Sudden Onset Of Feeling As If Throat Has Closed Over When Eating

[shivvy]

My father-in-law sometimes get a horrible sudden sensation that feels as if his throat has closed over when he starts to eat. It can last from minutes to hours before it settles.
He has spoken to a few doctors about it but a reason for it happening or a solution hasn't been suggested.
I have done some googling but I was wondering if anyone on here has any personal experience of it happening or any professional suggestions of how he could get some help?
I was wondering if a referral to a speech and language therapist could maybe help him?
Thanks.

[TheWinner]

Sqad is the best for advice for this.

[shivvy]

And also maybe someone who has experienced it and got a diagnosis/solution.

[Sqad]

This could be due to many things and your FIL needs to see an E.N.T surgeon as a camera investigation is fundamental to a diagnosis.
Also a complete medical history of your FIL needs evaluating.

[barry1010]

Could it be esophageal spasms?

[shivvy]

Yes he has had those tests Sqad but no diagnosis was given.
It certainly sounds like that barry.

[Sqad]

////when he starts to eat.////

All investigations were negative I gather.

This sounds "functional", psychological or maybe neurological............this is a matter of "wait and see."

[Sqad]

//////I was wondering if a referral to a speech and language therapist could maybe help him?/////

No, not at this stage.

[Hazlinny]

Had an elderly friend who experienced similar - diagnosis was Dysphagia. Before Sqad tells me otherwise - everyone is different -and, of course, further medical intervention is necessary.

[Sqad]

Hazlinny, I would never comment adversely on your posts.

Dysphagia is not a diagnosis, but a symptom, it means difficulty in swallowing.

[Hazlinny]

I bow to the Master!

[anneasquith]

Anxiety ?

[shivvy]

Anne - i see anxiety mentioned in my googling but i'm fairly sure it isnt a factor.
Sqad - he has previously been told to 'wait and see' but it has been going on for a couple of years (and he is 83) so I'd rather he didn't have to wait any longer. He had a bad episode last night so I'd like to restart some kind of investigation/intervention if i can.
Even if a cause can never be found, as Hazlinny says my FIL has dysphagia and thats why I thought a Speech and Language referral could help.

[Sqad]

My only suggestion is that he sees a Neurologist, but I am afraid that you will have to "wait and see."

///when he starts to eat.////......that suggests that we are not dealing with an obstruction as it starts before the food starts to traverse the gullet.

I really can't see how a speech and language therapist would have anything to offer.

[douglas9401]

I've had a similar thing going on now for so long that the first hospital in Edinburgh where my endoscopy was done has been demolished.
Nothing was found but I did enjoy the sedation.
I've no pattern to episodes and can go for months with no trouble at all.
I've had a couple more exams and still no further forward so have settled on anxiety bringing it on but I've learned to live with it.
It's not so much that my throat closes but part-way through a meal food seems to get stuck and I start to salivate resulting in more swallowing on top of the blockage leading to the need to bring up the obstruction whereupon I can return to my rapidly cooling food and carry on as normal.
It's odd and seems to have the medics baffled but after four decades I've learned to live with it.
I'm tempted to borrow 'no big deal' from our esteemed Sqad but I know how annoying and sometimes upsetting this kind of thing can be.
No solution to offer sadly but good wishes for your father in law, he's not alone in these things.

[carrot99]

My mum had Alzheimer's and when she could no longer eat, survived for many months on Ensure. Ensure was a complete meal replacement in a little bottle of a sort of milkshake. If he can drink maybe your
father-in-law could try these to get all his nutrients.

[jno]

douglas, that happened to me. I could start feeling the food piling up after even a tiny piece of orange decided it was going no further. Making myself throw up was the only thing I could do, which was unnerving during big business lunches. The GP prescribed lansoprazole, which did the trick

[douglas9401]

Tried a few of the 'azole' group, jno, no real result so I just get on with it now, especially since a repeat prescription for Omeprazole was denied recently.

I might query that after our holiday.

[jno]

worked instantly for me with what sound like identical symptoms. (Only downside: if I forget to take one in the morning, I have reflux acid by the evening.)

Still, I suppose it's just possible your GP known more than I do.

[douglas9401]

He's a bit of a man of mystery these days, protected from the halt and lame by receptionists from hell who give the impression of having a medical degree when fobbing one off but don't, obvs.

Anyway that's enough about me. :-)

[shivvy]

Thanks for all that info everyone.
Carrot - my mum had dementia too and certainly got the benefits of using Ensure when she started to lose her swallow. However my FIL is otherwise relatively active and well with a good appetite and I think he would throw something at me if I suggested he start on Ensure lol!!
That very interesting and useful info Douglas and Jno - thanks for sharing.