Throat 'closing' up - affecting voice?

[gazdajl]

I get these times, when out of the blue it seems, my throat just feels like it is closing up on me...and sometimes, if I don't quit talking for a while, I actually end up with laryngitis, for the rest of the day, or so.

This has actually happened to me, off and on, for years, but I was noticing that my hubby kept asking 'what'?, while we were shopping today...and then I noticed that 'closing' feeling again.

Does this sound familiar to anyone here, or is it caused by something other than MS (I am one of the limbo landers, anyway)? Thanks much! Jan.

[Fed Up]

I had a Blackberry cell phone. No-one could hear me speaking, it has a crack on the case when I banged it, hoping to break or improve it.

Then I figured the phone was why no-one could hear me and even spoke over me (my hearing seems unaffected). I bought an iPhone...same problem and now $44. more a month for service, for nothing. doh...fed

[aspen]

Gaz, is it worse when you're fatigued? Or if you talk too long or sing? Just curious, because I've had the same issue since beginning of October.

Also, do you have any trouble swallowing at times?

[gazdajl]

Thanks, Fed...interesting situation for you...sorry the new phone didn't help! (I hope I understood your reply accurately...my brain is pretty foggy, right now...sorry if I didn't).

Aspen...I haven't tracked if the voice lessens when I am fatigued but it definitely does when I have been talking a lot. As for singing, I haven't done a lot of that lately, so I am not sure.

As for swallowing...yes, I also have issues with that, off and on, most notably in the evening (possibly when I am tired). I also feel that pieces of food, and liquid, are 'catching' wrong in my throat, lately, causing me to have to cough. I had a scary experience with a piece of carrot. How about you, Aspen? Thanks for replying.

I have my appt tomorrow, with a new Neuro doc...I am excited to see what he has to say. I have painstakingly created a summary of my health situation for him (plus, my primary doc has already faxed '41 pages' of my medical records to him). He works at UNM...where they have an MS Clinic...just in case it turns out to be so. Sorry for the digression! Love and Light! Jan.

[aspen]

Yes, coughing after eating, trouble with saliva, small sips of drinks, raw veggies (carrots, apples and lettuce the worst), crackers, large pills ... I can usually re-orient my neck and make it work.

Just went to the ER for pain this week and the ER doc referred me for a scope and another test. I am on a PPI for GERD in case this is what is causing the swallowing trouble ... but I'm not sure GERD is fatigue-related (unless the GERD maybe is caused by muscles being fatigued?). I have no idea.

I really want this figured out. Glad you have your ms specialist appointment soon! I also have to, this week, try to summarize my med history -- it is overwhelming to even think about so I am procrastinating instead .

[gazdajl]

Aspen...what is a PPI, pls? Hope it helps your swallowing issue. If I tilt my head back, even a little, to try and kick the pill to the back of my tongue first, then to swallow, it feels like my throat 'closes', and there is no way that pill will go down...so I have to lower my head, and then my throat seems to open up.

I am noticing more strange speech problems lately now...I can't seem to spit out a word, whatever word it is, once in a while...it drives me crazy. And, I feel like I can't pronounce words as well...like I start to say it, then my tongue feels scrambled, then I try to say it again, only slower. I guess that is getting close to the slurring words, that I read about.

I also notice that I am beginning to talk, and then I sound really loud, and will say 'sorry', and start over. I asked my hubby today, if my voice sounded normal, and he said it was 'soft'...and I thought I was speaking pretty loudly! This is crazy, huh? I guess I better added a couple more 'items' to my list, for the Neuro to see. Yeeessh! Hang in there, Aspen! Jan.

[aspen]

PPI = proton pump inhibitor. I'm taking omeprazole. Apparently GERD can cause swallowing issues, so doc is giving this a try. I'm also being referred for a scope (which I'm sure will be fine because it feels more like things go saggy/throat catches on itself back there than a lump or anything).

Re: swallowing, tipping head forward for swallowing is actually standard nursing procedure (as per friend who is a nurse). If you tip your head back, pills will float up on the water you are trying to swallow, so they are not close enough to the back of your throat. Tip forward, pill floats up and is right by the back.

You hang in too, and keep us posted .

[1936siols]

voice

It has been over three years ago I started to sound hoarse all the time. This did not improve. I did see the ENT Doctor. He did the endoscope and told me that there waas a lot of quivering in my throat and that the hoarseness had to be caused by Ms. For the past 2 years I have had very little voice. I was told this would probably be permenant.

[K67]

Vocal Cord Paresis

Vocal cord paresis, or paralysis, seems to be my new symptom. After almost 9 years without a relapse, I suddenly lost my voice this past Sunday. I had no idea this could happen, and it is quite scary. I can't be heard on the phone, can't scream, can't sing. I can only whisper. Never heard of this before, but after a few days thinking I was sick and going to a clinic (they had no idea what was going on), I looked up "MS and vocal cords" and there it was, my symptoms exactly. Coughing at night with saliva running down my throat. Still able to swallow, so grateful for that. Just attempted to contact my neuro online; it says they will call, which won't do much good. I can hardly make a sound! This is very, very weird. Wondering what the treatments will be and how successful they are -- does anyone know?

[dawlfin]

I get these times, when out of the blue it seems, my throat just feels like it is closing up on me...and sometimes, if I don't quit talking for a while, I actually end up with laryngitis, for the rest of the day, or so.

This has actually happened to me, off and on, for years, but I was noticing that my hubby kept asking 'what'?, while we were shopping today...and then I noticed that 'closing' feeling again.

Does this sound familiar to anyone here, or is it caused by something other than MS (I am one of the limbo landers, anyway)? Thanks much! Jan.

Jan, I am no expert but I do work in the GI department of a busy hospital. GERD- acid reflux, can cause you to be hoarse off and on. Happens more if you go to bed after a meal or drinking alcohol. Remember that we have two tubes- one for breathing- which helps control your voice, and one for swallowing . You can also have a problem with the "voice box" itself- where the nerves that control the way the two sides come together when you talk, is damaged. I am not sure about the feeling of your throat closing up, unless it is an actual spacticity issue- from MS or another neurological issue.

-Dawl