Poor Swallowing Reflex

[Catherine Read]

I wanted to see if this was a thing with others as both myself and my brother (who is also autistic) tend to choke on our drinks, and sometimes food. It's not too often but frequently enough we'll both have the issue of swallowing a drink and some of it going down the wrong way. I find with food as well that I usually swallow it fine but it always seems to stick in my throat like my oesophagus forgot its job part way through and I need a drink to wash it down. It seems we both have iffy swallow reflexes, not bad enough to be a problem but it is an irritant, especially if I have to eat or drink in front of people and i'm anxious about chocking on it. It's really awkward trying to repress a cough while you're trying to eat or drink.

 

[Crossbreed]

Before I was 52, I had no such problem.
It started right after my colonoscopy.
It is only with small pieces of food or larger pills, particularly on the left side of my throat.
The medical term is dysphagia.
My specific form is called pharyngeal dysfunction.
It is a known --I assume rare-- side effect of midazolam (a.k.a. Versed), a sedative used during my colonoscopy.

To date, it has not obstructed my breathing --I can breathe past the object-- it just provokes a gag reflex until I cough it up.

 

[watersprite]

Yes, but thankfully only when or
if I am anxious or experinecing stress.
What happens to me is a tendency to choke or sort of gag on a drink of water. Also have to take care to eat slowly with small mouthfulls. Otherwise I experience cramps, kind of like the swallow reflex has gotten a glitch.

 

[DK’s_Ghost]

Interesting. When I was a child, I used to choke on rice a lot. One time, the dinner lady at my primary school had to do the Heimlich manoeuvre because I was full-on choking and couldn’t breathe. The culprit? Some rice. Lol.

I kind of learned to pay more attention and it happens a lot less, now.

The thing that hit me about this, though, was that my Dad has this issue. If I have autism, it’s likely he does too. He used to have rages when I was a kid - especially due to noise - and I’ve wondered for a while whether he may also be autistic.

 

[Streetwise]

I wanted to see if this was a thing with others as both myself and my brother (who is also autistic) tend to choke on our drinks, and sometimes food. It's not too often but frequently enough we'll both have the issue of swallowing a drink and some of it going down the wrong way. I find with food as well that I usually swallow it fine but it always seems to stick in my throat like my oesophagus forgot its job part way through and I need a drink to wash it down. It seems we both have iffy swallow reflexes, not bad enough to be a problem but it is an irritant, especially if I have to eat or drink in front of people and i'm anxious about chocking on it. It's really awkward trying to repress a cough while you're trying to eat or drink.

I have it more often after an infection that happened a long time ago and I think a very mild stroke, definitely notice it in may -September ,grass and tree allergy season in the UK .

 

[Martha Ferris]

To help with swallowing bend your head forward as you swallow. We use this technique in hospitals and nursing homes with those who have this issue or need an NG tube.

 

[PastelPetals]

Not often with food but liquid I will often choke on or swallow the wrong way.

 

[unperson]

Have different throat muscle problem - cannot spit. The muscles just won't do that action.

I eat too fast, so most of my food problems are a result of that.

 

[Fino]

Have you talked to a doctor about it?