Ever since I was diagnosed five years ago, I’ve had difficulty swallowing. It’s pretty awful and scary. Every time it happens, I’m worried that I will end up coughing up food and getting it down my airway.
I’ve had a swallow test that confirmed the issue and this past spring I had an endoscopy performed. The doctor took a balloon attached to the tube and blew it up to stretch out my esophagus. I was hopeful that this would be the fix.
For a couple weeks after that, I swallowed with no issues. Sadly, the problem came back.
When it occurs, I do one of two things:
- I wait a bit to see if the food will end up going down which it does sometimes.
- I force myself to vomit by sticking a finger down my throat.
It’s really awful and embarrassing, especially if I’m in public. Usually after I clear my esophagus I’m able to eat afterwards, but sometimes not. If it happens to me multiple times in a sitting I’ll give up on eating for that meal.
Does anyone else experience this?
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I have difficulties swallowing and i was just chalking it up to my thyroid or my tonsils.
It normally starts if i am not looking straight ahead. If i turn my head i start choking. Then normally have napkin on hand in case something flies out while i am coughing. The worst is when i start choking on liquids or a capsule is stuck in the back of my throat. When it water or any other drink i end up looking like a teething toddler. And the capsule i have to keep drinking til it goes down or it starts burning.
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I don’t have issues with food but believe it or not I have issues swallowing fluid. I was told that there is something you can purchase at any pharmacy that will thicken drinks and or soup. I was also told Botox helps. I haven’t tried anything yet.
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Here is something I found on Amazon.? It might be beneficial to have on hand just in case.
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Oh yeah, totally. Smaller bites, maybe a sip of whatever you’re drinking, especially if it’s dry. Cheeseburgers are the worst. That feeling of not being able to breathe is so scary.
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Have you checked on using Botox for it? It is worth a shot to see if it helps.
My uncle had it done and I was told that it helped. I don’t know if only certain neurologist do it or not. I haven’t done it myself.
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Hi Mike. I have issues with food feeling like it’s going to get stuck. Sometimes it feels as if it does. I haven’t aspirated food but I have plenty of times aspirated liquid. It’s scary for sure.
The guys in my support group were discussing this, they put their chin to chest to open up the airway before swallowing.
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Hi Jennifer. Thank you for posting this. I’ve been having difficulty with swallowing as well for the past several years. Didn’t even chalk it up to being a Parkinson symptom until I met with my PCP. It’s crazy how things can start coming together and making sense after struggling with all the symptoms for several several years.
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I had the swallowing issue last night, and I tried pushing my chin into my chest, and it worked! The swallowing issue occurred again, and I was able to push my chin into my chest and swallow successfully a second time!
It might be a little early to claim that this is a permanent solution but I really hope it is. I’m so happy that this works. I’ve been so scared and embarrassed because of this symptom over the past five years.
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I’m glad you remembered it! I would be so panicked.
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Just for transparency sake, the tuck your chin into your chest trick doesn’t always work. The swallowing issue happened to me again last night, I tried the chin tucking trick, and it didn’t work. I’m still optimistic about it and I will continue trying it though.
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It works with food or medicine not so much for fluid. For liquids you can go to the pharmacy and get a thickener to put in drink or soup.
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Speech therapy can help. They have exercises to strengthen muscles in the throat. There’s also a gadget used while inhaling/exhaling. And let’s not forget a good old swallow study. Not fun, but can provide some info.
Hi Mike, I’m new, I see alot of good info in Parky Chat I’ll make it permanent stop as i delve into my Parkinsons dilemma we can’t get enough help trying to fight this crappy condition. I too have trouble swallowing and I agree the neck trick helps alot. Just in case you haven’t tried EMST it can be helpful.
Hey Rich, nice to meet you, welcome to the forum. What is EMST?
Hey Mike same here, (Expiratory muscle strength trainer) gastroenterologist recommended I use to help me swallow. singers use it to strengthen vocal cords so they can hold notes longer. Its a tube you blow into. here’s (www.ems1150.com) if you need more info.
Thanks for sharing, I will check it out.
By the way everyone, I had the swallowing issue happen again this past weekend while I was at lunch with my family at a pizza restaurant. I tucked my chin into my chest and the food went down! Woohoo! 
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