Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Hard to swallow!!!

Hi Guys!

About a year ago I went through this thing for a few months where I found it really hard to swallow and found it hard to breath when I was drinking. Is this something that is an AS thing or am I psychosomatic?


Thanks


Irene

There is always someone worse off than me!

Hi,
I am a afraid that is an AS thing. Because of the stoop in the upper part of the back our necks get in a sort of angle which leaves less space for the (how is that called in English) pharynx? and thus for the swallowing. I even had a time that when I swallowed unvolantary somehow air came in which made me burpy. Now my AS is better I have been able to straighten the neck up with exercises and my swallowing is normal again, pheww.
Gerard

True love travels on a gravel road - Nick Lowe-

Irene,

I had this about 5 years ago - I couldn't even swallow the smallest painkiller without it getting stuck. I was taking ages to eat my dinner (and if you see me eat now you'd find that hard to believe - think wolf!)

I saw an ENT specialist, who stuck a camera up my nose to look down my throat (used a cocaine based numbing spray - that was fairly cool! )... and then to make it worse they then decided to do a barium swallow x-ray scan... which was fairly unpleasant.

The results - nothing.

I eventually worked out a few years later that the inflammation in my neck at the time had caused all the muscles in my neck to spasm and contract badly - if you think about how much 'stuff' the neck has in it - the muscles contracting were trying to squeeze any free space possible - and as the pharynx / top of the gullet is fresh air alot of the time I figured that was where the squeeze was most....?

(Any medically trained people please ignore / correct my terrible theory! )

So, I guess the thing to try and keep on doing is keeping the neck moving so that the muscles stay loser and don't contract - wished I'd known that then

Oops - my answer to the question is - almost definitely AS in my experience!

Cheers
Jo

As Gerard explained, I too have some difficulties in swallowing because of my ever increasing bending of my neck. And yes, as the neck bends, (with me, it is bending to the side), the inner passages/throat does close up a bit.

Re the other problem, you really shouldn't be trying to breathe while drinking. Drowning while enjoying your morning cup of tea is hardly proper. Sorry for clowning about here but it is a good policy to NOT breathe while swallowing anything as it can block up your air passage to the lungs.

If your swallowing becomes more difficult, it would be advisable to drink some water while chewing your food and that does make swallowing much easier.

Take care,
George

Breb Assyl

I am accustomed to all the lousy inconveniences and pains AS has caused me. I am not phobic about any of them EXCEPT the issue you mentioned here.

Even before my neck was bent I experienced what Jo described from muscles spasms or something in my throat. I have had moments of great anxiety over the sensation of being unable to swallow on various occasions.

For whatever reason it seems to be more anxiety causing than some of the serious pains I've endured.

 
stevec-they also serve who stand and wait

I havent been dx with AS yet but I have had this problem for about 3yrs now ,I describe it as feeling like everything has to go through an hour glass before reaching the stomach.I also have reflux and stomach problems.Since just reading this post and the replies another piece of my jigsaw has fitted! My neck and shoulder problems started around same time.
Jill.

Hi Gerard,
Thankyou for your input! When I was having the swallowing problems, I became burpy as well ( maybe swallowing too much air and not enough liquid or food) My swallowing appears to have corrected itself for the moment, which is great. Good to hear yours is O.K too.

Thanks again.

Irene

There is always someone worse off than me!

Jo Hi!

I love your comment about the cocaine spray! See, there are some good things about these AS complaints....the barium meal on the other hand we can live without. I had trouble with tablets as well. I don't take any meds, I'm one of those martyrs who refuses to take them, but on the odd occasion, I'll take a paracetamol for a headache, and got to the stage that if I didn"t have someone handy to perform the Heimleich Maneuver (spelling?) I wouldn't take them. Pretty scary stuff. Thanks for your comments, much appreciated. Take care.


Cheers

Irene

There is always someone worse off than me!

George Hi!

Youré absolutely right! Why have I thought I am a Fish and can breath whilst drinking. People don't do that. Perhaps I have spent too much time fishing and watching the fishies too much! It was great for you to explain the neck thing, because I noticed it happening the most when I started the chest/neck/upper back pains at thier worst. It is .all is logical and makes perfect sense. Thankyou. Look after yourself.

Cheers

Irene

There is always someone worse off than me!

Steve Hi!

You are 100% right in saying that it is one of the freakiest symptoms we experience. At my worst moments with it I thought my throat would close over and my number would be up. At this time it appears to have corrected itself, even though my neck pain is fairly hideous. Thanks for your comments...they are always valuable.

Cheers

Irene

There is always someone worse off than me!