Lapse of time between trying to swallow and actually swallow

[felpeyu2]

Hello. This is probably not a big subject, but I sometimes have a lapse of time between trying to swallow and actually swallow. Usually this lapses are about one or two seconds long, but sometimes the lapses are larger and I can?t breathe until I finally swallow. It is like my brain is trying to command my throat to swallow but the throat doesn?t respond. Is there somebody with this issue?



PD: I had my third flare in 6 months (stomach/breast excruciating nocturnal pain), but this time I immediately took prednisone and omeprazole and the pain was bearable

[jazzlover]

I get that. Usually it's because my mouth is too dry .. I think.

[Jasper]

I have had that happen in the past. It was because my mouth was too dry.

I never realized that a person has to have saliva in order to swallow until I could not swallow when my mouth was too dry.

However, that does not mean that is the reason you cannot swallow. If it continues it would be a good idea to talk with your doctor about it. Perhaps you need to see a GI doctor about gastric motility issues or an ENT about throat issues. It could even be a neurological problem.

[sixty]

That happens to me, maybe not exactly, but I think it's neurelogical sorry I can't spell.  I feel like I have to work up to it sometimes, sort of spastic in a way.  I hate it but it doesn't happen enough for me to remember to talk to the dr.  And sometimes it does seem to happen when my mouth is very dry.

[irish]

Dryness can cause some swallowing issues, but the neurological issues with Sjogrens can also affect the ability to propel food. This is the way the tongue is able to move in response to the swallow. The tongue can lose it ability to wiggle and twist which is part of the swallowing task.

The reason I know this is because I have had this and it showed up on a swallowing video. I was sent to rehab where they worked with me concerning exercises to strengthen muscles of swallowing. The time I spent with the rehab people was well worth it and very educational.

I have since gained back some of my swallowing and I think it is because I have been on IVIG for 10 years for my myasthenia gravis. A couple of things I can tell you is that when you drink use a straw as this sends the fluid in a direct path down the throat. When you chew and swallow(especially the meats) turn your head and look over your shoulder as off the top of your arm where it attaches to the shoulder. This opens the throat and gives you more room to swallow. This really works.

Do not panic and do plan ahead for your swallowing. Do not be lose your concentration when eating when you have a swallowing issue. Always eat foods that are softer with gravies, etc. I would always make sloppy joes instead of hamburger cause it is just easier. Have to keep up our intake of red meats. Use puddings or applesauce, etc when taking pills if needed. I don't need the pudding anymore except for the really big pills. Good luck. Irish

[Carolina]

I have a mild version of this problem....most when my throat is very dry, and at night when I have post nasal drip and want to 'move it down' from blocking my throat.

I never thought about it until you mentioned this, felpeyu.  I mean I didn't connect it to the big picture.

It truly IS always something, and then, it's something else.

Hugs, Elaine 

Toasting you with my bottle of water.

[trc1962]

I deal with this all the time, even when I am not flaring at all. For me it seems like there is a short spot in the back of my throat where there is no "power" and once the food or pill hits the active spot and then we swallow! A pain for sure, but I have grown quite used to it over the years for sure.

[irish]

It is interesting to not that when the food hits a certain spot in our mouth, roof of mouth, etc,, there is an action by the tongue called "initiation of a swallow" and this is truly a real action. It is very visible on a swallowing video side view.

I have had 3 swallowing videos and the first one was at the U of MN and was  really an awesome picture of my oral cavity and tongue and the actions that take place. I also have had an epiglottis that doesn't close appropriately that put me at high risk for choking. This is better but I still pay attention to what and how I eat.

The other 2 swallowing videos were really not very good quality and I didn't really trust that they were accurate. Anyone who does a lot of throat clearing should ask about having a swallowing video as the throat clearing can be one way to deal with a swallowing issue. Just make sure that they don't try to label you doing this for attention seeking behavior. That is what one clinic did to me!!!!!!  Irish

[Dolly Dimples]

I too have long time swallowing issues, and quite honestly the best thing I have found to work is to chew gum straight after a meal.
      It really has helped me, and although I have dentures which can get stuck up with gum, I still do this when I feel food is sticking.
                                           Dolly x

[Sooki]

Interesting discussion.  I have a few foods (one is melted fat from pork) that don't trigger swallowing at all.  The food just runs down the back of my throat.  As soon as it's past the swallowing area, I start choking and coughing.  Startling, but not dangerous.  I've also experienced that delay from time to time. 

[BurntToast]

Mashed potato does it for me.  Always has done since I was a child even though the dry throat didn't bother me then.  Now it's worse and I have learnt to eat it in very small bites.  It works that way.

[irish]

We all have to learn which foods trigger problems for us. The dry hamburgers are really hard to swallow and the steaks and roast beef are often a problem. I have learned that the foods that are too soft or a liguid can cause us problems. Gravies can cause issues if not placed on foods that are slightly lumpy or or have a heavier texture then it works better.

Foods that are slightly soft such as pies or really moist cakes and cookies will work well. The one food that really gives me a problem is iceburg lettuce. Because I have dentures plus a slight swallowing problem I will end up coughing and hacking for hours after eating lettuce. When I irrigate my nose and gargle I am often surprised when a piece of lettuce slides up and out and I didn't know that it was there. I do better with the more coarse lettuce and also having foods such as cottage cheese on the lettuce.

The other thing we have to do is to make sure to chew foods well---this is hard as many of us have the habit of eating too fast. When we eat too fast we lose track of where the food is in our mouth and throat. Just some more thoughts. Irish

[Nymph]

Following.

Thankfully I don't have too many problems with food, but I go through phases where swallowing pills is difficult. I found that Irish's head-turning trick is very helpful.

[ktfabian]

I've had 2 barrium swallow tests done. They've shown that my esophagus randomly reverses itself when I'm swallowing. While it's happening, I feel like I'm choking and it can be scary.

I've tried to train myself to relax when it starts because that's the only way I can get it to resolve.

Just another weird little thing the doctor discovered during this series of tests - only one half of my diaphram works. No idea why and it doesn't seem to interfere with my breathing. I used to sing a lot and trained with a private voice teacher. The doctor said all that training probably is why I've never experienced any shortness of breath.

It's always something, right?
Tracy