Swallowing trouble, and the power of suggestion

I really dislike how suggestible I am sometimes, even when I'm not dealing with overt anxiety. I'm a member of several Facebook groups for a few diagnoses I have. In one group, someone posted about trouble swallowing, and a surprising number of people responded, saying they had the same trouble. Ever since reading that, my swallowing doesn't feel normal, and I'm quite distracted by it. The throat is powerfully affected by our perception and even the power of suggestion, isn't it? Has this happened to anyone else before?

I am very much aware of the power of suggestibility.
At first I had noted about listening or reading as to what others say or post but on reflection I know that I can start thinking about a condition that doesn't seem to have bothered me in ages. If I get lucky that will be a fleeting thought if I can nip it in the bud, often through distraction,, sometimes though it can be the start of a scaling up in physical and emotional turmoil, it is very annoying and can be quite debilitating.

As an example sometimes my wife will tell me about her becoming aware of her own breathing and it causing her some issues. I can almost guarantee that it is not long before I too am focusing on my own breathing. I can make my self dizzy on that one, literally..! That can go on for some time, my wife tends to forget about her own issue within a very short time of mentioning it to me.!

So yes I very much agree with what you have noted and I'm not sure how this pattern of thought processes, some of which maybe on a subconscious level, can be altered.

These thoughts seem to make much worse or even start very real physical responses, which are rarely fleeting and very disturbing.

Best wishes, hope that things improve for you soon.

Thank you both, Dibbler and Raindrops! It can be quite confusing and distressing. I also think I'm more vulnerable when I come across things like those Facebook discussions at a time when that same issue is already a concern for me. About a month ago I had trouble swallowing food properly one evening, as it kept getting stuck at the back of my throat, and I needed to drink water to help it go down. My neurologist has ordered a head and throat MRI, and my GP ordered a barium swallow test. My swallowing has been fine since then, and I've eaten a month's worth of meals without trouble until this evening. Now my anxiety is back, and that same Facebook conversation I read a few days ago has sparked my anxiety. I suppose it's a bit different than regular HA, since I already have a certain diagnosis and I'm afraid it'll progress in a way I didn't expect. But it's still HA nonetheless, since I'm afraid of developing a sub-diagnosis that I haven't been diagnosed with yet.

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Originally Posted by bulan

I really dislike how suggestible I am sometimes, even when I'm not dealing with overt anxiety. I'm a member of several Facebook groups for a few diagnoses I have. In one group, someone posted about trouble swallowing, and a surprising number of people responded, saying they had the same trouble. Ever since reading that, my swallowing doesn't feel normal, and I'm quite distracted by it. The throat is powerfully affected by our perception and even the power of suggestion, isn't it? Has this happened to anyone else before?

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This is why NLP is so powerful. I would definitely look into it, Bulan ;)

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Originally Posted by KK77

This is why NLP is so powerful. I would definitely look into it, Bulan ;)

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Thanks, KK77. What is NLP?

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Originally Posted by bulan

Thank you both, Dibbler and Raindrops! It can be quite confusing and distressing. I also think I'm more vulnerable when I come across things like those Facebook discussions at a time when that same issue is already a concern for me. About a month ago I had trouble swallowing food properly one evening, as it kept getting stuck at the back of my throat, and I needed to drink water to help it go down. My neurologist has ordered a head and throat MRI, and my GP ordered a barium swallow test. My swallowing has been fine since then, and I've eaten a month's worth of meals without trouble until this evening. Now my anxiety is back, and that same Facebook conversation I read a few days ago has sparked my anxiety. I suppose it's a bit different than regular HA, since I already have a certain diagnosis and I'm afraid it'll progress in a way I didn't expect. But it's still HA nonetheless, since I'm afraid of developing a sub-diagnosis that I haven't been diagnosed with yet.

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I completely relate to what you have written.

Late last year I went through a similar situation regarding my bowels and stomach. I suspected that the issues could have been caused by my pain medication but still pursued the doctor / specialist route of going through a colonoscopy and CT scan with dyes and contrast. Also many other tests were performed.
Everything was clear and over time the issues sort of improved, altho my pain meds and IBS will always be a problem.

At the time that I was going through these investigations my brother just looked at me in amazement, the only thing we have ever shared in common is our last name. He has got some serious long term health conditions and yet he always seems to manage to find context and be very much relaxed about things. We are all wired differently.

I am hopeful that my up and coming CBT, with a focus on mindfulness, can help.

Have you tried any CBT or other therapy type help and support....?

Best wishes

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Originally Posted by bulan

Thanks, KK77. What is NLP?

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-...ic_programming

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Originally Posted by Dibbler

I completely relate to what you have written.

Late last year I went through a similar situation regarding my bowels and stomach. I suspected that the issues could have been caused by my pain medication but still pursued the doctor / specialist route of going through a colonoscopy and CT scan with dyes and contrast. Also many other tests were performed.
Everything was clear and over time the issues sort of improved, altho my pain meds and IBS will always be a problem.

At the time that I was going through these investigations my brother just looked at me in amazement, the only thing we have ever shared in common is our last name. He has got some serious long term health conditions and yet he always seems to manage to find context and be very much relaxed about things. We are all wired differently.

I am hopeful that my up and coming CBT, with a focus on mindfulness, can help.

Have you tried any CBT or other therapy type help and support....?

Best wishes

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Thank you, Dibbler! I haven't tried CBT yet, but I did see a therapist two years ago, and I was beginning to practice the steps she gave me, but then I found out my insurance didn't cover her sessions. Then life got busy, and I haven't sought out someone new until now.

I admire people who have serious health issues and seem to be anxiety-free. I'd love to know how your brother manages not to let his health consume his thoughts, and how he manages not to imagine the worst case scenario. Have you ever asked him how he handles his health mentally/emotionally?

---------- Post added at 19:44 ---------- Previous post was at 19:44 ----------

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Originally Posted by KK77

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-...ic_programming

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Thank you, KK77!

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Can I ask everyone a few swallowing questions? When you're not consciously anxious, have you ever experienced food getting stuck at the back of your throat for an entire meal? It happened to me about a month ago, and I haven't had it happen again since, at least not to that degree.

Also, can anyone describe to me how it feels when you don't swallow normally? I'm curious if what I'm feeling is similar to other anxiety-related swallowing problems. Tonight, for instance, I felt like my esophagus was narrow/tight most of the time. It took extra time for food to travel down my throat, and even drinking water feels as if it's forcing its way through a narrower area.

Lastly, does your tongue and/or the muscles in your throat ever feel tired or weak when you're swallowing? I get this once in a while, and it might legitimately be tied to an existing condition that I have. But I'm curious to know if anxiety can do this as well. Thanks! :flowers:

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Originally Posted by bulan

Thank you, Dibbler! I haven't tried CBT yet, but I did see a therapist two years ago, and I was beginning to practice the steps she gave me, but then I found out my insurance didn't cover her sessions. Then life got busy, and I haven't sought out someone new until now.

I admire people who have serious health issues and seem to be anxiety-free. I'd love to know how your brother manages not to let his health consume his thoughts, and how he manages not to imagine the worst case scenario. Have you ever asked him how he handles his health mentally/emotionally?

---------- Post added at 19:44 ---------- Previous post was at 19:44 ----------


Thank you, KK77!

---------- Post added at 22:21 ---------- Previous post was at 19:44 ----------

Can I ask everyone a few swallowing questions? When you're not consciously anxious, have you ever experienced food getting stuck at the back of your throat for an entire meal? It happened to me about a month ago, and I haven't had it happen again since, at least not to that degree.

Also, can anyone describe to me how it feels when you don't swallow normally? I'm curious if what I'm feeling is similar to other anxiety-related swallowing problems. Tonight, for instance, I felt like my esophagus was narrow/tight most of the time. It took extra time for food to travel down my throat, and even drinking water feels as if it's forcing its way through a narrower area.

Lastly, does your tongue and/or the muscles in your throat ever feel tired or weak when you're swallowing? I get this once in a while, and it might legitimately be tied to an existing condition that I have. But I'm curious to know if anxiety can do this as well. Thanks! :flowers:

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My brother seems to share some characteristics as my wife, well in one respect, they both seem to lack the ability to panic or worry, my wife being the more adept. It simply does not occur to them when dealing with what life can throw at them. My brother has a long term life limiting condition and yet he, for the most part, remains worry free. He does have some emotionally troubled times, then he distracts himself with his hobby of antiques / collections etc. For him that is enough.
When my wife was going through her diagnosis for cancer, then went through surgery, chemo and radiation treatment, I was the one emotionally in pieces.
My wife just doesn't seem to have the wiring in place to join the dots which then leads to a worry / panic cycle overwhelming her. That must not come across that she is uncaring or not understanding to others needs, as she most certainly is. But worrying is, at the very most, limited to a very basic level of, using the above example, "What is the date of my operation" and when she was told she was then fine. She was a little upset at being told she would have no hair for our Sons wedding, but a wig soon resolved that.
With that "wiring" being absent in her make up she doesn't really have to try and not worry as the worry is just absent....!

It truly amazes me how we are not only all different physically but the same also applies to how we all have different capacities to cope emotionally with life.

I have had counselling from various professional people and yet one of the best types of counselling for me was the Mindfulness CBT approach.

Prior to trying that I had largely considered some aspect of my psychological make up to be "broken" or can be fixed, I must not be trying hard enough.

Just that thought process alone can be pretty debilitating and emotionally tiring. However the mindfulness approach to CBT has taught me to be more accepting of my own self and deal with the moment of here and now, using anchors to help to reinforce that.
It has helped me somewhat, at least I try and not give myself such a hard time with these escalations of anxiety and depression. But both of those can be severely debilitating and all to easy to spiral out of control.

For once Mindfulness has made me understand and accept (a little anyway) that I'm not something which is "broken" or that I need to "pull myself together" but how to deal with events a little better day to day.

At the moment by BP is being troublesome. It would be nice to have a break from all of this....!!!!! :)

Best wishes

Thank you, Dibbler!

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Originally Posted by bulan

Thank you, Dibbler!

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You are most welcome.

Thinking about what your first post on how suggestible you can be I have often wondered why I can be affected so and yet often lack the feelings of complete trust and faith in what doctors or specialists are telling me. That is only a broad generalisation but the powers of suggestibility doesn't seem to extend completely to those who I seek for professional help. There is always a prevailing doubt.

Best wishes

Well I've got oesophageal motility issues going on and last Tues I swallowed a couple of digestive enzyme pills without enough water and dashed out the door! Twenty minutes later I was in extreme pain, even swallowing saliva hurt ... I had pill induced oesophagitis (self diagnosed) so lesson learned. It's taken 5 days to get better :(

People with motility issues are more likely to get pill induced oesophagitis so it brought home to me just how important it is to take meds/any pills with a full glass of water. I won't be making that mistake again.

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Originally Posted by WiseMonkey

Well I've got oesophageal motility issues going on and last Tues I swallowed a couple of digestive enzyme pills without enough water and dashed out the door! Twenty minutes later I was in extreme pain, even swallowing saliva hurt ... I had pill induced oesophagitis (self diagnosed) so lesson learned. It's taken 5 days to get better :(

People with motility issues are more likely to get pill induced oesophagitis so it brought home to me just how important it is to take meds/any pills with a full glass of water. I won't be making that mistake again.

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My wife is still surprised that I can take a handful of pills dry, without much issue. Of course it is easier with a glass of water.

She, and our eldest daughter, have very real issues taking tablets. My wife will always buy capsule shaped paracetamol to help, as an example, but has to be completely upright and drink the tablets down with a full glass of water. It has thankfully improved somewhat for her but in the past the amount of water she needed to drink before they would go down fully for her was beyond just a glass or two. Finding capsule / caplet shaped alternatives as helped.

Our eldest daughter often finds the tablets are still there and become stuck. Thankfully she doesn't need to take regular medication but if she has needed to do so, and there isn't a liquid alternative, it is a major issue for her to take them without discomfort.

Best wishes

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Originally Posted by Dibbler

My wife is still surprised that I can take a handful of pills dry, without much issue. Of course it is easier with a glass of water.

She, and our eldest daughter, have very real issues taking tablets. My wife will always buy capsule shaped paracetamol to help, as an example, but has to be completely upright and drink the tablets down with a full glass of water. It has thankfully improved somewhat for her but in the past the amount of water she needed to drink before they would go down fully for her was beyond just a glass or two. Finding capsule / caplet shaped alternatives as helped.

Our eldest daughter often finds the tablets are still there and become stuck. Thankfully she doesn't need to take regular medication but if she has needed to do so, and there isn't a liquid alternative, it is a major issue for her to take them without discomfort.
Best wishes

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Yes so does my partner, I'm always telling him to take more water! My specialist told me that being female was the first reason for my swallowing issues, then having CFS (autoimmune condition) which affects mainly females, then increasing age!! However, even younger women (and men) can have these difficulties.

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Originally Posted by WiseMonkey

Yes so does my partner, I'm always telling him to take more water! My specialist told me that being female was the first reason for my swallowing issues, then having CFS (autoimmune condition) which affects mainly females, then increasing age!! However, even younger women (and men) can have these difficulties.

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Our eldest daughter is 34 and I do remember when she first approached her teens she had horrendous problems trying to swallow her migraine medication. Thankfully for her those migraines that she suffered from quite badly seemed to stop over time. Her ability to swallow medication hasn't improved much as she has grown older.

My wife has resorted at times to place a tablet into a piece of bread to swallow, to try and help her with some non coated tablets which seem to stick.

Rolling the pills (even oval ones) in butter or margarine works well. Also making sure you have some water first before taking the pills helps. The other option is to take them with food and water :)

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Originally Posted by WiseMonkey

Rolling the pills (even oval ones) in butter or margarine works well. Also making sure you have some water first before taking the pills helps. The other option is to take them with food and water :)

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Good points and I will tell me wife that as her cod liver oil capsule is quite large in size. :)



Going back to what you have written about the difficulty to swallow pills and what a specialist had told you, the part about being female contributes to this issue.

I remember talking to a GI specialist, after having a colonoscopy and CT scan etc, about another issue that I have and that is Proctalgia Fugax, most painful.
He told me that the greatest numbers of those who experience this are female. However over time he has had cause to rethink that as he now believes that it is more typical of a man to not go to the doctors to talk about such issues. So even though it is more typical for a female to present these issues to him he is now aware of more males with this condition, as the years have passed during his practice.

I reckon that I'm not just typical of a man.....!

Just a thought :)

Yeah, you are right but so difficult to have a break from it. For myself things and anxiety come up when you least expect them. I might wake up in the middle of the night inn absolute panic and confused not understanding what is happening and that's when is difficult trying to control your feelings as you don't start from a rational mind but from a mindfulness that is broken for whatever reason. How do you cope when that happens? At times I am fearful of falling asleep because I know that I might wake up in a panic and cannot control that moment of when it happens. So if I have about for or 5 hours sleep and then wake whether in a panic or not I tend to get up and start my day although I do feel really tired later on but at the same time I know it can be scary for me to fall asleep again! This is so debilitating that at present I cannot go to bed with my wife anymore in the upstairs room because I do not want to disturb her or the children when they are asleep in case I wake up in a panic. Getting really desperate! Seeing my doc again this afternoon as I heard from a friend that he had similar symptoms whch then disappeared after he saw a doc gastroenterologyst and after a few tests they found out he was allergyc to fructose. Once he eliminated this from his diet it all disappeared as if by magic! Will ask my doc if possible to look at other avenues cos at present I only saw an ENT specialist and he could not find anything wrong with me. Will let you know.

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Originally Posted by luigi44

Yeah, you are right but so difficult to have a break from it. For myself things and anxiety come up when you least expect them. I might wake up in the middle of the night inn absolute panic and confused not understanding what is happening and that's when is difficult trying to control your feelings as you don't start from a rational mind but from a mindfulness that is broken for whatever reason. How do you cope when that happens? At times I am fearful of falling asleep because I know that I might wake up in a panic and cannot control that moment of when it happens. So if I have about for or 5 hours sleep and then wake whether in a panic or not I tend to get up and start my day although I do feel really tired later on but at the same time I know it can be scary for me to fall asleep again! This is so debilitating that at present I cannot go to bed with my wife anymore in the upstairs room because I do not want to disturb her or the children when they are asleep in case I wake up in a panic. Getting really desperate! Seeing my doc again this afternoon as I heard from a friend that he had similar symptoms whch then disappeared after he saw a doc gastroenterologyst and after a few tests they found out he was allergyc to fructose. Once he eliminated this from his diet it all disappeared as if by magic! Will ask my doc if possible to look at other avenues cos at present I only saw an ENT specialist and he could not find anything wrong with me. Will let you know.

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Luigi44, I'm so sorry I missed your last post! How are you feeling now? How did things go with your doctor?