I am 9 weeks post-op and for the last 4-5 weeks I've been having a little issues when I eat. It feels like food gets stuck right at the top of my chest/bottom of my throat, it hurts really bad for a few seconds and goes away quickly. It feels almost like i can't breathe at that time. It happens at least once almost every time I eat. Has any one else had this happen or have any ideas if it could be related? I do have a tethered cord also but I don't think I have any symptoms from it, could it be related to this new issue?
I at times will have this issue and I'm still not diagnosed. Actually I have this a lot!
Yes, this happens to me quite often. I just went to see an ENT specialist and he found that I have a paralyzed left vocal cord. I choke every day but on occasion my throat will close up and I will not be able to breathe...at all. I also get that horrible pain that lasts for 15-30 seconds and is just awful, it hurts so bad! It almost always happens when I am drinking something.
The good news is...that I am still around and kickin'! The other good news is that the ENT doc told me that even if you do choke to the point of passing out your brain will release the muscles and nerves and you will start to breathe again. That was a HUGE relief for me because I thought I was going to stop breathing and that's that.
I would think about getting checked out by an ENT. I really didn't think that they would find anything but they did. The not so good news is now I will have 6 months of speech therapy to repair the vocal cord (I hope) with some kind of TV-thing where I will be able to see my vocal cords.
I have A LOT of nerve damage from the surgery. I am almost 2 years post-op. The left side of my face goes numb, I have ringing in my ears and pain behind my left eye. Right after I had the surgery I was rear-ended in a car accident and I know some of the problems that I have are from that. Stay strong and know that brain surgery recovery is SLOW.
Terri in MN
Hmmm, very interesting, I am going to an ENT next week for allergies and for a cyst thats on my hypopharynx. It was found when the did my cervical mri, maybe that could be the cause, even though it is only 1 cm.
Thanks for everyones input!
TerriMN said:
Yes, this happens to me quite often. I just went to see an ENT specialist and he found that I have a paralyzed left vocal cord. I choke every day but on occasion my throat will close up and I will not be able to breathe...at all. I also get that horrible pain that lasts for 15-30 seconds and is just awful, it hurts so bad! It almost always happens when I am drinking something.
The good news is...that I am still around and kickin'! The other good news is that the ENT doc told me that even if you do choke to the point of passing out your brain will release the muscles and nerves and you will start to breathe again. That was a HUGE relief for me because I thought I was going to stop breathing and that's that.
I would think about getting checked out by an ENT. I really didn't think that they would find anything but they did. The not so good news is now I will have 6 months of speech therapy to repair the vocal cord (I hope) with some kind of TV-thing where I will be able to see my vocal cords.
I have A LOT of nerve damage from the surgery. I am almost 2 years post-op. The left side of my face goes numb, I have ringing in my ears and pain behind my left eye. Right after I had the surgery I was rear-ended in a car accident and I know some of the problems that I have are from that. Stay strong and know that brain surgery recovery is SLOW.
Terri in MN