ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Post-Treatment => Topic started by: Lorenzo on October 17, 2007, 04:51:11 am
-
Hi all,
I know some of you have this problem too. I seem to get coughing and choking fits more often since my treatment. It doesn't get worse mind you, but things like crumbs, saliva, deep breath, laughing to loud, talking, nuts, looking up, moon on the wrong side, flying pigs, all seem to get me choking. I'm talking about the kind of 'gasping-for-air-and-thumping-my-back-violently-to-get-me-going-again' type of choking. Had a fit the other day and I ended up gasping and spluttering for the best part of 30 minutes. :P :P :P :P
I'm wondering, how many have this problem? Found anything that helps during those fits?
Just curious.
Ciao, Lorenzo
-
Lorenzo,
I don't think it's just from the treatment you had. I had translab and have this same problem. It can be a real pain. I feel like crumbs are shooting out of my eyeballs sometimes! My doctor suggested if I am going toeat something dry to use a throat soother first. Like vitamin C drop or a piece of hard candy, something to coat the throat. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Not a very pleasant experience though.
Hugs,
Brenda
-
I'm wondering if a person can get a dry mouth from surgery, that they could get a dry throat too? I don't know the cause, but I have experienced bad choking on dryer type items, but pretty rarely. Still, it is more often than before surgery (it never happened to me before surgery). I do feel that my throat is dry, and when I swallow, it feels very dry...sometimes more than others.
-
Aha! So I'm not alone in feeling like crumbs are being propelled into my brain! I usually drink water with the dry stuff. No guarantees though.
So, it could be nerve related I wonder, swallowing not being what it used to be.
I know Windsong had the same problem too, so who else?
Ciao
Lorenzo
-
Hi Lorenzo,
Chelsea, my daughter, has this problem. She seems to be getting worse. She will be going back to the doctor this month and that is on my list of questions.
-
Thanks Chelsmom,
I will be asking my doc the same thing! This is interesting, seems a few of us have it so. I'll be interested to know what he says!
Anybody out there in this group of ours heard anything from doctors about this and what they suggested?
Ciao, Lorenzo
-
I thought I was going to have to give myself the Heimlich Manuever last week when I tried to eat a piece of Italian bread and choked on it. I guess I'll have to learn to dunk in the spaghetti sauce first. I have also resorted to taking my kids chewable vitamins, because I alway choke on the big-girl ones. We better not all eat out together - I think the waiter would be a little nervous if we all started choking on the food. Not to mention how insulted the chef would be.
-
I have the problem, too. I tiny particle of crumb or tiniest droplet of liquid can set the coughing going. The weird thing is, is that sometimes if I drink something, it will settle it down.
-
oh good idea! A 'spluter&cough' party! Excellent!! Maybe we could do it in some fancy hospital cafe, would be safer. I just came here to see who else has the same issue, and to tell you I survived. That cashew nut earlier really was not meant for me. Neither was the small piece of SF sourdough bread.
Time for a rest and some normal air flow.
Ciao, Lorenzo
-
It's a relief to learn that I'm not the only one. Strikes without warning, and then becomes a vicious circle, as the coughing stimulates more of the same. I carry a tiny flask of Dayquil in case I get an attack in public.
-
Lo you described life after An for me.
I can breath wrong and set off a spasm which leave me gasping for air and sometimes throwing up. Not a great feeling.
When I was tested for a swallowing disorder I was told by the speech pathologists if talking makes it worse not do to it. Lot of help that was! The ENT recognized the problem, said he is unsure why it is occuring (he did not perform my surgery) but gave me some recommendations to follow. I have found when I stick to the plan I do better than when I cheat.
Lessons I've learned over my two years post op:
1) always have something to drink with me. Warm water is better than no water at all.
2) limit caffenated and carbonated drinks.
3) carry lozenges or hard candy in case of emergency
4) watch out for spicy, acidic, and sticky dry foods. Some sort of sauce or butter on the bread is a good thing.
5) warm drinks help sooth the muscles like tea, coffee, soups while cold drinks help constrict the throat muscles often resuting in the spasms. Being in the south I have found that warm green tea with ice and cream is delicious and does not irritate. That is my substitue for soda.
6) raise hte head of your bed 6" to eliminate any acid build up at night which can cause throat irritation.
7) take tums as needed for any acid build up. I also take nexium, acidphex, prilosec during the day as needed as some of the irritaion comes from acid refulx which was developed after surgery. There is a connection with throat numbness and the acids from your stomach not getting along after the AN surgery. In my case I have numbness on my left side, throat, face, teeth, tongue.
Hope that helps you guys. It is a pain to live with! Peppermints help but can also exasberate the problem so be careful. I usually heep halls fruity throat lozenges in my pocket to pull out in a moments notice. They will help settle my throat the fastest. When it gets real bad I start the warm tea or rest.
Hugs, M
-
Hi Michelle,
Good suggestions! I'll carry some throat lozenges with me in future. Halls work alright, although at times they cause me to produce too much saliva, and that make it worse. Water usually helps a lot. Never tried hot water though, so will do the next time!
Fortunately I hardly ever have reflux, so don't have to deal with that. Coughing is usually caused by nuts or crumbs, mostly. So my plan is: chew well and long.
Thanks!! :)
Lorenzo
-
Michelle,
It's good to see you back.............with your wisdom and I know there is a smile as you are typing.
Hugs,
Brenda
Lorenzo,
I hope all of these suggestions help...........I had one of those fits this morning..........too early to be up and lasted too long to be sleepy. Exhausted from the fit of coughing but at least it finally stopped. Tea and honey did it for me this time.
Hugs,
Brenda
-
Hi Brenda,
I nearly choked on saliva earlier, but not a prolonged fit, so not too bad. water helped. swallowing the wrong way seems something that happens a lot!
Glad you're ok! :)
Ciao
Lorenzo
-
Lorenzo,
I'm trying to figure why no one around us understands why this happens so often! My husband has springs on his legs to do the Heimlich!!
Have a great day!
Brenda
-
Brenda,
I had visions of doing the heimlich on myself the other day! Then I realised my arms weren't long enough, although I can do a pretty good impersonation of Houdini. Better start training Sheila! she jsut hits me on the back, secretly enjoying it I bet...
Ciao :)
Lorenzo
-
Hi guys - I get it too, & lately seems to be more often - It happened last week at the dentist's office (of all places), & yesterday while I was having a conversation with someone.
I think, like Kippy, with me it's because of the dryness - no saliva on the right side of my mouth/throat. So, I've decided to increase the H2O to what Arushi suggests : 12-14 glasses a day (if memory serves me right).
-
Okay my turn to add my 2 cents Canadian. I too get this especially in the morning. I never realized this was an AN issue but looking back........I find if I cough too much I'll get a pounding headache. That's my worst fear. I drink lots of water and suck on hard caramel candies.
Anne Marie
-
The one thing I find with candy, apart form the tooth rot :), is that I produce too much saliva, and end up spluttering about that! Defeats the purpose sometimes. Water seems to be the thing for me. Or wine, or champagne...
Lorenzo
-
All this "chatter" about sucking, drooling and gagging has me thinking.......
I too, albeit not to the extent of the rest, have problems while talking. Talking in my yoga class often has me stopping mid sentence to stop the spasms, then I have to really search hard for what I was talking about as, at times, my mind fails me--WONDERFUL! I feel this problem is a muscle/nerve related problem most definately due to the AN/surgery AND NOBODY CAN TELL ME DIFFERENT (okay, they can, but I'm not buyin it as all was well with the throat day before surgery). Happy sucking Lorenzo!
-
I myself have this problem since my surgery. When I lie on my bad side because of the saliva problem I can not seem to quite coughing so I sleep elevated allot
eve
-
Yeah, Lorenzo count me in for the vino, but I can't drink it at work!!! I might smell like some of the people I cash cheques for on a monthly basis. I was off wine for awhile. Thank goodness it didn't last too long and it wasn't all the time. It scared the daylights out of me. What's a girl suppose to do if she can't drink wine and her husband makes award winning wine. Things were pretty tense.....but my taste buds settled down....kinda.... Love spicy, hot and garlic.
Anne Marie
-
Funny ann marie wine taste link vinegar to me. Can your husband make me some sweeeeeet wine?
The spicy, garlic and hot days are over. My taste buds don't work that way anymore :(
Hi Brendlu! I'm taking masters courses so try to pop in when I get a break. This is my first one in 12 weeks. So far I'm holding my own. I'm almost half way through and my lowest grade was an A-. Now if I could only remember what I'm learning LOL
Yep, get that gushy too much saliva deal going which starts the cough thing. I have been told it is directly related to the AN and the nerve damage and there is nothing one can do but try to not spit on people when they talk. If I get flustered talking my throat seizes up which sets off the coughing attack. Sometimes putting pressure on the left side of the base of my throat helps. I read somewhere on here that someone's husband was going to get a shot in their throat which was suppose to help close a portion of the throat I had wondered if this might help but have not talked to my ent about it.
M
-
i'm lucky, taste returned after a few months. and even better, now i can eat spicy / hot food on my numb side and not grab a spoon of sugar to kill off the heat in my mouth.
So saliva IS directly related to the AN!! Good to know, thanks Michelle.
Castello Yardtick Riserva?
:) Lorenzo
-
Not for you Lorenzo,
I'll have to express post a bottle or two for you when you return home from the State ;D