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I cannot move my Tongue and Swallowing is difficult

AndrewB

Senior Member
Messages
119
Location
England, UK
hello all,

Ive been in severe back pain and was given Tramadol, which i was taking for several months.
I was also taking Zopiclone for sleep.
About a week ago, i noticed that i was having trouble swallowing. I also noticed that the Tramadol
seem to make this worse, so i stopped taking the Tramadol.
I continued to take the Zopiclone.
I tried stopping the Zopiclone and the next day my tongue became very clumsy and impossible to move.
So now, i find swallowing extremely distressing as it feels like im going to choke.
When i take Zopiclone the swallowing and tongue problems subside, slightly, but it wont completely go away?
Can anyone suggest anything i could do to help myself as i cannot eat or drink in this condition.
 

nanonug

Senior Member
Messages
1,709
Location
Virginia, USA
When i take Zopiclone the swallowing and tongue problems subside, slightly, but it wont completely go away? Can anyone suggest anything i could do to help myself as i cannot eat or drink in this condition.

Assuming you are having an allergic reaction, have you tried an anti-histamine?
 

warriorseekspeace

Senior Member
Messages
141
Location
Florida
Oh dear! I wish I could help. This sounds awful for you! All I know, is, it is several of the cranial nerves which are responsible for swallowing, moving the tongue, etc. There is a speech language pathologist who is a patient and member of this forum, whom I will forward your post to right now. Perhaps she will have some knowledge about it.
WaSP
 

AndrewB

Senior Member
Messages
119
Location
England, UK
Im allergic to anti-histamines, Steroids and NSAIDs as well. That's why i was taking Tramadol for the pain.
My tongue has been like this for about a week now.
I also had a chest infection prior to stopping the Tramadol.
Ive had this before but not as severe as this.

Could this be some kind of Myasthenia Gravis reaction due to me being extra run down with the flu
at the same time as stopping the pain medication?
How long could this last, and given that im allergic to antiflammatory drugs, is there any
point in going to the Hospital?

Ive not been able to eat or drink because it feels like id swallow my tongue :ill:
 

warriorseekspeace

Senior Member
Messages
141
Location
Florida
I wrote linking her to your post. She is in Oz, so may be later she will wake up and see it. Hang in there. WaSP
Also, I too think if you have any sort of doctor, GO! Even possibly ER, although if it is possible, I might not mention the ME/CFS. ? Just invite judgement and discrimination. I just say (I have some neuro- immune problems and go on with immediate issue. ) I am wondering whether a virus could be involved, such as when a virus gives someone Bell's Palsy (paresis of the facial nerve - one of the cranial nerves involved).
Best wishes.
WaSP
 
Messages
10,157
Hi AndrewB. Difficulty swallowing has been reported as a side-effect of Zopiclone. You should discuss this with your doctor to decide if it is a side-effect or a symptom of something else.

Let us know how you are doing.

Kina.
 

August59

Daughters High School Graduation
Messages
1,617
Location
Upstate SC, USA
My condition is not related to zoplicone since I do not take it, but for the past 3 years there has been an ever so slight worsening of my ability to get the whole chewing, ready to swallow, acutaully making the swallow and it is even worse if I somewhat quickly drink something afterwards.

I geuss it goes along with all the other cognitive and short term memory problems that wax and wane with the disease.

Hope thinks take a turn for the best and keep on heading that way!!
 

AndrewB

Senior Member
Messages
119
Location
England, UK
i think i may need to go into hospital my right side of my face is somewhat numb, and the right side of my tongue is tingling. i awoke not being able to swallow and my tongue and throat feel fatigued and numb.
 

AndrewB

Senior Member
Messages
119
Location
England, UK
im resting in bed. i feel really ill but im scared to go into hospital. last time i had to go in they ignored me and i nearly died of potassium loss. they know i have m.e and its still ignored
 

Tammy

Senior Member
Messages
2,181
Location
New Mexico
When my cfs was at its peak........I had problems moving my tongue and also felt like the muscles in my throat were like jello so swallowing felt really wierd. I don't want to conclude that your symptoms are a result of CFS/ME..............I have learned that I cannot always blame all my symptoms on CFS............it's always best to get things checked out. Sending caring thoughts and many hugs.
 

SpecialK82

Ohio, USA
Messages
993
Location
Ohio, USA
Andrew, so sorry to read this. I have found sometimes it's better not to mention the ME/CFS at the ER and just tell them your symptoms/medications. I hope you get some relief soon. I have had a gradually problem with swallowing with the ME/CFS but not suddden. I did have acute numbness/tingling in my face after exposure to paint thinner, and they gave my benadryl in the ER. Please see someone, you may be surprised that it actually helped!
 

*GG*

senior member
Messages
6,389
Location
Concord, NH
Andrew, so sorry to read this. I have found sometimes it's better not to mention the ME/CFS at the ER and just tell them your symptoms/medications. I hope you get some relief soon. I have had a gradually problem with swallowing with the ME/CFS but not suddden. I did have acute numbness/tingling in my face after exposure to paint thinner, and they gave my benadryl in the ER. Please see someone, you may be surprised that it actually helped!

I would think they Electronic Medical Records, so once they know his name, they know his condition?

GG
 
Messages
2
Hi there Andrew,
Sorry to hear of your serious issue! I am an SLP who has had CFS/ME in the past- the one that WarriorseeksPeace mentioned. I'm not a specialist in swallowing, but there are some general things to know. I did not get to read this post until today, my apologies!!It sounds like the medication is causing problems which are not sustainable for you! What kind of movements is your tongue making if any? Can you control it at all? to steady your tongue you could try putting the tip of your tongue firmly against your bottom teeth (inside) which will give it a secure base and some sensory stimulation. Eat food that is a uniform consistency- like porridge, not say corn flakes with milk where the two different textures will go down at different speeds. So you might need to mix up your food in a blender if you can, if you need. Try also dipping your chin down towards your neck when swallowing, chew slowly, swallow twice and deliberately/effortfully. THese are some strategies you can use. Make sure you are sitting up properly too, and don't eat much with each mouthful. Probably best you contact me in person if you need.. kara_snibson@hotmail.com ..stay safe!
 

Kati

Patient in training
Messages
5,497
Hi Andrew, when I was a kid, my tongue would be quite sore and also sore salivary glands when I ate anything acidic. It ended up I had stones in the salivary glands.
All that to say if could be several different thing going wrong in your mouth and the best you can do is to go see a doctor, ENT or even a sympathetic dentist.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.
 

AndrewB

Senior Member
Messages
119
Location
England, UK
My Dr visited and he didn't really know what to suggest. He gave me the same antibiotics ive recently had, which i was taking as this throat muscle weakness developed. I took some today as prescribed and it made my throat and tongue worse i took some Zopiclone and the choking and tingling tongue seemed to ease, but not a lot.
Im wondering if as well as M.E if i also have M.Gravis ?
The antibiotic Clarithromycin is apparently well known to worsen M.Gravis symptoms. Since this throat fatigues onset was when i took my recent course of Clarithromycin could this be M.Gravis reaction to the antibiotic?
My Dr didn't seem to know about any possible link between myasthenia Gravis.
Since ive read that many M.E patients can develop M.Gravis, should i ask my GP to prescribe Pyridostigmine ?
If he did, and my throat eased, wouldn't that prove i have M.Gravis as well as M.E, or maybe instead of it ?

Please if anyone here with M.E also has myasthenia gravis and any of this sounds like it could be the case please do reply, im at my wits end and i know untreated, im going to choke.
 

Kati

Patient in training
Messages
5,497
If your dr doesn't know, he needs to refer you, not send you home with nothing. I'd suggest a ENT referral, or neurologist to make sure your cranial nerves are ok.

Patients with myasthenia Gravis should not take magnesium supplements. (That's all I know about it)