Swallowing Difficulties in MS - National MS Society

MS Learn Online is the National MS Society's online educational webcast series. This video features part one of a discussion with Patricia Bednarik, CCC-SLP, who discusses swallowing difficulties for people with multiple sclerosis.

[Traceyi]

Please enable comments on all of your videos.
We need to talk to each other.
MS can be very isolating .

[PersephonePersonified]

I think this is a very good description for MS and other disorders/ illnesses that struggle with consumption issues.
And how she suggests everyone knows the Heimlich maneuver and CPR. I also suggest educating yourself on Heimlich maneuvers in a wheelchair as well.
Preparedness is always better than being in a scary situation that you could’ve made better.
Knowledge is power, and we’re MS Strong.

[karinapique]

I have MS and DDD and I have had MS since I was 14 years now I have RRMS. I just had a flare up but before my flare up I start to notice problems swallowing like food getting stuck in my throat. And at many times I had to rub on my throat to help the food go down. I didn't even think it was a part of MS. I haven't been on any meds for MS for like 3 years but I'm going to get a new neurologist to help me because all of my neurologist haven't been any help I've always have known more about MS than they have. But thank you for sharing I've learned something new and I still love to learn. And I'm 35 years old I was diagnosed with MS when I was 21.

[Tiggie]

I've always had trouble swallowing mostly dry kind of foods. If the food has no lubrication, I choke. Problem is, I don't do the coughing it up kind of choke, but the silent one that she described in the video. As I live alone, I always make sure to finish what I'm eating when I've got my carers here, but sometimes it's hard to let them know I'm choking if they're in another room. It can be quite scary!! Especially lately, I have virtually no saliva!! Makes it really hard to swallow now.

[coldmountainpix]

Once 23 years ago after i had my son, my throat completely stopped working- I couldnt swallow, talk, had a hard time breathing- half of my face drooped prior to that- I was in the hospital for a month and everything came back thank God- Here I am 23 years later having swallowing/breathing problems again. I was RR now i am secondary- every now and then i choke on thin liquids- water is the worst for me. Sometimes it is meat- have a really hard time with the chewing and swallowing of that. i choked on water so bad one night that i was gasping for air- lets hops i can get some help from the neuro- I avoid the neuro and am not on any MS meds- had MS since i was a kid- I am 47 now- have not been on prednisone for well over 20 years. Swallowing issues are so scary- I much prefer being in a wheelchair to choking.

[LegallyLawless]

Eliminating sugar from my diet and taking Low Dose Naltrexone solved my swallowing issues outright, I was having to make puree instead of eating solids.
I was hospitalized twice because food got stuck in my esophagus which would constrict.
Also, I used to require 30 drops of Lobelia extract with water to relax my throat before eating, which worked very well, but stress always affected my ability to eat properly.
But like I said, removing sugar from my diet and taking LDN solved all of my issues!

[jeannewy]

Very confusing...pictures and demos would help.

[rickmyres]

With my swallowing problem that is for real. I had esophageal spasms for years then one morning after waking up I ate and had those spasms to take place from late morning and all night until the next morning that kicked it all up a notch now I have to be careful how I eat or drink. Neurological is so much fun NOT.

[gayanehamirkhani]

Can the swallowing problem be temporary? And what if it comes with breathing problem?

[DocBree]

she describes the pharyngeal and esophageal stages, but says the “throat phase” is the one most commonly affected in MS. Is she referring to abnormal esophageal peristalsis? or to the pharyngeal stage?

[donstables]

Problem is… things like barium from swallow tests and gadolinium contrast for brain MRI’s may be triggers that cause health issues like MS. Gadolinium is a heavy metal and neurotoxin. Many feel My MS symptoms were triggered from gadolinium toxicity that was injected in me during a cardiac mri stress test.

[darleneyoung]

I had a hard time hearing the therapist. At times she spoke up and at other times she spoke too softly for me. I listen to a lot of informative MS videos and haven't had that problem. Ironic that I did with a speech therapist.  I had to sit right up to my laptop to hear her.

[KADAMASOUL]

I have a mess and sometimes in order to swallow I close my right eye, which is damaged and then I can swallow, as well as push my head a little bit twice twice usually but twice usually

[someonesomewhere]

That interviewer looks....under the influence lol

[risenshine]

speaking eating amd breathing, eg at a table with friends, makes me choke

[boghyboy]

I've been researching treating ms naturally and found a great resource at Denelle multi care (look it up on google)