Yes, swallowing problems now. Seeking support

[Xina535]

Hi all,

I've been reallllly fighting trying to stay in a logical mind and to avoid panicking....

But this throat, excess saliva issue I'm fighting is just getting scarier.

I still have excess saliva, constantly clearing the sides of my mouth. Almost a month now. I now can say I'm definitely having trouble swallowing.

When eating, everything gets stuck. Have to wash it down with water and it hurts when it all flushes down at once. When not eating, I have to swallow a few times in a row to get all the saliva and post nasal drip stuff down, but I feel like I'm not getting anything down.

Still a lot of post nasal drip, the stuff constantly builds up.

Also:

Strong hiccups still happening. Random, sometimes painful, very powerful hiccups throughout the day, in between meals, and last night, right in the middle of the night. Single (1) at a time, 5-6 times a day.

My throat hurts at different times. Sometimes pretty bad, like a radiating pain throughout

Sometimes I have a nasty taste of stuff in the back of my throat.

Food has come up more often lately, but not full regurgitation

I get these gurgling noises happening in the back of my throat sometimes

When I drink antacids, it feels...like my throat is trying to fight it. Not sure how to describe it really.

Antacids and Omeprazol seem to offside the pain a bit, but not much else.


So basically, I THINK it's all stomach / acid problem related (undiagnosed GERD stuff), however, I FEEL it's my throat muscle failing due to ***

Before I thought I was in the green because I didn't have swallowing problems, now I do and I would like to reach out and ask for support and advice.

If GERD stuff, how serious is this? Should I go to the hospital or wait for my ENT appointment on the 24th? I am kinda freaking out that if GERD, that it's even worse like something that can't be reversed/repaired.

I am having issues finding or feeling the line between swallowing issue symptoms in GERD and in MND...like, if this were due to ***, then would I be slurring or otherwise have different symptoms?

This is so scary.

[mwagner]

This all sounds like a combination of GERD and Anxiety to me. Anxiety making it hard for you to swallow.

Excess saliva can be caused by a host of things, and most of us have had it (I have it frequently) on this board. I think it can even be related to hormones. And the more you think about it, the more saliva you will have.

Wait until your ENT appointment, I really think you're okay. So many of us, including myself, have gone through the whole "I can't swallow right" and "I have excess saliva" or "I have too much post-nasal drip" thing. It's so common. Anxiety makes it way, way worse.

And post-nasal drip could either be a cold or allergies...

Mitra

[LKP1231]

Definitely the ENT will help you with this! I think Mitra was absolutely right. I go back and forth between dry mouth and what seems like excess saliva which makes me feel I'm not swallowing right. It's so hard. Good luck on the 24th, I'm sure you will get good explanations!

[TwitchyDoc]

As for your question about slurring, dysphagia is 8 times less common than dysarthria at the onset of MND, also slurring is typically first in majority of cases. The chances hence would be extraordinarily small.

But I agree you do need to address the problem ASAP, mainly because after-meal hiccups, gurgling sounds and regurgiration are quite specific signs of impaired swallowing (can be caused by GERD or even laryngopharyngeal reflux, that is far less known).

Stress will make it worse (tightening of the throat will only aggravate the symptoms).

In MND, vast majority of patients complains about liquids first, because they are harder to control and move faster, causing choking spells. Solid bolus problems indicate more obstruction problem rather than a motor one.

[German2]

Xina I had trouble to drink liquids for a while last year. So much that I have to stay in hospital for infusion. There is a special method to diagnose swallowing problems, calles "oesophagus Breischluck" in Germany. They did it to me and it was fine. After that I had to swallow by myself. I realized that this all came from extremly tight muscles involved in the swallowing process..

[Xina535]

Thank you, you are all pretty much saving my life right now! It makes me feel more sure that these things are related to GERD or other digestive stuff (in combo with anxiety) rather than the difficulty swallowing in MND.

Particularly from Twitchydoc, that slurring is more commonly first and the last statement about solid bolus.

I have a "consultation" appt on the 24th, not an appt for any sort of test, which I am frustrated about because whatever the ENT orders as tests, I'll need to wait longer to get that done, then wait longer to get the results...I would trade all of these symptoms in for the worst pain, I don't care about having pain. I really need my throat to get better. I will tell the ENT though, that I've been living a long time with this and I am at the point where I am don't even want to eat because I don't want to feel these symptoms (although, I do hiccup and feel discomfort in my throat unrelated to meals). I get serious anxiousness and nausea when it's time to eat.

Thank you all again! I'm just shaking in my boots and will try to take baby steps until Monday.

[emmie.s]

hiccups almost definitely signal GERD or acid reflux. I am 110% sure that nothing more sinister is going on. If it were something worse, as TwitchyDoc states you would very likely slur your speech before having issues with solids.
I too had issues with swallowing in the past, and I was certain that it was something to do with the fact that I have a mildly positive ANA (like MCTD or something else autoimmune) but after my anxiety decreased, the swallowing improved. I am certain in your case the anxiety is making your symptoms that much worse.

[Xina535]

Thanks.

I would not be surprised if I did have stomach issues and they are ALL related to or were caused by my anxiety and stress.

I did get diagnosed with gastritis when I first developed my right side chest pain (still have it by the way), and the reason was "too much ibuprofen" (for a painful leg/back issue). But I didn't have any test to diagnose gastritis, the ER doctor just diagnosed it by ruling out heart issues with blood tests and EKG. And I feel that this could be related and just got worse...

[Jayden]

I have trouble swallowing,breathing , Slurred speech and lots of face twitching.

[Xina535]

I am sorry you are in a similar boat, Jayden. I definitely know your anxiety and fear. I hope you are seeking professional help, like at the neuro, throat/nose/ear doc., or ENT.

I can say this though, my widespread body twitching is much much much less, like 3/4th less than normal. I get the occasional ones here any there (including face) but for the most part twitching is at the bottom of my list of worries at this point. I've had weeks like this before, but then it all came back, so I am just going to enjoy the 'silence' while I can.

[jcrissman2]

I think based on reading this post of your Xina that it is safe to say you have LPR.

Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease is related to GERD except the acid goes further up from the stomach than it does with GERD. Makes swallowing difficult. Full write-up here:

http://uthscsa.edu/oto/lpr.asp

It's benign, caused and/or exacerbated by anxiety. When I had LPR, I took nexium as prescribed by an ENT along with a nightly Tums. Went away completely after a few weeks of such treatment and then I stopped taking the medicine - I don't know - a few years ago I think?

[Xina535]

This is so weird you mentioned Nexium....because I bought some the other day for the first time (was surprised that Nexium, with the same name was available here in a Germany). I thought "what the hey..."

Since taking it for 3 days, I have not once wiped the corners of my mouth today. I don't feel as restricted when swallowing. There are still some constrictions, gurgling, the strong hiccups and noises, but I am relieved at least the saliva seemed to chill out. I was wiping so often that I have broken skin in the corners of my lips!

I found a way to describe what the radiating pain feels like in my throat. Like as if someone choked me to try to kill me, or punched me in the throat, but like a few weeks ago and it has healed a bit, but still needs some time to fully heal. So it feels like I'm overcoming a physical injury. If that makes any sense.

I go on Monday and will report what the ENT says. I appreciate all of everyone's support!

[Xina535]

Ok the wiping corners is still there a little.

Two totally new symptoms since my last post: a gross kind of tingling taste in my mouth. Particularly at the tip of my tongue. Feels like I'm sucking on a battery, like I've been swirling a metal around in my mouth.

And my tongue feels swollen, so I'm pronouncing things different (not slurring). Like I can feel my tongue, each side touch the top of my mouth when I'm talking when that word would not normally cause my tongue to do that (not sure if that explains this a accurately).

I go to the ENT tomorrow, I have a feeling it will be a visit long overdue!

[LKP1231]

Good luck. I'm sure you'll receive a good explanation of what is going on and hopefully that will make you feel better.

[Jayden]

Please keep us up with this, I been going through the same stuff, but I do slurrre.
It's like a heavy tongue and something going on with the throat.