Hello Michael,
While I can't give you specific information over the internet without
knowing your medical history, I hope I can be of some help.
First, I agree with the others, double check with a gastroenterologist
(sp?) to ensure you don't have reflux or other problems that can be causing
the choking.  Many people with cp have problems with reflux.
If the doctors still say there is a difficulty with the swallowing muscles,
see if you can get a referral to either a speech-language pathologist or
occupational therapist that specializes in adult swallowing disorders, you
may have to ask around for this.  They can give you several tips to help
you out.  You want to be aware of the texture and consistency of the foods
that make you choke.  Is it thin liquids such as water?  Foods such as
chips or shreaded wheat?  Different temperatures?  Are you choking
immediately or after eating several bites?
This is good information to have on hand.
And out of curiosity, what type of cp do you have?  Did you ask the doctor
why he/she thought the spasitc muscle wasn't related to cp?

This is just a thumb nail sketch of some of the issues.  I don't how mush
help it will be.

Elizabeth Thiers, OTR
email: [log in to unmask]
homepage: http://www.bv.net/~john/bethsot1.html

----------
> From: Michael Orzel <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Another medical question
> Date: Thursday, July 15, 1999 2:24 PM
>
>            Hello,
>           You may remember that some weeks ago I asked this list about
how
>           is it when you go in for surgery and you have CP.  Well, the
>           response that I got was helpful in preparing me to go for the
>           procedure and I thank the people who responded.
>
>           Now for the news.  Five years I thought that I had a pocket in
my
>           throat and it was causing me to choke on my food so that I had
to
>           vomit to clear my throat.  Five years ago I went to have a
series
>           of x-rays to find out why I was choking.  Upon the revelation
>           that I had a pocket, it was suggested to me to have it removed
>           and I went to see a surgeon.  My wife and I did not like the
>           person who I saw and I did not have the operation done.
>
>           The symptoms were not to bad until this past spring when the
>           choking got to new heights, so I went to another surgeon.
>           This surgeon wanted me to have another series of barium
swallows
>           and a scope to see if my pocket increased in size.  He did not
>           see the pocket so he put me under general anesthetic to relax
my
>           throat muscles so he could see the pocket.  Guess what, there
is
>           NO pocket, The hospital who read my x-rays five years ago, read
>           them wrong.
>
>           My wife and I went to see the surgeon yesterday to see what
could
>           be wrong.  He is having me go to have x-rays of me swallowing
>           because he feels that I have a very spastic muscle in my
throat.
>           My question to is group is, does anybody have a muscle in the
>           throat that makes it difficult to eat and if so, what do you
do.
>
>           My surgeon said that there are a number of activities that they
>           could do including Botox(?Sp) injections. He also said that
this
>           spastic muscle in my throat is not related to CP.
>
>           Anyone with answers to my questions, please respond.  I am very
>           much interested in your answers.  Thank you.
>
>             By the way, today is Wendy's and my 10th wedding anniversary.