Breathing In and (cough, cough, wheeze) Out.

[MSGina]

After months and months of a very obnoxious cough that prescriptions weren't controlling I was sent for Pulmonalogy testing.

I've been diagnosed with Restrictive Airway Disease (RAD, it's not).

Due to M.S. weakening of my throat, esophogeal, lungs and diaphrahgm (sic) I cannot take in enough air/oxygen or swallow strong enough or cough productively.

Symptoms are always worse immediately after eating.
I am going for another swallow test soon and will be "modifying" my diet.
I don't mind so much as the weather turns cooler I enjoy soups but... I'm also a diabetic and trying to balance your diet with only soft foods is difficult not to mention a bowl of soup will only fill you up so long...

We have tried inhalers, nebulizers, cough suppressants, you name it and if my primary care doctor or pulmonalogist can write a script for it, I've tried it and, they don't help.

My doctors feel it was worsened by the viral infection I had this past Spring.

Guess I mostly wanted to say "That's what's happening in my neck of the woods (okay, forrest) and ask if any other long timers are experiencing this?
Have you had to modify your diet and if so, any suggestions?

Faith, hope & love,
Gina

[KoKo]

Hello Gina

Thanks for the update on what's been going on with you, and what you've been dealing with.

Sorry to learn about your having to deal with Restrictive Airway Disease.

Due to M.S. weakening of my throat, esophogeal, lungs and diaphrahgm (sic) I cannot take in enough air/oxygen or swallow strong enough or cough productively

I can relate somewhat to your issues. I have become a shallow breather in the past year or so. I've been trying to consciously do some deep breathing exercises throughout the day. My swallowing is not strong at times (I notice more when I'm fatigued). And the last two times that I've had a cold/flu, I've had a very difficult time trying to cough and clear my throat. It was really anxiety provoking

Symptoms are always worse immediately after eating. I am going for another swallow test soon and will be "modifying" my diet.

Gina, what are your symptoms after eating? Is it that you can't swallow the solid foods and they come back up, causing you to cough?

I feel bad for you that you are experiencing these issues, and you have to modify your diet.

Let us know how your swallow test goes, and what will be on Gina's new menu. Hopefully there will be some delicious, satisfying soft foods that you can have. Maybe some members who are savy in culinary creations can help.

Wishing you the best

Take care,
KoKo

[MSGina]

Hey Koko =)

Thanks for the support =)

After eating the cough and wheezing worsen.

I saw the pulmanologist Monday. She say's there is mild pericardial effusion (fluid under heart) and my breathing is at 75%.

She and the Respiratory therapist who did the PFT both said it's MS related.

They both agreed I need to be scheduled for a swallow test since the last one 2 years ago showed "some mild" spillage into the airway they feel there is now increased spillage and probably aspiration.

At this point I have modified my own diet following the 'rules' previously.
No rice, nuts, popcorn, Nothing small enough that could stick to the back of the thrat like hot cheese (pizza). Mosdtly I'm eating soups, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs, you get the idea.

Will keep you posted.

Gina

[MSGina]

Going for Batrium Swallow Test

So I did my pulmonary testing and the results were, Dyspnea (Shortness of breath) MILD Restricted lung, diaphragm and airway.

Unchanged after doing an albuteral treatment.
Symptoms worsened each time we repeated the test.
Throat also showed symptoms of being weak.

They believe ZI'm aspirating, as much as several times a day.

Cardio tests came back with fluid under heart and lungs which is also indicitive of aspiration.

Pulmanologist and Cardiologist say it's definitely the MS weakening muscles.

So in 2 weeks I go for a Barium Swallow. Last one was 2 years ago and it showed esophogeal and larynx spasms.

[jojobc]

breathing

I'm 50. I have had chronic bronchitis all of my life. Constant x-rays, infections, meds. When I was was first diagnosed, I thought that everyone who has MS must have been sick as children. I've learned that is wrong.
My gen. dr. tells me that it was probably asthma all of my life. I still have asthma. The Advair really helps keep that in check.
I was diagnosed with GERD last year. My throat has always hurt. I used to wrap scarves around it at night for the pain (when I was younger). I've lost my airway twice in the past 5 years. Scary. My throat specialist that I saw last year put me on Protonix (40-mg). She said that my throat was raw red. She couldn't believe that I said that it was better after two months on med. when I went back to see her. She said "I have patients who come to see me because there throat hurts, and they look nothing like yours". I've had the best year of my life.
I would always choke while eating, which is why I was able to stay thin. It would be so embarrassing to be at a restaurant and start. Even in my own home, my sisters would complain. I've scared my husband and children a few times. When I would choke, I couldn't get air.
Hearing what you've gone through is good to know. I wondered if this could be MS related.
Thanks for your info.
Best of luck always!

[Shashi]

Several years ago, I had a really bad cough. Every time I would catch a cold, I would cough for months at a time. I'm a teacher, and it made it really difficult to do my job. I'd have to lecture with a cough drop in my mouth. I had several tests; and like you, was diagnosed with reactive airway disease.

However, I did some research on my own, and convinced my doctor that it might be GERD. I had no other symptoms of GERD at all. It was just a hunch. He started me on medication, my cough disappeared, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, the only time I have had that cough come back was recently when my reflux got so bad that I was having to take four Prilosec a day (the usual dosage is one) and the acid was burning my voice box. I started coughing again, so my doctor changed my meds to Aciphex, and again, the cough is gone.

You may not have symptoms of GERD. But get some over-the-counter med like Prilosec or Nexium (ask your doctor first, of course) and take them every day for two weeks. If your cough goes away, then you'll know what the problem really is.

(I've known several people with this problem and after I told them what happened to me, they tried this and their cough went away. It's evidentially a common, but little known symptom of gastric reflux.)

[MSGina]

SHASHI

Hi Shashi,
Thanks for your reply.

I just recently had the colonoscopy/endoscopy/ upper and lower and there was no evidince of GERD or anything else YAY!

My main problems are a weak swallow, laryngeal and esophogeal spasms and a weak diaphragm.

Praying for you, pray for me =)

[MSGina]

Kara,

Hi Kara,

I'm saddened to read what you've been through.

I was sick my entire childhood with serious ear infections and kidney infections.

I cannot stand anything flavored with articial orange flavoring because I had to consume so many baby aspirin LOL.

If you have never had a barium swallow test I would suggest you have your Dr schedule one.

I do understand about the choking. It's embarasing and frightening.

My 2 youngest sons cannot stand to hear me when my coughing jags start now because they are so severe it frightens them (and they are macho teenagers).

So, it is greatly impairing my quality of life.

I do need better self discipline because I know what food types cause the biggest problem but I am not strong enough to just say no yet.

Take care of yourself,
Gina

[jojobc]

barium swallow

That is one test that I haven't had. When I was first diagnosed with MS, I was also terribly anemic. My Dr. did have me have a colonoscopy & endoscopy. It did show that I should be on some kind of an antacid,(I forget exactly why - my stomache). I was on Prilosec for 2 years. When I had seen the ENT she felt that Prilosec wasn't working for me. I never had indigestion even through my 2 pregnancies! The diagnosis was a shocker for me.

But coughing is something I've done all my life. I can remember being in college and a professor asking me to leave the lecture hall, because students had paid to be there to learn. As I coughed my way out, I told him that I had paid also. (A little fresh - but true).
It is good to have it somewhat under control. There are still some times that it takes over.

I also work in a school system with constant exposer to infections.

[MSGina]

follow up

I was scheduled to have my Modified Baruium Swallow test tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately the doctor's office scheduled the test at the imaging center but neglected to schedule a Speech Pathologist to be there. DUH!

So will wait for them to get it rescheduled.