Frog in throat

Anyone share these symtomns?

I have ADSD and would be very interested in your other symptoms if you would like to share them with me.

Tell me a bit about yourself.

I live in England am 49 years old and have a love of life. This arse of a complaint however, has dampened my enthusiasm and although my family have been tremendously supportive I feel very isolated and alone in this strange new world I now find myself in.

They say every cloud has a silver lining and last year I lost my job. I believe I lost it because of my inability to communicate with customers etc. I was very fortunate however to find a new job with and old friend and things are far better and more lucrative than before. He doesn't care less about my voice and his friendship and support has made me thrive in my career and I although I struggle to communicate still can do this and am able to "wheel and deal" and still make a few quid.

I am 60 yrs old, just diagnosed and coming to realize what my symptoms are. I don't think I am as bad (yet) as many on this board, but I was very interested in the post about respiratory problems because my SD seemed to start after a severe allergic reaction which gave me terrible lungs and coughing until I found out what I was allergic to.

I seem to get incredibly worse when I am on the phone and talking to people who don't know. I am very relaxed at home with family and don't spasm as much. I don't really know the difference between what people are calling spasms and tremors. I was using the terms interchangeably.

Well, if I was going to get a neurological disease, I am much happier that I do not have one of them that make my hands arms and head shake. Right now, I can work around my voice and get a decent one when I need it.

Incidentally at the risk of being repetitive I am still waiting for your funny stories. The one thing this condition will not beta is our sense of humour.

I took my friends kids to the zoo yesterday and whilst I was standing over the lions cage I dropped my mobile phone. S*** I thought. The lion appeared to be sleeping so I thought, why not climb down quietly and slowly and retrieve my phone. As I reached the bottom, guess what? My phone started to ring. The lion woke - a cross lion!! (crossed line)

Best I can do today - I've had a whiskey - Good night - sleep tight.

Just learned a local radio host has SD and I have to email her. I guess she was on 20/20 about it. She works 3 months, then she's gone for one month (I would guess to get a botox shot) then comes back. Don't know if she posts on here.

Also, attend symposiums well advertised in this forum. That's where we all get together from throughout the US.

Let's continue to add to the "body of work" already established by the NSDA. Much is already available through the BB-Archives and by belonging to the NSDA and accessing information they make available. That is the beauty of this BB, rather than continually re-inventing the wheel.

Actually, I have noticed this a little lately. I thought it just might be remnants of a cold or pollen.

Do you take botox? Could it be related to that? I don't seem to remember this problem pre-botox.

-Karen

Oh Yeah, I get that froggy-phlegmy-wanna swallow and clear my throat- feeling a lot. Frustrating, isn't it? It's one of the first things I noticed when I came down with my ABSD, over 10 years ago. Felt like "gunk" was always in my throat. (she says clearing her voice!). I used to have pain speaking, too, but not now. Sometimes I think it's due to Acid Reflux. Or smog? (I live in California). Allergies probably make it worse, and of course foods like dairy products.

Are you near the greater LA area (referances to smog and recording studios are a clue)? If so, did you know there is a SD support group in Orange County? Our next meeting just happens to be this Saturday (11/17) and Dr. Damrose (Dr. Berke's new assistant doc) is going to be our speaker. If you are interested, drop me an email and I can give you the details.

A local anesthetic (or throat drops) often helps with moisturizing the throat, and thus may improve vocal quality briefly. Drinking alot of water (and hot tea with lemon/honey) helps a little also...briefly. A bit of wine is cool too.

Good luck with your case and in finding some of these temporary reliefs. Also, if I haven't already welcomed you to the BB, "welcome!" and thanks for your curiosity and questions. Hopefully you've been able to find info in the Archives as many of the topics (SD symptoms we have in common) are discussed there. As you have discovered, this BB is a great place to meet other patients as well as to gain info and alot of support.

Keep up the good work!

I believe that it is just as you describe - the mucus is produced due to the spasm and the body's defense mechanism. Someone else explained it approximately that way a while back, and it makes a lot of sense to me. You should search the archives for "phlegm" or "mucus" ! many, many posts! I'm not saying that you shouldn't post again about this. It seems to me that this wouldn't be the SD BB if we didn't have a good thread about mucus going. ;-)

The lots of water idea is a good one; and I'm interested in that Singers Saving Grace that fancynancy mentioned. I've yet to find anything that helps much.

Oh, I guess the phlegm problem may also be aggravated by reflux. Reflux is also a common problem with SDers, and many times you may not even know you have it (no obvious symptoms, like heartburn.)

So you are not actually from Scotland, are you? You just visited there recently? Oh, there's your bio - you are in Sheffield! That reminds me of the bloke that lived in the upstairs flat when I was a student and did the "semester in London" thing! (I'm a native Californian, although, I'm sorry, I don't know how to talk "valley talk.") Anyway, he was from Sheffield, but was having to live and work in London and he really wanted to do nothing but be in Sheffield with his friends and watch football (which is really soccer :-) ) But he could only do that on weekends. So during the week he would come downstairs and visit us but all he would do is read our magazines and then go back upstairs. You'd think that a couple of American college girls would bring out some, well, cultural exchange interest, but, well, we didn't know much (read: nothing) about football so there you are. Hmm? Curious. His name was David too. So, did you ever work in London?

Some other post I'll tell you about visiting the Whiskey Trail in Scotland! (single malts, the best!) Not when I was a student! It was a few years later!

Since you brought up the subject of living over there (and David is encouraging people to be humoUrous), maybe you should tell the story about getting assigned to mens' housing since they thought "Robin" was a boy! Ha! I thought that was hysterical!

--Lynne

It helps the vocal chords and the sense of humour. For those of you who do dot know much about Sheffield. It is the home of the movie "The Full Monty" Ring any bells? We also manufacture steel and cutlery although not as much these days. They seem to tear down the steelworks and build shopping malls or sports stadiums these days. There was a day when manufacturing was the stem of a nations wealth. These days it seems that we are happy to receive the revenue from McDonald's and other insignificant non productive organisations. I'm rambling.....

Soccer - now there's a topic. I support Sheffield United and held a season ticket for 15 years. I don't go now cos' they are poor and I would rather donate my cash elsewhere.

Cheers for now

Don't give up on the botox. My specialist is prepared to vary the dosage to suit. Try having less next time or have in just one side. I know I'm talking like a seasoned proffessional (which I'm not) I have only had it 3 times and I too get hacked off with the weak voice. But it definately does take the tremour away. People still say "have you got a cold" but I just say "yes" and get on with it. Having tried speech therepy, that did nothing for me but I am quickly learning that everyone is different and it may well work for you.

Thanks for the nice things you say about the UK I love the USA too. I had a great holiday in New England this summer and I will be returning next year (terrorists or not!) perhaps to the west coast. Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

Regards

David