u/Equivalent-Drive-577

I was just eating and breathing in and the same time (as a reaction to something someone was saying). Felt like I „breathed in“ a piece of food, but didn’t have enough of a cough reflex to get it out. Breathing normally now but I‘m more than sure it‘s still in there or going further down my respiratory system. My question would be: Did anyone else experience something like this before? Is the „missing cough reflex“ concerning regarding a possible *** diagnosis (you can read my whole story + symptoms in my profile)? Should I just wait and see now - if I don‘t have any other symptoms? TIA!

28F. It all started February 2023 (so a little over 3 years ago) after a 3-day-course of a oral high dose steroid treatment because of a tinnitus. I noticed very cold limbs, a „weird feeling“ in my right leg when walking etc. (like it didn’t belong to my body) and also bodywide twitching. The twitching persisted, had a hotspot for around 2 years in the thenar region of my left hand and a VERY persistent twitch right next to the tip of my tongue (still there, i see it in the mirror but don‘t feel it). I have been checked by 3 different neurologists and had many EMGs but I‘m still very concerned. The right side of my body (arm and leg) has lost a significant amount of muscle mass (can be measured) and feels cold, stiff and clumsy all the time. Walking feels „weird“, and the dexterity of my right hand feels „off“. My tongue looks different (thinner), feels clumsy and food keeps getting stuck in my throat. I feel an overall loss of muscle in the bulbar area and also my breathing feels weaker. My neuro, who is a neuromuscular specialist, is sure it‘s „nothing“ and it‘s basically just anxiety. I consider this as an option and try to convince myself it‘s just health anxiety (I‘m a med student, which can make it even worse I suppose) but I can’t shake the feeling that there‘s something going on. I feel like I keep losing muscle on one side of my body and my bulbar area. I could go on listing my symptoms but I think i mentioned the most important ones. Also, please excuse my english as it isn‘t my first language. I would be grateful for some insights, similar stories etc. I don‘t know how to handle all of this and how to proceed.