A new symptom has been developing over the past month or so and I am wondering if anyone else has had difficulty swallowing attributed to Lyme? At this point I don't know what may be a separate or new health problem and what can be explained by later-stage Lyme....my tick bite with Bull's eye was at age 8-10 yrs and I'm now 29, have never been treated with antibiotics. Hoping to get in soon with the LLMD I found to begin treatment but until then, any feedback is extremely helpful. Thanks, L.
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
Yes, I have had this and can be very common with Lyme. Type swallowing problems in search bar here for more insight,
Gael
Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
After choking in a restaurant (my son fortunately knew the Heimlich and saved me) I had the test with a radiologist. They found significant swallowing problems. Now I work with a speech therapist.
Am learning new techniques. Main thing is to be aware, watch what foods are troublesome, sit up straight. Send me PM if you want more info!
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Yes, I had this for several years before starting lyme treatment. It is mostly gone and rarely bothers me now whereas for a few years I was choking regularly and felt like I had a big lump in my throat all the time.
As Gael said, there is plenty of discussion about this in the archives.
Doxy seemed to really hit it for me so I wasn't sure if it was lyme or bart but I suspect that it was lyme.
Terry
Posted by lymaid (Member # 21053) on :
I've only had lyme around two months, but a couple weeks ago, for two days in a row I had trouble swallowing. I felt a pain that lingered even a few seconds after and it also just was difficult. But then I haven't had it since then.
Jen
Posted by Leelee (Member # 19112) on :
I had this constantly for about three or four years. Once I started on abx it more or less went away although I do still have days where it comes back to haunt me.
Posted by Starfall1969 (Member # 17353) on :
I get it occasionally, most often with swallowing pills.
And sometimes I have the sensation that I won't be able to swallow, but then when I do swallow something I'm okay. Hard to describe that one.
Posted by ruggie100 (Member # 21415) on :
I've had choking sensation for years. Luckily, I found the company Standard Process years ago. Go to www.standardprocess.com and look for "zypan".
This is the only hydrochloric acid that works for me. You might have to ask a representative what chiropracter sells it in your area. You can usually just walk in to the chiropractic office and buy it (no appt.). It is cheap. I carry it everywhere.
When I feel like I'm choking, I take one and it clears. Make sure you are taking enzymes and probiotics. Also helps.
note: antiobiotics make you more alkaline. You need the acid to break down proteins. The more alkaline you become, you might notice more reflux as well. Only take one or two hydrochloric pills--try one first. Never take tooo much acid or you will have terrible heartburn.
if you accidentally take too much acid: Great trick for heartburn: eat good size piece of cheddar cheese. The acid coming up your throat will go to breaking down the cheddar cheese and you won't have any more pain For some reason cheddar cheese works the best for me.
Posted by shelly23 (Member # 16124) on :
Oh yes i had this and sometimes still get it it scared me to death... No worries i have found it to be a common syx.. best of luck
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
yes, i had this for around 1 yr. give or take...
had special xrays taken with barium ....
MOTILITY PROBLEM meaning i couldn't get the swallowing procedure to start.
Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
I have it from time to time. I also fall over my left leg from time to time, then over the right leg and there are times I hit the doorframes. So there is always something wrong.
I think it is all connected to lyme or coinfections.
Posted by TX Lyme Mom (Member # 3162) on :
"Borreliosis-caused, gastrointestinal tract paralysis and related abnormalities can occur anywhere along the entire length of the tract (9,10)--involving, for example, functionality of taste buds (11,12), muscular strength of the tongue, gag reflex, ability to swallow, gastroparesis, peristaltic retardation (or excitation) related to small bowel competency, dysbiosis, total arrest of peristalsis (``ileus''), pseudo-obstruction (sometimes associated with Bell's palsy) (13), colon dysfunctions, encopresis, proctalgia fugax and the final act of defecation."
Posted by Buster (Member # 19472) on :
It is a motility problem common with lyme. (related to gastroparesis) Many many suffer from it, just at different levels.
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Motility is part of swallowing.
However, it is specific to the esophagus.
Oral transit time, moving food from the front of the mouth to the back,
Is not the way I would describe an oral prep or an oral phase swallowing problem.
Okay. I do this for a living and yes I've had dysphagia (swallowing disorder)
Due to Lyme disease. One that has gone away with the exception
Of the normal, every once in a while swallowing the wrong way.
Or not chewing my food well. Or laughing while drinking.
There are things you can do to compensate for as well as strengthen the swallow.
Including stimulating the swallow reflex.
PM me if you think I can help you at all with suggestions for swallowing.
In fact, I would be willing to help anyone with ideas if you'd like.
I am a Speech Pathologist. I work with swallowing daily.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
I found this post after I was told that I may have dysphagia. I don't believe I do, because I do not have difficulty swallowing. I can swallow a whole handful of meds at one time.
The problem is further down - I always feel like I have something stuck in my gut. I have had the barium swallow plus PH motility studies and they both ruled out acid reflux. I have been on meds for acid reflux for years. And even though the tests were negative, they still want me to take the meds. Go figure...
Anyway, I found the Bell's Palsy of the Gut" very enlightening. I will print it up and bring to my LLMD - who is ready to send me to Brigham and Women's because he's sick of waiting for the Gastro here to find something. I have been off my meds since Dec. due to these issues and getting sicker every day.
Any other enlightening article suggestions?
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Yes, I had this a lot too.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
My understanding is that it is from the Lyme invading the cranial nerves that innervate the swallowing muscles. It should go away with treatment.
Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
But what is the treatment? They have me on amitiza right now, which the Dr. called a motility drug, but is basically a laxative.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
yeast!!!!!
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
when i first got lyme, i could barely get food down and then i'd panic and start choking.
i felt like somebody had lodged a baseball in my throat.
it's much better now, but i think it's one of the worst symptoms besides air hunger.
Posted by hurtingramma (Member # 7770) on :
I have been in treatment for 5 years. I have been on Protonix or something similar for almost 15 years. It was just this past December when it got so bad that I now have to sleep most nights in the recliner.
I also take Nystatin and Diflucan for yeast, but I have never had any problems with it before.
Posted by dali (Member # 24458) on :
I have found throat issues to be one of the most bizarre and perplexing symptoms. I had a very sensitive gag reflex and found it hard to swallow; when I did swallow I would feel dizzy and sometimes nauseous. It is hard now to imagine how this felt, but at the time I dropped 12 pounds in 1 month. The good news is that people seem to respond to antibiotic treatment as far as the worst of it. Mine resolved substantially within weeks of antibiotic therapy. However I still have muscle spasms and twitching in the throat area. I am extremely grateful though, to enjoy the miracle of swallowing! (and...it is a miracle).
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
For some reason cheddar cheese works the best for me.