Question:
This sounds really dumb but it is making me crazy. When I swallow I can only feel it on one side. I drink something really cold and I still only feel it on it one side. This has been going on for a couple of months now and I'm starting to get really worried. Can anyone help?
Answer:
Hey Guest, how are you doing?

There is a wide range of treatments, some which are as simple as changing the patient's head or body position when they swallow, or changing the kinds of foods they eat. No two patients are alike in their swallowing problem; careful evaluation is necessary.

Causes of a swallowing problem include damage to the nervous system such as a stroke. Patients with diseases affecting muscle strength and coordination such as muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy may have swallowing problems.

Patients who have progressive neurologic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, ALS, myasthenia gravis or Alzheimer's disease may also have problems. Tumors of the head and neck and their treatment can also result in swallowing difficulties.

There may be difficulties closing the lips, moving the tongue to control food during chewing or to push food from the front to the back of the mouth. There may be a problem with sensation in the mouth, so that the patient cannot feel where the food is located or even be aware that there is food in the mouth.

Others treatments involve the patient's learning new ways to swallow. Some procedures exercise muscles that are not working properly.

Best wishes,
The Prison Hospital

Prisoner: Look here, doctor! You've already removed my spleen, tonsils, adenoids, and one of my kidneys. I only came to see if you could get me out of this place!

Doctor: I am, bit by bit.

-- Aha! Jokes