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

Posted by chinasvegas @chinasvegas, Apr 19, 2022

I’m a 75 year old female take no medication and have had no diagnosis. Lately I’m chocking on my own saliva occasionally. The kind of chocking that used to happen only when liquid goes down the wrong way. Now it seems that I spontaneously choke on my own saliva. Anyone have this experience?

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Swallowing is an issue for Parkinson's disease. Voice therapy is proven to work for Parkinson's. For Parkinson's, singing and projecting the voice exercises are available via trained therapists. It seems like similar therapy would be available for everyone.

Here are my best wishes that you find a solution and medical care with the right therapist.

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You wouldn’t believe what severe acid reflux will do to you! I had many symptoms like this when my doctor told me to change the way I eat. I laughed out loud, because there was no way it could wreak such havoc. I was not a heartburn sufferer, and walked miles every day. Until I couldn’t! It also causes fatigue. Research an alkaline diet, then cut back on the foods contributing to your symptoms. There are several books out there to help you. You will be amazed!

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You may need a Modified Barium Swallow study to rule out any physiological swallowing issues. Seek out a Speech Pathologist.; that's their job.

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@thiamakski

You may need a Modified Barium Swallow study to rule out any physiological swallowing issues. Seek out a Speech Pathologist.; that's their job.

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Thank you for your comments, I do have a telephone appointment with my GP. Good to have some helpful information .

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@dawntomlin

You wouldn’t believe what severe acid reflux will do to you! I had many symptoms like this when my doctor told me to change the way I eat. I laughed out loud, because there was no way it could wreak such havoc. I was not a heartburn sufferer, and walked miles every day. Until I couldn’t! It also causes fatigue. Research an alkaline diet, then cut back on the foods contributing to your symptoms. There are several books out there to help you. You will be amazed!

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Thank you for your comments.

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@elimseoj

Swallowing is an issue for Parkinson's disease. Voice therapy is proven to work for Parkinson's. For Parkinson's, singing and projecting the voice exercises are available via trained therapists. It seems like similar therapy would be available for everyone.

Here are my best wishes that you find a solution and medical care with the right therapist.

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Thank you for you for your comments and best wishes, I do have an appointment with my GP for appropriate follow up.

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This happened to me and then I started losing my voice as well.
I attended a few sessions of voice therapy, after tests revealed no identifiable issues, and it did the trick. Both my voice and swallowing improved, as did my quality of life! I was given simple exercises that made all the difference.

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@retha65

I have the same issue. I believe it comes with aging in part. It’s an issue with the swallowing mechanism where part of it may stop working.
Also-smoking cigarettes a number of years causes this issue . I quit 4 years ago and still have the swallowing issue. I would see a doctor-mine got progressively worse so I wouldn’t wait.
Hope this helps
-Retha

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Hi Retha, have you ever considered a speech language pathologist to help with the swallowing issues?

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I was having problems in past with food seeming to get stuck in throat. It would cause me to cough quite hard. I think the coughing caused more phelm to develop and thus more coughing. I also has a lot of post nasal drip as had 2 sinus surgeries that really opened up my nasal passages. ENT referred me to speech pathologist who showed me exercises to do to help with swallowing. I was told, just like Collen mentioned, that it can be age related. The exercises did help and I slowly improved to this happening only occasionally.

I also started watching what seemed to cause nasal congestion and post nasal drip. What I found was dairy (especially full fat cheese) was causing a lot of congestion and post nasal drip (causes me to cough up phelm). I also watch spices (even though I love them) as they would bother my throat which would cause phelm and cause me to cough and develop more phelm and coughing along with post nasal drip.

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I'm not a medical professional, but if you're experiencing spontaneous choking on your own saliva, it could be due to various reasons, including underlying health issues or even simple factors like dehydration. It's important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the cause and receive appropriate guidance.

If you are in immediate distress, I strongly advise seeking emergency medical attention. Choking can be a serious issue, and getting prompt assistance is crucial. Reach out to a medical professional or call emergency services for assistance.

This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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