MS Diary | Monday, 3/25/24 | Dysphagia. It's here now.

I first experienced dysphagia last year. I'm getting it more and more. 

It's scary. Something about struggling to breathe throws you off your game. I'm using breathing exercises to manage it. 

Breathing exercises vs dysphagia - Dysphagia is my most recently developed symptom. It's also my scariest. It feels like my body forgets how to swallow. Not just solids, I'm struggling with liquid and AIR. It freaks everyone out which freaks me out even more. Freaking out, panicking during breathing is never a good thing. Saturday night, I tried something new. I put hands over my head and began breathing exercises. Inhale 1-2-3-4 (Stomach expands! That's the magic. It's kinda opposite of what you'd expect.). Exhale 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (Stomach goes IN.). The dysphagia didn't last as long as normal. I didn't try eating anymore but yes, I kept drinking. Doing forward, this is my treatment to keep calm, stay relaxed, focused on what I can control. *fingers crossed*