Kathy, no pro and probably do not know as much as you in your line of work, but I'm wondering if the saliva while laying down could be esophageal spasms. My Mom's doctor had her begin just 10 mg famotidine morning and night for irritating excess acid, stopped her choking and feeling throat was closing, night time discomfort. Such an easy guess and worth a try, I hadn't wanted him to scope her, upset her, if we could take the least invasive action and it worked. I'm sorry you choked, must have been frightening! I so hope you find an easy fix.

Sorry Kathy...It can be a long week when your waiting for appointments or results. I hope it’s easily remedied when you get to see the doc.

That sounds frightening! I'm so sorry you had to go through that experience. I'm just impressed you eat sushi....smile. Here's hoping it's just a narrowing of the esophagus, common, nothing major. Be well my friend.

Could the swallowing difficulty be a Schatzki ring? My mother had it, and so do I. Only during meals, and mine is minor enough to clear up within a few minutes. I've had it 'stretched' twice, but it comes right back. I live with it. It happens maybe once every couple of weeks or less often.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schatzki_ring

Kathy, I'm sorry you had such a scary episode. I hope that your swallowing difficulties turn out to be minor, but you certainly are doing the right thing by getting them looked into.

That was really a scary thing to go through! I sincerely hope it doesn't happen again, and turns out to be a minor and very easily corrected problem. I love sushi, and have always put the whole piece in my mouth at once. I may rethink that the next time I have it. But I'm just not sure it would taste as good in parts.

Hope this next week goes by quickly for you.

Rusty

Like many kids of my generation, I had my tonsils out when I was about five -- only 75 years ago! A few years ago an ENT commented that, "Either they didn't do a good job, or some stuff has grown back." I've had a few episodes similar to what you describe, Kath. Now I try to be very careful about taking small portions and chewing *very* thoroughly before swallowing.

At night, I'm having trouble keeping my mouth shut -- possibly jaw shrinkage? Result is awful dry mouth and sore throat. With me, I think it's age, and I'm not going to pursue a cure, but *you* are too young to have to live with something that could be fixed.

BTW, I believe that those surgeries on little kids were probably unnecessary as 'cures' for ongoing respiratory infections...had adults not all smoked like chimneys!

Glad you managed to swallow it. Not a good experience for you. I always wanted my sister to get checked for Barret's. She had terrible problems swallowing food at times. She also had extreme acid reflux and when she was younger would force herself to throw up which she also did as an adult when she couldn't swallow anything. I am sure she had major issues with her esophagus.

Kathy, I'm sorry you had that terrible experience, and I hope your doctor can find what's causing your night time problem.

Chisue, not "all adults smoked like chimneys". My parents didn't smoke when I was growing up and neither did any of my aunts, uncles and cousins. I really can't think of anyone I knew back then that did smoke, and we lived in tobacco country. I knew kids back then who had their tonsils removed, but not sure why.

That must have been terrifying! I too sometimes have a little difficulty swallowing and if it gets worse, (it's been the same for years and years,) I'll see a doctor about it. Did anyone try to Heimlich you?

Kath, you may have silent reflux. I have the same, due to a small hiatal hernia, and it can cause esophagitis and throat irritation, and intermittent dysphagia. My doc is very cautious about long-term PPI's and suggested famotidine as needed. I take a 10 mg pill at night and it works great. If you already take acid reducers, that could account for your anemia. Apparently they reduce B12 absorption so I take a daily B12 supplement.

Yuk, so sorry you went through that how frightening that must have been.

Chisue, I have my tonsils, but rarely have heard of tonsillectomies in the last many years. A couple of years ago at not quite 5, our great nephew had his tonsils out. This last year his baby sister had hers removed at 3 on advice of their pediatrician. Barely a blip in the road, about a 15 minute procedure outpatient. They both had been tiny snorers, now have stopped. (no smoking in that household if it matters, electric heat pump with air cleaner present)

A quick digression - I had a tonsillectomy myself at about age 5, it ended what had become regularly occurring ear infections.

A 30-something I know had one about 6 months ago.

Sjern, no, but my students asked me several times if I was okay. I don't even know if any other diners noticed. The tables were far apart. I didn't stand up but almost did because I started to panic.

Chisue, I still have my tonsils. Both brothers had theirs' out as kids.

Kadefol, I do have gastric reflux and am on Protonix twice a day, although, I do forget a lot of times to take the second dose. My vitamin B 12 level is normal but on low side of normal.

I grew up in a house of smokers, although, my dad quite when I was an infant. I've only ever seen pictures of him with cigarettes. My mom would smoke when I was a kid and get mad because I would put out her cigarettes.

I really don't want throat cancer, am a little worried about this because of the Barrett's. I've taken care of a lot of patients with it and I can't imagine what their life is like. Most of them smoked and/or drank alcohol and I don't do either. Doesn't make me immune, though, learned that also being a nurse. You can do everything right and still get some horrible disease.

It sounds like maybe you need a different med, or a higher dose? I have a friend who used to be a smoker and has had Barretts for years and her gastro told her not to worry, that it progresses into cancer in only a very small number of people. He also told her she could have a lining ablation if she wanted, but she’s decided against that for now. As it is, her areas have decreased to where she only needs to be scoped once a year.

Wow, how horrifying. Choking in public is a real danger.

I got my tonsils out when I was 22. My tongue was swollen and sore for days, from clamping it out of the way.

Hope you get some answers soon!

take it easy -- and carefully -- until your appointment!