Embarassing question re: choking on pills

[one l michele]

Twice recently I have choked while taking pills. I drink water before hand, I have a mouthful of water while swallowing a single pill, and I attempt to drink water after, which if anyone is curious projects back up when a pill is stuck in your throat. It is quite scary. I never had this problem until recently once with cold medicine and yesterday with a multi vitamin and never heard of this before. Any advice, experience? What would you do?

[Mama Lynx]

Do you have any trouble swallowing food?

[clane]

I tilt my head far back and sort of drop it into my mouth and swallow. I have a strong gag reflex and hate pills.

[one l michele]

Do you have any trouble swallowing food?


in a rush being pulled in so many directions, but I have had food "sticking" lately as well, just not to the severity that I've had with these two pill incidents and I just shrugged the food off to rushing. Meal time is stressful here with assorted food allergies in my oldest and youngest, then middle being quite finicky.

[jacqui in mo]

Swallowing is a complicated process & it is scary when you get choked. Is the pill feeling stuck somewhere in your throat? Do you actually feel like you have to cough it back out? Do you feel like it is more like you're choking on the water than the pill itself? How is your current health? Are you having any other problems that seem related or even unrelated? Your way of taking pills is a good procedure usually but there may be something else going on. Or it could be a coincidence, as we all get choked accidentally sometimes & you may have just had 2 incidences close together. I wouldn't be able to give you much more advice until I knew a little more. You can PM me if you like or respond here.

[Jean in Newcastle]

I was having spasms of the esophagus that had me "choking" even on plain water! A bit of research (and the advice of a nutritionist) told me that a magnesium deficiency can show up as esophageal spasms. I've added Cal-Mag to my regimen. (The Calcium balances out the magnesium in your body). Not sure if this is what is going on for you but it is worth some consideration.

[one l michele]

Is the pill feeling stuck somewhere in your throat?
The pill is absolutely stuck somewhere in my throat.

Do you actually feel like you have to cough it back out?
I don't have that need to cough feeling. I throw up any water I attempt to use to flush down the pill immediately and with force (sometimes even out my nose). The stuck pill never comes up with that force. Eventually after enought times the pill does go down, but it is scary! I've even been home alone with the kids and had this happen.

Do you feel like it is more like you're choking on the water than the pill itself?
It's definitely the pill I'm choking on.

How is your current health? Are you having any other problems that seem related or even unrelated?
I'm in excellend health, with updated physicals and bloodwork, the doctor said to keep doing what I'm doing because it's working.

Your way of taking pills is a good procedure usually but there may be something else going on. Or it could be a coincidence, as we all get choked accidentally sometimes & you may have just had 2 incidences close together. The first time I just thought it was a freak thing, after yesterday, I'm concerned.

Thanks for your time.

[jacqui in mo]

If I saw you in person I'd ask you to point on your throat where you felt like it was getting stuck. Would you point to really high up on your neck near the jaw or lower down? It also sorta sounds like you're having a gag reflex once the pill is stuck & you're trying your best to get it down, & that is why the water is coming back up, even through your nose. The pill may be getting stuck in the sinus area we have in the back of our throat above the level of the esophagus & vocal chords (not the nose area), or it could be getting stuck in the upper esophagus itself. I do assume that you're not having real trouble breathing while this happens (other than the panicking feeling you get--that's normal but not fun), not needing the Heimlich maneuver. In this situation I would advise swallowing something with more "pushing" power than water. A bite of applesauce, pudding, or something of that consistency that doesn't fall apart easily should get it moving. (think how glaciers move boulders better than water). There may also be preventative head holding maneuvers that could help If the pill gets stuck in the sinus area but I'm not sure if this is what is happening. You could try tilting your head back which could keep it from sticking in those pockets above the esophagus but it won't help if the pill gets stuck in the esophagus itself. If this keeps happening, you mentioned sometimes with food too, I would run it by your doctor. Have you actually mentioned this to your doctor? One of your answers made me think you had. Let me know if you have any more questions. I'm not sure how clear I am here as I'm multitasking with my kids school stuff.:)
Jacqui

[cin]

Well, I'm not a lot of help here, but I do know that alot of medication is available in liquid form. I have a lapband, so I cannot take large pills. If I cannot get it in liquid form I crush it with applesauce (and lots of sugar, sometimes!).

[j.griff]

I am aware of having sudden problems swallowing possibly being a sign of a serious condition (don't want to scare you, so not mentioning what condition it is). I would see a Dr. about it ASAP just to rule out serious underlying problems that could be the cause (I understand you had a recent physical with good results, but they weren't looking for this were they?). Hugs, and let us know what you find out when you see your Dr.

[jacqui in mo]

Yes, that is also a good solution. It is used a lot in nursing homes. Wouldn't be my first choice though & you must also check to make sure your medication can be crushed. Some meds absolutely should not be crushed.

[WendyK]

I have an aunt who has always had this problem. She crushes the pill up and mixes it with a little bit of apple sauce.

[one l michele]

If I saw you in person I'd ask you to point on your throat where you felt like it was getting stuck. Would you point to really high up on your neck near the jaw or lower down?
I would say it's stuck midway.

It also sorta sounds like you're having a gag reflex once the pill is stuck & you're trying your best to get it down, & that is why the water is coming back up, even through your nose. The pill may be getting stuck in the sinus area we have in the back of our throat above the level of the esophagus & vocal chords (not the nose area), or it could be getting stuck in the upper esophagus itself. I do assume that you're not having real trouble breathing while this happens (other than the panicking feeling you get--that's normal but not fun), not needing the Heimlich maneuver.
I can breathe, try to stay calm, but do panic, and can't talk while I feel it trying to work out, it's hard to describe.

In this situation I would advise swallowing something with more "pushing" power than water. A bite of applesauce, pudding, or something of that consistency that doesn't fall apart easily should get it moving. (think how glaciers move boulders better than water).
Hopefully it won't happen again, but I will keep this in mind.

There may also be preventative head holding maneuvers that could help If the pill gets stuck in the sinus area but I'm not sure if this is what is happening. You could try tilting your head back which could keep it from sticking in those pockets above the esophagus but it won't help if the pill gets stuck in the esophagus itself. If this keeps happening, you mentioned sometimes with food too, I would run it by your doctor. Have you actually mentioned this to your doctor? One of your answers made me think you had.
I haven't mentioned it to my doctor because at the time of my check up it had only happend once and I just thought it was a freak thing. I will though the next time I go it.

Any questions, hmmm . . . Where can I find liquid multi vitamins - LOL? Or maybe those that aren't "horse pills"?