Re: [ROSKAPOSTI] Re: Choking and SMA

[Guest guest]

Hi

I have similar issues so I've done some research into it. Basically the only

advice is to change the consistence of the food. Make it softer, if it's hard.

Make it finer, if it's something like rice or corn. Use a blender or some

similar kitchen utensil.

Always chew well. Don't talk and eat at the same time (as I always do).

Nuts of all kinds, uncooked apple, pop corn are all notorious for choking. So

I've stopped eating them. Beans and corn can be hard too because of the shell.

Clear liquids can be harder to swallow than liquids that are slightly thicker.

That may be why you find drinking milk helpful - milk is thicker than water.

There are even specific thickeners that you can add to juice or water to make it

thicker and easier to follow.

For me, I have also found it that sometimes food that was stuck is dislodged

when I lie down on my left side. Don't know why. The scary part in this is that

sometimes I did not even notice that there were any pieces of food lurking in my

throat. I am afraid that if I don't know they are there then it increases their

likelihood of them getting in my airways which can be very dangerous.

And finally, to make you really scared , it IS possible to die of choking on

food. So it may be a good idea for your carers to be knowledgeable about first

aid. Plus food that goes in the airways can cause a severe case of pneumonia.

You can have a swallow study done in a hospital to determine how serious your

swallowing problems are.

Probably all this just served to scare you. but I send you many smiles

anyway

Taya

37 years with SMA type II

[ROSKAPOSTI] Re: Choking and SMA

I've started doing that too over the past two years or so. It doesn't

matter what I eat either. Even pudding I will have a hard time getting

down. I tip my head to the left (guess you could go either direction)

and tip it forward at the same time. It gives a direct path for the

food to go down. When I asked my Doctor about it she told me to do what

I just said. I told her I guess it was natural instinct to do it that

way cuz thats what I've been doing. I just don't like doing it when we

are eating out. Things still get stuck but I don't choke. I always have

a big glass of milk too just incase I need something to push it down

altho some times the milk just passes by what ever is stuck. Just

relax, breathe slow and stay calm and it will go down.

>

> Lately I've noticed that I choke alot on food, simple things like

> rice or corn can cause a choking fit. Is this part of SMA? Does

> this mean that I will have to get a feeding tube soon? I'm pretty

> worried, so any advice is appreciated.

>

> Simone (totally freaking out right now)

>