swollen epiglottis

[itchyface14]

Every now and then my epiglottis doenst relax like it should. I know the epiglottis works like a flap, so food and water doesnt get into the airway. It tenses up to cover the trachea and when its not working it relaxes and rest agianst the wall of the throat.
It starts with that feeling that there is something in my thoat and I need to clear it,  but I can't. I feel the need to swallow saliva every 5-10 seconds. It normally happens when I am tired due to lack of sleep and have a really dry mouth. I tonly happens late at night. Usually after midnight. I am a smoker and drink a decent amount of soft drinks, which causes my throat to be a little dryer.  I don't have any symptoms that lead me to believe this is serious such as, actual sore throat, fever, headach, or swelling anywhere else. I know any difficulty swallowing is concidered serious, but it only gets so bad, which doesn't impare my breathing, drinking, or eating. It is more annoying then anything. It is hard for me to go to sleep when it is swollen/tense. I end up staying up until I am so tired that nothing can keep me up.  I always wake up in the morning and it is back to normal. I have tired drinking thinker drinks that kind of coat my throat..like milk and thinker juices. I also take a pretty warm bath to breathe in moisture....which really helped while I was in the bath.
I'm just curious if this happens to other people and if anyone may know of any ways to soothe it?

[LaurieFontana]

I could have written this myself. For the past two weeks, I have what feels like something in the back of my throat.  I know that it's where my epiglottis is located and feel that it's swollen. But why, I can't imagine. It happens only at night, around 7:30. I drink several clear carbonated seltzers during the day and often in the evening. Nothing but time seems to help. I've taken antihistimines.. but fall asleep with the problem, and as you, wake up with my throat feeling fine. It is extremely annoying, and a bit worrying since I have had serious allergy reactions in the past. There is nothing that is related to allergies here, though. I'm at a loss. Have you found anything that helps, or a diagnosis?

[jgonzal7]

I am having the exact same problem!  It is the most irritating thing, and it feels like I need to swallow every few seconds because there is something in my throat.  I can actually see it in the back of my throat if I tense up my tonsils, and it looks like a little flap is protruding from my throat.  I haven't found anything that stops the swelling, but this has been persisting for the last 2 weeks or so without any other symptoms.  I have also noticed that it is gone in the morning but soon reappears, and it is much worse at night or after I have had wine.  Is this still persisting for you?  I'm wondering how long this will last, and if a doctor would have any useful advice.  Perhaps it is caused from a food allergy??

[allialfaro]

It is possible to have a foriegn body lodged in your eshophagus that will cause you salivate profusely and feel the need to drink to "clear the passage."  Most significant occlusions will not allow you to swallow but you will feel the need to frequently spit because there is no place for the saliva to go.  If you have frequent symptoms of reflux along with the feeling of something left in your throat, I would recommend that you see a GI doctor, who can perform an endoscopy to see if you either have a forgein body or possibly esophageal stenosis (narrowing of the esophagus) which can be treated.

[witeboy08]

All the stuff yall sed it happing to me but i haft to swallow like every 2 seconds and i do that like for days .I have reely easy gag reflexes and i thro up alot .
I always having to cary water with me or ill gag

[melton]

I have had the same problem it started about a year ago and only happens once in a while, but it usually stay for a couple of days or just a day then goes away on its own after I go to sleep. It drives me crazy especially if I take a pill or something it get caught there...yuck!! I don't really drink pop or carbonated items and I quit smoking a couple of year ago. All though I am a big fan of wine. Any Ideas anyone ??

[alone and scared]

this is becoming common.  Why can't anyone tell you all something.  

[newfiegirl_34_5]

I have been experiencing these same symptoms for over the past two months... gag reflux so bad that I can barely keep anything down in my stomach.. I have lost over 17 pounds ( ok not such a bad thing, but not for a good reason), my back of my throat is swollen as well as my voice box, which are swollen quite badly. I cough to the extreme as to try and clear my throat.. to the point where I vomit, and my head feels like it is going to explode. I have had a Upper GI done and it came back no problems.. I think they need to do more tests and I am going to make sure they do................Oh and with this.. I have totally lost my voice, I lost my voice 7 weeks ago and now I cant talk for more then a few minutes without coughing and then gasp for air..... this is not a good experience and I wouldnt wish it on anyone

[laughingwoman]

I've been having this problem too over the last couple of months.  I thought it might be related to stress.  I sure hope to hear some good results from one of you.  I'm going to contact my doc and see what he has to say.  It really does drive me crazy.

[McTigerlily]

My 16 mos. old daughter gags every time she drinks water. She constantly puts her fingers down her throat and gags herself and grinds her teeth. She also seems to have a lack of control to swallow her drool. I thought this was all due to teething, because she is teething. Then, tonight, she began gagging and when I asked her to show me her mouth, I saw this thin (the size of her pinkie finger) protrusion coming up the back of her throat almost touching her uvula. She began coughing (and has continued coughing, but not croup-like or anything) and then threw up. It didn't seem to really bother her, but she keeps gagging herself. HELP! I don't think it's epiglottitis, so why can I see her epiglottis? I'm sure that is what it is.

[Jay171]

Ive been having this same damn thing. Its like theres somthing stuck in my throat and every time I try to clear it it doesnt come out. Ive been told bye doctors who often find nothing wrong that its my anxiety but I have no history of anxiety. It more annoying than anything I just want it to pass already. Everytime I eat its like it doesnt want to go down. When I talk I can only make out sentences cuz then I have to gasp for air. Then sometimes I feel like it interferes with my breathing but doctors say that my oxygen levels are fine every time i go in. They did find abit of swelling though in my throat one time and gave me a steriod shot but that didnt really work. Ya its usually the worst at night and I lose sleep over it so I say well ima go to the doctors in the morning but morning comes and the feeling is gone to an extent and I think im getting better then next thing you know the damn thing is messing with me again. If you guys find out what it could be please share Im deperate.

[Robin1977123]

I'm actually up right now at 4:45 am with this feeling in my throat like theres something in there or its tight and its driving me crazy I feel like I cant breath right and I feel like there is something really wrong with me. I  can't eat right through the day because I;m scared its going to make my throat feel like this. My mouth and throat also gets very dry and I don't know what is going on but Ive been to the upper GI  Dr. and they have only ran blood test so far. I have lost weight and sleep over this problem and it just started a few weeks ago. I just want to be back to myself again.  Im scared something going to happen to me before the DR. finds anything out, I like want to go to the ER almost every night but I don't. My heart rate has also been really slow like in the low 40'S.

[See_Saw]

Thank goodness i found this site and all your comments. Was wondering if i had a life-threatening condition. Started taking Fluoxetine and a week later started having this problem i.e feeling of something stuck in my chest at first and spasms of pain. Stopped taking the fluoxetine after 6 weeks because couldn't stan d the discomfort any more, but it has left me with a feeling of someting stuck in my throat and when it is bad my epiglottis is visible. Going to the ENT Department in July so will fine out more then, but at least having found this forum know it is not uncommon, so thanks for that and wish you all well.

[fullback5]

i think i have the same thing you guys have. Just in the middle of no-where my throat just seems a little bit swollen. Sometimes melted-cheeses or not as well done steak cant go down as well. I think my throat is swollen but im going to the doctor tomorrow to see what the issue is, i hope that i can either get a steriod shot to loosen the swelling and make it a little bit easier to breath and less swelling and swallowing, i wish you all luck with your treatments.

[fullback5]

well i got back from my doctor and my throat seemed to be fine. For all of you with the same symptoms as me I would visit your doctor for your throat and ask if it is allergies. Mine was because my "saliva" would drop back into my throat as i slept and it would become "slimy" and "sticky" everytime i woke up or anytime i chewed gum or random foods. She put me on some nasal spray and it seems to be working fine! Also if you take an allergen medicine daily i would reccomend blowing your nose before you go to bed/when you wake up, it will reduce the flem (phlegm) or "snot" that is in your nose going into your throat. I wish you all luck with your treatments.

[crh3675]

I have the same thing.  Started about 1 year ago around the season changes.  Certain situations exasperate the issue such as a high exposure to allergens.  I went to an ER and and ENT a week ago about this.  I had a throat X-Ray and a nasal scope done.

The ENT said my epiglottis was swollen and had quite a bit of mucus on it.  As well, he gave me a fair diagnosis of Acid Reflux diseases. Steroids, Prilosec and an antibiotic were prescribed.  Did they work?  Not sure but at this point, it still occurs and I need my sleep without feeling that I am going to suffocate at night.  Everyone here needs help with this issue as do I.   Is there anyone that can help instead of having clueless responses and physicians?

[crh3675]

I found an article that may pin this condition as a Flu related condition:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000605.htm