by Xina535 on December 29th, 2014, 9:55 am
Hi everyone - I realize I never posted the outcome in this thread, and I am seeing a ears, nose and throat doctor tomorrow, so I am worried and have questions.
Outcome from the scope tests:
Mild Gastritis and Reflux. He said it's mild enough to call it normal, like how everyone has. The Report said, "The findings do not exlpain the symptoms" and he ordered two breath tests to see if I have some sort of intolerances (scheduled in Feb).
This is of course un-nerving considering everyone on here thought I had bad cases of something gastro related, but I don't. Instead, I have a WORSE case of the excess saliva and "lump in throat" Problem, and now biting of the tongue. I called a ears, throat and nose doctor today to see if they can see me and I got an appointment right away for tomorrow morning. I am going to go over all of the below with the doctor (excerpt from my Journal about the symptoms affecting my mouth and throat) and hope she will give me a swallow test or somehow explain what is going on.
Questions: Anyone have any advice before I see the doctor? Will they be able to tell if I my symptoms are due to weakness or something bad?
I am very very nervous!
Excerpt -I started a Journal as I read it was a good way to handle anxiety,. Get it all out, battle negative thoughts with positive ones and have an ation plan for each. I have found it helpful.
Mouth/Throat:
1) Since Oct 2014: Excess saliva/constantly wiping the corners of my mouth and swallowing
Negative thoughts: Read it is a sign of UMN damange and a symptom of bulbar ALS onset if the excess is due to not being able to swallow properly, and/or the process of clearing saliva in the mouth has been damaged, and/or the face muscles are weak and can't seal the lips properly. I did twich in my face for a while (hot spots) during this time. Could my process of clearing saliva have been damanged and I wouldn't know about it?
Positive thoughts: Read is a sign of herpes and anxiety, both of which I have, if the problem is due to extra production. I do not have swallowing issues with other liquids or food. Liquids do not come out of my mouth. I am not choking on anything. Can be a sign of reflux, which I was diagnosed with (minor case). Since it started, there were several days or weeks where it was very minimal, so the amount has waxed and waned. I can move my mouth like normal (smile, frown, fish lips, move my tongue all over in different ways).
Action plan – go to neurologist and get an EMG of my tongue and facial mucles and to an ears, throat and nose doctor to determine if I am over producing or if my swallowing process is damaged. Get Atropine eye drops to put it under my tongue to help control saliva in the meantime. It may help me get my mind off of it.
2) Since mid-Dec 2014: Biting/nipping at tongue
Negative thoughts: Read is an onset sign of bulbar ALS, due to muscles and tongue weakening
Positive thoughts: I have not noticed or seen any twitches in my tongue. This has also waxed and waned since it started. It was at it's peak when a herpe broke out on my lip. Read it is also related to anxiety. I do not have any slurring, which is usually the first sign of tongue weakness.
Other thoughts: My tongue is constantly pressed against my teeth or the roof of my mouth. I read this is common for anxious people. When I try to relax it, it always goes back. I read this is a sign of Bruxism (can also be due to neurological disorders), but I do not know if I have clenching of teeth at night. I do not have headaches, jaw pain or clicking. I do have a weird feeling that I am not pronouncing certain words right, but this is also a sign of anxiety. As long as others do not notice slurring, it is supposedly not an isssue. I wonder if this weird feeling I have about pronouncing has to do with my tongue being pressed and tense all the time. Maybe also why I am biting it?
Action plan – go to neurologist and get an EMG of my tongue and facial muscles. Ask ears, throat and nose doctor about this.
3) Since mid 2014: Lump in throat and sometimes food or pills getting stuck
Negative thoughts: Read that food getting stuck can be a sign of ALS. When I had an endoscopy, the doctor did not see anything and said that the findings did not explain my symptoms. If not ALS, then what could this be (a real lump, tumor)?
Positive thoughts: Read that „lump in throat“ feeling is not really known about in ALS patients. It is a tell tale sign of anxiety (globus). It can be very strong at times and other times I do not notice it, but it is always there in a way. The same with food getting stuck, does not always happen.
Other thought: Recently, I tried doing the cat/cow yoga pose to stretch. When I tilted my neck back (cow), my throat hurt and I could only cough. Every time I do this, I have to cough, this did not happen before. I felt my throat with my hand and felt that my neck on the outside felt really tight. Not sure what to think – is there some damage to my throat or is this a sign that my throat is just really tense?
Action plan – go to ears, throat and nose doctor to determine if there are throat issues, go to neurologist and get an EMG of throat and neck