Feeling like your throat is paralyzed?

[hope32]

I don't know what the heck this was but just now as I was driving home w/my kids, I had this freaky experience at an intersection where I felt kind of like I was going to faint (but not exactly; hard to describe), and then for a few minutes it felt like the bottom half of my throat was paralyzed. I don't know if it was some kind of spasm or what but I couldn't swallow or talk for a few mins. Sorry if this sounds really weird. Has anyone experienced that? I'm guessing it's yet another MS thing; I'm not sure but there is way too much weird stuff going on with me the past few weeks. I'm starting to think maybe I should go for the steroids after all but I'm scared.

[mjan]

OH dear how horrible this sounds!! Sorry I have never had any such experience, hopefully some others will come along and help you out. Did you call your doc?

Just wanted to offer support and gentle hug.

Warmly, Jan

[hope32]

Thanks, Jan! I did call the doc. It took a while to hear back from the nurse (didn't help that my cell didn't ring when she called so we played phone tag). She took notes on this and the other new symptoms that have popped up since my appt a few weeks ago and said she'll talk to the NP I saw last time and call me back.

[webbles 989898]

I had that as one of my first symptoms. Felt like throat wouldn't move so couldn't breath or swallow. Scared the crap out of me. Still happens sometimes when I am real tired but now I don't panic quite as much because I know it lasts for a minute or so. Hang in there.

[hope32]

I had that as one of my first symptoms. Felt like throat wouldn't move so couldn't breath or swallow. Scared the crap out of me. Still happens sometimes when I am real tired but now I don't panic quite as much because I know it lasts for a minute or so. Hang in there.

Oh wow. I'm sorry that happens to you but I was starting to think I was the only one so thanks for sharing your experience. What did your dr say about it? (I'm still waiting for a call back from mine.)

[palmtree]

I hope your doctor gets moving! A few months after my dx that happened to me, too. I called the doctor on call and he said, " take 160mg of prednisone immediately and again the next day."

It could have been very serious según mi PCP. I got an MRI right away and there were 3 new active lesions. If there is a time for the steroids, it is now. it's a flare.

[Shiela]

That happens to me at night. It can be frightening to wake up like that. My PCP ordered a swallowing function test (barrium swallow). It came back abnormal, but they never did anything about it. After a month or so it went away but comes back occasionally. At the time no one knew I had MS but maybe now my neuro would have done the Prednisone.

[laura g]

It happens to me , mostly at night when I am starting to fall asleep . If I just stay calm and take a few breaths it passes in a few minutes . But it is frightening while it lasts . Never occured to me that it was a MS thing so I have never mentioned it to my neuro. Perhaps I should.

[hope32]

I finally heard back from the MS center on Friday and the NP wanted to know (a) if my BP tends to drop suddenly and cause a feeling of faintness and (b) if I felt anxious when the throat paralysis thing happened. I gave her my answers (yes, my BP sometimes drops suddenly though when I thought about it later, it's really only if i stand up too fast or go from bending over to standing up; not while sitting/driving, which is why it was scary!) I didn't feel anxious before I felt faint, but I did after since, you know, it's a little scary to feel like you might pass out while you're driving. I haven't heard back again but I wonder if she thinks it could have been a panic symptom? I looked up panic attacks and one symptom is "throat tightening," but I didn't experience enough symptoms for it to be classified as a panic attack so I'm not sure. Maybe that's all it was though?

[mjan]

Look up POTS which is BP suddenly dropping after gravity takes over, like standing. There is help for that. I have dysautonomia which POTS is a part of.

Secondly some of the posts reminded me that I have had trouble swallowing, and choke on foods years ago. THEN..would wake up unable to swallow at all!! Try not to panic..go to bathroom and get really really cold water which seems to stimulate the nerves to swallow again.

Yes abnormal swallowing test..and no help..BUT.. when I told this to my gastroentologist, he did an EDG (was going to anyway) with the scope down your throat and he dilated the esophagus. Whalla!! THAT worked.. no more choking or waking up unable to swallow!!!

Good luck you guys~ Jan