Help with Panic Over Swallowing

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CandyM314

Well-known member
Hi all

I am having a really hard time at the moment - can hardly cope with the fear of this new symptom

I am convinced that my swallowing is off. I'm not choking or anything but I feel like I can't get a good swallow between eating. Like I have to try extra hard and I only get half a swallow. I can't really describe what I mean as I am in such a panic

I do have a cold right now which isn't helping, but I'm sure it started before the cold

Could I be over-focusing on this swallowing issue?

Please help someone, I don't know what to think or do

thank you, Julia
 
Sorry Ginny, if you read this. I didn't mean to copy your subject title. I must have seen it and subconsciously logged it and used it X
 
Julia,

What you are experiencing sounds exactly what I went through two years ago. I was convinced that swallowing didn't feel right, or clear out my throat properly, in between meals. I didn't feel like I was having a good strong swallow. However, when eating it felt fine.

I think the sensation was mostly anxiety in my case, but there may have been some contribution of extra mucous in my airways from early spring allergies to snow mold. Maybe the early symptoms of your cold weren't readily recognized, but you still had a bit more mucous production happening, which set off the feelings.

Heath
 
I agree, when we are anxious or having trouble with our sinuses it can make us think our swallowing is different. I bet you've just got some extra mucous build up, or maybe some reflux problems?, and perhaps a bit of anxiety as well. I understand your fear..... Take Care
 
Hi,

The more you think about it the more your do it the worse it gets.
Been there done that!!. Get busy for a few days and you will forget about it. Just another symptom that we bring on ourselves!.
 
Julia,

Our titles are appropriate - we always get scared when we have something unfamliar happen to our bodies.

I really, really think you are focusing on the swallowing issue. Anytime I focus on my swallowing, I feel like my throat doesn't work and I am going to choke. Anxiety can definitely cause this symptom. Even people that don't have BFS tell me that when they worry, their swallowing becomes difficult.

Interesting - when my gastro doc told me that GERD (which I have) can cause a lump type sensation in my throat, it went away (remember I had swallowing issues for a whole year) I think my anxiety was making it worse.

Please hang in there. I myself am going through another round of "high anxiety"

Love,

Ginny
 
Thank you all for responding, it is unbelievably reassuring to hear what I probably already know :D)

Ginny, I do remember your swallowing fear and I also remember posting that I wouldn't be worried if I were you, after such a long time from onset of other symptoms. I apologise for that, what did I know??? It may be irrational to others but to us it seems like impending doom is just around the corner


Sharon, you are soo right. When I am absorbed in teaching I completely orget about the swallowing problem - classic anxiety stuff

Heater, I'm sorry you went through this too but it is really reassuring to hear that you've been there, done that and lived to tell the tale :D)

Bill, you put it so well and yes, your'e right about the cold build up taking effect in the throat before it really breaks out. I guess it isn't something I've ever looked for before

and Mary, I understand just what you mean, just thinking about swallowing can make it more difficult. When I try to swallow without eating or drinking it can be nearly impossible

It is a year to the day that I had my first symptom and first googled twitching. You would have thought I would consider myself home and dry by now

Anyway, thanks again everyone, you are true cyber-buddies xx
 
Julia,

No need to apologize. I totally understand.

Here I am at 2.7 years after my first twitch, and I still can become a basket case when a new symptom arises. Just like you said - impending doom. For me, I think this fear will unfortunately be a long time in going away. I hope you can resolve yours faster than I can mine. It's no way for us to live.

Hang in there - we'll get through this together.

Ginny
 
Julia,
I remember when this first started for me it was after a prolonged sinus infection and my throat just felt really frigged up all of the time. I'd been coughing a lot and not drinking enough water, so I was terribly dry. When I swallowed, it always felt as if it was incomplete, as if my throat muscles weren't working at full strength. Very odd.

Of course, the hyper-focus on my swallowing made it all the more challenging.

I even went for a swallowing study, and choked at the very end of it, which convinced me that I was dying, but not my doctors. :rolleyes:

I know lots of folks will attribute the swallowing issues to anxiety, which I'm certain doesn't help, however, I often say that I believe the throat, jaw and tongue muscles can get fatigued with this, just as much as our other voluntary muscles. I've been at this for several years now, but only about 20 months that I've known it was bfs, and in the past twenty months there have been plenty enough times when my jaw has felt tired even when I wasn't fretting about my health at all. Of course it is because I flap my gums incessantly, so I guess I ought to be tired. ;)

I am so over the anxiety about bfs, yet, on occasion, I will get symptoms, like muscle fatigue even still. It is just much less because the anxiety is not a factor for me.

Blessings, no worries,
Sue
 
Hi Julia,

I did get through something very similar in July.
Sometimes I had to give a second "input" to my my swallow to make it work, it felt like it got stuck for some reason.
I'm also battling some dry-mouth problems which I am sure have got something to do with it.
Anyway, I went on holidays and that symptom slowly disappeared.

BTW, my mum, aorund my age (36) once went to the ER convinced she had tetanus because of the very same thing; the docs at ER laughed and told her it was anxiety.

I am still amazed of what we can do to ourselves, but the only suggestion I can give you is to avoid panic as it will make it worst..when it happens, just relax and drink something. As days pass, and the less you will concentrate on it, it will disappear, I promise.

Elena
 
Hi Suzy, I do remember you posting about the barium swallow and how you were convinced your days were numbered. So glad for you, myself and everyone else on this forum that you were wrong

Elena, you described it exactly! The second input bit is just what I feel is happening.

The over-focusing is a big issue with me. I can spend all day in the classroom and totally forget about the swallowing 'problem' yet I am still(unconsciously) swallowing - no problem. But the minute I remember I have a problem, it gets difficult

Well, I have a cold and am full off gunk, so anybody would find this a problem - why can't I just accept that people with colds do have throat issues?? Why does it always have to relate to bulbar this or limb that??

Anyway, thank you both for sharing your experiences. You would not believe how much you have helped

Take care, Julia
 

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