Comments on: Dysphagia caused by brain injury: Why swallowing can be a problem

By: Michelle #jumbledbrain

Michelle #jumbledbrain — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 13:08:04 +0000

In reply to Rachel Jimerson. Hi Rachel, I too still have some reoccurrences even now. You're right, continue with the exercises to train and strengthen your muscles, it does get better.

By: Rachel Jimerson

Rachel Jimerson — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 02:21:01 +0000

I’m so thankful to have read this. I’m 7 months into my TBI. They had me do a swallow study when I kept choking on food. They didn’t find anything significant so they said it was like when a stroke patient loses use of their arm. It’s because the muscles forget what to do. Same thing with my throat muscles. They gave me a few exercises, which helped initially. But the problem has returned more severe. And I do notice a stress connection at times. I’m hoping with time and maybe a return to the exercises it will improve. Thank you so much for this article! Itssogoodtoknow it’s not just because I’m weird or broken. ?

By: Michelle #jumbledbrain

Michelle #jumbledbrain — Sat, 09 May 2020 00:42:10 +0000

In reply to Nikki Ball. Yes isn’t it crazy the way the brain can throw it’s toys out of the pram and make fundamental tasks like swallowing a nightmare. But then it’s behaving normally again like you imagined it.

By: Nikki Ball

Nikki Ball — Fri, 08 May 2020 21:03:14 +0000

Thank you for sharing your life and experiences! I have an acquired brain injury from having a brain tumor and multiple surgeries for a csf leak. I kept telling my doctors that it’s hard to swallow sometimes and, I too, have had the camera up my nose and down into my throat!! Ugh! and it’s almost as if my brain is just leisurely doing it’s thing while I’m chewing or when needing to take meds and then bam! It’s says, nope, aaaand now you don’t know how to swallow! HaHa! And because of how inconsistent this is I am usually caught off guard and start a little panic attack which makes it even worse!! Fatigue usually makes everything brain injury related so much more frequent! Reading your experiences gives me a comfort knowing that I’m not alone! Thank you!

By: michelle.munt@yahoo.co.uk

michelle.munt@yahoo.co.uk — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 10:45:12 +0000

In reply to Joanne Wood. You're not imagining it, you can feel something. But it's your muscles. You're not crazy, we're just more sensitive. Women are especially prone to it, as we hold tension there when we are upset more than men. Yes it is exactly the lump we get in the throat when we are welling up!

By: Joanne Wood

Joanne Wood — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 21:27:41 +0000

I have a ‘lumpy ‘ too, I was told it was from the tube down my throat during 5 hours of brain surgery. I’ve noticed it gets worse when I have had a stressful situation or been crying. After food I am convinced that there’s still a peice of food stuck in my throat, so gulp down water and keep swallowing, but then as I am disstracted by something else and become calmer, I forget about it and the lump goes. I have thought many times ‘it’s all in my head’ I haven’t got anything stuck, it’s like my crazy poorly brain is playing tricks on its self. Good to know that I’ m not the only one who has this craziness in a brain injury.

By: michelle.munt@yahoo.co.uk

michelle.munt@yahoo.co.uk — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:47:58 +0000

In reply to Helen Caligiuri. That sounds really uncomfortable! I hope your recovery from surgery went well.

By: Helen Caligiuri

Helen Caligiuri — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:24:29 +0000

Thankfully no. It sounds awful the closest I’ve come was having been incubated, or tubed for my disc-bulge surgery. It was to my lower back. I imagine they rolled me over, and I suspect the tube moved some? Not really sure. The surgeon came to speak to me straight after they took out the tube in recovery. It was Remembrance Day and I remember it was the best sleep ever! And he was telling me the surgery went well. You would hope so but my thought felt scratched from the tube. Felt like I needed lubrication.