Hi I'm new to this board

[Worriedone]

Hi I'm new to this board and I'm having throat/swallowing issues too.  Mostly with just liquids, if the drinks are really cold or really hot Im fine, its mostly when its luke warm.

I know my anxiety is partly to blame, but its getting really frustrating.  I've been having trouble for 3yrs now with this and this all started around the same time my teeth were being worked on.

I specifically remember getting novacaine and I swear some went into my throat and I started panicking because I couldn't swallow, I would literally have to think about swallowing and making a point to push down my saliva.  This was like 5min after they shot the novacaine into me.

I also was diagnosed with TMJ and Fibromyalgia......but I have no idea what this is and its scarey!

[ohtobehealthy]

Hello Worriedone I too mostly have the problems with liquids. They dont seem to want to go down but at this point it does not matter if the liquids are hot or cold or lukewarm. They all sit up in my throat for what feels like forever. Its really about 20 mins or so but makes it so I can't drink much, I have to sip on a cup of water. It takes me a half hour to get down a 8 ounce glass then I have to sit up hunched over for another 20 minutes for it to go down. It does not matter either if my stomach is empty or full but it is more uncomfortable when its full because then you add bloating to the uncomfortableness.

Have you had your GI system looked into? EGD? Stomach emptying scan? barium swallow???

[ohtobehealthy]

hmmm that is interesting. I have had the choking issues too as well as the liquids just not going down and staying in my throat. I have it lately now with solid foods too. oh yay, but I have had the swallowing choking issues now for 8 years seems to be getting worse.
I guess it could be related to anxiety, do you have feelings of dread BEFORE you drink anything and choke or does the choking CAUSE the anxiety. That is the big difference. I have had all the swallowing tests with a GI and all was found normal unfortunately. Another thing that causes swallowing problems is mysenthia gravis. Another question do you feel a lump in your throat? are you ever hoarse??

[Worriedone]

Hi there,

No im not hoarse and I feel no lumps.  I have choked on pills and that is what set this off (after the dental problem with the novacaine) Then fear to swallow sets it, if I even think I wont be able to swallow the water I'll spit it out.

This time around I chocked on my Pain pill, which is kind of big, now Im back into the full blown anxiety about swallowing pills or luke warm liquids.

Can you go months without any swallowing issues?  I can and thats why Im really not sure whats causing this particular problem.

[chris]

iv had a few difficulties swallowing during the year i have felt ill but i do think the more i thought about it the harder it became i think thinking about swallowing and being scared about it can make the situation worse. At least that was the case for me i havent thought about it for a while ( until i saw this thread) and i havent had no issues since i just  kinda forgot about it.

I would of thought if it was anything serious it wouldnt come and go. Maybe the novacaine could of damaged some nerves that makes swallowing occoured and then with the added worry makes it worse?

[Worriedone]

Thats how I am, I go months and don't think about it!  But then I choke on a pill or something then my mind goes into freak out mode........swallowing issue doesnt go away until I forget about it again.  Which for me could be days, weeks or months.

[ohtobehealthy]

I was going to second the possible nerve damage.  I recently had some teeth work done last month and when they numbed the left side wierd things started happening. First I was completely numb but started getting shooting sharp zaps of pain my jaw and then after the shooting zaps it itched intensly after that... yet I would go to itch and couldnt feel nothing to itch. It was awful. Then upon returning home I had an incredibly hard time swallowing more so on that side, luckily for me it DID go away after 4 hours but it made it hard to eat.

I know anxiety also causes you to have the lump in your throat feeling so I think maybe a combination of the two things is not helping you.

I actually was researching nerve damage of the face and neck from novacaine and there is a lot of information on the subject and it seems your not alone. There are some forums about the subject. Maybe something to look into. Doctors that specialize in nerve damage are usually nuerologists. Have you seen a nuero yet??

[Worriedone]

ohtobehealthy, do you have the links to the forums your talking about?  Im very interested in hearing other peoples stories.