aspiration danger?

[fallinggirl]

I had food get stuck at lunch today and it's still there over 8 hours later. I simply wasn't hungry at supper time, but drank some tea, trying anything to get this food to go down. What is the danger and reality of this staying there? I try coughing, and I can get it up to the throat but not all the way.

Ugggh. What do I do?

 

[affected]

that's awful, did you get it solved?

I would call the doctor or do you have a clinic with a speech pathologist - they specialise in the swallowing issues and tactics to help.

Tillie (hope you are OK, it's scary stuff)

 

[fallinggirl]

This morning, I feel like something is weird in my stomach. I spent a lot of time coughing last night. I am scared of eating anything anymore. sigh...

I am trying what the speech pathologist told me which was the 'chin tuck'.

 

[affected]

For peace of mind can you get checked over by your doctor?

The coughing may have left you feeling a bit raw and extra tired.

Make a thick really nutritious smoothie and just enjoy it slowly.

Have you considered or are they talking to you about the peg? It takes all the pressure off needing to get your nutrition by mouth which may relieve a lot of your fear. The fear is real, believe me I know having lived with a bulbar onset PALS who has had swallowing issues for well over a year. We both feel better since the peg as he eats or drinks now because he wants to, not because this is the only way to get nutrition and fluid in.

 

[fallinggirl]

Thanks for the suggestions Tillie. I have an appointment coming up soon and will discuss this then.

 

[jellis86]

Choking incidents are the scariest for me. I had a piece of tomato stuck in my throat for hours a few weeks ago. As soon as an ENT sprayed my throat with numbing solution, it slid down. Probably just the relaxation was enough.

I worry about aspiration of food but so far I have been able to avoid that complication. I do get food to stick in the back of my throat, but can still cough or take thick liquids to rinse it down.

I do have a tube and probably 50% of my nutrition now goes through there. My wife has bough two different food grinders, a small hand crank one and a larger motorized one. She stopped at Burger King the other day and bought me a Whopper burger...she ground the patty and put it back on the bun. I picked at the meat and some bun and had no problems swallowing.

Eating is now a matter of the correct preparation and taking my time. Chin tuck, holding breath half way, etc.

 

[dalvin]

a product that is available that helps with that is Pill Glide, its a swallowing spray that lubricates the throat making it easier to swallow food and pills. Aspiration is no fun, been through that already, missed 6 months work back in 06. The Pill Glide tastes likes strawberries so ne need to be concerned about bad taste, actually tastes pretty good.

 

[Barbie]

DAlvin-0-thanks for that suggestion--I am going to get some of that!

 

[dalvin]

no problem Barbie, I was given my first bottle at the alsa support group meeting. It is available at most drug stores over the counter.

 

[fallinggirl]

I am definitely going to look for this! Thanks for the help!

 

[jellis86]

dalvin...never heard of that either. I just ordered some, it sounds like what I have needed for months. Thank you!