You can’t swallow or cough up your food It’s painful to swallow You’re regurgitating food or vomiting You hear gurgling in your throat It feels like food is stuck in your throat You’re drooling a lot Your voice is hoarse You have to cut up the food into tiny pieces
Barium X-ray: Your doctor will ask you to drink a barium dye or eat a barium-coated food. Then, they’ll X-ray your chest to check your esophagus or see if the food got stuck. Swallowing study: Your doctor might have you swallow a variety of barium-coated foods so they can see how they pass through your esophagus. Endoscopy: They might put a small light and camera down your throat to check your esophagus and possibly take a biopsy. Esophageal muscle test: Your doctor may put a tube down your throat to measure the pressure inside your esophagus. MRI or CT scan: They might do imaging tests to view your esophagus and check for problems.
For instance, trauma, chemotherapy, radiation, and nerve or muscle damage can cause dysphagia. Additionally, conditions like dementia, multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, gastro-esophogeal reflux disease (GERD), mouth cancer, and esophageal cancer can cause it. [4] X Research source Your doctor will ask which foods trigger your swallowing problems, such as solids, liquids, or both. If you’re only having trouble with solids, you might have a stricture or narrowing of your esophagus. However, if you’re also having trouble with liquids, you might have a motility disorder. If your swallowing problems are progressing, you likely have a stricture. See your doctor for a full workup, especially if you’re over 50.
Don’t drive yourself to the hospital if you can’t breathe. Ask someone else to take you or call an ambulance.
For instance, you may be able to take medication to treat GERD. Botox might be offered as a treatment for muscle damage that’s preventing you from swallowing. Similarly, if cancer is causing your symptoms, you might begin treatment for it. If your doctor finds a stricture using an upper endoscopy (EGD) scope, they’ll treat it by dilating your esophagus during the EGD exam.
They may teach you exercises to help you coordinate your swallowing muscles. You might learn how to stimulate your swallowing reflex. They may show you how to place food in your mouth to swallow more easily. They might teach you a new way to hold your head or body to help you swallow. If you have an underlying condition, they might show you how to compensate for its affect on your ability to swallow.
If you get a stent, it might be permanent or temporary. If it’s temporary, your doctor will later remove it. They might remove it because they expect you to recover, but they may also replace it at that time. [9] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source
Your dietitian will talk to you about which foods you can eat and what foods that you like. Then, they’ll incorporate your preferred foods into your diet, if possible. Tell your dietitian if you’re having trouble following your diet. They can help you find foods that work for you. [11] X Research source
Try eating at 7:00 a. m. , 10:00 a. m. , 12:00 p. m. , 3:00 a. m. , 5:00 a. m. , and 7:00 p. m.
For instance, you might eat yogurt for breakfast, pea soup for lunch, and mashed potatoes with a protein smoothie for dinner.
Your dietitian can help you create recipes for liquid meals that are tasty. In some cases, your doctor might give you a liquid diet plan. Try eating foods like fruit and veggie smoothies, pureed veggies, and pureed soups.
For instance, it’s recommended that you chew your food at least 32 times. Count out how many times you chew until you get used to chewing long enough.
It normally doesn’t hurt to have a feeding tube, but you might have some discomfort when it’s inserted or changed. You may still be able to eat small amounts of food after you get your feeding tube. Ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to eat foods you can swallow.
