Has this ever happened to you?

[supermum_ms]

Hi guys and dolls,

I've been having a good time lately, energy up so i've been doing some spring gardening. My muscles are not happy at all, pain and stiffness is a bother but not so bad. Though a strange thing happened last night during dinner, i have only been putting small bits of food in my mouth because its hard to chew when my muscles are playing up. Last night i was enjoying the meal when i couldn't seem to chew the piece of meat in my mouth, i was chewing but it wasn't really doing anything with it and it was getting harder to do the next chew, if that makes sense.

I was a little perplexed it was so strange to struggle on a soft and small peice of meat. DH noticed i was having a bit of trouble through out the meal and when i couldn't get rid of that mouth full he told me to not push it anymore. As soon as i managed to swallow it, i started to tell him what had happened and the words were all slurred and stuttery again, my tongue just wasn't working right.

I thought these issues were from being fatigued but maybe the cause is all muscle related, yes eating is obviously more difficult during fatigue, when you struggle to lift the fork to even attempt chewing but this was with out being fatigued. Now i know i didn't give my mouth a work out when i was pulling weeds, so why am i having trouble getting the muscle that controls my tongue to work right when i've exhausted other body muscles?

Anybody know what i'm talking about?

Cheers........JJ

[supermum_ms]

Oh jen to funny ROFL!

I havent eaten a candy cane in years, as a kid (living in England) i use to love love love Blackpool rock (think candy cane but bigger about an inch thick, and about 15cm long) yum-oh.

I've been getting away with making winter stews and hearty soups, easy to swallow foods (winter here just ended) with summer on its way, the men in this family are craving BBQ steaks, i'm going to have to work out something or i'll be giving the blender a run for its money. lol hmmmm hole trout, Tassie king prawns, Mortenbay bugs, samon, i think the boys can eat their slabs of meat and i'll tackle the more delicatly exotic.

Ha i thought id try chewing gum to help stop smoking, ahhhhhh not such a good idea lol!

Cheers.....JJ  

[jensequitur]

Hah!  You might want to see a neurologist.. again.  ;-)

I have noticed that my chewing becomes fatigued.  Hasn't happened in a while, but there are times when chewing the food really wears me out.  Last time this happened I was chewing on a candy cane.

[supermum_ms]

Hey Shell,

Your absolutely spot on, i had to think through the actions. I thought it was my jaw playing up because when those muscles get tired its too hard to chew. I dont know why i didn't think my tongue muscles were involved, well didn't work it out until i tried to talk. It makes sense that the tongue muscle gets fatigued too, all the other muscles in my body seems to do that, so why not those muscles too.

It could help explain the intermittant slurrs and stutters when i talk, which my GP got to see in action, also how i handle it (stop, think, redo). It feels more prolific when i'm doing the body spasms but maybe it just seems like it lol. I can't rely on it happening when i see a neurologist, so as instructed i'm trying to get it on video, not as easy as we thought but we will do it.

DH isn't as pushy about eating like he use to be, he could never understand being a food lover, how anyone could be too tired to eat. Over the last year or so he's seen exactly what i've been trying to explain so he's helpful and really understanding about it all now. He even makes me a protein shake for when i wake up in the morning, which is sweet!

Cheers..........JJ

[sllowe]

JJ,

Ut oh girl. Did you have to think through each phase of chewing? Like the mechanics didn't come naturally?

You need to be seen while this is happening. Can you make the call?

I'm not saying it's urgent like emergency care urgent. Just important for your doc to see this in action.

DH's instincts are spot on - you can't push through this.  I speak from experience.  You have to back off when it's happening...i.e., don't chat, get lots of rest, and be careful.
(((hugs)))
I'm sorry this is happening :(
-shell

[allmymarbles]

You might want to see a neurologist.