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?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

@margsy

Oh my, I have just turned 60, the same thing happens to me, choking on my own saliva, I am waiting to see a ent, I also loose my voice and get hoarse every once in a while. I can't sing as good as I used to either, lost my vocal range, I can't call out loud. I had it looked at 3 years ago all was fine, but I have been diagnosed with acid reflux but silent reflux, no heartburn or belching. I sometimes sniffle in my sleep and wake up with a very bad headache. No one seems to be able to help me. I have been put on proton pump inhibitors.

Jump to this post

Sounds like you have Barrett’s osophagus

REPLY
@dawntomlin

I am 58 with the same diagnosis 5 yrs ago. My primary said to change my diet. I am now symptom free, after
switching to an alkaline diet, cutting out dairy, and limiting fried foods and coffee! In a month, when u feel better, you can reintroduce irritating foods.
I’m now trying to convince my mother to do this. She is
worse, including burning mouth syndrome, and is in pain most of the time! GOOD LUCK!

Jump to this post

It’s such a tragedy that people brought up on the SAD have so many health issues then they have to change their diet to a normal one, if they wish to improve their health, and it’s not easy

REPLY
@dawntomlin

I am 58 with the same diagnosis 5 yrs ago. My primary said to change my diet. I am now symptom free, after
switching to an alkaline diet, cutting out dairy, and limiting fried foods and coffee! In a month, when u feel better, you can reintroduce irritating foods.
I’m now trying to convince my mother to do this. She is
worse, including burning mouth syndrome, and is in pain most of the time! GOOD LUCK!

Jump to this post

Thank you

REPLY
@margsy

Oh my, I have just turned 60, the same thing happens to me, choking on my own saliva, I am waiting to see a ent, I also loose my voice and get hoarse every once in a while. I can't sing as good as I used to either, lost my vocal range, I can't call out loud. I had it looked at 3 years ago all was fine, but I have been diagnosed with acid reflux but silent reflux, no heartburn or belching. I sometimes sniffle in my sleep and wake up with a very bad headache. No one seems to be able to help me. I have been put on proton pump inhibitors.

Jump to this post

I feel for all of you. I “suffer” with much of the same symptoms. Diagnosis the same except I also have allergies and sinus issues, for which k take Xyzal. Could that be a contributing factor to your symptoms?
I was on PPIs for years and my primary care just took me off them and replaced with Pepcid 20 mg 2x/day. I’m glad to be off omeprazole but none of my symptoms have improved. Sorry I have no answers. There sure are a lot of us raspy-voiced, phlegmy, chronic coughers out there. Hope the medical world finds something for us.

REPLY

My esophagus began to close down; at first due to a hiatal hernia which make swallowing food and my medication quite difficult; choked on food and regurgitated pills. A speech pathologist helped me with esophageal exercises to help strengthen the muscles in my throat using daily speech exercises. Then, I was prescribed meds which helped a bit, but after being tested with barium and X-rays, my dosage was increased. Taking only little sips of liquids also helped to open my esophagus, but unless I practice daily speaking with intent, I regress quickly; and there's a program and a book to guide you which is free through Parkinson Voice Project called Speak Out! (Live with Intent). I have improved immensely over the past five months.

REPLY

I am an 87 y old female and was having this problem since I had a stroke last winter. I keep a jar of Vick's by my bed and use some under my nose when this bothers me; it helps! Also I refrain from drinking fluids before bedtime to keep down # of times I must get up for bathroom. I live alone now, so must figure out these minor problems myself! The excess fluid makes me sneeze and cough sometimes and I keep a box of tissues at hand always! Part of aging!

REPLY

My husband does, and it’s violent and scary. I just wait for him to catch his breath. I haven’t been able to find a name for this condition. Even his doctor (whom he called at my insistence) was sort of blasé and not any help. I even wonder if it puts pressure on his heart. He just turned 79.

REPLY
@shirleynz

Sounds like you have Barrett’s osophagus

Jump to this post

I looked up Barrett’s esophagus, and it doesn’t fit his symptoms.

REPLY
@k8idid

I looked up Barrett’s esophagus, and it doesn’t fit his symptoms.

Jump to this post

Hello @k8idid and welcome to Mayo Connect! I understand your concern for your husband. I was diagnosed with a paralyzed vocal cord, and before treatment, it was frightening to experience that "choking" feeling.

Has your husband had a work-up with an otolaryngologist? An otolaryngologist is an ENT specialist who has a special training with swallowing difficulties. An exam from an otolaryngologist can be very helpful. Also, seeing a GI specialist might take the guess work out of your husband's problems. Has he had a swallowing test done?

What type of medical workups has your husband had to determine the cause of his choking?

REPLY
@hopeful33250

Hello @k8idid and welcome to Mayo Connect! I understand your concern for your husband. I was diagnosed with a paralyzed vocal cord, and before treatment, it was frightening to experience that "choking" feeling.

Has your husband had a work-up with an otolaryngologist? An otolaryngologist is an ENT specialist who has a special training with swallowing difficulties. An exam from an otolaryngologist can be very helpful. Also, seeing a GI specialist might take the guess work out of your husband's problems. Has he had a swallowing test done?

What type of medical workups has your husband had to determine the cause of his choking?

Jump to this post

He hasn’t had any tests at all. And it will be a huge task to get him to have them. What are some possible treatments for this? Thank you so much for your help.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.