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How Do I Manage The Feeling Of Food Stuck Near The Breast Bone Along With An Anxiety About Choking If Anything Is Consumed?
Posted on
Tue, 8 May 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 8 May 2018
Answered on
Fri, 27 Oct 2023
Last reviewed on
Question : I didn't chew a piece of string cheese enough and now (I am sure I'd know if it were in my windpipe) I feel like it's right behind by breast bone. I'm also afraid to eat or drink anything--afraid I'll choke. Is this normal?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
So it sounds as though the cheese is not stuck in your throat but rather either there is some esophageal spasm at the level of your breast bone, or there is irritation there from food or from spasm. It sounds scary, but it usually isn't a dangerous situation.
If you are able to swallow your saliva and are not drooling, most likely there is nothing stuck in your throat. You can first try to drink sips of water or carbonated water and if that works ok, then you can try a small piece of bread soaked in milk or water. That can help push things down.
You are not at risk of choking if the stuck food feels like it is behind your breast bone rather than in your throat and you can breath ok and can swallow saliva.
Sometimes a bit of acid reflux can cause an irritation in the esophagus and make it feel irritated when food goes down too.
Even when people have esophageal spasm higher up, if it is not meat, it will eventually break apart and dissolve and go down.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
So it sounds as though the cheese is not stuck in your throat but rather either there is some esophageal spasm at the level of your breast bone, or there is irritation there from food or from spasm. It sounds scary, but it usually isn't a dangerous situation.
If you are able to swallow your saliva and are not drooling, most likely there is nothing stuck in your throat. You can first try to drink sips of water or carbonated water and if that works ok, then you can try a small piece of bread soaked in milk or water. That can help push things down.
You are not at risk of choking if the stuck food feels like it is behind your breast bone rather than in your throat and you can breath ok and can swallow saliva.
Sometimes a bit of acid reflux can cause an irritation in the esophagus and make it feel irritated when food goes down too.
Even when people have esophageal spasm higher up, if it is not meat, it will eventually break apart and dissolve and go down.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your reassuring reply. Now I'm acutely aware of "swallowing" and afraid to eat/drink. I've been taking small sips of water, but am scared I'm going to choke--is this a common stress-related thing? People don't all of a sudden "forget" how to swallow, do they?
Many thanks again!
Many thanks again!
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
When we've had a bad experience we are naturally more guarded. I have seen people with very advanced Alzheimers Disease forget how to swallow, but not someone of your age and cognitive function. So if you are able to sip water, you will be able to swallow and eat. Go ahead and try.
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
When we've had a bad experience we are naturally more guarded. I have seen people with very advanced Alzheimers Disease forget how to swallow, but not someone of your age and cognitive function. So if you are able to sip water, you will be able to swallow and eat. Go ahead and try.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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