I received a phone call earlier today. A staff member was letting me know that the appointment for Al’s swallow test is January 25, 9:30 am. She said for me to meet her and Al at the hospital.
I said thank-you and hung up. I jotted down the time and then I sat here wondering why the hospital? What kind of test is this? What are they going to do to him that he has to go to the hospital?
Does anyone know what is going to happen during this test? Will Al feel any discomfort?
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They will see how well Al can swallow and if he struggles with choking when he eats or drinks. If so they will start pureeing his food and thickening his drinks so he doesn’t choke. It’s not an invasive thing.
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oh good, that is what i thought but when they said hospital, i thought they were going internal with a scope or something
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i’m guessing it’s someone who works at the hospital who does it. my father in law had it done after his stroke, although he was already in the hospital. maybe it’s just for safety? weird that they don’t give you any details…
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he is having it done because of his choking
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how do you think he will handle it if his food has to be pureed or mashed some?
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I did some of it here at home and changed our foods we fixed. we also used thickit at times, but since being there they have not done anything different, and now he is having issues. i think he will be alright in the end
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‘m not sure, Terry, but I think he has to swallow barium to make an X-ray of his organes. They mostly do this to look at the stomach and oesophagus to see if there are any deviations in it.
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ok thanks!!
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I think it’s likely as ‘behindthemask’ said…They will watch him swallow different things and see what happens…how long it takes or if he can’t at all..etc. I had a similar test done re my M.S. because swallowing is sometimes difficult.. At least I suspect that’s what it is….Diane
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hoping so, that sounds easier than what i was thinking, a scope down the throat
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Terry, don’t worry now … you can’t do anything about it – even if it’s not going to be maybe so pleasant for Al. Deal with that when it comes … you can’t change the test anyhow. So come down and relax.
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i like to know what he is in for so I can answer his questions. I am not worrying was just curious. Al does terrible at tests. he gets very upset, so I want to be his rock
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I’m sure it will not be that pleasant, but don’t get upset until it’s time. Give them a ring and ask what it’s all about and what is going to happen. Easy .. really, instead you being sleepless over this.
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I found out what it is and now I can tell Al. the longer he has to get used to an idea the better off we all are. lol
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Brilliant !!! You’re probably right there too.
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Time for duvet now … see you tomorrow.
Have a great evening. Love.
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nite, sweet dreams
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Terry,
They’re probably going to do a barium swallow. Here is a very good article that might help you to know what’s going on, so you can explain it to Al and encourage him to do this. My husband has had this test, and so has my mom, and while it isn’t fun, both made out ok.
http://katekelsall.typepad.com/my_weblog/parkinsons-swallowing/
Much love, I know the Lord will be with you!
Cheryl
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I think Cheryl is right. They will need the diagnostic equipment to see what is happening when Al swallows. From what I understand, it’s not an uncomfortable test at all. Glad they are looking into it!
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sounds like a simple process. I feel better now. thank you so much
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Cheryl, that was very informative. Thank you so much for giving me the link. I sure appreciated reading it
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You’re welcome, my friend. I pray that you get answers about Al tomorrow, so that they will be able to determine the best diet for him, so you won’t have to worry about him choking on his food.
Much love to you,
Cheryl
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i had this test before and it is not painful or even uncomfortable. it is swallowing a thick tasteless goo, you have to swallow as they are taking the xrays. mine was at the hospital and that just may be the best place to do it and not due to danger. he may have trouble being co-operative but they will work with him.
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oh yes, he will not be co-operative. this is why they asked me to be there also
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I had a swallow test when I was in the hospital after my stroke. It’s to make sure that he can, in fact, swallow. It’s not unpleasant: all they do is take x-rays of you chewing and swallowing a cracker.
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oh he will like that, food!!!! lol. thank u so much John, you have eased my mind so much
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Praying for you both
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thank you my friend. it means the world to me
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I think Anthony will need this soon.
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I hope not,,,,,,and I am hoping Al passes his with flying colors…..
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I hope it goes well I have never heard of a swallow test—all sorts of crazy things poped into my head when I saw the subject line……
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Ivonne, I can only imagine what you were thinking. hehe. from what i have learned it is a simple test that involves nothing internally done
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yes, and that’s why I was afraid to open the email…lol…….
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I hear ya girlfriend, hehe
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Hi, there. It depends. There are a few different ones that can be done. There’s an esophageal reflux test. This is where they take a thin tube with a sensor at the end, and they have you swallow water during the test. The tube goes up the nose into the stomach. It is a much more accurate test because they can tell if any part of your esophagus has stopped working.
I’ve had that done, and it wasn’t the most pleasant, but it was accurate. It showed that my motility was only normal 80% of the time (and that was before I had the brain injury).
I’ve also had the swallow test, and frankly, I think it’s a joke. The mix barium with something like oatmeal, applesauce, etc and you eat/drink the different things while they watch you swallow.
If you’re like me, your symptoms may not be present 100% of the time. Sometimes, I have no issues at all with swallowing. Other time, I have troubles swallowing water. For me, it is a neurological issues and I will lack the coordination with controlling the muscles used for swallowing. (Sometimes, i also have issues walking or talking, etc. There is no rhyme or reason to it. It just happens, and I can’t control or trigger it.) If this is what you experience, then the swallowing test is a joke.
It showed no abnormalities at all (and that was after I had the brain injury and developed more significant swallowing issues).
I would recommend getting the esophageal motility test done vs just the basic swallowing test because it is more accurate, but also more uncomfortable. (However, I think I was more sensitive to that test because I have a very sensitive gag reflux and when they spray the numbing stuff in my nose or back of my throat, I have a tendency to gag)
Hope that helps.
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hi there. I could tell even as I began to read that you had been through this experience. my brother has Parkinson’s Disease and has been having trouble swallowing and some choking issues. They are going to see if he has a problem by doing one of the two tests you described. he will not be a good patient. he doesn’t do well during any test due to his mentality. my brother complains off and on about something being stuck in his throat. you are right though, it is not all of the time and this could ruin the test results when on a different time it would definitely show. thank you so much for this very valuable comment………
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I didn’t know either, I learned a lot. Hope everythings OK!
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he is having some issues with swallowing due to the Parkinson’s. the test is going to show what is going on
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Keep us posted.
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I will, I am assuming will know the results immediately. the test is next week
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We had a neighbor years ago who was having trouble swallowing and they did a procedure to stretch her esophagus so she didn’t choke so easily. I don’t know if they would do that with Al or if it would even help. It would depend on the actual cause of the problem – a narrowed esophagus or just that the nervous system or muscles are faulty because of the Parkinson’s. I hope they will be able to help Al in some way whether doing this or pureeing his food.
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I don’t know Diane, but I do know I will be glad when the test is done and over with. I am hoping Al just is choking or something no mucus or something simple. Friday can’t get here fast enough. If there is something wrong it will be that rotten PD. Thickit product is what we used here at home for certain food. I hope puree isn’t a choice as it looks gross to the eater. LOL
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I agree about the puree. It certainly doesn’t look very appetizing. Too much like baby food. I don’t mind pureed soups, but pureed everything isn’t appealing.
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you know that puree food looks like doggy doo doo. lol. you are right about the soups, those are good
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Hi Diane, Here is a personal invitation for you. Come to my page and let’s have coffee. I even have cookies to tempt you further……Be waiting for you
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Which page?
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the page for that post, the coffee page
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