Food getting stuck in nasopharynx - swallowing issue

[OhWhatAPalaver]

Does this happen to anyone else? It's been really bothering me lately. I've also been suffering with reflux which probably doesn't help. When I eat it always feels like a bit of food goes up there instead of all of it going down my throat as normal. I spend ages trying to get it out by snorting horribly and using saline rinses. It's really getting me down now and I'm quite worried there's something really wrong. It happened at tea time this evening and I still feel like there something there. It's such a horrible feeling 😣 I'm worried I might get an infection or it might end up in my lungs and I'll get pneumonia or something.

Just for clarification there's definitely food going up there as it sometimes shoots out in to my throat and makes me cough while I'm trying to get it out... Sorry tmi.

I don't know much about this (not at all medical) but my aunt died from a form of pneumonia caused by food doing this over a period of time.
Please get direct medical advice asap. I can't tell from your post if you are being treated for this or not.

No I'm struggling to get seen by a gp at the moment. It's so difficult. I will insist on Monday that I need to be seen.

Have a Google of eosinophilic oesophagitis.
It might fit it goes along with reflux.

Thank you @IKEA888 I'll check that out.
@Scarby9 was your aunt quite elderly? I'm even more worried now. 😞

Sorry. O posted again but it hasn't appeared.
My aunt had aspirational pneumonia. She was late 70s with a number of other health issues which affected her ability to swallow (among other things). I had never heard of this as a thing before so it really stuck in my head.

Aspiration (and resultant pneumonia) is very common in people with neurological impairment - so strokes, brain injuries etc. It’s not normal for people without a significant diagnosis to get aspiration pneumonia.

OP - you might not need to see your GP but you definitely need to speak to them. It might be that they can refer you to a speech and language therapist for an assessment of your swallow without seeing you themselves.

OP, out of interest, how old are you? Sorry to ask x

Thank you @ChelseaCat that's very reassuring. I'm 36 so hopefully it'll be fine. I'm such a worrier.

Get a blood test for B2, folate, ferritin, fbc and thyroid.
Make sure you have had no b supplements or fotified foods (like red bull type drinks or meal replacement shakes) in the 4 months before the test.

Sorry, typo - that should read B12 ^

Thanks @YNK I take b12 daily as I'm pretty much vegan so it'd be quite bad for me to stop taking it for 4 months I think. Frustrating because I don't actually know if the supplements are doing their job. A lot of the non dairy milks and yoghurts are fortified too. I definitely could do with some accurate bloods being done though.

You’re very young OP, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about but I’d still chat to your GP. Let us know how you get on

@OhWhatAPalaver

Thanks *@YNK* I take b12 daily as I'm pretty much vegan so it'd be quite bad for me to stop taking it for 4 months I think. Frustrating because I don't actually know if the supplements are doing their job. A lot of the non dairy milks and yoghurts are fortified too. I definitely could do with some accurate bloods being done though.

Vegans also get pernicious anaemia. Ask your doctor for a trial of injections! Once you get a first injection done safely in the surgery or a clinic like Reviv you can safely self inject. It's very cheap to buy from German pharmacies.

My MIL has pernicious anaemia and also suffers with reflux. Would it affect swallowing too?
Thanks @ChelseaCat I'm thinking it's just going to be one of those annoying things. Hoping to get a referral to ENT and gastro to get this sorted.

Hey OP - How are you doing? did you speak to your GP?

I have a face to face gp appointment on Tuesday next week. Let's hope they come up with something. Still having the same issues with certain foods particularly going the wrong way and still getting heartburn every morning and sometimes throughout the day. I think the swallowing issue is exacerbated by the reflux but I don't know what's actually causing the rreflux so I'm hoping the gp will refer me for tests. I think I've either got a hiatal hernia, some kind of allergy or maybe both.