Does anyone out there with ataxia have trouble with choking with coffee, tea, or water? (or any other drink) also serious coughing, sometimes for no reason? I wonder if this is another problem associated with ataxia. There are so many!
Yes, sometimes I just start choking for no reason. It scares the shi… out of me
Choking, with or without food and drink, is common unfortunately. Even involuntary swallowing of saliva can provoke a choking incident.
A Speech Therapist can give useful advice. Keeping the chin tucked in when swallowing can help, thickeners can be added to liquids, and I have read about a special straw with a valve 
xB
All the time..Don't talk or think too much when eating/drinking..Stay focused and relaxed..Worx for me!
Yes I do. I could understand about choking and food, but water? When I eat breakfast cereal I cough for seams like forever but maybe couple minutes. I have thought about not eating cereal, but I like it.
Yes I do. I could understand more about food, but water?
I choke/cough all the time,yes, even on water or my own saliva . Scares my daughter to no end. I'm getting used to it. Definitely part of the disease. There are certain things(like popcorn ) I've learned to steer clear of. You are not alone.
swallowing &tongue movement is a symptom of ataxia
I didn't know that, but now I do. Thanks.
your welcome.
your welcome
I have swallowing problems and get my throat stretched to help like every six months or so but my big problem is when the throat closes and I cannot breath, I try sucking in air but it takes a minute or more before my throat relaxes and I can breath again. It is terrifying to go thru and you think you are going to die every time, I take Omeprizole to help counteract the acids but it still happens. I have to be very careful when I breath in that I don't have crumbs in my mouth or I suck them in and my throat closes, even eating ice cream if I breath in with my head tilted back I can cause my throat to close. This has been going on for about 4 or 5 yrs. The worst part now is Omeprizole should only be taken for 14 days or it can cause liver damage. This med is the only help so I take it now instead of every day I do it every other day and it still helps but I cannot go 2 days without it. I tried to taper off but I cant take less or I have GI problems. I am 81 and have had neck surgery for cancer and this is maybe the main cause of my problems. Jerry
I must be blind I can't find an article.
it wouldnt go through. i thought i erased it in time. the site only allows me 5MB of a file.
swallowing is a symptom of ataxia.talk to your neo. dr. if its thats serious.talk to your dr.
gelu65 said:
I have swallowing problems and get my throat stretched to help like every six months or so but my big problem is when the throat closes and I cannot breath, I try sucking in air but it takes a minute or more before my throat relaxes and I can breath again. It is terrifying to go thru and you think you are going to die every time, I take Omeprizole to help counteract the acids but it still happens. I have to be very careful when I breath in that I don't have crumbs in my mouth or I suck them in and my throat closes, even eating ice cream if I breath in with my head tilted back I can cause my throat to close. This has been going on for about 4 or 5 yrs. The worst part now is Omeprizole should only be taken for 14 days or it can cause liver damage. This med is the only help so I take it now instead of every day I do it every other day and it still helps but I cannot go 2 days without it. I tried to taper off but I cant take less or I have GI problems. I am 81 and have had neck surgery for cancer and this is maybe the main cause of my problems. Jerry
I also have to have an endoscopy (throat stretched) every two years. Sometimes I get heartburn and it builds scar tissue, hence the stretching. I also have sleep apnea, and the air helps me breathe. I am learning that there is so much to this disease. I have had it since birth, but it didn’t progress until I was over 50. Now I am in my 60’s and it is progressing right along. My chiro. Is working with it (he knows a lot about ataxia). It sure is nice to have his help and adjustments to keep me out of a wheelchair, to keep walking, talking properly, etc. An essential oil, by Doterra, called Balance, keeps me from stumbling and falling down. I rub it on the bottom of my feet. And it works!
I do. I'll start coughing/choking on air. I went to a speech therapist and they taught me the right way to swallow. It hasn't completely gone away but it is better.
Hi I was advised by my Dr to tuck my chin in, keep my head down when swallowing it helps me.
I have that problem all the time mostly at night I start chocking in my sleep and my wife needs to wake me up. sometimes it gets so bad that i start throwing up. It can take me awhile to calm down and be able to go back to sleep. I talked to my doctor about it and he said to not eat so late at night and to make sure i am not eating really greasing food for dinner. for awhile it help but it still happens not as much but once it awhile