Hi to everyone. I had a stroke 3 years ago. For the last few weeks I have some difficulty in swallowing some foods. I was wondering if this has anything to do with having had a stroke. Has anyone else experienced such problems.
Yes, this can be after a stroke. My husband has twice had this problem in the last year. He is on level 4 pureed food but before on level 6 this his soft and bite size. A Speech Therapist will help you to know what is best for you. Askyour doctor about being referred to one.
Hello Melvin,
I find that when I am tired or even slightly unwell, any or all of my stroke deficits can resurface or worsen, including my swallow - it's rarely serious but things such as peanuts can start to be difficult to swallow. It is usually temporary and resolves within a few days.
After we have a stroke, parts of our brain have to work at over 100% to perform their usual tasks and taken on some of the work of dead or damaged brain cells. This causes the fatigue we so often experience but when we are unwell or tired, they can't do this "more than 100%", so we feel like it is a setback.
I initially lost my ability to swallow when I had my stroke - it has recovered completely, apart from these odd setbacks.
If these swallowing problems are completely new or causing you to choke or other problems, seek professional medical advice - this can be serious. I developed double pneumonia from this and it very nearly killed me.
Take care now,
Damian
Thanks for your reply
Thanks for your reply
I had my stroke in July 2023. It’s now the 1st of March 2024 and I have been unable to swallow since my stroke. Having fed me up my nose for the fist 7 weeks in hospital they operated on my so that I now have liquid fed directly into my stomach via a PEG. I underwent a video fluoroscopy test in a late October which determined that my oesophageal sphincter and my epiglottis were both closed, so that I may never swallow again. I went to see a specialist ENT doctor yesterday, who told me he’d like to operate on my throat and cut into it and slit a muscle. In doing this it may not improve things and may result in my death due to the anaesthetic. I have a very weak heart. What do I do?
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Hi All,
I had my brain stem stroke 6 weeks ago, initially I couldn’t swallow for the first 2 weeks and had an NS tube, by the end of week 3, I was able to drink and eat pureed food but was experiencing really bad anxiety everytime I did and this was hampering my eating recovery. The SALT team told me there wasn’t a problem with my swallow.
I did some research on line and found a good psychotherapist/hypnotherapist to help me, as waiting times for the NHS mental health services in my area can take up to a year.
I have now had a session with the psychotherapist/hypnotherapist to help deal with the anxiety around swallowing. It was an interesting session using hypnotherapy EFT (emotional Freedown Techniques) and EMDR. She helped me to see that this problem was not just linked to my stroke but to previous diagnosed PTSD relating to my cancer and treatment in 2022.
I am happy to report that the session has really helped with the panic/anxiety I was feeling everytime I tried to swallow anything.
I still have some healing to do regarding the swallowing after the stroke as I have loss of sensation down the whole of my left side, but now I can at least swallow food and drinks without feelings of panic.
Also, I was wondering if anyone else experienced feelings of fullness in the eosophagus when eating. It feels to me like the food takes a while to travel down to the stomach and a bit like reflux.
I am in a much calmer place now when I eat, which has helped a lot but would be interested to hear of other stroke survivors experiences with swallowing problemns and recovery.
All the best in your recovery journeys.
Lizx
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Thanks for sharing this Liz.
There is some really good information here and I am sure it will be of help to others in a similar predicament to you.
Unfortunately, I cannot offer you anything wrt feelings of fullness in the oesophagus. Sorry 
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