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Post by jw on Aug 19, 2012 21:59:24 GMT -5
Hi,
DS has developed a problem with choking when eating dinner. It happens every few weeks, and seems to happen with different foods (pasta, chicken, etc.) When it happens he takes a bite and swallows, then gets up and runs to the sink and starts to choke. His airway isn't completely obstructed because he can talk and breath (with some difficulty so it isn't completely clear either), but it is a little scary. Eventually he spits ups and then is OK.
I posted about this a while ago (but couldn't find the post again tonight) and I seem to remember that bros and maybe some others also had experiebce with this. DS does have some coordination problems, but didn't have trouble with choking until the last year or so. He is almost 17 now.
It does not seem to happen at breakfast or lunch, just dinner.
We have an appointment with his psych coming up, so I will ask if any of his meds could be causing this. He also has a well checkup with his pediatrician next week, so wondering if we should ask for a referral and what type of doctor would diagnose something like this. An ENT? Gastroenterologist? OT/PT? My biggest concern is that this will happen sometime when we are not at home and he will not be able to clear the food out of his throat.
I hate to be a worrywort (but I am) but this seems to be happening more and more frequently and ds swears he is not rushing to eat or taking bites that are too big....
Any advice is appreciated! jw
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Post by eoffg on Aug 20, 2012 6:11:35 GMT -5
Jw, some time ago I looked into swallowing difficulties/ Dysphagia, where I found a good article that explain the process and where problems can occur. Though given that he talk and breath, with just some difficulty. Suggests that it is an issue with the upper or lower esophageal sphincters? www.medicinenet.com/swallowing/article.htm#what_is_dysphagia |
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Post by michellea on Aug 20, 2012 8:49:17 GMT -5
When my daughter was having breathing problems, we ultimately ended up with a TEAM of doctors including a pulmanologist, gastroenterologist and ENT. Turns out she had vocal chord dysfunction (via ENT) brought about by acid reflux (gastroenterologist) and they ruled out asthma. The acid reflux was causing her esophagus to close up which cut off breathing. Voice therapy helped her to learn how to breathe and she has adjusted her diet and takes meds for the acid reflux.
Perhaps there is something similar going on w your son. If you can find a interdisciplinary team, I think this is your best bet. Prior to us finding the team, the pulminolgist just kept insisting it was asthma, didn't believe the meds were not working, and my daughter continued to get worse and more frustrated/scared. The team approach lead to a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
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Post by healthy11 on Aug 20, 2012 8:58:34 GMT -5
Since it only happens in the evening, I'm wondering if there might be some relationship with allergens or some sort of muscle fatigue that happens towards the end of long days?
My son isn't having choking issues with food, but he has been having difficulty with catching his breath after certain activities...We've been assuming it's related to his allergies (which are far worse this year, due to the unusual weather) but different allergy meds haven't really helped...My son actually saw his Allergist this weekend, and they want him to see an ENT, as well as rule out asthma...
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Post by beth on Aug 20, 2012 9:27:03 GMT -5
healthy--what kind of activities? My older son has exercise induced asthma. It was diagnosed after he collapsed at a cross country meet in middle school. He also gets asthma symptoms when has a cold.
Anyway, it is a type of asthma that ordinary tests don't catch. My son had to go to Miami and do special tests which he failed. He uses an inhaler before he exercises but otherwise nothing, unless he gets sick with something respiratory.
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Post by healthy11 on Aug 20, 2012 10:19:48 GMT -5
Beth, I don't want to sidetrack jw's post, but yes, it does seem to be related to when my son tries to exercise. We're not talking real strenuous activities, like your son doing cross country, but this past year, even when my son tries to ride his bicycle sometimes, he says he feels very "tight" in the throat. His sinuses have been very inflamed (you could actually see his forehead protruding, and they ended up giving him a short course of Prednisone last week) but with his nose so clogged, the allergist is thinking he's breathing more with an open mouth, and that may be causing the throat spasms/constriction. When my son uses a neti pot, fluid actually oozes out of the corner of his eyes, too, and I that's another reason why the Allergist feels my son should see an ENT, to be sure there's no unusual structural anomalies.
Interestingly, when my son was around age 10, he was "wheezing" for several months. He didn't pass Peak Flow Meter testing at that time, consequently they thought he was asthmatic and gave him an inhaler. As I recall, when seasons changed, it seems like the problems resolved themselves, and he stopped using it. At this weekend's Allergist visit, my son's Peak Flow Meter readings were fine, but the Allergist did give him a sample Albuterol inhaler again, and suggested that he try it before exercising. Maybe he is suspecting exercise induced asthma?
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Post by beth on Aug 20, 2012 11:21:34 GMT -5
healthy--allergies are probably similar to when my son gets anything respiratory. My son doesn't have allergies but last year he had to be put on two medications (both inhalers) to rid himself of cold like symptoms. It is like he develops asthma as a result of a respiratory illness. I think allergies and illnesses as well as exercise stress the respiratory system and certain people respond with asthma symptoms.
That would explain why your son's problems resolved themselves when the seasons changed.
He should move to Florida. My husband who suffered for years from rag weed has been allergy free since we moved here!
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Post by momfromma on Aug 20, 2012 11:22:01 GMT -5
jw,
My son used to choke on food when he was younger, and still has a strong gag reflex, but it used to be on food of a particular texture, taste, or smell. He seems to be a little bit better nowadays, but it comes and goes. I dont have an answer, unfortunately.
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Post by michellea on Aug 20, 2012 14:18:59 GMT -5
Healthy - not to side track - but dd's original diagnosis was exercise induced asthma. However, it was not controlled by longterm inhalers, rescue inhalers or oral steroids. Fall allergies made it the worse and the symptoms would most often occur during extended exercise despite my dd being in very good shape.
If the inhalers do not give him relief, I would raise the issue of Vocal Chord Dysfunction. It was very frustrating for my daughter to tell the doctors that the inhalers did not help (in fact they made her feel worse), to take at least 4 trips the emergency room, before they would consider testing for the VCD. Thankfully, we found the team of doctors at Mass Eye and Ear and Mass General that finally listened to her and were able to help her. It was so so frustrating! (and meanwhile, my daughter was suffering physically and emotionally with the breathing issues, wheezing and ongoing fear.
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