eating...
 

Hi, I was wondering if anyone else has this problem. When ever I eat something, I can't speak without slurring my words and sounding all mumbled. Also after I eat, I can't drink for at least 5 minutes after, I choke on my drink. Well this is when I can eat.

Yes, I used to do that...and worse. :( Be very careful, as you are at risk of aspiration/choking. The chances of deteriorating to the point of a crisis are also higher when you are having bulbar symptoms such as you describe. Take it easy, and let your doctor know if things worsen or you begin to choke on saliva, etc.

Hang in there!

Marble mouth.... quite familiar with it. It was one of my earliest symptoms. You've used a lot of muscles to go through the process of eating your food; they're tired.

Are you on any medication yet? or just going through the early stages of trying to find out what is going on? ... never mind these questions... I just saw your last post in the other thread.

Try taking your mestinon ~30 minutes before eating; it will be at its peak efficiency around then. You should be able to eat a bit better then.

Brian

Talking, eating and breathing all use the same muscles.

In myasthenia the problems is not so much muscle weakness, but muscle fatigue.

You have to learn how to use muscles, let them rest and recover and then use them again.

If I talk a bit more, I can't eat. If I eat a bit more, I can't breath. I can almost never eat and drink at the same time and many times I can't mix different textures of food. Also, certain tastes improve my swallowing and others do the opposite.

It's a learning process of how to preserve your muscle strength, what makes your muscles stronger etc.

By now I have learned to do it so well, that I don't even have to think about it. Also, missing a meal or two is less bad than choking on your food.
Drinking in small sips gives you the same amount of fluids you would get drinking faster.

yeah, my neuro is worried about breathing with me. she ask me all the time if I have any breathing difficulty. That scares me. Whenever I feel my jaw get tired I stop eating because I don't want to get to that point. I don't like not being able to speak. Its something we all take for granted but when its taken away then we realize what gift it really was. Thanks everyone for your input, its good to know that one is not alone in this.

I have learned to communicate in other ways, such as writing.

I have also learned to appreciate what I once took for granted.

The advantage (and disadvantage) of MG is that you go from being unable to do things, to being able to do them and vice versa.

It makes your life a roller-coaster, but it also repeatedly gives you abilities you were deprived of (it also repeatedly takes them away, but it depends on your point of view).

Breathing difficulties no longer scare me (unless they are extreme), that has become part of my life.

Until recently, I couldn't make it through a burger without stopping half way through to let my jaw recover. It would just stop moving.

:DI am very new to this site. I started mestinon about 2 mos ago, and have had excellent results from the first pill since. My problem was eyelids, eating, and speech. Also I had problems holding my arms up over my head for any long period.
So far it has been
a miracle pill, I suppose you have tied that?

FREDH

I have the same problem; especially on very bad days. I realized that part of it was that I spent so much energy cutting my food that when it came time to chewing I was too tired and was just swallowing too big of bites. Having been on a puree diet and hating every moment of it I now avoid tough meats (i.e. chicken, steak and pork) and lean toward fish. If I am going to have them I ask my boyfriend to cut it up in small pieces for me- it's humiliating but I always think back to that puree. I also avoid stringy veggies such as cooked onions and melted cheeses.

Generally speaking if its a very very very bad night I eat mashed potatoes. I try to get my nutrients in the AM when I am stronger.

Take note of the foods you are eating. For instance, I love hot peppers,but the MG symptoms worsen quicker when I have peppers in my food. Watch for the connection with foods and symptoms. Some have mentioned a quicker muscle fatique reaction to peanut butter. One friend of mine eats saurkraut everyday, his symptoms are much better with this food in his diet.