Girlfriend Chokes On Food

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umaga100and7

New member
Just over a year ago my girlfriend started choking on food. It's only happened about half a dozen times but tonight was the worst and it scared the hell out of both of us. Just over a year ago she was diagnosed with high blood pressure and started taking both Ramipril and Bendroflumethiazide. Is it possible that either of these or both could be causing the choking? She's going to go see her GP in a couple of days but I felt it was worth my while fishing around for information on my own. Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
At the very least check on line for possible side effects of these medications & also put in a phone call to the pharmacist where she filled her prescription.
The pharmacists usually can give you more info on side effects & drug interactions than many doctors!
 
She may be having esophagus spasms. Drinking a /warm hot drink will help the spasm to release. At first only a tiny sip, throat may be closed too much for a regular size swallow to pass.

She may have a hieatal (sp) hernia.
 
I was just telling someone about this same thing the other day. Tell her to ask about seeing an Ear, Nose and Throat doc as she may have vocal cord dysfunction. It causes the vocal cords to just slam shut with the slightest provocation. I can get it breathing but more likely with soft foods like soup and pudding and even talking. All of a sudden you can't get air in or out unless you suck in really hard or cough with extreme force to get it past the vocal cords. I sometimes start turning blue before I can get them to relax enough. You feel like you're choking to death.

I use cold drinks sometimes and hot other times. Whatever is easiest at hand ....just give me a drink! Swallowing is the only thing that gets the vocal cords to open up. But the intense coughing/choking can inflame the whole throat and make it so you get more of them until the inflammation goes down. I just had an attack yesterday and I'm fighting to keep my throat soothed today. Lozenges with a numbing agent in them helps.

So please, if these symptoms fit, have her checked by an ENT doc or a lung specialist. It's scary but treatable.

good luck................Jenny
 
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