Hi Krank, I agree that difficulty swallowing goes along with RSD for some of us. I know it's scary when we have difficulty and feels like food is stuck. Go slow and small and drink water-plenty. I have full body RSD 15 years. Internally also. My Dr. a neurologist has me on lorazepam, an anti-anxiety med and that calms my system down and relaxes my symptoms some. I've made many changes in my life to live in a calmer life style. I refuse to to be around negative people. The calmer the better. Music, meditation, exercise, stretching, all help too. Hope the best for you. your friend, loretta

Dear Krank and All,
I had to reply to your quote when you said "I asked my PM guy and he just dismissed it along with the RSD spreading to the epidural sight. I am wondering if I need to dismiss him. So this has lasted six months for me anyway. " Gosh, I get soooo mad at the insensitivity of some people...and esp doctors!!! Yes, I think if you can you need to find a better doctor that is more understanding of rsd.

I have had the throat swallowing problem for over a year now. Dr. S said it was a part of the RSD. I do have full body and it is internal too. Fun stuff huh? haha. I never had it in the beginning (almost 6 years ago) but have noticed it alot more over the last year or two. Also, I had the ketamine this past Sept and have noticed a decrease in it or maybe I am just so bad with everything else I don't notice it as much HA???!!! When it happens I try to calm myself down and grab some liquid to help it down. Now, I don't ever eat anything with at least some water nearby in case it happens. I think it is a terrifying thing not to be able to breath or catch your breath and I think maybe it is a natural reaction your body goes through with sweating and anxiety when you can't swallow or breath. Scary. Best of luck to all. Hope this helps.
kathy d

Thank you everyone who has responded. I'm sorry that I haven't been on here sooner but I have been in the hospital with my elderly mother for the past week. She went in thinking that she had a bladder infection and ended up having respiratory and cardiac arrest. They defibbed her twice and now she is back with us. She has kidney cancer in her right one and cycsts on her left. The right one is shriveled to nothing with the tumor cutting off the blood flow and spreading into the adrenal glands. She is 79 and refuses a blood transfusion and has a DNR order. It just frustrates me to no end. Maybe I'm being selfish but my stepdad has loved her for 60 years and they finally get married and now this happens. As for me I guess I'm on the back burner again while I try to convince my mother that life if worth living. She has 2 beautiful great grandkids and one on the way. We even went as low as parading the little ones in front of her. But that did nothing to help the situation. We were fortunate that the other hospital didn't have a copy of the living will on hand otherwise she wouldn't be here right now. We even reminded her about that fact and it still didn't affect her. Dad is beside himself right now. Hes scared as hell. I really feel sorry for the poor guy. He's such a wonderful caring person who has gone through hell and back. He lost his first wife to cancer.

As for my esophugus problem....I want to thank everyone who has responded so far. If there are anymore suggestions I would love to read them. I do try to keep water very close by when I am eating.The worst or should I say the most embarassing problem I have is when I eat in public. I try to eat very small pieces and the people I'm in company with wonder why it takes me so long to eat or why I don't finish my food. The worst problem is when the food gets stuck for a long time and I have to leave or they see me sweating to the point that I'm all wet like someone threw me in a pool. It's to the point now that I really don't go out much. My wife is so gracious though and just helps me out to our car and we call it a night.

Hi Krank,

First I want to say that I am so sorry about your mothers decision, I know that can be so disheartning. She may have her reasons, she may not want to suffer. We never know how much pain someone is in until we suffer ourselves. I will keep her in my prayers.

As for your esophogus, I still say go see about an upper GI series to rule out the hiatal Hernia. But, that is just my advice. Non invasive and can rule it out. Have you tried taking Nexium or a generic for it? It not, maybe you should try that for a few months, it is over the counter. It could help heal or even take down some inflamation in the throat. It is worth a try.

My prayers are with you.

Sandy