Swallowing

When I first came to the Patient Forum, I thought I was experiencing some health problems but reading here soon made me realize the truth of that expression "everything is relative".  It's been rather humbling but also therapeutic in that trying to research the symptoms posted on the forum in order to uncover a hint as to what might be causing the problems has distracted me from focusing on my own aches and malfunctions.  In fact, they barely have any significance for me now.  What is significant is that others who are ailing in life-limiting ways come here to help and advise and others still who have busy schedules with many interests don't neglect to add their expertise on a regular basis.  All combined, it serves as a kind of comfort when, otherwise, one is bombarded by the media throughout the day by stories of murder, mayhem and just plain inhumanity.  It becomes overwhelming sometimes and reading people's attempts here to reassure others and try to steer them away from panic toward common sense and possible solutions is reassuring in itself.

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I am interested in the answers to your questions, also.  However, I am wondering now, having done some more research on involuntary swallowing, if a neurologist might not be the specialist for david75395.  I was reading a post by a man who was diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy? and involuntary swallowing was one of his symptoms. [He referred to them as "seizure swallows"].  The epilepsy is controlled with medication.  The description of the poster here of his head moving to the left when he experiences the swallowing leads me to suspect this might be a neurological issue.   There is such a thing as "nervous swallowing" where a person from anxiety or who is under a lot of pressure begins to swallow obsessively.  I was reading about a case of this, too, but the description of the movement of the head to one side is not so consistent with that.  But the poster knows best what is going on and can perhaps fill  in a bit more or decide what the next step should be.  He should keep in mind it is very difficult to figure out under these circumstances what is causing a poster's symptoms. 

I would not be surprised at all if it is nerve-related, and to that extent a neurologist's opinion would be good to have, but I do not know enough about where the neurologist might take over from an ENT (ear, nose & throat) specialist. Perhaps the ENT doctor would know the best neurologist?

Sometimes our bodies simply give us unexplainable things that usually pass as quick as they came. Not always is there something physiological wrong. Often it can be psychological. But, that's just as bad. You still experience the problems. I just hope he feels better soon!

DJRN

Hi Opa_alanm

My head goes to the left when it happens, and at times it feels like I'm choking for a second or two,as it feels like I have something to swallow but obviously there is nothing there , this can happen at any time of the day , eating or not or drinking or not .It does feel uncomfortable when I try to keep my head straight, but it always just goes to the left anyway.

In reply to Janeeyre regarding the Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, I suffered a t.i.a ( mini stroke) over 3 years ago in my left arm , when the scan of my brain was done , old damage was found, meaning I had other t.i.a.'s and not know ( I suffer from sweating down just one side of my body and the skin specialist thinks this is related to my mini stroke) I don't know if the t.i.a could have any impact on my swallowing problem ( never really thought about that ) I've also got degenerate disc disease in my spine and awaiting to have a right lumbar facet, radio frequency lesion , hope all this helps for anyone to shed some further light on my swallowing problem, thanks to everyone for your help up to now , it's really appreciated

It does sound feasible that it might be connected with your TIA history, as you suggest. I think that some people do suffer from swallowing problems after stroke-type events, so it would be worth asking your doctor. I myself have not got any experience in this area and am not medically qualified, so take all this accordingly!

Thanks Alan, I've

Thanks Alan, I've never thought that it could be related , just thought it could be stress related , it feels as if I've got some phlegm stuck in my throat , and will not go away, causing me to struggle to swallow , it affects my mind cause I think people will think I'm odd keep turning my head to the left !

Thanks for your additional remarks.  Even though you have a history of TIAs, your mentioning the sensation of having phlegm stuck in your throat seems to indicate that you need your throat examined, too, so I think we're back with Alan's  ENT specialist.  It may even be that you are having more than one type of issue going on, including the problem with your spine, but a check of the throat would be well worth your while at this point, IMO. You know that phlegm doesn't tend to stay stuck perpetually and you want to be sure there is nothing else obstructing.  As for what people think, I wouldn't worry about that.  They may wonder, in a fleeting way, why your head turns like that, but I doubt they'll label you as odd on account of it.  They'd probably dismiss it as a tic.

What type of physiological problem do you mean DJ-RN