Re: Tightness in chest
Renee,I have, somewhat, and I know I've also read posts of others who have. Question though: do you think it's "tightness" in the chest muscles per se, or could your respiratory-area be spasming? I ask that question because there are at least two people who respond to this BB periodically who have spasms and dystonia in their diapraghm area (ie: respiratory involvement with their SD). Anytime we get talking about the chest-area, we definitely need to get specific because so much which is important goes on in that area, anatomically. --Lynne
Re: Tightness in chest
It doesn't feel like anything's spasming, although I could be wrong. I'll remember the info, though
Re: Tightness in chest
I have experienced tightness in my chest since getting SD 7 years ago. I have always thought it was related to having a restricted airway which made my chest wall to work harder when breathing. About 3 months ago I started taking NEURONTIN which was prescribed by a new doctor who I started seeing when I changed insurace companies. Not only is my voice nearly back to normal for the first time in years but I feel much better and no longer have the tightness in my chest. I still believe that the chest condition was related to the airway restriction related to the SD focal folds.
Re: Tightness in chest
Hi Donald: I too have the tightness. It almost feels like the wind is being knocked out of me. My Dr says that it is diapramatic spasms. I am taking the Neurontin and it definitely is helping.
Re: Tightness in chest
Lynne,I didn't even think of this particular problem of mine until I read your post, but... I get painful spasms in my diaphragm ( Sp??). They don't happen often but do take me by surprise. The only way to stop them is by bending back as far as I can stretch. Needless to say, this looks very odd if I happen to be out in public when I get a spasm. LOL
Just as with the SD symptoms, I've asked so many doctors about it over the years, I've lost track of them all. Same old thing, no answers for me! A few have come up with Acid Reflux even though I tell them, no, no, no...not the same at all. OH WELL.
But, when I replied to Renee's post about tightness in chest...mine is a constricted feeling across my chest, all the way across. Not the same as the spasms or muscle spasms of any kind. The chest tightness is always present.
Re: Tightness in chest
Mine is, also, a constricted feeling across my chest.
Re: Tightness in chest
Renee,Are you by any chance a smoker? Or, do you have Asthma or any other respiratory problems? I'm just curious since we have the same problems.
Re: Tightness in chest
No, I'm not a smoker. I don't have asthma, either. The tightness in the chest seems to be better at some times than others. Very odd.
Re: Tightness in chest
Yes, mine is always there to some degree but sometimes worse than others. Now, I wonder if it is my smoking or somehow connected with
the SD. I've been cleared as far as Emphysema & smoking related illnesses, at least I don't have any of them yet. Maybe we have
some other type of Dystonia as well as the Laryngeal.?
Re: Tightness in chest
Renee,I think you have tardive dyskinesia. Your original message regarding the possibility of TD has apparently been deleted from this BB. Best wishes,
Richard
Re: Tightness in chest
Renee,I also have a constant tightness in my chest as well as very shallow breathing. I've always felt as though these conditions have an affect on my speech but don't know what came first or what causes what. Very
confusing. I am a smoker, though and am sure that may very well cause the tightness in my chest feeling. I also have always had lots and lots of allergies as well as mild Asthma ( these were present long before I started smoking). My gut instinct still tells me that the SD is a genetic ailment, though. Just my opinion.
Re: Tightness in chest
Hi Renee,
I have had Adductor SD for over 8 years. I seemed to be holding my breath at times or not being able to breathe deep enough. Most SDer's are shallow breathers and I indeed was. Before I heard of SD, I remember telling my sister that it seemed as though I couldn't catch my breath. This felt kind of like the tightness you mention. I think with SD, so many things tense up because we work so hard to talk. I had a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders caused by my SD. Botox helped relieve these symptoms for a short time every few months but stopped working for me a couple of years ago. I had surgery for my SD by Dr. Berke in August last year and since my surgery, I no longer have the tension in my neck muscles and shoulders since I no longer struggle to speak. I still need to work on my breathing since I had formed bad habits trying to cope with the SD but all in all, I am so much better.
I am hoping for more improvement yet with my voice (volume and tone) but I am at a much better place than I have been for over 8 long years. I wish you well in finding a way to make your voice better. This BB has been my best "friend" so many times and everyone is so great to share their experiences and help in any way they can. Barb
Re: Tightness in chest
I have never had tightness in my chest but from the very onset of SD in 1987 I felt that I could not get a full breath. I always wondered if this was related to the SD or did the SD start from not having enough air in my lungs. I don't smoke or have any allegies but my husband was a heavy smoker. I had Dr. Berke's surgery on Jan. 9th and I immediately realized I could breathe deeper. It is so relaxing and I am well pleased with the quality of my voice. I still do not have all the volume back but people can understand me and I don't have to keep repeating.
Re: Tightness in chest
From your experiences and my own, it is evident that we all have muscle tension patterns in several parts of our bodies (related to de vocal mechanism): throat, chest, shoulders, neck, stomach. What we don't know exactly is what came first, the vocal disorder or the muscle tension.
Since I'm researching I would be interested in knowing about the effect that the Jacobson Relaxation technique may have on reducing this muscle tension and in your voices. Maybe many of you have practiced relaxation techniques with your speech therapist, but for those who want to know the technique I'm going to write it:Choose a place where you can lie down on your back and stretch out comfortably, such as a carpeted floor or firm bed.
You can use a prerecorded tape to help you go trhrough all the muscle groups, or you can just tense and relax each muscle group as described below. Tense each muscle group for 4 to 10 seconds (hard, but not to the point of cramping); then give yourself 10 to 20 seconds to release it and relax. Hands: Clench them. Wrists and forearms: Extend them and bend the hands back at the wrist. Biceps and upper arms: Clench your hands into fists, bend your arms at the elbows, and flex your biceps. Shoulders: Shrug them. Forehead: Wrinkle it into a deep frown. Around the eyes and bridge of nose: Close your eyes as tightly as possible (remove contac lenses before beginning the exercise). Cheeks and jaws: Grin from ear to ear. Around the mouth: Press the lips together tightly. Back of the neck: Press your head back firmly. Front of the neck: Try to touch the chin to the chest. Chest: Take a deep breath, hold it, then exhale. Back: Arch your back up and away from the supporting surface. Stomach: Suck it into a tight knot. Hips and buttocks: Squeeze the butocks together tightly. Thighs: Clench them hard. Lower legs: point your toes toward your face, as if trying to bring the toes up to touch your head. Then point your toes away and curl them downward at the same time. Throughout the exercise breath slowly and deeply.
When you're finished, return to alertness by slowly counting back-wards from five to one.
Re: Tightness in chest
Yes, but it's typically a product of using so much air that your chest ends up hurting from the constant effort. John
Re: Tightness in chest
I wanted to respond to this post because I know first hand the feeling of tightness in the chest. I have been experiencing this feeling since the onset of my SD. As most on BB already know I have respiratory involvement with my SD. I have severe spasms when I inhale and exhale. The fact that the spasms are so severe I am unable to get a full breath. I am constantly fighting to get air. This why I experience the feeling of tightness in my chest. The muscles in my chest are getting an aerobic workout all the time. But tightness in the chest should never be taken lightly. It can be a signal of a very serious medical conditions (ie: heart or lung disease). I urge anyone experiencing tightness in the chest to seek professional medical advice. Marykriss
Re: Tightness in chest (another quarter heard from)
Just thought I'd let you know that tightness in the chest is *not* one of my symptoms. I have AB SD and I wonder if the chest tightness is more common in AD SD cases?cyberly yours, RAS
Re: Tightness in chest
2 and 1/2 years ago I spent several months severly short of breath. I have had MRI's, PET scans, both right and left heart caths, pulmonary function tests, etc., etc., etc (including the it's all in your head answers). My eyes had started rapid blinking and it was becoming very difficult to keep them open. I kept telling my doctors that it didn't feel as if my chest area was having a problem. It felt like it was all in my throat. But they (those who believed I was not psychotic) said that when people are short of breath it does feel as if the throat is at fault. I discovered the blepharospasm BB about a year ago and in reading found someone with the same symptoms as me - eyes and shortness of breath. She took Benadryl to ease the breathing problem. So since I have Benadryl for allergies I tried one and found that I could breathe normally. I have been on a few other meds (it is the anticholinergic side effects that control the "spasms") such as Scopolamine (which caused memory problems) and am now on Elavil (which also causes memory problems to a lesser extent). When the eyes just were uncontrollable my primary MD sent me to a neurologist working with dystonias of the neck and eyes. Botox was successful for them. My voice started deteriorating about a year ago and this AM I had my first vocal cord injection of Botox at UNC hospital. We are hoping that the Botox will provide enough relief with the respirations that I shall not have to take so much Elavil. I am in a study being done by UNC ENT. I had both cords injected today (random choice chosen by a flip of a coin - heads both cords, tails one). Next time I shall have one cord injected to see the difference if any.
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