First of all the way you come across is as if, you think you know everything and you do not seem sympathetic to say the least. Btw, Boost is one of the worse drinks out there.Have you ever read the ingredients? Ensure is a better and healthier alternative. I know this because, I have dysphagia and yes I DO choke on my saliva. I have been diagnosed with this after having brain surgery. The worse thing that could happen (so I've been told) is that one could end up with aspiration phenomena. Perhaps, you didn't intend to come across in this manner however, when writing sometimes our thoughts come across differently.
I work in the sex industry as a fluffer and I have the same problem. I am told you can overcome the natural gag reflex, practice makes perfect.
It is impossible to die from choking on saliva. It is VERY rare. what you are going through is nothing more than just a little problem everybody has, sometimes me. When you swallow, a mussle pushes whatever down to your stomach. Saliva, you swallow it when you are fast asleep and you don't even realize it. First of all, calm down, second of all, You are going to be a ok! I know it!!! third of all, you cannot die while you swallow your saliva when you are asleep, you don't choke either. Do you feel like something is stuck in your throat? It's acid. It's "Cobblestones" the doctors call it. If you are afraid of eating, two things, One, see a sycolatrist, two, get these shakes called boost, if you are an adult or teen, if you are a child, get pediasure or pediasure sidekicks. They are EVERYWHERE!!! You are okay! :-)
For the past 12 years, I've had the same thing happen to me, periodically.
Months can go by before I'll have another incident. I keep thinking it will never happen again, but it does...last time was three weeks ago. I finally got myself to the doctor. I don't want it to happen again, not even one more time. I feel like one of these days, my airway won't open up and I'll die. So looks like they are going to do an xray first, then put a camera down my throat after that. Hopefully something can be done. It is a horrible feeling when you just can't breathe. Like you, not choking on anything but my saliva.
This has been happening to me more and more... I live alone and it is very scary. I am a very fast eater and my breathing pulls in the spit and I choke. I am afraid to eat anything now... I live alone and it is very scary when you can't catch your breath. It happened at my job the other day and everyone got so scared. They think you are choking on food, but I was choking on my saliva.... Eventually you can breathe, but it seems like forever.
Okay...I had something similar in 2006. I never woke up gagging. But I had an issue for 2 months where I would cough after eating fried, fatty foods. I also had constant, sticky phlem that was difficult to clear from my throat.
Went to an ENT who though it was probably GERD (reflux.) But he did a barium swallow test to make sure there wasn't anything wrong with my swallowing mechanism. There wasn't.
So GERD it was. I was put on Prilosec OTC and the problem cleared up in about 5 days.
If you notice it when you sleep, I imagine there is a good chance it could be due to acid reflux. (GERD.) Try taking some Prilosec OTC for a week and see if it gets better.