Hi it started off with choking on water now its like i forget to swollow i had a endoscopy nothing showed i have called the ms nurse who has referred me to speech therapist but doesn’t no how long, its been 2 weeks and im fighting through but its hard im mashing food having soup but have to stop eating somtimes as i just start panicking as food stops at the back like my mouth forgets to swollow has anyone got any tips kind regards
I’m sorry you’re going through this, as it can quite scary experience for you. I would suggest chasing the speech and language team as they can give you pointers as what to try. I would suggest being careful with thin liquids. I’ve recently had a relapse and it’s effected my gag reflex and now fluids make my cough. If you do choke please get yourself checked out as you can aspirate very easily which can cause a chest infection. I hope you don’t have to wait too much longer.
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This might help.
Thank you i called the dr to get some help as making me so anxious she prescribed sertraline but im so very unsure to take them as worried it could make it worse sges aware im waiting for speech therapist. I have noticed ive had a intermittent twitching on my right side of jaw and my right side of face feels slightly weird so i dont know if thats to do with it 
You’re welcome, and I would mention the facial twitching to your doctors or ms nurse. GP’s think antidepressants will sort everything out, but it’s better to address the actual problem you’re dealing with.
I’ve got facial numbness and experience stabbing pains over half my face and throat, I’m currently taking gabapentin for Trigeminal neuralgia and neuropathic pain in my legs from spasticity.
Unfortunately the waiting times for appointments can be long, so you may have to keep nudging the ms nurses, and the SALteam. Just be very careful when eating and drinking.
Thank you so much lucky i live at home my mum she really helps me. I decided im not going to take them as like you said its better to get to the source of the problem. I will kind regards
You’re dry welcome, and I really hope you hear something very soon.
Just be careful when eating and drinking, it’s good you’ve got your mums support as well as well. Take care caz45
If your GP didn’t explain why Sertraline was prescribed, please find out the exact reason.
Some, though not all GPs, can be too quick to prescribe a quick fix and should justify their conclusions.
I take Sertraline as a type of muscle relaxant, it helps with swallowing & associated problems.
Gabapentin & Pregablin were each tried separately. I gained weight by 3 stone in a short time. From UK size 10 to 16. Read weight gain a common side effect so I stopped it. Lost just over 3 stone in 8 weeks without exercises or diet.
The swallowing difficulty you’re experiencing needs investigation and whilst a Speech Therapist will help, it needs to be soon.
If you know the Consultants or Specialists name, try to ring them every week. Get to know the Secretary’s name.
You are trying to cure this but waiting for nhs admin. won’t help. Remember you’re not being a nuisance, nor making trouble when you call, you’re only making sure you’re not forgotten, and checking when you will get professional help.
Good Luck,
Chrissie
Hi Chrissie thank you for your reply, I decided not to take the sertraline, I did see the speech therapist yesterday she said I have silent reflux, the right side of my face is slightly weaker then the left.
What puzzles me is when I had the food in my mouth it went to the back and it was like I had to remember to swollow although it’s improved alot it’s still slightly there if I eat foods that are more solid sometimes I think I’ve had a flair as I had a really dizzy day at the start of this ms is so annoying.
I hope that you are doing OK as I think so much of people who are much worse then me the good thing is, I have my mum who is so supportive. Kind regards Carol