursue any further testing. Like many of you, I have strained my marriage to its breaking point but have started really getting after therapy/meds/etc to try to save my life. This is just the last piece I cant shake. One last time, I ask the great people of BFS to offer any insight.

Bless you all

[misterjuanperalta]

Don't worry about it. Many things cause problems with anything you have to do with your body - anxiety is #1 culprit. Read my posts, and search the site for different accounts. Read here too: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20931&hilit=+anxiety#p157408

[Yuliasir]

First of all, swallowing is not fully involuntary act. You could stop initiated swallowing, and you could even revert it (otherwise sword eaters could not do their job). it is quite controlled, to be honest (except the reflex itself).

Having chest pains and gurgling during eating says clearly that you have esophagal spasms common for autonomous disfunction and GERD, same for redness that your ENT had seen (it is due to GERD).
Nervous people aslo often struggle to swallow because swallowing needs certain abount of food or saliva to open the reflex, but they are too sensitive and feel desire to swallow when it is just not enough physical mass to trigger reaction. I know that becasue I am a fresh singer and when I am sining a new song, I really struggle to swallow just becasue I am too nervous and too obsessed by the need to have a free pharynx at the start of singing.

Autonomous disfuntions are common for about 70 % of people, almost always could be found in our population (I mean, in BFSers), and mostyl resuts from excessive and prolonged stress. Need a hell of time and effort to calm down, but still nothing to do with ALS.