OK, but looking at the anatomy drawings, I was concerned that air blowing into my nose, might be pushing the epiglottis open. I do get air coming out my mouth, at times. A few months ago, I switched to an APAP, so less of that. But this swallowing/choking problem has been going on. Last night, about half an hour after I took it, I choked & coughed up a 250mg magnesium gel.
Thanks, but years of MA training and a black belt help.But it sounds like you are grieving having to deal with this new development. Understandable. you've been through a lot.
I saw a speech therapist who wanted to teach me all that, and how to swallow, but she's far from here & I'm swamped with work. Also didn't want a weird diet.
Agreed, and she gave me a sheet with tons of stuff. ( I'm just not into some of it, like liquid thickeners. Yuk! ) They tasked her with teaching me how to swallow, which I've been doing all my life.Really, a speech therapist could teach you what you need to know in one visit. It's not that hard.
Not sure about the positioning, but pills & supplements are the worst, BC the head has to go back, to swallow them. Especially those 250mg MG gels and the big multivitamin tablets. I apparently turned purple from choking, a times.It has to do with positioning yourself and tucking your chin while swallowing to protect the airway.
They did a swallow test & said food & liquids were going in my lungs ( of course that's staged to be worst case? ), & the only reason I hadn't gotten pneumonia was BC of a strong cough mechanism due to a lot of stair climbing I do, & strong lungs. ( 12 years of MA probably didn't hurt either )And not a weird diet. The most common issue with dysphagia is with thin liquids--they slide down fast and bypass your epiglottis.
I like iced coffee.Thin liquids can be thickened (and yes, thickened coffee IS gross, but a coffee smoothie is nice).
OK.There are choices as to what you use to thicken liquids because some of the common thickeners have an unpleasant texture. Also (in some cases, and this is where the ST can be very helpful in assessing) very cold liquids and carbonated liquids are less likely to be aspirated because you can feel them going down, and that gives your brain time to stimulate the the airway protection.
I've heard a little rubbing at times, but it goes away with coughing. Protecting the airway is an admirable goal, but how?Aspiration pneumonia is no fun, and it can be silent so you don't always know it's happening. Repeated bouts take a huge toll on your health. So it's really worth it to take a day to see the therapist, and learn how to protect your airway.
Thanks for your help & suggestions by the way.
