Swallowing

[Imbub]

Anyone else having issues swallowing pills and food...everything seems to get struck in my throat. Could this be another side effect of ibrutinib?

[annmcgowan]

Hi it is not a side effect of ibrutinib that I have ever experienced or read about. Maybe another member can help?

Ann

[Hidden]

I have a swallowing problem, it's a duodenal ulcer. When it flares up if I swallow too much at once I can't get it down and I choke for 20 minutes or so. Once two large calcium tabs got stuck for two hours. Not fun.

[Shedman]

You might find my posts on dysphagia if you search here for esophagus - long history of it.

Finally resolved in my 40s following an exclusion diet.. but also required several procedures to dilate my esophagus.

What I found?

Egg allergy.. that I am an allergy type.. have asthma and had eczema as a child, at least one other allergy..

stopping eating egg in all foods fixed things- swallowing and esophagus diameter maintained.

Acid reflux can result in heart burn, dry tickle cough, swallowing problems..

All steps to ease acid reflux may help: eat long before exercise or bed; avoid fatty foods in last meal; avoid chocolate, onions, fatty foods.. they all relax the oesophageal sphincter worsening risk of acid reflux.

Good luck.

[Imbub in reply to Shedman]

Thanks. I will check into that.

[josephinef]

Hi Imbub,

I had this problem myself.

Someone told me if I put the medication under my tongue and then take a drink it will go down easier.

This works for me.

Good luck, I hope you’ll find it works for you also.

Take care.

Stay safe and well.

Kind regards from Josephine from Australia.

[Imbub in reply to josephinef]

Oh. . Thanks for the tip. I will try that tomorrow morning. It's been 12 hours since I took my pills this morning and it still feels like they are stuck in the back of my throat. More annoying than painful.

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer in reply to Imbub]

I have seen taking pills with applesauce recommended - usually for those with terrible mouth sores or dealing with graft vs host disease after a transplant.

[Seok]

Hi Imbub

Yes, I experienced this while I was taking IB. Dr sent me for gastroendoscopy and found Schatzki ring; a constriction in my oesophagos. Most likely cause by reflux which is known side effects of IB. This issue resolved since I went off IB for 8 months and I’m taking Acalabrutinib now.

Seok

[blowinginthewind]

I get this from time to time, still on W&W, no treatments yet. Apparently it can be caused by slightly enlarged lymph nodes in the throat. It comes and goes, if it is bad I eat softer foods and that helps.

[Psmithuk]

I take a shedload for heart failure and find it best to take them with food, so the mouthful of food pushes the tablets down, followed by a swallow of tea (essential to me!) And keep a straight back after swallowing.

[Ninetyfive]

Yes I have the same problem. Been on Ibrutinib for 4 months. Have to be very careful to chew properly and eat small pieces. I am 95 years of age.

[Cindi73]

Are they capsules? I've found if I eat a cracker it helps them go down.

[jasonfox]

I had increasing trouble swallowing after diagnosis which turned out to be enlarged internal lymph nodes around my throat. It’s basically what led me to FCR treatment. Not sure what yours could be seeing as you are currently on a treatment!

[PaulaS Volunteer]

Hi Imbub,

I have been on Ibrutinib for two and a half years. I’ve had various gastric problems since I started it, many of which have now calmed down. (Reducing my dose of Ibrutinib from 3 to 2 then to 1 capsule helped).

However, I still find that things seem to get stuck in my throat. I cannot eat (or drink) as quickly as everyone else.

I’ve been sent for a variety of tests which didn’t show much, but the most recent was an “oesophageal manometry” test. They put a tube up through my nose and down into my stomach, then gave me measured amounts of water to swallow.

Somehow from this, they could see that the usual wave of muscle contractions taking stuff down to the stomach was not working for me. The lab report said “90% of her swallows failed to progogate”. It’s called oesophageal dysmotility.

They could give no reason for it, and could only suggest that I continue to eat slowly, little and often, with plenty of fluid to wash stuff down. I was also advised NOT to lie down for 2 hours after a meal, and to try walking around after eating to help the food go down.

I don’t know if Ibrutinib had anything to do with this. Who knows? There are many different reasons for things getting stuck in the throat, so it’s well worth asking your doctors to find out what’s causing your particular problem.

Best wishes,

Paula

[BeckyLUSA]

Trouble swallowing was my first symptom of silent GERD (acid reflux). Check with your Gastroenterologist.

[lizfuccillo]

Yes. I experience tightening of my throat which interferes with swallowing. It feels like something is stuck in my th

[Ysabeau]

Make sure that your throat is thoroughly moisturised by drinking a glass of water before you take your medication. This helps it slide down a bit easier, then drink another glass (small) of water to help it on its way. Keep your head tilted upwards whilst doing this. I might be stating the obvious but hope it is of some use. Its helped me Regards Y

[josephinef]

Hi Imbub,

I’m curious to know how your swallowing of your medication is going?

I hope all is well with you.

Thinking of you,

Josephine 💊

[Imbub in reply to josephinef]

Still bothersome. I am wondering if my lymph nodes in my neck are enlarged. I have an appt next week with the oncologist, unfortunately it will be via telephone so a hands on exam won't be possible. Something may show up in the lab work. Thanks for asking though. Stay well.

[josephinef in reply to Imbub]

All the very best with your appointment.

I hope you’ll get some explanation regarding your swallowing problem.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

Stay safe and well.

[manzelka]

My husband has problems swallowing any pills other than round ones.

As venetoclax 400 mg are large and long he is finding these hard to swallow. He takes them with food to help them down. It’s ok as long as they don’t twist and go sideways.

Not anything to do with cll just because one twisted and now he expects it to happen each time and he feels his throat closing up in anticipation.

Could it be the same for you, it happened and you expect it to stick again?

Maybe some yoghurt to help it slide down.