My husband is 65 and has developed a problem where, about 10-20 minutes after swallowing a pill, he starts to retch and vomits up saliva. He says the pill goes down fine, but his throat closes up and will no longer allow saliva to drain down, so it collects in his throat and then eventually comes back up. Sometimes he has to sit for hours with a cup held to his lips to spit the excess saliva into.
Recently this went on for 2 days (while I was out of town) and he couldn't even get water down his throat it was closed so tightly, so he went to the emergency room, where they hydrated him intravenously. He was referred to a gastroenterologist and he did a barium swallow. They said everything is okay and he is healthy.
Well, obviously everything is not okay because this is continuing to happen. He thought it was an allergic reaction to the pill coating, but it seems that no matter what pill he takes, regardless of the coating, it triggers the closure of his esophagus 15 minutes+/- later.
Has anyone else heard of this?
Hi. Ask a GP if an Endoscopy is necessary. I haven't heard of it before. Is it just pills? Or any food?
He did the right thing by seeing a gastroenterologist and having a barium swallow test. It sounds like it is some form of reaction that causes the lower oesophageal sphincter (valve between oesophagus and stomach by the diaphragm) to close up, OR some kind of reaction to the pill itself that causes his throat to swell?
I think I would ask a pharmacist if he can have the medication in a liquid form. It sounds quite a long time for a pill to remain in the oesophagus before passing into the stomach (if this is indeed what is happening), and perhaps the coating of the pill is being dissolved and the contents causing a reaction in the oesophagus when this process should be happening in the stomach itself? Try drinking plenty of water right after the pill to help wash it through?
Alternatively, if the pill is passing into the stomach and is creating a reaction there, it may be that an alternative medication could be identified by the doctor that does not cause this reaction?
I am presmuming that otherwise his swallowing is quite normal ie with other food and drink?
No I haven't but it does sound similiar to Oesophageal Achalasia. Without question, somethings not right. See a physician that specialises in Achalasia diagnosis.
I am the original poster, and here is something else: it is only certain pills. Also, this has happened with food, but only twice that we can remember.
Thinking that it might be an allergy, last night I broke open an antihistamine capsule, sprinkled the powder into a teaspoon of water, mixed, then gave it to my husband. He took it in his mouth as best he could and swished. Within 5 minutes his esophagus "released" and his throat opened up completely, as if this had never happened.
LikeI had said, get a second opinion and see a allergist if he recommends it.
That sounds like a clue! Well done! It would be worth running it past a doctor as you continue your investigations.
I have trouble swallowing pills, but not a reaction like that? Definitley get a second opinon if it continues!
I think you should not test the antihistamine without doctor's prescription.