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
