Reality of Swallowing Difficulties

[Sunshine1]

How do you know if you are having real issues swallowing or not? Tonight I was eating and it felt like swallowing against some resistance. I was able to swallow, and I finished my dinner, but I was super aware of the food going down. My throat felt very tight, and it felt like it was smaller than usual. I have heard the term "perceived" swallowing problems,but boy it sure feels real.

 

[BlueWolf92]

I will quote one line from the ALS board that I read in my early stages of fear (I'm 9 months into BFS). That quote and I repeat it often to myself was "it is NOT about feeling; it is about failing". So....did you actually fail or feel like you were going to fail?

 

[PuppyFurryFunTimes]

I think the real weakness is when you have food left in your mouth & you can choke.. Also I hear thin liquids are the hardest to swallow & cause a lot of the choking so the liquids are thickened. What you are doing is very perceived. See, it's in the back of your mind & you're paying attention to it. You would KNOW if you are having trouble swallowing. And I think the choking comes after the voice issues.. (typically). Perceived is when you THINK you are having issues, clinical would be you ARE having issues such as choking on the left bits of food in the back of your throat. You aren't having these issues.

 

[PuppyFurryFunTimes]

Yay! Then you're good! Cuz I read the thing about thin liquids (water, etc) from ALS patients on their board.. You sound nothing like what they THEMSELVES were experiencing. Ugh, I cry when I read their stories & I pray for them. I wish they could be cured. :'( Now I have a tight throat!!

 

[herty18]

The number of people on this site who have at some point had throat tightness and swallowing issues probably exceeds the number of people who did not have those problems. The tightness can be caused by anxiety, GERD, BFS related cramping and tightness and the food you are eating. Do a search on the community and see how many people make the same complaint and NONE of those people have ALS.