Swallowing problems when you have MS can cause anxiety, but rest assured that there are treatments available. Read on to find out everything you need to know about this MS symptom.
MS may affect swallowing in a number of different ways. Difficulty swallowing often occurs as a symptom of MS. It is also known as dysphagia. It can feel scary at first, and you may feel nervous about eating and mealtimes — but there is support and treatment available to manage this symptom.
As a symptom of MS, you may experience:
The feeling that food is stuck in your throat
Difficulty in moving your food around your mouth
Slow movement of food going down
Food or drink coming back up
Problems when trying to keep food or liquid in your mouth
Taking longer than usual to finish a meal
Choking sensations or coughing and spluttering when eating
Frequent throat clearing while eating
Difficulty chewing food
Dribbling, caused by your mouth making excess saliva
Numbness of the mouth and throat
Food and drink going into your lungs in severe cases
Changes in your speech alongside problems swallowing food
Swallowing problems can often occur in advanced stages of MS, although it can occur at any time. It happens because the nerves that power the muscles which control swallowing and chewing function are damaged by MS. This results in the muscles becoming uncoordinated or weak.
Some medications can also cause side effects such as a dry mouth, which can make swallowing harder, especially when eating dry foods.
It is vital, if you experience any swallowing problems with MS, that you talk to your doctor. If left untreated, there is a risk that it could become more serious, with fluids or foods getting into your lungs, potentially causing severe infection.
Find out how changing your lifestyle could change your MS symptoms [2 minute read]
Any anxiety you may feel as a result of swallowing problems with MS can make the problem worse, especially since swallowing issues can themselves be a symptom of a panic attack, so it is important that you find a way to relax and manage any stress. One of the steps in the OMS Plan is meditation, as it is clinically proven to reduce stress. There is also a clinically recognized link between stress and MS progression, both in terms of relapses and degeneration.
To be diagnosed with dysphagia you will need to have a detailed neurological examination of the swallowing muscles. This may involve a test called a modified barium swallow which will allow the specialist to see how you chew and swallow food and liquid. During the test you will drink a small amount of a barium-containing liquid. This will allow the structure of your throat, oesophagus and mouth to be seen on an x-ray. Videofluoroscopy will then record the movement of these areas as you eat and drink different consistencies of solids and liquids. This will enable the doctor to see the exact swallowing problem to be treated.
There are specialists who may manage your treatment for dysphagia, including a speech and language therapist (SLT) and a dietitian.
Treatment can include:
Strategies for safer swallowing and eating
Dietary changes
Swallowing exercises
Feeding tubes
A dietitian will make sure that you are still having a healthy, balanced diet, including softer foods and thickened fluids that you may find easier to swallow. Feeding tubes can be a solution in severe cases that put you at risk of dehydration and malnutrition.
There are also things you can do to help:
Make sure that you eat when you have time, so that you don’t rush. Take small mouthfuls. Chew your food well, and concentrate on swallowing.
Take small sips of water with your meal.
Have smaller meals, more often. Eat your largest meal of the day when you are not fatigued — that may be at lunch time or mid-morning, rather than the evening.
Use the best posture that you can while sitting to eat.
Make note of the foods which cause your problems when swallowing and avoid them (i.e. dry foods like bread or rice or ‘thin’ liquids).
If you are feeling overwhelmed by MS and difficulty swallowing or any other symptom, read through our next steps — we are here to support you.