Difficulty in swallowing pills

Marietjie · Post by **Marietjie** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:39 am

As long as I can remember I have a problem swallowing pills.
Can it be that people with this problem also have sleep apnea? (and they don't know it yet!)
that this is the first symptom of sleep apnae?
even before snoring and all the other symptoms?
I also have to cut my food in small portions.

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:47 am

For me it's mind over matter. I just gulp down some water, the pills follow the water.

I have watched my dad who apparently also "didn't like" the feeling associated with the pills being swallowed. Not saying I enjoy the feeling. Just the opposite. I just want to get it over with.

Mind over matter.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:45 am

Me, too. Small throat...hard to swallow pills, easily blocked by tongue, sagging pallet, sometimes food! Required the 'Heimlich' maneuver on more than one occassion!!

GumbyCT · Post by **GumbyCT** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:55 am

Guest wrote:Me, too. Small throat...hard to swallow pills, easily blocked by tongue, sagging pallet, sometimes food! Required the 'Heimlich' maneuver on more than one occassion!!

Funny thing - my sleep doc told me - I have a very generous tongue, LOL. I find it does get in the way when I'm trying to sleep.

montana · Post by **montana** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:23 pm

I also have always had trouble with large pills.. I always ask Dr for smallest ones

Julie · Post by **Julie** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:36 pm

But your airway being narrow does not necessarily mean your upper esophagus will be so narrow as to not be able to swallow pills. You may cut your food into small pieces, but ... as small as even large pills? I doubt it! That's something that would have been picked up on when you were tiny, if anything, and dealt with by doctors, probably surgically. I don't think one has much to do with the other at all.

kteague · Post by **kteague** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:46 pm

I don't usually have much trouble, just now and then and when they are huge. I've read to lean the head forward for capsules and back for pills. If I don't get them down first try, seems that sets the stage for continued trouble on subsequent tries.

So you're wondering if the throat structures that make one more prone to sleep apnea are the same ones that make pill swallowing difficult - interesting. Guess it would take knowing the prevalence of pill swallowing difficulty in the non OSA population. Hmmmm.

BleepingBeauty · Post by **BleepingBeauty** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:54 pm

FWIW, I've never had a problem swallowing pills (even those of the "horse-sized" variety). Put it on my tongue, take a good swig of water, and swallow. Done.

I agree with Gumby that it's mind-over-matter. Whether or not you can swallow a pill (of any size) seems to be neither here nor there when it comes to OSA.

Robespierre · Post by **Robespierre** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:05 pm

Despite mild OSA, I have no problem swallowing pills. I can down a handful of horse pills in one gulp. Drives my wife nuts, cuz she has trouble swallowing even one pill at a time. She doesn't have OSA.

harry33 · Post by **harry33** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:58 pm

this is a common problem, some have a phobia or fear of doing it and crush their pills to a powder, liquid versions of some meds are available

I simply stand up and tilt my head back, taking a large sip of water
its been pointed out that some capsules float in water so a different method may be needed for them

SleepingUgly · Post by **SleepingUgly** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:54 pm

Marie, Do you have a feeling of food getting stuck in your throat?

Marietjie wrote:As long as I can remember I have a problem swallowing pills.
Can it be that people with this problem also have sleep apnea? (and they don't know it yet!)
that this is the first symptom of sleep apnae?
even before snoring and all the other symptoms?
I also have to cut my food in small portions.

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:30 pm

Even as an adult my brother has had trouble swallowing pills. He often has asked for the liquid version if available to help him. I know he used to use baby aspirin so that he could chew them up prior to swallowing. Haven't talked to him about this in awhile so don't know if this still applies or not. I know we are in our 50's and he was still doing the liquid/baby aspirins in his 40's.

I just a big gulp of water and flush them down. But I have had the occassional one get what feels like stuck and that is sooo irritating.

SleepingUgly · Post by **SleepingUgly** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:55 pm

Marietjie wrote:As long as I can remember I have a problem swallowing pills.
Can it be that people with this problem also have sleep apnea? (and they don't know it yet!)
that this is the first symptom of sleep apnae?
even before snoring and all the other symptoms?
I also have to cut my food in small portions.

If you're having trouble with food/pills getting stuck, you need to see a gastroenterologist.

secret agent girl · Post by **secret agent girl** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 5:16 am

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:19 am

A little trick some nurses taught me;
As you swallow a pill, lift the chin and turn the head to the left. I've seen this work for quite a few people.

Brenda

Difficulty in swallowing pills

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