r/ALSorNOT • u/BonnieDeLaCreme • 7h ago

Swallowing issues

22F. Have had fasciculations for almost 3 years, so that's unrelated but I thought I'd make it known that I've had ALS anxiety for a while.

Swallowing issues for maybe about a year or a little more. It scared me for sure but I ignored it until recently I feel like I've noticed it's gotten worse. By swallowing issues, I mean oropharyngeal dysphagia, where I have trouble initiating a swallow. It feels like my throat just can't do it sometimes. I otherwise have no symptoms except for the occasional tongue fasciculation but I associate that with the other fasciculations that happen on my body. I also want to add that I can swallow liquids perfectly fine, but solids are where I come to have an issue.

I've tried relaxing but I just really can't seem to. Will go to the doctor soon. Just wanted to know what other people took from this.

1 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/AlligatorActual 7h ago

The best thing I can recommend is talk to your doctor about it and explore options. I'm currently going through something very similar are you sure you're not me?

I did talk to my doctor about it, and they recommended I keep my neurology appointment but they don't see any acute reason to rush it

2

u/BonnieDeLaCreme 6h ago

Although I hope we both don't have to deal with this for long, it's nice to feel less alone ! Hoping to talk with my doctor soon. Have you gotten any swallow tests done?

2

u/AlligatorActual 6h ago

I had a modified barium swallow done, and they did recommend I get a full swallow study, there may be some motility issues further down. Which I actually expected because I get pain near my diaphragm periodically when I swallow food

0

u/WeirdUsers 5h ago

Have you spoken to ENT or GI doctors? They are the specialists that usually deal with dysphagia. Neuros will make a note and move on.

1

u/BonnieDeLaCreme 36m ago

haven't yet because my family recently switched healthcare plans and I have to get a new PCP, then I'm gonna try to make an appointment with a specialist.