Swallowing pills

[Mkite]

My daughter has trouble swallowing pills. Between her gag reflex and her choking on water sometimes it makes it very difficult. Any suggestions?

[Tiggywinkles]

I have NEVER been able to take pills with water, even before having FA. So my method of taking them is to have some food (a biscuit or similar), chew it up and put the pills in with that and swallow. This works for me!

[Veteran250 in reply to Tiggywinkles]

I also use my breakfast of Shreaded Wheat to take my tablets..... it works every time! 😀👍🌹

[cocoa in reply to Veteran250]

I also take my pills with food.

My mother, who also had ataxia, couldn't swallow pills and she had to have hers crushed.

[Mkite in reply to cocoa]

Thank you!

[Tiggywinkles in reply to Veteran250]

Yes, I take my morning pills with my cereal too! Only time it has been difficult is in hospital when they have assumed you can swallow them with water. Also when I had my wisdom teeth removed (many years ago!) and they gave me pain-killers to take and I couldn't even open my mouth and chew to be bale to take them.

[Mkite in reply to Veteran250]

Thank you and thank you for being a veteran!

[Veteran250 in reply to Mkite]

Thank you, proud to have served, and would do it all again 😀

[Mkite in reply to Veteran250]

yes, that is what my late husband said even though i think his SCA2 Ataxia was caused by agent orange.

[Mkite in reply to Tiggywinkles]

Thank you!

[Hidden]

My mom uses apple sauce.

[Mkite in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

[majajefferies]

I would suggest taking them with a thicker fluid, like runny yoghurt you can get in Lidl.

Another option is to research "pill taking aides", as I know they have special straws for taking pills without difficulties on eBay.

[Mkite in reply to majajefferies]

Thank you, will look into the aids

[Mkite in reply to majajefferies]

what about capsules, can you safely grind those up?

[coat2003]

try to put a big tblt on END OF YOUR TONGUE, easier to swallow and drink water..., if you can do it and NOT RETCHING. I had a period of 2 weeks in December, eating dry bread and talking.NEVER EVER...one thing at a time, not even a slice of bread and the liquid soup, moisten the bread. MISTIMED IT SOMEHOW ended up chocking...scary...something as IF LODGED in my throat, could have been my thyroid...lost weight, but due to stress, husband in hospital...but neurologist concerned, defo no connection to choking ataxia-weight loss..

[Mkite in reply to coat2003]

Thank you!

[majajefferies]

Does she attend dysphagia clinic?

This is paramount with ataxic patients.

Even if one doesn’t have swallow problems they need to establish a baseline and monitor her.

Please read this:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

This is a review of swallow functions in healthy people and it also gives guidance as to what patients with ataxia and similar conditions need to do.

[FFNick]

The specialist in the NHS is called a Speech Therapist who deals with choking and gagging. A misnomer of a title. Accessible through your GP. My Speech Therapist suggested I too use yoghurt or rice pudding to help swallow pills. She suggested use thicker items, water is too thin. Now I swallow pills without anything.

[Mkite in reply to FFNick]

Thank you, I will have her try it.

[Cazlyo65]

I have recently seen my speech & language therapist (SALT) as my swallow has changed. I am already on dysphagia E diet, but am now having issue swallowing tablets. She has recommended I take with yoghurt which is helping. A lot of my meds are not available in liquid form and she advised crushing would change the dose and decrease their value 💜

[Mkite]

Thank you, most of her pills are capsules so they are hard to take.