Hi - I just read your post. My Myasthenia also really impacts my swallowing. I struggle to maintain my weight. Here are the things that I have learned over time... Eat about 30 minutes after Mestinon when it is at its peak effectiveness. I choose not to drink with my meals so that I have enough swallowing power to get through with my food. I eat mushy stuff - hotdish (I am from Minnesota) oatmeal, pasta, things that have one texture - I have a great deal of trouble with juicy foods or soups that aren't cream soups - I seem to choke on liquids so I often thicken them. At first it grossed me out but now I am used to it. If you can drink milk or shakes there are lots of protein powders that you can mix with them to add calories - Eggnog has protein and calories and is thick, V-8 juice has nutrients and is thicker and easy to swallow. I rarely eat meat - it is hard to chew and swallow - I have been avoiding rice for ever because I almost always choke on it. Try no to eat food that is hot - warm is ok- room temperature is better - warmer foods tend to make your muscles relax more - so if you do drink with your meals don't drink hot liquids. Always make sure you are sitting up when you are eating and try tucking your chin to your chest when you swallow. It helps the food go down. Eat small meals often - and early in the day rather than later... Make yourself eat even when you aren't hungry - easier said than done, I know. I think that sometimes I don't want to even start eating because I don't want to choke or have the food go up my nose or into my lungs...but you have to keep trying. I have had aspiration pneumonia several times but less so now that I have tried various strategies for swallowing. OK, so you may already know this, don't try to thicken carbonated beverages...it doesn't turn out well. Juice works best - water is wretchedly unpleasant when thickened. Resource sells pre-thickened liquids or you can buy Thick-It or Thicken-Up at most drugstores and add it to liquids or soups... Good luck. hang in there.
Gabrielle