Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group TROUBLE SWALLOWING

I was wondering if anyone else has problems with swallowing food. I can drink okay but if i eat solid food like steak etc. My Rheumy is sending me to see a ear nose throat specialist to rule out any other cause's which could be many.. He said it isn't common but does happen to people with AS..I should mention instead of going forward my head is tilting back like i'm looking at the stars..anyways looking to see if others have this problem..i have had pain in the past if my thoriac or chest is badly inflamed....Thankyou in advance for your feedback.

Hi bosunmate,
I have been complaining about this to my doctors for a few years. I am stuck looking down at my feet, but I can imagine stuck looking up is no way to live either. I think your doctor is right, there could be any number of things casing swallowing trouble. Do you choke on saliva in your sleep too? My throat diameter is only 50% of what it is supposed to be. Good luck at your ENT appointment.
Take care,
James

Hi Bosunmate - yes from over here. Have some kyphosis, C2 has a slippage behind C3. Have had difficulty in swallowing for about 4 years now. Have intermittent dysphragia, which is a nuisance. A barium ultrasound some 3.5 yrs ago, revealed nothing... Problem has got worse since first looked at. Often simply choke on food, gets completely stuck in my gullet. Horrible. Food gets down so far, and sticks in gullet. Sometimes happens with liquids. Always find swallowing saliva diff. ALWAYS like swallowing on a lump in my throat.

Hells teeth problems this evening. Feels like a golf ball in my gullet. Fed up with it.

Have given up on asking doctors though. They just look at me like I'm making it up. (Shrug of shoulders. They 'don't' know, and couldn't care less!)

Lucky you for having someone who actually recognises the problem...wow. Could you clone him for me please? <LOL>

James. No, don't choke on saliva in sleep, but do have difficulty in just swallowing saliva.

You know, what would be WONDERFUL is IF these doctors could ALL read from the *same* page of informatin *and exhibit excellent knowledge. Sigh.

OK. One days pigs might fly... !

Hi James thanks for replying looking up i think is a little easier than flexing forward. I don't choke on saliva at night as i really suffer with dry mouth i think from the meds (not really sure)and have to sip constantly through the night. I have regurgitated well sleeping which i take Nexium for..

I know Mollyc sometimes they look at you like your from another planet. I am lucky to have been with the same Rheumy since AS was found 30 years ago. He is only a few years older than me so that has helped..Like you I have food getting caught in my gullet. My rheumy told me years ago that there would be good and bad days, he just didn't say that most would be bad. I keep waiting for things to burn out as i have never had remission. But like everyone else on here my attitude is positive...thanks for answering.

Hey there bosunmate, I must say your username is rather comforting. I was once told by an old fisherman after I fell off a ladder, there are two things you never turn your back on on any ship: One is a ladder and the other is a bosun's mate...lol

I am really glad to hear from someone else who has never experienced a remission. I have always commented that there are no flares for me, it's just constant and unrelenting. I think very few of us have to live like this and it's good to hear from someone else who lives this way. It seems so rare that both me and my doctors have wondered about my diagnoses at times - fortunately, I'm a classic case and there has never been any doubt...except from me.

What you wrote about waiting for a remission to kick in struck me and I only just noticed that you are from the TO area. I was born and raised in Hamilton (Oskee-wee-wee, Oskee-waa-waa...).

I suspect you've been "waiting" a lot longer than I have since I've only been dx'd for about four years now. How do you keep going? Is this as good as it gets?

Chris

Dry mouth? OK. That could be our nice wee friend, Sjogren's Syndrome. Dry mouth, and dry eyes, and dry lungs, and dry...oh well... !

Sipping warm water is good. Keep hydrated. There is a mouth spray you can use, Artisial. Tastes foul and I think a sip of water is better!

IF dry eyes, artificial tears, preservative FREE, There is also Dacudoses, an eye wash and for night time LacriLube - an ointment. These are all pretty good for dry eyes.

I have posted quite a bit here in the past on gastric problems and our jolly little friend *regurgitation...such a nice bedfellow... Put in a search.

Take care -

Molly C (France)

Swallowing food is a problem for me at times. I can go a month no trouble. The next day stuck in the gullet as Molly says. Cant even swallow water sometimes. Had a hiatal hernia fixed in 1989 always thought that was the problem.
ETTE.
Darrel.

I've had trouble for a few years now. I seem to have a narrowed oesophagus, probably from scar tissue. I have to chew food up quite small and can't swallow most pills. Otherwise the food or the pill gets completely stuck - quite scary when it happens because it won't shift even if I gulp big glasses of water etc. In fact trying to drink will make a funny sound as the liquid tries to squish past the object that's stuck. As a result, I have to crush all my pills and I'm very restricted when it comes to using slow release meds.

I had an endoscopy which showed some slight inflammation and evidence of small tears in my oesophagus. I take rabeprazole daily to help limit the acid reflux at night.

Hi Chris i actually served in the Navy in the 60's, it was there i suffered trauma to the lower spine and the AS evolved from there. It progressed from there to include all the joints, and like many long time AS'ers i have restricted air way disease. I won't lie to you its been tough, something i wouldn't wish on anybody. The one good thing is that they know alot more about this illness now. There was very little known 30 years ago and no internet to research. I only have one kidney and copd so can't use the new drugs like Remicade and Embrel, but alot of people are being helped. And no this isn't as good as it gets, everyday you have hope that the next day will be better...And finally you ask how do i keep going. I look into the eyes of my wife of 38 years and she has been there every step of the way. We sometimes forget that our partners live with AS also. And last but not least is this web site that show's we are not alone. There's alot of good people here...