Trouble swallowing, feels like I can't breath

go see an internist. maybe you need endoscopy.

IHL said...
This has been happening to me off and on for about 3 years. It feels like my throat is just stiff, like it forgets how to swallow and doesn't know where to direct the air. I go to take a drink of water and it pours back out of my mouth. I try to swallow my pills and they get caught in my esophagus and refuse to go all the way down. I eat food and it feels like I'm being suffocated!

You just described how I felt when my thyroid was swollen.

I don't understand why he told you to use taurine, unless he believes it's due to stress. But, in this article www.poliquingroup.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article/782/Ten_Benefits_of_Taurine.aspx it says to take magnesium with it for help with sleep and lowering stress levels.

Is it possible that the breathing issues are separate, but the stress brings it on? If so, the breathing issues could be from Babesia.

I'm not sure what my doctor thinks it's from. I do have bart. My neck looks bigger. The muscles on the sides are really tense.

I've had my tsh and my free t3 and 4. They were all low.

IHL - Usually for hypothyroid your T3 and T4 are low but your TSH is high.
I have had swallowing problems too since the beginning of my lyme symptoms.
My thyroid tests are all in range. I went to an ENT Dr and he put a tube with a camera in my nose and down my throat to look at it for irritation (reflux) and had me swallow water and then a cookie. He said everything was fine. I was having a better day that day.
I have read that the nerves in the brain (can't remember the name) - if affected by the disease can cause throat issues.

I still wonder though so I am thinking of doing a saliva test - a lab in the US will send a saliva kit (none that I'm aware of in Canada) - and checking my TSH, Free T3 and T4, and also the reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies. That way I can put my mind at ease.

Then I'm also going to do the same for my adrenals - check DHEA, and cortisol.

It might be a good idea to recheck your T3,T4, TSH, and add the Reverse T3 and thyroid antibodies.

IHL - something is definitely "off" - as your low T3 and T4 - you should have high TSH.

My TSH was low - like yours - but my T3 and T4 are in upper end of ranges.

If I were you I would include the Reverse T3 and also thyroid antibiodies...next time you test.

It's so difficult knowing when to stop the testing...and just say it's due to Lyme...and will get better...right?

But, from what I've read, those other tests are important to.

I have hypothyroidism and sometimes I am having difficulty swallowing, especially after a night when I don't sleep well. My throat narrows. My son was never tested for thyroid problems, but he too has difficulty swallowing. It comes and goes. He got the bulls eye in fall 2013. The swallowing problem is kind of new for him and sometimes it is worse than others.

I answered the other thyroid post too.

Yes,those comments on the frees and tsh are correct.

Low frees T3, T4 should have high tsh - hypO

High frees T3, T4 should have low tsh - hypEr

Anything else suggests pituitary dysfunction - which is not understood well. Or a thyroid on a roller coaster ride which is similar to stop and go driving. By the time gas is applied, its almost time for the brakes and the feed back loop is not smooth. That is sometimes the beginning of Hashimoto.

You need to get free T3, free T4 , tsh and possible Hashimoto elevated antibodies tested called TPO and TgAb, these are all covered by insurance if you have lab coverage.

Find a Dr that will do this or go direct labs online and find a local blood draw. If a Dr only does tsh and maybe T4, run away, as they are clueless about thyroid. Its not that hard, I dont understand their lack of thyroid knowledge.

I've even told endos there wrong and walked out on them. Then, I found one that will listen to me. He provides the thyroid med script of my choice, and works with my suggestions, while I try not to trample his ego.. My thyroid is one of the more complicated ones but I dont want it removed.

I have hashimoto and it can be viewed on a thyroid ultrasound. Instead of a nice butterfly shape with a smooth outline and even density, it looks like a steaming pile of stepped on dog poop, without color LOL.
Its not unusual for a small nodule to be on a hashi thyroid either- they are monitored via ultrasound every few years.

All thyroid dysfunction should take into consideration the HPA axis relationship (hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal). You can't solve imbalance of one if the other two aren't also studied.

astro—
GOOD FOR YOU walking out on endos. I think they are largely responsible for the thyroid epidemic in this country. Those who can't be bothered to educate themselves should be fired on the spot.

NDs are usually easier to work with regarding HPA axis/endocrinology. And—testing isn't always accurate, I'm sorry to say. For me, testing only provides half the story. I have had to play around with Naturethroid and iodine and a few other things to figure out what my optimal levels should be. It was not easy. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I am treating as well as I can and that when lyme & co is resolved, the thyroid will be easier to manage as well.

-p

You really should be calling your doc today and making sure he knows this stuff.

And -not to get too gross - but if the stuff you are coughing up is greenish or dark yellowish, and your doc isn't acknowledging your pleas - find a doctor that will treat you for this, even if it's the only thing you use them for. You really need to have that evaluated.

He has been talking to me every other day or so. He sent me some taurine in the mail that he was hoping would help. He said he's counting down the days until my appointment. He wanted me to come in for a quick check for 15 minutes, but I don't want to make the 2 hour drive for that when I have an appointment next Thursday. I'm just trying to hang in there. He's irritated with me that I won't come in for the check.. I told him I'm comfortable with waiting so he just sent me the taurine. It's not helping and it keeps me up all night. But it's only been a few days.

The stuff I'm coughing up is clear and sometimes there are some brown streaks in it. I do have a sinus infection. I'm getting another evil sinus swab next week :(

This has happened to me off and on throughout the years. The cardiologist said it was my heart. My pcp said it was a mood disorder causing it. The ER said I was crazy. The LLND hasn't made up his mind yet. Soooo....... I guess we will see. Probably inflammation?

I think he's pretty hep. He gave me some nystatin. I know that's not the best. I'll bug him about it