Over Active Gag Reflex when swallowing anything, even water!

I have never had this problem, but I have had GI issues and one of the questions they ask you is if you have difficulty swallowing. I suppose this would fall under that category though. I would go see a GI doctor. If you see a GI doctor you can rule out any other problems that may be associated with the gag reflex. Problems such as swollen tonsils, adenoids or even cancer. I would not start taking over the counter oils, herbs..etc. You could have an anaphylaxis reaction that could result in death.

I have the same problem as all of you. When I'm stressed or when I think about eating too much I gag or feel like gagging. I avoid social settings with food as well to avoid this. This is due to anxiety. I went to doctors therapists everything for it and they ran a whole bunch of tests but still came back negative. They informed me that when we get anxious we feel a lump in our throat which makes us fearful and when we focus so much on eating and worrying about that feeling it makes up phobic to gagging and eating. Praying we can all be healed from this it is no fun!

I too have this same problem. Im a 23 yr old male. Its been going on for about a year when I started working a very stressfull job. Sometimes i question if its a mental battle or if there really is something physically making it tough to swallow. Its sad i look at these forums and see a lot of people with this same problem but still nothing solid or 100 percent guarenteed cure. Has anyone figured something out that atleast makes it possible to not gag when you dont need to gag? If that makes sense. Gagging is an importand mechanicism that can be beneficial but if you get worked up about it it can backfire. Has anyone had luck with the desensitising of the gag reflex? When i went to the dr they said they believe throat was inflammed from a prolonged untreated sinus infection. Anyways it would be great to see a success story in these forums

hey guys hope u all good..at first i thought there was sumth wrong with me..i used to buy preg test but realizd its non of that..and this feeling nowadys cant control it..i wonder why most of the people have this i jst realizs as i went thro all of this

Hi guys,

I have been experiencing the very same problems as most of you. I am still not yet cured but have some tips for you. I'm taking my time to write this because I know exactly how you struggle with this. My confidence have decreased significantly as I am unable to gain weight and I am skinny anyway. This has a huge impact on one man's ego. Luckily for me I have very supportive and sincere girlfriend, but let's get to the point.

Diagnostics

I don't think all of us here have the same problem. I have read all of the posts and some resemble but others are different. You HAVE TO FIND OUT whether your problem is physiological or mental. How? Start with food. Does gag reflex occur ONLY during or shortly after food or does it trigger even out of nothing (when you're coming home from work, etc.). Also visit hospital for proper examination and try to solve the problem respectively. 

This advice has been posted here many times: examine yourself, study yourself. You and only you know best when is the gag reflex triggered. I have to say sometimes I envy those with physiological diagnosis as they (in most cases) know what to do, or at least doctors know. If the problem is in your head (not trying to be expressive here as it is my case, too), I have some tips for you:

Mental problem - unconscious stress perhaps?

For those of you struggling with this illness, I can imagine you are becoming really depressed since there is no proved treatment for your case. That is true, BUT:

1. speaking of events you have to prepare for (job interview, meeting, school exam, etc), when it's getting really hard core and your gagging reflex is like trying to spit your soul out of you, you can use Guajacuran 30 minutes before the event.

I am NOT A DOCTOR, this is just my personal experience. There is no prescription required to buy the pill so it's not dangerous. You don't have to worry. Believe me, I know your pain and I'm trying to help you. However, this is just a short-term solution so let's look for something else.

2. I also found that autogenics method helped me a lot. It's a breathing exercise or meditation if you will and you should definitely try it out at least once and see if it works for you. Don't be afraid to try it out. 

I have one more wish to add to this: If this helps, please let me know and share this solution with others! We don't want the gag reflex!! I am still on my path of treatment and still struggling, but this really helps. Go to your bad, lay down, try it out and let us know! Thanks :)

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EDIT: during the autogenics, I often tell myself something like I am hungry, I like food, the food I eat is delicious, etc.

I'm 13 and i just noticed this problem about a month ago, i've always had a bit of a over active gag but never this bad, everytime i eat I gag a few times and then im alright sometimes it happeds more that once but it happends for every meal. To be honest im scared, Ive told my mom but she just brushed it off. To be honest I used to be a great eater, always hungry but now i get so full so fast and I dont feel good. Please Help :(

HI guys, what helped for me was meditation and focusing on my taste buds and trying to really enjoy the food I'm eating. Personally, the gag reflex I get seems to come from stress and anxiety as I've been skinny and a slow eater all my life. As a result, I'm not comfortable eating with other people and I began to associate eating with stress. Focusing on eating may slow down your eating habits and that may be troublesome if you're trying to gain weight but it really helps with the gagging reflex as sometimes my gag reflex acts up even if I'm just thinking about getting ready to eat, even though I am super hungry and my stomach is growling.

Also, what really helps is setting up a regular schedule and eating what you crave. I'm a picky eater and if I am eating something I consider unappetizing at the moment, I would get the gag reflex even if I was starving. So what I would do is I would try to fill myself up with fruits (which I love and can eat forever) or ice cream to get that full stomach feeling. Eventually, my body gets used to being super hungry at the same time each day and I can just devour food. The trick is also to devour food as fast as possible when you're hungry.

You may want to see a doctor and have him do an endoscopy to see if there is a stricture in your esophagus which I have and it cause food to become block or difficult to swallow. I also found I had acid reflux even I never felt indigestion . I hope that this and don't worry I have had an endoscopy 3 times. They sedate and then can see what going on.

Hi guys. I will start off with one stence that will keep you reading this post: I have a solution.

TLDR:
In many cases gagging is a psychological issue and it can get much worse - anxiety, panic attacks, etc. SOLVE IT NOW! Don't be afraid of psychiatrist. What helped me was pill called Neurol (brand name for alprazolam). I am young (in my 20s) and I hesitated to take this drug but the reality is I need it and it helps me so why not? I feel a lot better and I'm a lot better

PLEASE SHARE TO HELP OTHERS! I've seen plenty of people having the same problem and being deperate for solution (I was one of them some time ago)

LONG VERSION:
However, the solution worked for me and as every organism is different, I will first tell you my symptoms.

I have been having problem with gagging for over 1,5 year. It occured during eating pretty much everytime, but not only that. Any physical activity - jogging, working out, made me eventually gag. Sometimes when I was coming from work it happened as well... Overally I couldnt get rid of this feeling that something is holding my throat from the inside.

If you have these symptoms, I strongly advice you to SOLVE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and not trying to live with it and I will tell you why. My case was that is was psychological issue. I tried to live with it... With much effort, I managed to maintain my weight (although I was underweight, it could get worse). I struggled with every meal.

This is NOTHING to the problems I experienced very recently - after a year and half of this problem there was this first day when I had a strange feeling - feeling of pressure on my chest, palpitations (pounding heart)... It was only one day but it was horrible. Your brain is messing you up and you can't conciously calm down, you just can't, now matter how intelligent or strong-willed you are. The brain is the master here and he triggers your anxiety.
I had one sleepless night during which my heart was pounding - I simply couldn't fall asleep. I called emergency - they made all the tests - EKF, RTG, USG, blood screening - EVERYTHING NORMAL.

I think you know by figured by know where this leads - psychiatrist. Fortunately, my cousing is psychiatrist so I called her - absolutely exhausted because I was awake all night and I couldn't sleep even during day because my heart was pounding. ABSOLUTELY HOPLESS FEELING.

She told me to immediately get pill called Neurol (brand name for Alprazolam) - doctor has to prescribe it)... In the evening I took 1mg and slept like a baby.

In the morning I woke up and ate my breakfast without any gagging problems whatsoever. Now I take Neurol 0,25mg in the morning, 0,125mg at noon and 0,25mg in the evening.

I know many of you guys are probably young (I'm in my 20s too) and are hesitating to go for a psychiatrist BUT you have to be rational about this. It can't go on like this and this might help you! Discuss it with your doctor and try it for one week.

PLEASE SHARE TO HELP OTHERS! I've seen plenty of people having the same problem and being deperate for solution (I was one of them some time ago)

I can't believe that so many people have this exact same reaction as me while eating! First of all, I have this problem since I can remember, I'm 21 years old living in the Netherlands. This is the first time looking up for my problem, because I always kept this a secret from everybody and I never wanted to tell anybody.. but hey, I can share it with everybody here!

I never like to eat.. but that doesn't mean that I don't eat. I force feed my self everybody basically.
I am 1,70 meter tall and about 66kg now, few months ago i was edging on 70kg. The trick I use is basically; Put food in mounth and pour it down with water, so it slides right through your throat.
If anyone else have any other suggestion, let me know.

My english is not that good, but I tried ;)

I started this same activity 6 years ago when my brother was dieing from cancer and I was under so much stress. That is what I hold caused it. It got better and than recently - lost my job and very stressed and its back - I am very thin and this does not help.... I now am eating tiny bites to get thru a meal - and added liquid nutrients. Any one else? Suggestions?

Hi, I'm a 17 year old girl and I have the same problem. I know for sure that this isn't an eating disorder as some sources on the internet say it is because I love food and I am hungry all the time. As someone said I go through phases sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn't. What helps me is drinking ice water when I feel like I'm gonna gag, drinking peppermint tea before, during or after meals, and finally chewing or sucking on something minty like gum or candy right after I eat.

I have the same problem and I'm only 14 it feels like I'm going to throw up every time I eat.