Maybe I Should Go Out

Oh the swallows...

Too bad it isn't the name of a rockin' country band. Sometimes I say to myself, "Oh the wobbles", and these days I say, "Oh the swallows". So you may have figured out I'm not referring to birds in the backyard either.

Yes, it's my swallowing difficulty that I'm focused on these days. I've blogged about this problem before, like when I torpedoed fries and a drink out of my mouth in public or when I squeezed...grabbed...um, just read the story if you want to know ... yeah, THAT problem.

I had been doing so well:

I ate without thinking about it. I enjoyed my meals. I didn't have "returns" in my mouth.

Now, I have to be conscious of chewing, moving food to the back of my mouth (the tongue moves the food).

A quick video on how swallowing food happens

I regurgitate food that is "sitting"in a la la land...food that is just "hanging" out in a dangerous spot. I drink more water while eating.

But I haven't done anything embarrassing or provocative...dare I say it's been boring? Maybe I should go out for dinner and see what happens...

Another Swallowing Study

Once again, I don't have much time to prepare for an upcoming appointment. Thanks to a canceled appointment, I have a swallowing study with the speech-communication disorder clinic, on Monday. Instead of once again telling Dr E. that I have had the specialists evaluate me already, I accepted the referral (this will be by third visit with a speech therapist). I receive annual "check-in" surveys from the therapist, but when this past one came around, I didn't have the problem that I have now.

I gag when I brush my teeth.

If you have followed my blog from it's beginning, you would know that I take great care of teeth. And if you have ever been with me at bedtime, you would know that I take special care when brushing me teeth: no corner, surface, or cranny is missed.

But for the past month (or more) brushing my teeth has been an uncomfortable routine. I don't expect anyone to be able to help me with this situation, but I do want to know if it's related to my MS.

Emily

an answer to my question

Someone at the swallowing clinic actually read my questionnaire responses!

They called me! They really called me, and talked to me about my strange predicament!

The woman that I spoke with, has never heard of a "food in my throat situation" quite like mine.

*smile*

So this is a summary of what she had to say...when it happens, try to breathe through my nose. Relax. Deep breathes through my nose...I can try to "trick" the reflex in to going again with a bit of liquid, but not much, because that could backfire (as it has!). I can set up a signal with anyone that I am eating with to rub my back, and help me relax...but no fancy maneuvers as I am not YET choking.

At the end of our conversation, I asked one more question..."Is this my MS"?

Her response was that with MS, as we know, there can be "spasm" like reactions, and mine just happens to be in my throat...that will be "my thing".

Let's hope that she is wrong.

Emily

swallowing

High client volume does not allow for the speech pathologists at HSC to follow up in person with all of their patients. So, they send out annual follow-up questionnaires, complete with a self addressed stamped envelope.

I just finished filling my out.

To sum up my responses, my swallowing/coughing situation has stayed the same. I appreciate the follow-up, and I assume that if I have increased concerns, I can connect by telephone.

But I did ask a serious question: when I am unable to activate the swallowing reflex, is it okay to add liquid to try and "trick" the reflex? Surely stuffing more food in my mouth isn't the answer.

Because I do wonder - what am I supposed to do. No body else seemed to think that squeezing my breast was a smart idea, so I'm at a loss. Is there another body part that can act as a "save me from this situation" button?

Should I tug an earlobe?

Wrinkle my nose?

Emily

at least I'm interesting

Adventures in eating, part 2.

Saturday was a lovely day here in the 'Peg. We have been under cover for too long: snow, wind, rain, and cool temperatures have hampered our enjoyment of the great outdoors. So when C-Dazzle asked if we (Jason and I) wanted to sit on a patio at The Forks, and enjoy the sunshine, I jumped at the opportunity.

*The Forks is a busy summer and winter activity center for both local folk and tourists, with shops, restaurants, entertainment, and water tours.

So the four of us found a table on a central restaurant patio, enjoyed some drinks, and nibbled on a snack.

And then it happened.

Red corn chip, cheese, green onion, salsa, and sour cream: caught in that spot of my throat where it won't go down either direction. I can't swallow, and I can't bring the food up. Frozen.

Panic starts to set in.

1 -2 -3...swall...nope not working.

Swallo...still not working.

Oh crap.

At this point, I am engrossed in my own situation. I'm not aware of my surroundings, I'm just trying to escape from choking, or spitting up.

I take a sip of my iced tea, hoping that the addition of something *new* to be swallowed would instinctively activate the reflex.

Sure enough, the iced tea did the trick, and as I released the food from the "trap" of my throat, I realized that my left hand was squeezing my left breast. Yup. That's what I said. No typo.

Jason was staring at me, with a smile in his eyes, and a little grin on his face. His body did not move.

C-Dazzle was confused and concerned.

Jake was unaware.

Because there was no need to clean up any expelled food or drink, or wipe off my glasses, Jason decided to imitate me.

C-Dazzle processed.

Jake needed a recap, and then decided to share with me, the universal hand signal for choking, which has nothing to do with your breasts.

Now - for my defense.

I didn't want to bang on the table. I couldn't reach Jason to grab his arm. I needed to clench something, but not cause a disturbance. I couldn't speak (or at least, I don't think that I could, but I do think that I was breathing). I needed to do a mini-flail...tense up...

At least I'm interesting.

Emily

To read Adventures in Eating Part 1, CLICK HERE or look in the archives for Wed January 28, 2009

fries with that?

Over the past year, the following eating habits have become second nature to me:
regurgitating what I just swallowed, because it didn't go down all the way, or chasing my food with a drink because I need to finish clearing it out of my throat.

The need for the first, thank goodness, has been less of late. I also don't insist on having two full glasses of liquid with me at every meal, so this makes the second situation more manageable right now too. There was a time, when these things happened multiple times per day. Oddly enough, breakfast always comes off without a glitch.

Despite being told that I should avoid breakfast cereal with milk, I can't give it up. In fact, I attribute the milk to the ease of swallowing the cereal, when if fact, I am supposed to avoid liquid and food at the same time. Apparently, liquid trickles down my throat while I'm chewing the accompanying food.

So why am I bringing this up now? Haven't you read about this already?

Well, tonight, I had an incident. And although this could happen to anyone, I immediately attribute it to the swallowing problems that I know I have, because of the MS. Let's just agree on this much, having MS didn't help the situation.

Jason, head down, sitting across from me at the restaurant, didn't know what was going on. All he knew is that he received a shower...of my ice tea, and bits of french fries.

Yes, we were in a public place.

This is what I remember: I reached for my drink, took a sip from the straw (another no-no for me) and realized that the liquid had no where to go. I believe that I grabbed my drink in an effort to wash down the french fries that seemed to be hanging on in my throat. I recall the panic: what can I do with this liquid in my mouth? I need to get rid of the liquid. There isn't anywhere to spit it out...I felt rushed, and panicked.

Then, the liquid and the french fries took on a life of their own, and came shooting out of my mouth. Fierce projection. Shooting particles. Wet. A wide shower of ice tea...all over Jason, and the table. Droplets on my eyeglasses.

I'm still finding bits of french fries and ice tea in the back of my mouth.

Emily