Choking at night

[Deb61]

I think I'm in the middle of yet another flare-up.  My last one was in the latter part of January and lasted about a week.  I just started Copaxone about two weeks ago.  

It started out with the head tremors that I had in the last flare-up.  It's not really bad until the evenings--and then the tremors that range from these little tiny movements to these huge rocking body movements, which makes me look like I'm riding some kind of an imaginary stage coach.  My neck muscles seem to be fighting these tremors, which makes it all the worse, and I can't control it at all.  My neck is seriously tight at night and uncomfortable.  

Also, the swallowing problem that I occasionally get, returned.  In the day, it's not as bad.  At night, I can barely eat.  I chew and chew and chew my food and can't find the coordination to get the food down my throat.  What helps is having a very cold soda during the bite to get it down.  With this method, I can get little tiny parts of the bite down.  It's like my throat is closing in response to getting my food down.  This is aggravating, but eventually I'll eat a tiny meal in the evening and be done with it.  If I want to make sure I eat, I begin my meals as early as possible . . .

I also am experiencing some tremors in my right arm that is completely new.  I've got other problems, but those others are old problems--like the vision ones, etc.  My vision, by the way, is not good at night and early mornings when it's dark.

Anyway, on to the thing that is most concerning me . . .  Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night choking on my own spit!  I coughed for a good hour and half (and I'm still coughing this morning) trying to get the sensation of something in my windpipe out.  It kept me up for two hours and I went back to sleep.  

I've contacted my neuro Thursday about the tremors (and about the nearly falling episode in the shower, the swallowing problems, and migraines) and the nurse practitioner got back with me.  I had started an antidepressant a day before the onset of migraines and tremors began (which I suspect triggered this flare-up).  The antidepressant kept me up at night and I couldn't sleep.  She told me to go off the medicine.  I did, and well, these symptoms haven't gone away with the exception of the migraines.  

Has anyone experienced this?  What do you think is causing this?  Is the swallowing problems and choking problems related to MS?  Any suggestions?  

I'm sorry this was long, but including the details may help ring some bells for some of you with your own personal experiences.

Thanks,
Deb

PS  All symptoms are bad at night and semi-bad in the early mornings.

[marez]

Hi,
My goodness what a scare you must have had so sorry.

2 times now I had serious issues with swallowing and yes told the Neuro the other day when he asked as I put a ? mark next to it on his form.

Not sure mine is MS related or not but I did get my throat strected 2 times, and they knocked me out the first time I highly recommend it the second time well, anyhow, they said I had a web in my throat I could not get yogurt down or pudding anything I made a huge scene at a resturant, trying shrimp silly me, I always chew carefully and the last person done eating always.

any way when this happened again and had to have my Hyst due to many reasons besides low blood, my iron was missing almost and I found that low iron can cause this throat issue, so since the hyst I don't have anymore problems with my throat. I have no
idea if it was a low iron issue or an undx MS flair???

but do see someone very soon okay, I could not eat alone don't wait as long as I did.
and I tell you after them opening my throat I felt so much better so much it was worth it, got to eat ice cream for a few days then I was pain free I saw an edonologist (sp) for the throat.

Hope things get better, and honestly not sure if I helped or not. I had no spasms or muscle issues in my throat.

Mary very confused today

[Deb61]

I slept in the recliner last night . . . My neck is a little stiff, but I didn't have anymore choking episodes on my own spit.  I'll be sleeping in bed, propped up with pillows tonight, until the swallowing stuff improves (I hope it does!).  

You are so funny, Suzanne!  That's a really good description . . . That's exactly what's it's like.  I wish, though, all that was needed was a drop or two of fur ball medicine in my food to cure me . . . hehehe

Best wishes on Tuesday,
Deb

[CtResident]

It's morning, did you do okay last night into this AM? Hope so! :-)

Oh my goodness, yes, I totally agree on the bread. Before I had the stretching (more in a minute), I would have a piece of bread, and then, ACK, gag, I would make this retched noise. One of my daughter's is real big on asking "are you okay Mom?" for every time I sneeze or make a noise. So hearing me gag, then another day, then more days, more often..... well, she was asking about me a lot, lol. I would say I was gagging on a bread ball. (At least it wasn't a fur ball, lol.)

As for the esophagus stretching, YES, they put me out for it. I don't remember much more than that, sorry to say. I think it was almost two years ago. My memory has faded on some things, and while that could spook me, I have just gotten kind of matter-of-fact about it. It's in the past, if I MUST remember it, somehow I will. Other than that, it's in the wastebasket of life, don't retrieve it, it wasn't necessary to hold onto.

Yes, you are correct that the appt. was scheduled for Wednesday. But the Impatience Fairy came and granted me a wish and I got a call to come in on Tuesday. And guess what I realized? That, my dear, is APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!!! lol

Thank you for pulling for me, I appreciate it. And if indeed I find out something, I will count myself as blessed, because this whole "process" has only officially started with an appt. last December. I'd be stunned and amazed if I were to get the definitive word so soon. (tests all normal)

Suzanne

      

[Deb61]

AMO- I have never had a swallowing test.  I'm going to google the Lee Silverman techniques to see if there's something that I can start doing now, before I talk with the neuro (I'm seeing him in April).  Tonight I'm going to sleep with extra pillows or a recliner!  I'm going to be doing this until this relapse is over.  This scared me to death!  Thanks for the advice.

Suzanne- the esophagus stretching thing sounds trecherous!  Did they conk you out when they did that?  Bless your heart about today at Communion!  I know all too well the feeling--especially when I'm eating out in a restaurant!  Bread is the hardest-  it just wants to stay cemented on my tongue.  I chew and chew and try to move it from one side of my tongue to another but cannot manage to swallow it down.  Thanks for the web site.  I found answers to other questions while I visited, too.

You've got your big neuro appointment coming up, don't you?  I'm going to be pulling for you.  You've had too many MS-like symptoms to be put off anymore.  I'll be looking for your post on Wednesday (I think that's when it is???)!

Thank you my friends.  Big ((((hugs)))) to you both,
Deb

[CtResident]

I have heard that yes, choking/swallowing issues can be a part of MS. Let me see what I can find for you:

http://www.mult-sclerosis.org/mssymptoms.html

I hope this goes through. Swallowing issues are at the bottom. I'm wondering if it's a "motility" problem, the muscles used to move something along?  

I do understand about the swallowing issue, but mine wasn't as bad as yours. I had some gastro issues about a year and a half ago, and wound up having my esophagus stretched. (I didn't know they could even DO such a thing!) It did help.... for a while.

As it is, I'm at the mercy of my generous mother giving me vitamins. Trying to get those down lately has reared up the choking issue (oh nooo!, it's baaaack!)

I was thinking that if I take the vitamins with a swig of warm tea, no problem. But that only worked short term. Then I found that if I ate my meal and took the vitamins at the end of breakfast, with a tepid cup of water (can't stand it refrigerator-cold), things were better.

The issue this AM was when I went to Mass and started to choke on Communion. Oh boy, got the sweats, had to swallow over and over and over, hoping I didn't pass out. I'm here typing and can tell you I made it without a public scene. I don't know that I'd resort to carrying a water bottle to Church, lol.

Do cough drops help you; they sometimes aid me by keeping my mouth moistened up and get that dry scratchy cough cough cough to stop. Or use of a cool-mist humidifier, sounds like your place is dry overnight? Are you a mouth breather?

I hope you feel better now, going through that for so long, I feel for you!

Suzanne

  

[AMO]

hi deb,

i amglad i see  your pos tright now, i  just w as jotting on a note to remind when i see my neuros next, about my waking choking .
i am sorry ht i s os happening to you, and i knowit is scarry
while I my dx'd is not clear  at this time, i know this would likely come from brainstem and cranial nervess.
there is alot to coordinate swallowing.
HAve you had a swallow terst?
you could benefit from   spppeech therapy, they teach safe swallowww techniques. And exercise to strenghten youur tongue, things like that. I used the lee silverman therapy.
What about sleeping with more extra  pillow?

Please do not let the neuro pass you by.
be well today, amo