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Trouble swallowing pills

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Posted 1/9/2011 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, everyone...
Just curious if anyone has trouble swallowing pills. As in, developed the problem over time. I know some people have trouble swallowing pills all their life but this is new for me. Almost all my pills are fairly small but lately it's been taking me more and more water to get them down. Took 2 - 18 oz containers of water the other day. Tonight I took one of my somas and thought it was gonna stay stuck. It's starting to get me concerned. Guess I should see the PCP about it. I was JUST at the rheumy 3 days ago and of course I forgot to ask :-(! Thanks for reading :-)
Posted 1/9/2011 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mrs. Mike, I was wondering if you also have difficultly swallowing
food...if so it could be something with your esphagus. My Dad had
that problem.

I used to have lots of problems swallowing pills when I was younger,
it was like a gag reflux...my problem was probably phychological,
thinking I was going to choke. Don't have swallowing pill issues now.
For me it is hard to swallow a pill if the water is too cold. I heard of
some people swallowing their pills with applesauce.

You should mention it to your doc though, it would ease your mind.

Hugs, Robin wink
Posted 1/9/2011 9:15 AM (GMT 0)
We had a member of our choir who had to quit singing because the muscles in her vocal cords and the ones she used to swallow refused to cooperate so it may be fibro related. Also, when my mom-in-law was staying with us and had Parkinson's she used to take all her pills with cool whip. They slid right down! turn You might try that.
Posted 1/9/2011 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
Never thought of it, but I do have problems swallowing pills that did not exist years ago. Sometimes it seems they stick no matter how much water goes down with them. I don't know if it's fibro related though. This is a good question for my GI doctor. My esophagus has considerable scarring.

I'm learning that a problem with having fibro is that it can hit any part of my body, at any given time! If something is bothering me long enough, it's a good idea to get it checked out, just to rule out any other condition that may be causing the discomfort/pain. Glad I have all of you in here for support. Sometimes it's not easy to bother with another doctor, no matter how pleasant or unpleasant they may be.


Free Spirit
Posted 1/9/2011 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have always had a problem swallowing pills. I gag on most of them. I have one pill (rx) that I take that is so small I have been lucky w/ that one. Most vitamins/supplements I take I try to get soft gels or chewable. I break the soft gel in my mouth and swallow the filling. I also cut up my solid pills and take them a pc at a time.

My mother takes her pills w/ applesauce and it helps to go down. She has many pills to take several times per day.

My husband has quite a few pills several times per day, he takes a few in his hands, pops them into his mouth and swallow the whole mess at once. I hold my breath waiting for him to swallow everything. He doesn't choke. Thank God!

I read that some ppl w/ thyroid problems have a problem w/ swallowing. That might be something to discuss w/ your dr.

Hope you get an answer to this problem.

God bless.  Alice.

Posted 1/9/2011 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Nope, I don't have a problem with food (was first question my mom asked too) but I chew my food to mush so that might be the difference. I'm thinking I need to get it checked out. Especially how it's progressing. I don't gag at all, they just get stuck and it's in the same spot every time.

Thanks, all.
Posted 1/9/2011 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
I usually can swallow pills easily.  I just don't think about what I'm swallowing.  You swallow meat and other things that are larger than a pill.  But, sometimes it's like my throat is a little "dry" so I will eat a sour dough pretzel nugget and that takes care of the problem

 

Sherrine

Posted 1/9/2011 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
For my swallowing problems the secret is butter.

I have trouble swallowing pills or anything hard or dry because of polio. It's a real thing for me. I can often feel a tablet sitting just above the valve into the stomach for an hour or more. They cause esophageal irritation if I ignore them. Uncoated tablets are the worst. I roll the tablets on the top of the butter until they are well coated.

If I forget to butter the pill and it gets stuck I usually drink a little milk or eat something soft - not bread! Bread will get stuck too.

Do get to a GI doc. There are many causes of poor swallowing.
Posted 1/10/2011 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
My mom has a lot of trouble swallowing pills. She had to have her esophagus stretched.

I have been having more problems swallowing pills than I used to have. I used to take a handful of pills and swallow them all at once. Not anymore. Seems like my mouth is much dryer thn it used to be. Even drinking a glass of water before taking the pills doesn't help much.

I takie one extended release bp capsule that is HUGE, and it gives me the most trouble. One of my friends told me to put butter on it, justl ike Alcie said. She says this is the best method she has found.

All that being said, I thing it would be a good idea for you to let your doctor know what is going on.

Hope things get better soon!

V
Posted 1/13/2011 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Mrs Mike, I have a hard time swallowing pills and it has gotten worse, I try to get everything in a liquid and/or ask the doctor or pharmacy if the pills or capsules can be crushed or opened and taken with applesauce or juice, not all can, so I resort to a pill cutter and cut into small pieces, it takes me a while to get them down but they eventually get down, good luck too you I know how frusterating it can be essspecially when you are taking a huge amount of pills every day. ( sorry about the spelling, it was never my strong point)

Kat smhair
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