What you're describing — that feeling of "flame" or irritation in the throat along with difficulty swallowing or clearing it — sounds like it could be dysphagia, which is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. This is a common symptom for people living with muscular dystrophy, caused by weakening of the muscles Show Full Answer
What you're describing — that feeling of "flame" or irritation in the throat along with difficulty swallowing or clearing it — sounds like it could be dysphagia, which is the medical term for difficulty swallowing. This is a common symptom for people living with muscular dystrophy, caused by weakening of the muscles involved in swallowing. The good news is there are options that can help! A specialist called a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) can work with you on this. There are also exercises that may be recommended, such as:
- Tongue strengthening exercises — to build the muscles needed for safe swallowing
- Effortful swallowing — swallowing as hard as you can to strengthen throat muscles
- The Mendelsohn Maneuver — a technique that targets specific swallowing muscles
- Supraglottic swallowing — helps coordinate breathing and swallowing together
It's really important to speak with your doctor before trying any of these exercises, as the right approach depends on your specific type of MD and how it's progressing. Left unmanaged, swallowing difficulties can lead to complications, so getting checked out sooner rather than later is a smart move! 💪
May 17
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