Choking on certain foods

[marti]

Does anyone else find themselves choking on dry, coarse foods like granola or the skins on nuts? Those tiny little bits just seem to get stuck and I start gagging and choking, eyes watering etc. I usually have to blow my nose and wash out my mouth and of course drink some water to get un-stuck.

I read that people with compromised immune systems sometimes have this problem.

[zilphia01]

everything

I have started choking on everything.... no pattern, no predicting.

Today my beautiful daughter started talking about marriage, and I started choking. poor thing thought I was against it for her. hahaha no no I kept telling her..... it is just this stupid disease!

[22cyclist]

You should probably report this to your neurologist. Even though it seems like just an annoyance now, it may be the start of a lesion in your brainstem that will affect your swallowing in general.

Just have them check it out.

Take care
Lisa
Moderation Team

[marti]

You should probably report this to your neurologist. Even though it seems like just an annoyance now, it may be the start of a lesion in your brainstem that will affect your swallowing in general.

Just have them check it out.

Take care
Lisa
Moderation Team

Thanks. I hadn't thought of that. I am in the process of getting a new neuro, but it will not be until the Fall. This one is ok, but I don't think MS is really her thing.

You know, you try to eat right.... like fiber and nuts for the omegas but those are the things that stick in my throat. It's the little things like the skin on the nuts. Or maybe I'm just not chewing thoroughly.

[marti]

Thanks. I hadn't thought of that. I am in the process of getting a new neuro, but it will not be until the Fall. This one is ok, but I don't think MS is really her thing.

You know, you try to eat right.... like fiber and nuts for the omegas but those are the things that stick in my throat. It's the little things like the skin on the nuts. Or maybe I'm just not chewing thoroughly.

If this is happening because of a new lesion, what can be done? I didn't think there was any control over these things.

[kellygrn]

Mechanical soft diet

My choking got so bad & a constant worry that I am now & have been for over 10 years on this consistency of diet. Sort of junior baby food thickness. Lots of chopped casserole type dishes.

Be very careful you don't start swallowing things into your lungs. Aspiration pneumonia can become deadly.

KK

[sardi_g]

I think if the lesion on the brainstem is active - gd enhancing - undergoing inflammation, then maybe steroids could have an effect if you're willing to go through the treatment.

My neurologists asked me if I ever had swallowing issues and I told her I had months earlier. She said she saw brainstem lesions on my mri. I guess this is one instance where the location of the lesion can be directly linked to a symptom.

My swallowing issues went away after 3-4 days, but we all know everyone's different wrt this disease. I remember one night eating pretzels and it just felt like my muscles stopped working - like paralyzed. This is one of the more frightening symptoms and had I known at the time I had MS I probably would have told my neurologist as soon as it started.

Good luck with this. Let us know how you're doing.

[rdmc]

Ask your neuro if you could have a swallow study. It's done with an fluoroscope...really an easy test (as MS tests go.)

A speech pathologist and a radiologist are there with you. They sit you in front of a fluoroscope and then feed you different textures of foods, and different types of liquid, which they dip in barium (if there is a bad part to this test...it's the barium doesn't really taste bad, just has the consistency of chalky liquid.)

The results are immediate, i.e. you don't have to wait to see the doctor to find out how it went. The speech pathologist will then advise you as to what liquids or solids/textures you're having problems with and what to eat, and what to avoid.
Very helpful test if you're having choking issues.

The thing about choking is it is good to address the problem because of the possibility of aspiration...leading to aspiration pneumonia.

Yep, usually due to a brain lesion, and if the lesion doesn't enhance and you're not in a flare, it just might be one of the symptoms you'll have to learn to deal with. But it's better to have professional input on how to avoid the choking.