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Did Something Go Down The Wrong Pipe?
Does this ever happen to you? Of course it does. It used to happen to me occasionally, too. But now it’s an all-too-regular feature of daily life. Myasthenia Gravis causes fluctuating weakness in the muscles that control swallowing, including the tongue, jaw, and muscles in the pharynx. Weakness of the tongue makes it difficult to manipulate and move food and liquid to the back of the throat for a swallow. The experts call this “impaired bolus management.” I love that phrase – reminds me of a little kid who’s showing off by trying to use words he doesn’t really understand. 😉 And how about all the extra phlegm, or mucus, produced by one’s MG? That’s why “bulbar oropharyngeal dysphagia,” or difficulty swallowing, is a common MG symptom. I used to chew and drink without a care in the world, but now I need to practice mindfulness, and pay close attention to each sip and every mouthful to avoid getting Heimliched. Otherwise, if I don’t stay focused, I could get aspiration pneumonia, an infection resulting from food or fluid reaching the lungs.
I’m such a yutz. 😉
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3 Replies
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That description of having to stay hyper aware with every sip and bite will resonate with so many people here. Bulbar symptoms can add a whole new layer to everyday things like eating, and it makes sense that it takes more mindfulness and pacing now. You’re definitely not alone in having things quickly shift with MG, especially around swallowing and extra mucus. -Jodi, Patient Advocate
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As long as I take the generic Mestinon as prescribed, I am fine.
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