Small Food particles stuck in back of Throat

[DennisO]

I have had a problem for years.. I get mall particles of food that gets stuck in the back of my throat somewhere around the nasal passage area.  These are small particle of hard food like a part of a peanut shards after being chewed up.. or really small pills like 10mg lipitor (I don't know how many of the liptors have literally dissolved back there instead of my stomach)  Almost every night I have something stuck there it causes my sinus to swell in the during sleep and can sometimes get painful if it does not get dislodge.

Sometimes I can dislodge it by rattle my sinus on that side. (“snuffing in” which  drive my wife crazy)

I have seen a ENT and they find nothing. They did a Barium Swallow and gave be a "horse" pill.  It showed nothing…. But the problem is the small stuff.

This seems to be out of the ordinary and the Doctors don't have a clue. I even asked a pharmacist and he said he had never heard of people having problems with little pills only big pills..

Help.. if you have a similar problem and found someone that could help you I would appreciate the details..

[plutoandfifi]

If you have had nasal drip for years it deforms your soft palate making it slightly shorter causing items when you swallow to go above the palate. I had a double ear infection in 06 which permanently caused me eustation tube dysfunction and an unexplained allergy or idiopathic immune response in my sinuses. I have had nasal drip since 06 and now have a shortened palate. I cannot take any pills without chewing them. Unfortunately for me I just got a uti and went to the er last night and got some time release pills with a ton of air in them...tried to explain my situation to them and they never can understand in their thick heads. They literally think im talking about a pill swallowing anxiety...well I had to take them 4 of them and I know at least two got stuck in my sinuses. I have to take 2 every 12 hours and I just took 2 a while ago and yep they are up there to. I don't taste any foul antibiotic so im guessing they haven't dissolved. Unfortunately the only article online I have found about this issue was from a university back east years ago and all they said is yes it happens to people and if you use your finger to get up there and scoop it out that many times you can find a whole bunch of crap. Yuck. This happens to me with food as well but its usually a come and go type thing . Thank God! I have just given up to the fact that I have to chew my pills for the rest of my life. (Caused by short palate)

[Daniel_G]

Hi Dennis,
Quite amazing how your original post has had so many comments over the last years...
I have a similar problem but it is located in my tonsilar area (I had my tonsils removed as a child).
I've been having throat infections for years together with bad breath, not being able to have cold drinks because of instant inflammation. I just have found out that I have some grooves and cavities in the back of my throat that get filled with food. It is amazing the amount of rotten debris that I have pulled out pressing hard with my fingers or with a plastic rod.
This morning I explained this situation to my general practitioner (who has given me antibiotics at least once a year for the last 10 years...). He told me that he never saw something similar but he has arranged me an appointment with an ENT this week. Let's see what he says...
Greetings, Daniel

[TJ87]

This is actually for @Marv126 for the comment from back in 2008 (comment he posted at the top of the page);
   Hope that this is an addition to your comment on DennisO's post about particles of food getting stuck in back if through by nasal cavity.... What you posted/commented seems to be what I am experiencing (the tonsil stones thing), and when comes dislodged (after much strategic maneuvers to loosen it) and crushed between fingers it does have a particular unpleasant odor. This has been a problem for a while (years). Have you had it checked, and confirmed it to be tonsil stones? And you can see the white build up on the area...

Because of these problems, as the original persons' symptoms with small food and grounds nuts/seeds getting stuck sometimes when consumed I also have that problem with them getting stuck and moving into the nasal cavity. Until of course I have to try and strategically dislodge that as well.  Any advise would definitely be appreciated. My email btw: ***@****

[TJ87]

Hope that this is an addition to your comment on someone's post about particles of food getting stuck in back if through by nasal cavity.... What you posted/commented seems to be what I am experiencing (the tonsil stones thing), and when comes dislodged (after much strategic maneuvers to loosen it) and crushed between fingers it does have a particular unpleasant odor. This has been a problem for a while (years). Have you had it checked, and confirmed it to be tonsil stones? And you can see the white build up on the area...

Because of these problems, as the original persons' symptoms with small food and grounds nuts/seeds getting stuck sometimes when consumed I also have that problem with them getting stuck and moving into the nasal cavity. Until of course I have to try and strategically dislodge that as well.  Any advise would definitely be appreciated.

[Moetexas]

I have same problem however I get flashlight and dislodge it with a q tip or I use the water pic  food particles especially when I eat pancakes.  Glad I'mm not the only me with this problem.

[goange]

I have this problem too!  It just started a few months, but it is really bothersome.  It happens almost all the time when I eat, spaghetti is really bad...but I haven't noticed pills not going down.  I do have to tell you that my maternal grandfather also had this problem.  I can remember many times while we were eating he would get up and go to the bathroom and 'throw up' or hack and cough to try to get it up.  I always felt so sorry for him and now I have this same issue!  So I have to think it is hereditary to some degree.  I do still have my tonsils, but I have no idea if they are enlarged or not.  I haven't talked to my doctor, but I'm beginning to think I should.  Oh and I have a hiatal hernia, could this be a culprit?  

[wise1man]

I think if you're careful and a pretty sure shot... you could knock it out by firing a bullet at it. Let us know how it turns out.