A question if you've had a tracheostomy.

[Ta-thanx]

Is it just me or does anyone else regularly get food and drink into your windpipe. Its not a full blown choking episode but very close, and requires a slow big deep breath and strong cough to shift it. I know when I have managed to shift it because it normally comes flying out.

[Sepsur]

there are certain things that I struggle to eat, crusty bread, crumbly cheese.

Can you arrange an appointment/referral with SLT team?

[FamilyHistorian]

hi

I see from your bio that you have been out sometime! The short answer to your question is yes and rather than cough I sneeze. 4 years ago I was still in my coma with a trachy. I came out in March 2020 straight into Covid and no support. Not only the my ng tube was removed on the day I was discharged so I had to teach myself to swallow. I know what I can’t eat lettuce, brown rice chocolate brownies etc. and of course I get caught out. Recently I saw someone from salt they were very honest basically saying it was too late to do anything about it but I could try an exercise which involves putting my tongue through my teeth and swallowing twice. And do this several times a day.

Apparently I have a double swallow.

Hope this helps

[Sleepalotmore in reply to FamilyHistorian]

You are similar to me! I was in icu from December 15th 2019 to March 18th 2020. Straight into the covid lockdowns then shielded. But to ve fair, I was in StThomas hospital, and they were great. Still not the same as being able to physically see specialists etc.

[Taxidoll in reply to FamilyHistorian]

I too have a double swallow Have you tried an EMST device? Really helped me

[FamilyHistorian in reply to Taxidoll]

EMST??

[Taxidoll in reply to FamilyHistorian]

Expiratory muscle strength trainer

Photo of a expiratory muscle strength trainer

[FamilyHistorian in reply to Taxidoll]

thank you

[BigH63]

Hi Ta-thanx

I Had a Tracheotomy after my breathing tube was removed. Yes I have and still suffer from chocking/ food getting stuck and general slow food movement down the windpipe. Something I didn’t have before my time in ICU. I’ve had lots of investigations done all through as Sepsur say SALT team, I had recently a thing called a Video fluoroscope

(A device equipped with a fluorescent screen on which the internal structures of an optically opaque object, such as the human body, may be continuously viewed as shadowy images formed by the differential transmission of x-rays through the object. Also called roentgenoscope)

Basically it’s like having a X-ray video, you try and eat some different foods ie yogurt then banana, then bread, then biscuit and the process just watches how you’re food passes down through the windpipe. Mine showed that the vertebrae c2-c3 were pushing forward and restricting the room for food to pass a slight but also l learnt that because of the intubation you’re body goes into protect mode and the slightest thing that doesn’t feel right you’re body chokes. There’s nothing they can do for me I just make sure I cut food smaller and have a glass of water with every meal so I take a slip with every mouthful. This helps.

Get in touch with the SALT team (Adult speech and language therapy (SALT) and ask them to investigate.

It’s frustrating and scary so good luck and post back you’re experience

BigH

[JAY2503]

My husband was in an induced coma in September and had his Tracey out in November. He does tend to chock on food and has to always have a drink whenever he eats.

There are certain foods he stays away from especially if they are dry.

[stevet11753]

It's nearly nine years since my trachy and I'm basically ok with food, though I do have some problems with dry foods like biscuits. My main issue is that I'm frequently choking on liquids. I just put up with this as one of those things I have to live with: it could be an age thing in my case.

[Ta-thanx]

Thanks for the replies. I had to check what SLT/ SALT was an abbreviation for. I wouldn't consider it a big enough problem to trouble anyone else with. I'm sort of used to it and can live with, was just curious to see if it was a thing after a tracheostomy.

I know without having a tracheostomy I wouldn't be here to tell the tale.

[Taxidoll in reply to Ta-thanx]

The thing is you shouldn't have to put up with it and there are things to help.I hope you do try and get some help.

Let us know how you get on.

[BilliyR]

yes this happened to me, I had to have a scan done when I was drinking and eating, hated the nurses closing the door whilst I was eating, took a while to recover! Just make sure everything has been cut small and you eat softer foods. Took about a year after I had the tracheostomy removed! Ask for scan!