I just wondered if anyone else has trouble swallowing? I know oesophagitis can mimic asthma but I've started to develop a problem with swallowing & don't know what to do about it. I've had two fairly serious choking incidents & am getting increasingly nervous about eating certain types of food (wholemeal bread, meat, etc.) if I don't have someone with me.
I think my upper airways have become 'tighter' & I'm on a lot of medication but wondered if anyone has any ideas or suggestions?
Hi sorry to hear this it must be quite worrying for you. I have had oesophagitis for many years and have noticed in the last few years that I occassionally have problems, but not so severe that I actually choke more that food or a tablet gets stuck. For me usually just staying calm, breathing slowly, not deeply and taking sips of water does the trick. Being anxious won't help, as you know! I have heard of some people having a constricted tube but I would guess that would happen all the time. Although muscle spasm might cause it.
Does it happen at any particular time? I find that sometimes my mouth is drier (less saliva) and that can make a difference or if I am in a rush and not paying attention especially if I am talking and eating. I find that I need to make sure meat especially is cut up into smaller pieces and better taken with sauce, not too dry. Try to take your time chewing well, take enough water, but not too much, and breathing slowly. If that doesn't work then maybe discuss with your doctor.
Hi Strongmouse
It doesn't seem to happen at any particular time. The first serious incident was in an Indian restaurant. I do tend to eat quickly but on this occasion, a piece of roti bread completely got stuck. I took a drink to 'wash it down' which (with apologies for the 'yuk'!) came straight out through my nose, at which point I completely panicked. By a fortuitous circumstance, my son had just completed a first aid at work course & whacked me on the back hard enough to dislodge it.
The second incident was slightly less serious but frightening...a piece of meat which I dislodged myself. I've noticed I have a certain amount of trouble with wholemeal bread as well.
You are right that I need to chew & eat slowly but there's a bit of a 'habit of a lifetime' to overcome & I am forgetting at times then getting jittery when something doesn't quite go down correctly.
Hi, I too have had problems choking, it is extremely scary! I’ve been treated for cough variant asthma for the last 7 years. I was referred to Professor Maurice (cough specialist in Hull) 18 months ago. He prescribed an anti-spasmatic drug called Baclofen to try and relax the airways and prevent spasms. It has, ontop of a variety of other meds (ventolin, spiriva, symbicort, montelukast and theophylline) been so fantastic. I can, for the first time in over seven years, go outside when the temperature goes below 10 degrees! (Over 6 months of the year in the UK!)
Last summer I started with episodes of choking on my own saliva. The scariest one was a piece of chicken that had completely filled my throat (only a small piece) and I was unable to get any air in! If my husband had not been there, I really don’t know what would have happened! I rang my local respiratory unit to see if they thought it could be a side-effect of the baclofen, but they said they hadn’t known anyone who had taken the highest dose for as long as me! I was really apprehensive as the Baclofen had really liberated me that I didn’t want to have to stop taking it! I was really at a loss so I emailed Professor Maurice who replied saying to try Azithromycin, one tablet every day. In the meantime, 10 mins later, my GP rang saying respiratory clinic had rung them about choking and I needed to go see dr the next morning! I did and he fast track referred me for an endoscopy, staying on my records, suspected upper GI cancer! I had that a week later that date didn’t show any tumours ( thank goodness!) but showed gastritis! I haven’t felt any symptoms of reflux but they’ve added Omeprazole to my list of meds!
I too am really careful when eating, particularly when I’m on my own! I’ve not had anymore complete choking fits but several smaller episodes.
I’ll be very interested in anything you find ou.
Really sorry for the epic post!
Thank you very much for the detailed reply - that was really helpful. I think I'm anxious enough about it that I will mention it to the GP as soon as I can. Like you, I've reached a point where I won't eat certain things if I'm on my own, which is a bit of a drag.
When I was going through the worst of a series of digestive issues I had trouble with swallowing. I had half a day of it. A gastroscopy examination shortly afterwards revealed oesophagitis candidiasis (oesophageal thrush resulting in oesophagitis
Go to your GP and request referral to a gastroenterologist. Persistent problems with the oesophagus should be checked out.
I hate the idea of a bronchoscopy! Call me a wimp but I'll have tests done & needles stuck in me all day long without too much trouble, but a camera down my throat brings me out in a cold sweat! Still I suppose I'll probably have to have it done & I will see what the doc says.
I’ve never had a bronchoscopy, so can’t comment on it. You can be sedated for a gastroscopy - which I was - and I assure you I really wasn’t that aware of what was going on until I came round after it was all over:-).
It's not as bad as you probably fear. You can either have a sedative or 'freeze' your throat. I admit it's not very pleasant but it's over quickly...
I also have problems in swallowing wholemeal bread especially the crusts. I also have given up eating rice as I just cannot swallow it and it just gets stuck! I have a hiatus hernia and Barrett's Oesophagus and have to have an endoscopy every two/three years.
Hi, is this something common to asthmatics if so I am feeling a bit reassured. I haven't got round to asking GP (I have asthma/ OSA/PCOS /Osteoarthritis /Fibromyalgia)
I was wondering if related to my OSA - occasionally feel like a lump in my neck then started milld and occasionally food/saliva "going down wrong way/choke".
When tip head back to drink a drink down it feels like the water is getting stuck in throat at a certain point down.
I am coming to a conclusion that it might be common, at least to some asthmatics. I have additional lung problems on top of asthma & wonder if the constant coughing & phlegm is causing some sort of irritation?
I find the choking on saliva without food or drink present more scary than anything as this is new for me and weird
I do too as I regularly wake up choking in the middle of the night! Also, when it does happen I have a natural instinct to stand and pace up and down, this looks rather weird when out ie at the cinema or restaurant! It’s also my natural response to being severely short of breath, I’ve wondered if my pace helps me to regulate my breathing? Strange isn’t it! 🤪
Thanks to everyone for your comments - I've got a GP appointment to discuss it, albeit not for a few weeks but I'll see what they say!
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