The other night I think I felt I almost died because of some grape juice I swallowed went down the wrong pipe. I was scared to death my wife was on the phone getting ready to call 911. I couldn't talk just kept making a deep weezing sound. Then I started to breath a little before she dialed. It wouldn't of mattered anyway the paramedics wouldn't of gotten there in time. I am pretty sure the heimlich maneuver wouldn't work for fluid in the lung.
I have had this happen before, but just coughed a little and it was painful but it went away quickly. This time was different I have researched it a bit since and found many people with MS have this problem. Something with the vagus nerve or other nerve that doesn't allow the person to cough to clear the wind pipe. Has anyone experienced something like this with Lyme?
Posted by Ocean (Member # 3496) on :
So sorry Duke, it sounds very frightening!!! Do you have difficulty swallowing? Is that why the grape juice went down the trachea, or were you just talking, ect and it was a normal thing?
I've had A LOT of difficulty swallowing since I've had lyme. It comes and goes for me. I've had a lot of choking episodes, but my body does cough when it happens.
Maybe someone else here will chime in.
Take care, Ocean
Posted by duke77 (Member # 5051) on :
I normally don't have issues swallowing. I laughed at a part in 30 rock while taking a drink.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
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You said: "I normally don't have issues swallowing."
Then, a question: was the grape juice organic? Even if so, the tannins can be a bit sharp on the esophagus and trigger occasional surprises.
Conventionally grown grapes (and strawberries) get the highest level of chemicals while growing - and these can't all be washed off.
Also, you might consider sulfite sensitivity - sulfites occur naturally in grapes but check to see if anything else is added to this grape juice.
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Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Probably a one time event Duke. I know these issues can be scary! Wrong pipe.
Feelfit
Posted by imagine2 (Member # 3136) on :
Hi Duke, This is happening to me more and more regularly and it is really frightening.
My peak performance was two weeks ago, I was drinking coffee, breathed in, started coughing so hard I regurgitated through my nose. Was gasping for air. Scared my daughters to death.
It has gotten progressively worse over the past few months. I am also wondering if it is the vagus nerve.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
The body's natural response to aspiration is to cough.
Coughing really hard can hopefully clear the lungs and vocal folds
Of any foreign substance that shouldn't be there.
Good news is that grape juice is probably unlikely to
Cause a pneumonia (aspiration pneumonia).
Check yourself for temp spikes (high then average) for a few days.
Make sure you don't develop a wet cough which also can
Be indicative of aspiration pneumonia.
I am a swallowing specialist as a Speech Language Pathologist.
I too, have had and still at times have dysphagia (problems with swallowing).
However, remember this....everyone aspirates or gets something
Go down the wrong way every once in a while.
It is when it becomes a consistent issue with your body,
Like with every drink or every meal, or at the same time every day,
That you should seek professional help.
Some tricks that may help you not aspirate include
A chin tuck (tucking chin all the way to the chest) prior to swallowing.
Turning your head to a weaker side if you have one.
A chin tuck with a head turn helps too.
Liquids are often the hardest to swallow.
They have a tendency to run over the base of the tongue
Prior to a swallow being initiated.
Let your body do it's thing. Cough it out.
The kind of coughing that brings tears to your eyes.
If you have a weak or ineffective cough, seek professional help.
Be careful. Stay away from straws.
The vagus nerve controls the vocal folds.
They must close when you swallow.
That is why we don't breathe when we swallow.
It could be poor innervation of this nerve,
Or it could be related to a delay in the swallow reflex being initiated.
PM me if you think I can be of any additional help.