I have noticed that my throat feels numb. I often get sore throats, and even feel sores in my mouth and they feel like they go down my throat. This last episode was 2 weeks ago.
Well my sores are gone and have only a mild sore throat. I still feel like my throat in the back feels numb or even like mildly paralyzed. I almost cant feel the swallowing.
I took my pm meds and when I went to swallow them I really choked on them and projectile vomitted some pills and water at the same time. It is really weird.
I have seen difficulty swallowing as a symptom, but could some one explain why is this happening or direct me to an article? How serious can this be, or is it just annoying.
Thanks as usual~ Melissa
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
I had something like this when lyme hit hard. It felt like my throat was coated and the back of it was numb. My tongue felt numb too.
I went to the ER and they said it was like something was giving me the sensation that it was numb and swollen, because it looked fine to them. I wasnt showing an allergic reaction or anything.
This got worse on zithromax.
Have you started any new meds?
it probably would be a good idea to run this by your LLMD too, just to make sure.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Just be careful! I'd call the LLMD too.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
i had the barrium test for swallowing so xrays could be taken.
mine was called a "motility" problem that no one explained! it takes awhile for my throat to decide to swallow the pills! Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Dear Melissa,
I often get the sensation that my throat is closing up.
I too, have trouble swallowing pills at various times.
First call your LLMD and tell them what is going on.
See if any of the meds you are on can be crushed.
A manuever that has helped me is a chin tuck.
When I get a pill(s) stuck in the back of my throat, I take a good sip of water
Tuck my chin to my chest and swallow.
You need to be careful that somehow or another your meds or vomit
Don't get aspirated into your lungs. That can cause a lovely pneumonia.
Another trick that I've used when dealing with swallowing patients is lemon ice.
There is something about the cold and the lemon that actually trigger a faster, stronger swallow response.
I believe they now make some "no sugar added" .
I hope this helps, and I hope you are doing better soon.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by Polaris (Member # 11391) on :
I was having problems with food getting stuck down by collar bone area, and it finally got to the point that I had to go to the ER and have muscle relaxers and antihistamines via IV and IM shot. Went to a gastro MD and got scoped, he said something is causing inflammation(no gerd, scarring, etc) and that he had to stretch my esophagus. He managed to stretch it to 14mm(didn't push it, so as not to tear), when it really should be 18mm in diameter.
Posted by Cobweb (Member # 10053) on :
quote:Originally posted by Geneal:
Another trick that I've used when dealing with swallowing patients is lemon ice.
Hugs,
Geneal
Want to gain some weight? Try swallowing me! Posted by nan (Member # 63) on :
This was one of my most troubling symptoms before getting diagnosed with lyme and starting abx. I even had an endoscopy to determine what was wrong...and of course, in so many words was told that everything looked fine with the implication it was "in my head."
Well, they were right about that! Lyme bugs have a propensity for residing in nerves. We have 12 cranial nerves.
BRAIN Nerve conduction defects (weakness/paralysis of limbs, loss of reflexes, tingling sensations of the extremities - peripheral neuropathy), severe headaches, stiff neck, meningitis, cranial nerve involvement
(e.g. change in smell/taste; difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking; hoarseness or vocal cord problems; facial paralysis - Bell's palsy; dizziness/fainting;
drooping shoulders; inability to turn head; light or sound sensitivity; change in hearing;
deviation of eyeball [wandering or lazy eye], drooping eyelid), stroke, abnormal brain waves or seizures, sleep disorders, cognitive changes (memory problems, difficulty in word finding, confusion, decreased concentration, problems with numbers) and, behavioral changes (depression, personality changes) *********************************** My sense of smell was out of whack, too. I thought my car was on fire while driving; there was something rotten in the fridge, but I was the only one who could smell it, etc. The swallowing problem was THE worst!!
Antibiotics and time took care of it.
Posted by tailz (Member # 10014) on :
They did the barium swallow on me, too, taking x-rays to check my swallowing ability. I was told it came back normal.
I seem to do okay with liquids and most solid foods now - sticky foods seem to continue to cause problems though - like peanut butter.
I didn't dare tell my docs that I couldn't swallow peanut butter without choking to death - they would have chuckled and said, "Everybody has trouble swallowing peanut butter."
But this goes beyond normal peanut butter 'stickiness' - the muscles in my throat refuse to move the peanut butter out of the airway, no matter how much I struggle.
At my worst, I could eat peas, and several hours later - although I felt nothing in my throat - I would cough a pea or two out.
I think it's not so much a throat infection, but rather an infection in the nerves in the brain that control the muscles that push the food downward.
This is weird, too - I could never make myself burp. If I burped on my own, all was cool. But if tried to burp intentionally, I couldn't - ever.
Posted by yourtroubl (Member # 11087) on :
I still have trouble swalling especially laying down at night. I choke and have to sit up and drink something to swallow; its like I cant swallow.
My surgeon says its Lyme and will subside with treatment.
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
tomato juice or V8 is a good liquid to swallow pills with.
I think the swallowing issue is babs. Also this time of year you're probably swallowing mucus from seasonal allergies like ragweed which tends to block stuff up without you knowing it.
Charlie
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Hey, I used to do those Modified Barium Swallow Studies.
Cool for me, but I guess not cool for the person ingesting the barium coated food and liquids.
A couple of extra helpful hints.
If you are having difficulties with liquids don't use a straw.
The best position to swallow in is at a 90 degree angle.
Sitting up straight.
If you know a particular food causes specific problems (like peas) don't eat it
Or modify it by mashing it up (same thing your teeth do),
Or making pea soup.
Take small bites. Chew thoroughly. Take a small sip between bites to clear the mouth.
Hope some of these things help.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by susan2health (Member # 10446) on :
Cobweb,
Definitely humor points on your score card.
A LLMD doc told me 5-HTP could help swallowing problem...Like Cobweb, I'm wondering if I could just swallow all my problems.
I have an open passport to Egypt--I can go to Da' Nile any time I want. What, me worry?
Baroody in Alkalize or Die book ties vagus (craniel nerve) dysfunction to other common serious issues. He says that if the vagus nerve is compressed by TMJ problems it can lead to problems down the line.
I believe that it was in a Merck Manuel that I read that vagus nerve dysfunction could be identified clinically by swallowing difficulty, hoarse voice or cardiac issues.
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
orry I havent posted in a bit, I have dealing with a bad herx...Yuck.
One of my first symptoms of Lyme was a hoarse voice. I remember telling my doc that I thought that it was weird, among all of my other symptoms.
I did the whole barium series top to "bottom" (hahaha) Of course it was normal...
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Want to gain some weight? Try swallowing me! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)