This is the name for a
medical condition that most people are aware of…..unless you have it. It
means that you have difficulty swallowing. Yes, it is one of the
conditions that accompany some forms of muscular dystrophy. It is also
very common in older people. It is also a condition, if severe enough,
that can be terminal.
The first time that I
experienced dysphagia…..I thought I was going to die. Yes, I thought I
was going to choke to death. I was eating some Chinese pad thai, which is
a dish that has thick rice noodles.
I swallowed and the
food stuck in my throat. I had never experienced that problem before, and
did not know what to do. I broke into a sweat, with my heart
racing. I was trying to get someone to help but I could not speak.
I was finally able to swallow after about twenty minutes. Needless
to say, I don’t eat pad thai anymore.
If you have Dysphagia
here are some solutions that I have found to help.
(1) Increase
your muscle mass, as the muscles in the throat are impacted by the muscular
dystrophy. There are a number of posts that I will do on this subject.
(2) Cut your
food into small pieces.
(3) Chew all
your food well before swallowing.
(4) Do not try
to swallow large amounts of food at one time.
(5) Do not eat
when you are in a hurry….. take time to enjoy your food.
(6) Do not eat
pasta dishes, breads or any other food that has caused you to have a problem.
(7) Always have
a glass of water with every meal.
(8) Do not drink
really cold drinks as that cause the muscles to cramp, which can be painful.
(9) If the
dysphagia is severe enough you should have your food processed in a blender.
