Gulping - Facing MS symptoms from A to Z

Ugh. This multiple sclerosis symptom can get a little gruesome. Gulping fits the bill there. We may choke, cough, or sputter. Sometimes we’re challenged even to swallow water. That makes pill-taking tricky, not to mention basic eating and drinking. 

Doctors call it dysphagia, or swallowing difficulty. Some struggle with extra hot or cold food or drink. Others wrestle with extra textures or food density.

Certainly, choking and unintentional spitting can be problems. But the real danger may arise when food or liquid is accidentally inhaled instead of ingested. In the worst cases, this can lead to pneumonia, which can be a big concern for long-term MS warriors.

It sort of goes along with the whole gag reflex thing, which MSers can also face fairly often. And plenty of people with swallowing difficulties also have speech issues. In fact, MS specialists may refer patients with dysphagia to speech/language pathologists for treatment and therapy. In milder cases, careful and attentive and slower eating may meet the need.

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