LymeNet Flash: Is trouble swallowing a symptom of lyme?

This is topic Is trouble swallowing a symptom of lyme? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by hiker53 (Member # 6046) on :

I have a friend who has lyme and is being evaluated for MS by a neurologist because he has trouble swallowing. Can that be a symptom of lyme? I hate to see him go through the pain of a spinal tap if this is lyme related. He has tested positive for lyme and is on antibiotics. Hiker

Posted by Marnie (Member # 773) on :

Yes.

Posted by duramater (Member # 6480) on :

YES. Trouble swallowing was one of several neurological symptoms that I had and was noted by the neurologist. They suspected myasthenia gravis; the tests for that (and MS) were negative but for Lyme were positive...

Posted by Lymied (Member # 6704) on :

Count me in too...I started having trouble swallowing about five months into treatment...I had it in small bouts before but it became quite pronounced when herxing.

Not especially fun when the thing that you are having trouble swallowing is a flagyl pill...got stuck in my throat and man did it burn...

I have a friend also who says that this symptom has been consistant with her lyme diagnosis too.

Posted by perplexed (Member # 1913) on :

Having trouble swallowing has been a problem with me for a very long time...as I have had lyme for 34 years now...will be seeing LLMD first time in August. It is also not fun to swallow some of these vitamin pills or xanax...nasty stuff..ugh.

My gastroenterologist did an endescopy on me and said that I have presby esophogitis..narrowing of the esophogus..Lyme realate...I seem to think so but he said no...but he is not lyme literate at all. Will find out when I see a real LLMD.

Jean

Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :

Yes. If the search function is working, I'm sure you could bring up tons of info on it.

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oops!
Lymetutu

Posted by cbb (Member # 788) on :

Hi Hiker,
Trouble swallowing was a major problem with my father, too.

On pages 51 of "Everything You Need to Know About Lyme Disease", Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner says:

"Twelve pairs of cranial nerves, which branch out from the lower surface of the brain and extend around the body, are each associated with a different brain function. At any stage of disseminated Lyme disease, any of these nerves may lose their ability
to conduct electrical impulses properly, leading to 'cranial nerve palsy', commonly called paralysis in areas controlled by that pair of nerves. Cranial nerve palsy is the second most common Lyme neurological condition..."

page 53:
Nerve #X: "Vagus: Dysfunction of the muscles in the throat, shoulders, and back may create difficulty in swallowing or talking. Drooping shoulders and an inability to rotate the head away from the dysfunctional side may also occur. Malfunctions within other branches of this nerve may cause heart problems...; breathing difficulties...; persistent cough; paralysis of the glottis; vocal cord spasms or paralysis...;and gastrointestinal disturbances..."

Does he have any of these additional symptoms?

Is your friend being treated by a Lyme Literate Med Dr?

I recommend that he rely on his Lyme dr to decide which tests need to be done.
Does the LLMD think that he should have the spinal tap to check for MS?

Do you know what antibiotic he's taking?
...dose per day & length of time.
He has to be sure he's getting an adequate dose for a long enough time.

He's blessed to have a friend like you.
Invite him to join us here.
We'll help in any way that we can.

Posted by Sue vG (Member # 3143) on :

Yes. It was one of my early symptoms and has resolved with treatment.

I was afraid I was going to choke to death on my own saliva.

Posted by surg (Member # 6937) on :

Yes, I have had trouble swallowing on the right side of my throat as one of my rotating symptoms. My LLMD said it is from babesia. He said the babesia affects the autonomic nervous system and any system that is highly innervated by the ANS like swallowing can be affected. Also digestion, breathing etc. Since only taking mepron and zith for 4 months this symptom is almost gone.

Posted by DolphinLady (Member # 6275) on :

I had this before treatment along with bell's palsy and no gag reflex.

All resolving with longterm abx.

Posted by JesusisLord (Member # 5776) on :

I have difficulty with swallowing too. An allergist once told me it was related to allergies and associated edema. I think it is Lyme related though.

Posted by bg (Member # 46416) on :

Me too. Had barrium swallow tests ... "motility" problem but they didn't explain it takes forever for me to begin the swallowing process.

Didn't know I had lyme until last yr.; 34 yrs. into this!

bettyg

Posted by lymeloco on :

quote:
Originally posted by hiker53:
I have a friend who has lyme and is being evaluated for MS by a neurologist because he has trouble swallowing. Can that be a symptom of lyme? I hate to see him go through the pain of a spinal tap if this is lyme related. He has tested positive for lyme and is on antibiotics. Hiker

I also had trouble swallowing!
Had endoscopy, barrium swallow. All neg.

I had to take liquid antibiotics at one point, but it'll pass.

I haven't had for a while now!

lymeloco

Posted by lymesux (Member # 6248) on :

My son has trouble swallowing at times and has had GERD since birth (along with lyme), he had surgery so that he can not throw up but still has esophagitis.

he still coughs alot when he tries to swallow - he just had a test called a video swallow test where we could watch him eat and drink, every time he drank, the liquid got caught in his larynx(think thats where).

DX is dysphagia from hypotonia (low muscle tone) which can be from lyme and/or CNS disease. We'll see the llmd this week to see what he says.

good luck.