Silent reflux and choking?

[Katie766568]

Hi! I’ve been suffering with ‘silent reflux’ (Laryngopharyngeal reflux) for a couple of years and at the moment I am really struggling with choking when eating. It feels as if food get stuck at the top of my throat and I need to cough to get it back up. I’m finding this quite stressful and it’s putting me off eating. It doesn’t happen all the time but enough to be problematic. Does anyone else have this experience and any tips to deal with it? I already take Lansoprazole, and use gaviscon advance. I’ve also tried raising the head of my bed and diet changes including cutting out fizzy drinks, white wine, tomatoes, chocolate etc. Thank you!

[TishH]

I've got Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease, and also have difficulty swallowing. I have a very limited diet now, but when I have a cheese sandwich (soft white, no crusts) I cut it into 20 pieces, and chew them until they're of a consistency that won't choke me if they should get stuck. I hope this helps - best of luck!

[champagnelover]

Hi I think you should seek medical advice if you haven't already done so. It sounds like you should have an endoscopy to see why food is sticking. Good luck.

[Katie766568 in reply to champagnelover]

Thanks for the reply. I’ve had a laryngoscopy but not endoscopy. Maybe will try and push for this.

[Angelamercel]

Hi Katie I’ve had silent reflux for years, and know exactly what your going through, it’s absolutely terrible, your doing everything right as far as I can see, I’m on esomeprazole and peptac at night, the choking on food is really scary, doesn’t seem to happen all the time , but I don’t no about you but when this isn’t happening I get like a feeling of a lump of mucus in my throat, and keep spitting green stuff, it never goes away, always clearing throat .

[Katie766568 in reply to Angelamercel]

Thanks for replying, and sorry to hear you’re going through the same thing. It is quite scary when choking. Do you also get nasal congestion?

[Angelamercel in reply to Katie766568]

Hi Katie yes I do get nasal congestion, all the time , it never goes away, I use beconase nasal spray off the doctor which helps a bit,it seems to clear nasal congestion abit, I do think you should ask for an endoscopy , probably nothing to worry about but to put your mind at rest, I have an endoscopy every two years as I have Barrett’s esophagus, but please don’t panic that doesn’t mean you have that , ask your doctor about referral for endoscopy and don’t worry and good luck.

[Katie766568 in reply to Angelamercel]

I will do, thank you 😊

[FeistyGirl]

I have similar swallowing problems. I always have to drink when eating and find this helps. I have a few sips before starting to eat and sip throughout my meal. I find meat and bread the most difficult things. Also as TishH suggested cutting things into smaller pieces helps. I have had extensive oesophageal assessments (oesophageal manometry , barium swallow and endoscopy) which have shown that I have mildly impaired oesophageal motility. Not much they can do about it, though think if things got worse they can do an oesophageal stretch. I was told these are “gold standard” tests but they are available on the NHS. I also suffer from Gastro-oesophageal reflux and have had periods of laryngo-pharyngeal reflux too. I’m on 20mg of Esomeprazole daily. I’d suggest you request a referral to an upper GI Consultant who might be able to help. Let us know how you get on

[Katie766568 in reply to FeistyGirl]

Thank you for your advice! I’ll speak to my GP and see if I can get a referral. Not sure how these services are operating at the moment!

[nonasusan]

Hi Katie. I have had the same symptoms , feeling of choking every time eat or drinking and have done all the things suggested..cut out spicy food, alcohol , chocolate etc and take Omeprazole and Gaviscon Advance but I still really find problems swallowing and as result have lost a lot of weight as it is so deeply unpleasant feeling that you will choke all the time. I find eating food that is soft and not separated into solid and liquid but more of a mush is easier to swallow. It seems like I have to literally get my brain to tell me how to swallow each mouthful. I have had a couple of laryngospasms in the middle of the night recently which is new...they used to be only whenI was eating ! I do find that I can control them when they start by breathing slowly in through the nose deep into the lungs and then breathing slowly out through the mouth with pursed lips..a bit like Pilates breath. It seems to stop it going into full blow spasm. Horrible isn't it !!

[Katie766568 in reply to nonasusan]

Aw sorry to hear that you’re suffering the same thing, it really is horrible. The laryngospasms in the night sound scary, I’ve had a few from coughing. I too have lost weight just because it can be unpleasant eating, and I used to love food. Have you been diagnosed with LPR and do you have idea what causes it for you? I feel like I’d like to get to the bottom of it but it’s possibly just something I’ll need to learn to manage. Thanks for replying

[Izzy-]

So far the only thing that helps me really is Nexium or are the generics, and Tri-mushroom vitamin blend, here’s the link in the description for the best and cheapest ones ebay.com/itm/Organic-Tri-Mu...

[greatgranpat]

I was diagnosed with LPR about 3 months ago after having worsening symptoms over 15 years. By going on an alkaline diet, elevating the head of our bed, and not going to bed for at least 3-4 hours after eating I have improved a lot. Nighttime distress is well controlled. I am still struggling with the choking sensation, though not as much and a lot of secretions. I'm going to give the Gaviscon Advance a try but a little leery after seeing people's finding it hard to take. We shall see.