I have started to choke spontaneously on my own saliva. Anyone else?

Choking is a scary experience, especially when it seems to happen for little or no reason. Sometimes things change in our body as we get older, and it happens so gradually we don't realize it. After my Mom had a small stroke, a specific swallowing study was done by a therapist and they found a slight paralysis in one vocal chord. After some therapy, things evened out for her.
Choking can be a sign of changes in the throat or the brain, and should be checked out. Have you talked to your doctor about it?
Sue

Thank you so much, Sue......I have just had a couple of bouts of choking. I couldn't figure it out and then as so often happens, you pop up and hit the nail on the head.

Hello @chinasvegas,

Yes, I understand exactly what you are saying! The feeling of aspirating is frightening. I have this experience as well. My problem is due to a paralyzed vocal cord, but there are other reasons for this. I would suggest a couple of ideas. One is to mention this to your family doctor (if you haven't done so already) and ask for a referral to an Otolaryngologist. This is a special type of ENT doc who specializes in swallowing/speech problems. Seeing a neurologist in order to check out the possibility of other brain-related problems is also a good idea.

I'm wondering, do you have any other issues, such as balance, walking difficulties or speech problems?

Hypersalivation, also known as sialorrhea or ptyalism, can trigger that as well. I had an episode of it after, of all things, an endoscopy. I saw two ENTs who couldn't help but my gastroenterologist did as he'd seen in patients with GERD. A few months of glycopyrrolate helped tame it down so I could sleep and it, eventually, went away.. If caused by excess saliva, the thinking is that the body's trying to dilute stomach acid. A condition called water brash in layman's terms. It was always worse when lying down and I used to get a sore throat from swallowing so frequently but the swallowing was to prevent choking feeling. (Note, not choking but a feeling that I'd have to. It was a sleep-destroyer and am glad that it finally waned.)

Yes I do have BPPV which is vertigo on my left side. Stopped sleeping on that side and symptoms are not as bad. Learned how to realign crystals in my ears to subvert the vertigo. Thanks so much for the referral to otolaryngologist a d for your response.

That is truly scary. Thanks so much for your insight. My symptoms are not severe just have that coughing that we all do across our lives if something goes down the wrong way. With age and across the past year or so it is much more spontaneous and just happens with saliva and not when drinking as before. I will get it diagnosed and hope for the best. Thanks you.

@chinavegas,

I'm glad that the responses you have received have encouraged you to keep looking for answers. Often, getting to the root of a problem can be a difficult task, but it is worth it when you meet the right doctor and get help.

I would also recommend that you ask for a referral to a speech therapist. Most people think that speech therapy is only for speech problems, however, a good speech therapist is an excellent source for helping with swallowing problems. They can give you special exercises to help those muscles that help with swallowing correctly. I am very grateful for the speech therapists I have met with. They have helped me with significant swallowing problems.

I hope you will keep in touch @chinasvegas. Will you post again and let me know how you are doing?

Hello and thanks so much. I would never have thought of a speech therapist. What a great idea. I will let you know how it goes. Thank you. 🙏🏼

The excess saliva was just very annoying. What was a little scary was seeing a total of four doctors to no avail before a dermatologist suggested that the endoscopy somehow triggered the salivary ducts to 'overproduce' and the gastroenterologist prescribed the gylcophlyrrolate. For anyone dealing with this, one way to test if it's a salivary issue is to drink astringent liquids like cranberry juice or water with a lot of lemon juice. And, oddly, drinking lots of water helps though it doesn't help one sleep without a few bathroom in the wee hours (no pun intended but not a bad one).

After the endoscopy, not my first one, my mouth was extremely dry and drinking a liter of water didn't seem to help. So I too think the endoscopy caused thus as it started with 12 hours after the procedure.

I just looked up the water brash that I referred to, associated with GERD and other GI tract malfunctions and one symptom is a feeling as if one has a lump in one's throat. That could trigger a swallowing and/or cough reaction.