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Original poster

Help with choking sensation/difficulty swallowing

23 replies

NoGoodAtMakingDecisions · 16/08/2021 13:40

I've always had a bit of a fear about others choking around me, mainly. However it seems to have really ramped up in the last few weeks to me thinking i'm going to choke when I eat.

I have no mental health problems, no eating disorders just an irrational fear that im going to choke. We went to wagamamas yesterday and I physically couldn't swallow anything because I was overthinking the thought that i'm going to choke or food is going to get stuck. Then because I am hypersensitive to the thought of choking I genuinely do choke.

It's making me dread meal times, I constantly overchew so the food goes to a slimy mess in the my mouth. I'm not eating as much because it now takes so long :(

Any ideas?

OP posts:
longtompot · 16/08/2021 13:53

I had this a few years ago, and it still rears it's head now.
Mine started with a sudden onset of anxiety after several things but properly came on during a short flight to Manchester. I remember trying to swallow and then suddenly not being able to. I had an extra strong mint in my mouth and my jaw felt like it was going to seize shut and I was going to choke on the sweet so I had to get it out of my mouth quick!
At home I could only take small sips of water and was eating very liquidy ready brek and cup a soups. They would take an hour or so to get through. I lost over 15kgs in a few short months.
I went to the GP about the anxiety and they gave me some meds. Tiny pills that took me forever to swallow, but they did help a bit.
I made a conscious effort to try and eat small amounts of food and would thicken up my ready brek a bit more each time. I would start having the soups with croutons or small bits of veg or chicken in. It did take ages, and I remember one terrifying moment when eating some stuffing when I swallowed and it was just in my throat! I just tried to remain calm and swallowed again and it went down. It set me back a bit, but I just took small steps again to get back to eating. I remember thinking I will not die choking on stuffing!
I still don't eat steak and various other foods and this is 5 years down the line. I'm sure one day I will be able to, just might take time.

Original poster
NoGoodAtMakingDecisions · 16/08/2021 14:10

Yes, your experience sounds similar to mine. I choked on a mozarella ball in a restaurant once, well half the cheese was in my stomach and the rest was in my throat because of how stringy mozarella is... I genuinely get that horrible stomach churning feel and i'm convinced i'm going to choke now when i'm eating.

I constantly worry i'm going to choke on my own and then what do I do? I won't be able to get it back up.

It sounds really silly but it's a genuine fear and my throat actually feels uncomfortable when I eat.

Did you try any CBT or just anxiety meds?

OP posts:
longtompot · 17/08/2021 10:16

I didn't, I just took the pills as and when I felt particularly anxious and just tried to deal with it myself. I would go and see your gp if you can and see if they can help. Good luck! It's bloody awful feeling like this about eating and drinking Flowers

PurplePumpkinDream · 17/08/2021 12:47

I share the anxieties about pill taking and stringy cheese, this is because I had nasty experiences with both. So for the pills I either cut them in half if possible, or choose soluble or liquid. As for cheese I avoid anything melted. It’s so easy to choke on these two items. Do have a word with your GP.

Original poster
NoGoodAtMakingDecisions · 17/08/2021 17:51

Another meal time ruined because of this weird sensation in my throat. I can't figure out if there's genuinely something wrong with my throat or whether it's in my head. I keep telling myself "just swallow it, what's the worst that can happen" and I can get it down. It's taking me ages to eat Sad

OP posts:
GoodnightGrandma · 17/08/2021 17:53

Anxiety, you could try antidepressants as they helped my DH.

Original poster
NoGoodAtMakingDecisions · 17/08/2021 17:56

With anxiety, does it come on all of a sudden? I genuinely think I'm going to choke and my heart rate goes up to 189 beats per minute Blush

OP posts:
GoodnightGrandma · 17/08/2021 17:59

Yes.

PurplePumpkinDream · 17/08/2021 18:40

@NoGoodAtMakingDecisions Hi try to get a face to face appointment with your GP, they’ll check to see if there are any physical causes for your symptoms and go from there.

longtompot · 17/08/2021 18:47

@NoGoodAtMakingDecisions

With anxiety, does it come on all of a sudden? I genuinely think I'm going to choke and my heart rate goes up to 189 beats per minute Blush
Yes it does. Mine was out of the blue. I was trying to drink a glass of wine for my birthday and realised I couldn't swallow it at all. I was most upset.
Original poster
NoGoodAtMakingDecisions · 18/08/2021 11:54

Even swallowing porridge is becoming a problem! Sad

OP posts:
longtompot · 18/08/2021 14:17

Try Ready Brek. It's much smoother and you can make it very milky. Just keep trying to sip water too as getting dehydrated can make things harder to swallow.

LouLou198 · 18/08/2021 15:13

Sorry to jump on your thread op but I am experiencing exactly the same thing. It started about 10 days ago when I pinched a Haribo sweet from dc cinema pick and mix and thought I was going to die. Managed to cough it up but it was terrifying. I've had 4 more similar choking episodes since. Last couple of days have been awful, couldn't swallow toast this morning, feels like my throat is closing up. I've phoned my GP, they won't see me face to face, only speak to me on the phone. No mention of anxiety, they don't know what it is so have referred me to ENT, which I think is a bit odd without them even examining me first.

RealHousewifeofBarnardCastle · 18/08/2021 15:18

Could be silent reflux, this would feel like that. It can be controlled with medication in liquid form.

RealHousewifeofBarnardCastle · 18/08/2021 15:19

ENT will look down your throat to see

FoxyBadger · 18/08/2021 15:31

Hi @NoGoodAtMakingDecisions. Google globus sensation. I had same issue 3-4 years ago following a choking incident. Ended up losing 3 stone.
Saw ENT Consultant privately and was told I was suffering spasms in my oesophagus. Reflux was also an issue but unknown to me before this.
I was prescribed low dose Amitrptyline plus medication for reflux but needed counselling too before I could eat properly again. Took a long time and still have occasional issues but much improved. Good luck.

RampantIvy · 18/08/2021 15:37

I don't want to worry you but you really need to talk to your GP about this.

Bagelsandbrie · 18/08/2021 16:05

You need to see a GP. All sorts of things can cause these types of issues, it doesn’t necessarily have to anxiety related - if you can’t swallow it will naturally make you anxious! Google Sjorgens syndrome. I have this (and other autoimmune conditions) and it makes swallowing extremely difficult.

Redlorryellow · 18/08/2021 16:19

I’ve had this too and it is definitely anxiety related for me. Came on during a stressful period in my life and for about 6 weeks I was unable to eat except soft foods and liquids. As a pp said you have to try and reintroduce the fear foods slowly, don’t let it win - when I lost over a stone very quickly (which I couldn’t afford to lose) and had no energy to do anything with my dc I decided I was going to beat it and I made myself have something hard or chewy every day, in public if needs be in case I did choke and needed help. It has massively subsided now but was very scary. ADs may help or some cbt if you can. And work on getting enough calories, sleeping well and cut caffeine/alcohol as hunger, tiredness and stimulants all made my fears much worse. You will get there, I promise- if I can, you can.

Original poster
NoGoodAtMakingDecisions · 19/08/2021 12:17

Thank you all for your help. I've tried to ring the GP for the past two days and been told no appointment, try tomorrow at 8am... 

@LouLou198 your story is identical to mine! Let's not let it beat us, ive just had some ready breck which was smoother, each tiny mouthful I swallowed I told myself "just swallow it down, what's the worst than can happen" and I managed a bit more down. The sensation is definitely still there that I'm about to choke but I haven't. I'm trying to train my brain to come past the thought that I'm going to choke.

@Redlorryellow I thought I was being silly by thinking I wanted to eat with people around just in case I did choke... I'm so glad you said that.

OP posts:
LouLou198 · 19/08/2021 13:22

@NoGoodAtMakingDecisions I have spoken to my GP a second time and requested a thyroid function test, as apparently thyroid problems can also cause the same sensation. I've had the tests done today so will see if that gives any answers. I've been invited out for dinner tonight but I have declined, I'm worried about having another choking episode in public. I've managed a glass of milk and soup today. On the plus side I have lost 4lbs this week, which is no problem as I have a stone of lockdown weight to lose! Hope you get an appointment sorted soon.

FreddyP · 04/12/2021 13:40

Did anyone overcome this fear of choking as I've developed an intense phobia of this due to chronic anxiety and my AD being changed over recently I'm constantly worrying about eating and have resorted to soft foods and before taking my medication I'm trembling with fear

FreddyP · 05/01/2022 20:15

@NoGoodAtMakingDecisions hope you don't mind me asking did you overcome this fear as I'm struggling with this ATM?

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