Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Food going up nasal cavity

The other week I was eating some cake and somehow some of it went up my nose.  I eventually got it down after snorting and blowing my nose.  I didnt think too much of it until this week when the same thing happened again except I couldnt get the food down.   The problem is now whenever I eat all my food keeps getting caught in my nasal cavity.  My left nostril feels rather weird where it joins the bak of my throught, it feels like there is   some sort of gap which wont close.  Does anyone have any ideas why this is happening or what can be causing it?  It's quite distressing and making it very awkward to eat solids.

Thanks
109 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I want to put this out there and see if it helps anyone.
I have had food going in my soft palate area for several years. I have great insurance and had a swallow work up and saw a Specialist.
Well basically I felt I was stamped crazy and went home to deal with this issue myself. Try 2 more years!
Just this week I was dx with a condition called DISH.
Diffuse  (all over)
Idiopathic  (they don't know what causes it)
Skeletal
Hyperostosis  (calcium turns tendon to bone on spine, heels)
Anyways I just found out via x-ray I have large bone spurs on c3-6 causing swallowing problems.
Whether you have DISH or not these bone spurs can form causing swallowing problems.
I am seeing a Neurologist this week.
Hoping for help. The back if my throat feels "full" and every swallow is
registered in my brain.
Of course this diagnosis explains why I have severe spasm when twisting my trunk as well because bone spurs are there as well.
I will know the results of the Thoracic CT soon and find out if there is nerve impingement there.
Btw a Nettie Pot filled with saline in the shower works well to flush food particles and pills out.
I've twice gotten a bite of steak there.
That is a truly panic situation.
Partials of food drive a person crazy.
I will add one more thing.
CPAP over the last 2 years has helped some. Keeping the soft palette firm, not sloppy from snoring can help.
Best of luck to all, Robin

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had this problem for about 30 years, and I also have my wisdom teeth.  Don't know if there is a correlation
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I also have this problem when I have sinus infections associated with asthmatic Bronchitis. This happened to me the past two days. I was attempting to eat hamburger meat. The experience was weird although I assumed that is the acid reflux and throat being swollen. Any ideas out there?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I too had started having this problem feeling of foods going up my nasal cavity and difficulties swallowing in the past few months and not only that I also feel like it's cntrolling my life now that there's another issue I had a barium swallow test done last week and it's showing my foods is taking a little longer than it should to travel in my stomach ,but I also have GERD reflux to begin with in years now,and a very low immune system my lungs are both weak due to my bronchiactesis since I was young , I had Ultrasound done in my thyroid and getting result in 2 days I have started losing weights in the last 6 months also I cannot explain it why I loss some weights as I was eating ok if not I was always eating good meals size ,and in the last 2weeks I have lost more than 2 kilos again because I'm scared to eat in case I choke unless my husband is nearby so basically for now I'm just in mostly baby foods and softer textures foods  like bananas porridge mash potatoes soup mouse or whips foods untill I get my result ,because yesterday my doctor wrote a letter for ED hospital to admit me if I loss anymore weights
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thank you for updating! I will seek one too. But I always feel like I have a lump in my throat as well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am so relieved to see that others are having the same issue. Every time I eat I feel like food is stuck in the upper part of my throat. When I talk, I can feel air going out my tear duct. It's literally driving me crazy. I've had two sinus surgeries and multiple attempts to fix my deviated septum. I keep complaining about the food going up my sinus issue to the ENT and they say it's acid reflux. I don't know what to do.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Ear, Nose & Throat Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
Discover the common causes of and treatments for a sore throat.
Learn about what actually causes your temperature to spike.
Find out which foods you should watch out for.
Family medicine doctor Enoch Choi, MD helps differentiate between the common cold and more threatening (bacterial) infections
Dr. Steven Park reveals 5 reasons why breathing through your nose could change your life