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Help! Scared! Trouble Swallowing


tiger

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For the last few days I have had trouble swallowing on and off. The muscle feels weak, but I can still swallow, just a little slower. Sometimes have slurred speech. I was in the hospital a month ago and had similar things going on and they just attributed it to the POTS since I have severe blood flow problems to my brain. Before it was releived by lying down, but this time its taking longer. Really scared I have myesthenia gravis.

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I've had this big time. I was diagnosed with myathenia gravis. Even responded to mestinon at first. Then my muscle weakness worsened despite treatment, and the doctor started questioning the MG dx. Started looking for things worse than MG.

Tested positive for lyme last week. Can mimic MS, MG, Parkinson's and ALS (which for one heck of a scary time, is what several people including a few doctors and myself thought this may be). Turns out it's not. Problem was that I was treated with steroids for the MG (which I don't have), which worsened the lyme, not immediately, but over time.

If you need MG info, let me know, been there, done that :D

Definitely worth a neuro evaluation in either case. Not fun, but necessary. How is your breathing?

Ariella

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sara,

i'm having the swallowing trouble as well. it comes and goes but at times it really is a big problem cause i really got into trouble some times. i felt like dying, which (lucky me :D ) i didn't. i have trouble eating and drinking as well at times. i don't know where it comes from and i didn't talk to my doctor about it as it comes and goes. i think it's the pots, not sure though!

i hope you can get this solved,

good luck,

corina :lol:

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Sara,

Just read your other post, so I know you've been down the lyme path unsuccessfully.

Familiar with lots of the tests. Do you have anything going on with your eyes? MG often hits there.

My advice would be to see a neuromuscular specialist as opposed to a regular neuro, if you don't want a runaround. Hey, if it is MG, it is treatable.

If you need anything, I'm here

Ariella

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I had severe problems with swallowing with the onset of this disorder....I was tested for Gullian-Barre and MG. Negative on both. But at certain times throughout the month this gets worse for me..no pattern just happens. I also had esophageal studies up the ying-yang..nothing. I know there are lots of nerves in the throat and esophagus and nose..keep that in mind if the testing turns to be negative. I hope that it isn't anything serious for you..this symptom is really bothersome and scary for me at times.

Bee

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Hi Sara,

I'm currently going down the MG path as well, but we've begun to suspect that I really have lyme disease as opposed to MG. I too have trouble swallowing and occasional trouble chewing. What region do you live in? If you're on the East coast I can recommend an excellent neuromuscular Dr. Feel free to PM me if you want.

-Lauren

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Thanks everyone for replies. I don't have anything wrong with my eyes. Keep your fingers crossed. Used to have acid reflux but it went away when I stopped working so I know this isn't from that. I don't have lyme, was already treated with that with no success. Just pray that I don't have MG. I don't think I can handle another horrible diagnosis along with POTS. I feel my quality of life is so poor now I am losing hope.

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Just wanted to let you know I had trouble swallowing for several days early on with POTS. It completely went away and I never had any explanation for it, like most of my POTS symptoms. Do you have muscle weakness anywhere else? I also noticed that when this was happening, I was having muscle weakness everywhere in my body.

Good luck. Hopefully it goes away fast like mine did.

Amy

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Sara

One of my very early POTS symptoms was swallowing difficulty/throat spasms. Probably not as severe as you are describing. I have definitely also had muscle weakness and still get bouts of it. I think these symptoms can definitely be part of POTS. I am a lot better now, overall, and rarely have severe POTS symptoms of any kind, except tachycardia. Definitely rule other explanations out, but what you are describing could fit with POTS--and may even resolve over time! Let's hope.

Katherine

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  • 4 weeks later...

I was diagnosed with MG when I was a child. I'm now symptom free and have been for about 10 years. When I was diagnosed with POTS they though my MG had returned and ran all kinds of tests. All negative.

However, I use to experience the similar choaking with the POTS. It terrified me because of my experiences with MG. However, the type of coaking and difficulty swallowing was so different between the two disorders. My doctors said it was probably acid reflux upon examination. It has gone away and I haven't experienced it in a long time.

I wouldn't hesitate getting checked out. It would be an EMG test usually for the MG. Any I'm sure it would alleviate a lot of stress.

Droppy Eyelids and severe muscle weakness and fatigue that recovers with rest. Are classic MG symptoms. Although it's hard to tell the muscles and fatigue from the POTS symptoms that best way I can explain it is with MG it more of a slow decline, whereas the POTS is more sudden.

GOOD LUCK and hang in there.

Rachel

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When my autonomic problems are full-blown, I also have trouble swallowing. At times, I almost feel as though my throat is closing. (it isn't!) I've also had esophogeal spasms. This symptom has totally gone away for now- it's been years. Whenever I begin to feel it returning, it prods me to s-l-o-w down and take care of myself. Relaxing (believe it or not) seems to help. I chalk it up to the whole autonomic thing. For me, it's just a nuisance. I pray the same for you.

Julie

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