Dear Rose [ Toronto ]: I have a similar problem with swallowing pills, especially large ones. They seem to me to get stuck in a nasal cavity. Yes, for sure avoid trying to swallow any and all large pills.

I did have my tonsils and adenoid glands removed at about 17 years of age. Did you or not ? That surgery was necessary at the time and was never a problem up until a couple of years ago if that is what caused this problem. I am now 66 years old to give some perspective. Well obviously that surgery can NOT be undone and it was necessary.

Anyway: I have this same problem or a similar one. And this same problem can happen with even food at times. What seems to help me is to always be sitting up or standing up when taking any sort of pill. Also I avoid taking pills when I am tense for any reason.

I do NOT know what the cause is. Sometimes even food seems to get into my lungs. I try not to freak out when this happens. But I do become very upset when it happens. I just cough and hack until this stuff whatever it is: said pills and sometimes food are clear of my lungs. This can take up to an hour or more. NOT fun at all.

In conclusion: I avoid ALL large pills and use care when swallowing ANYTHING. I wish I had a better answer for both of us but do not....Oscar

Hi Rose, you may want to investigate possible problems with your thyroid gland, which can swell and cause issues with swallowing, but not be an actual goiter.

Some supplements that support thyroid health are iodine, tyrosine and selenium. There is also a website called Stop the Thyroid Madness that might be helpful.

Dear Rose [ Toronto ]: For sure seek emergency help if required and available. I live way out in the boondocks. And timely help is NOT available for me. You can die from food or some pill in your lungs. So I also try and not be inhaling at the same time I am swallowing. I wish I had some better answers for you and me but I do NOT. Something is wrong that never used to be and I do the best I can with this condition....Oscar

Thank you Oscar and Nanowriter for your thoughts.

Oscar- yes, I did have both tonsils and adenoids removed when I was quite small, so more than 40 years ago now. That's an interesting thought, that there might be a connection. You said exactly what have been feeling- "Something is wrong that never used to be and I do the best I can with this condition."

I had wondered about thyroid, partly because of location and partly because this is (for me) varying in severity during the month, so perhaps there is something hormonal going on here.

Dear Rose from Toronto: I looked at some anatomical diagrams of the tonsils and adenoids. It appears to me: The removal of the adenoids can result in an unwanted cavity in the areas about the nose. A place where pills and or foodstuffs can become lodged or stuck.

And that the removal of the tonsils can very much effect a person`s natural ability to prevent unwanted pills and foodstuffs from being sucked into the lungs especially if you inhale while swallowing. If you look at these diagrams will SEE what I am talking about.

To view said diagrams do a search using: Anatomical diagrams of the tonsils and adenoids.

But like you: I had NO problem with these surgeries up until about 40 years after said surgery. For me said surgeries were the only thing that saved me from a lifetime of chronic infections that were only getting worse at the time.

So perhaps we have identified the cause of these problems and hopefully there is a surgical process that can correct it.

I expect as I got older the scar tissues that covered both the adenoids and tonsils have deteriorated and a new problem is now occurring. Whether or not hormones play a role in said scar tissue or other tissue degradation I do NOT know. I only KNOW: Something has changed in a very troublesome way.

I need your and others help with this as much as you need my help.

I do think a really good surgeon could come up with a viable answer.

I find it hard to believe we are the only people having this problem.

What is the history of the large numbers of people who have had their tonsils and adenoids removed? Do they have the problems we are having or not after about 40 years?

And if they do: What is being done to help them? ...Oscar

Dear Oscar,

Well, I too have a much harder time swallowing pills than I used to. I used to swallow pills with no water and no trouble. Now I have to swallow pills with water and also some food. Sometimes they seem to get stuck in my throat.

I too had my tonsils out a long time ago. (I was 4.) I am 48 now.

I also have Cricopharyngeal Spasm, which causes pain and a tight feeling in the throat. Seems to be brought on by stress. So, I have rather assumed this was related to the pill issue.

Maybe the pill issue and the spasm issue are related to having tonsils out decades ago.

It sure can be hard to know what causes what and what is related to what with health issues!

Just sharing my experience with you as you think and compile information. Perhaps you will pioneer a cure for this as you have with BHT and hepatitis!

~Mama to Many~

To Rose;

ON...difficulty swallowing pills.

Me too. My trick is ALWAYS to hold pills in mouth for ten to fifteen seconds to allow them to become very moist and hence slippery. Sometimes if hard capsules are in my handful of pills I'll use a heavy liquid rather than water...(milk for instance) or apple juice. I can get choked very easily.

I can take up to 12 tablets at a "gulp" using this "hold in mouth method". I also ALWAYS let my throat relax before swallowing. If I take a second group of pills I will wait 20 or 30 seconds to let throat relax. I try to consciously become Unconscious of the act of swallowing. That may seem impossible or contradictory but it works.

Been doing this method for 40 years.

Prior to these simple tricks, I choke at trying to swallow a single aspirin tablet!

Oh...I have not had my tonsils taken out.

Dear Mama to Many [ Tennessee ]: Well that makes three of us who had our tonsils removed about 40 years ago who developed a problem swallowing pills even one at a time.

You have come up with a helpful suggestion: Drinking water along with some food along with the pill. I was thinking something like applesause. What food has worked for you ? I do not have applesause here with me today to try but can surely buy some when I go to town.

As so very often you come up with helpful advice on many issues.

Another forum member offered some advice but states he takes up to 12 pills at one time. It does NOT seem to me he has a problem swallowing pills. But even so his advice would seem helpful.

But you, me and Rose had best stick with one pill at a time. I take very few pills to start with and have no need to be gulping down mouthfuls of said pills at one time. I guess I am lucky about that....Oscar

Dear Oscar,

Applesauce is probably a good idea for taking with pills. I usually just take what is handy. A few bites of bread, toast, cracker, a piece of apple. Really anything. Sometimes it just helps to take any pills at the beginning of or during a meal. But for supplements that need to be taken away from meals, I just add a few bites of something. And I do not take any pills before I go to bed.

Another thing I do is look for alternatives to pills. I use Natural Calm powder, mixed in water, for a magnesium supplement and take my iodine in liquid form instead of a pill form. (It is also cheaper that way.)

This morning, my 9 year old popped 4 nettle capsules in his mouth and took a sip of water and went on his merry way! I admit I was a bit jealous. :)

~Mama to Many~

I had an appointment with a gastroenterologist this week (yes, I live in the land of universal health care, which is sometime a blessing and sometimes a curse).

He is of the opinion that my issue is globus sensation, which being translated means, "You're having trouble swallowing and we don't know why". This is occasionally caused by acid reflux, so I'm on a one month trial of Lansoprazole. He was honest, and said that it did not seem likely that acid reflux is my issue since I've had no other symptoms, but that it might help and would not hurt to try it for a short term.

The best part is that for now, I can open the capsules and swallow the contents mixed with something else, but he wants me to try taking pills again. Bottom line? He figures it's a psychological issue now.

I asked about the possibility of thyroid being an issue and he felt not. I wish I'd been brave enough to bring up the tonsils/adenoids idea.

All in all, I think this doctor heard me, took me seriously, and is willing, at least, to try and help, even if he is inclined to think it's all in my head.

Oh, and Oscar- applesauce is my go-to for times like this. I sprinkled my capsule contents on some this morning. It's also really good for taking turmeric, but I digress...