Originally Posted by Jaden

Hi!
Im a multi month browser and want to start sharing some of my TOS journey with you all.

Anyways, for now I will present with a question / tip for anyone suffering with aTOS symptoms (which I think I might have).

My symptoms started 4 months ago early Dec 2012. Along with my nTOS, I would also get dizzy when looking up or turning my head. Also, lifting my arm caused heaviness. Bad, right? Circulatory compression or something, I know.... A simple swallowing stretch completely eliminated all the dizziness and arm raising symptoms...INSTANTLY.

I tilted my head as far back as it would go...im talking about as far as possible. When i tried to swallow from this position, id have massive trouble doing so (with the aTOS symptoms).
After much effort in this head titled position i finally managed to push a swllow through....the key is that the head tries to jerk forward to complete the swallow but you can't let it.

BAM..the swallow went through...i felt some...stuff...(?)... shift down and suddenly I was able to swallow through from this max head tilt position with ease for the rest of the day or two. Over the course of a day or two, it would slowly get harder to swallow in this position and my symptoms would come back. Every day or two, Ive been doing this swallowing position to keep the...whatever it is...openned or shifted in the certain way. In doing this, the diziness has been lifted.

I forgot to do this stretch for the past about 3 weeks and i started getting some other poopy aTOS symptoms such as heaviness and numby pain in the hand (even when not raised!!) and coldness in the arm....but I didnt do the stretch bc oddly enough ive had no dizziness and that's always been my memory trigger.

Did the swallow stretch yesterday...boom - instant hand heaviness eliminated..fingers have their motion back...hand isn't always cold anymore...normalcy

1)This was a tip for anyone with these symptoms...hope it helps

2)Why is this working for me? Might it actually be another issue?


BTW....my nTOS has been in heavy heavy remission since around the end of Feb..pure PT...Ando got the ball rolling and then Li-Der Chan (Physical Therapist in Dr. Thompsons office) seems to be finishing the progress.....fingers crossed.


I'll be posting more frequently as time goes on...i want to help anyone with this and it's a good vent method as well for if/when this horrible condition resurfaces within me.....