Food going up nasal cavity

[mich018]

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

[cooper105]

The thing to me that is interesting,is the same food types are indicated as being problematic for many. I have issues with rice,ground carrots,cole slaw,ground meat and for me sometimes just liquids. I had a cricopharyngeal  esophageal stricture diagnosed at age 21 when a pill completely obstructed my esophagus and I couldn't swallow my own saliva. I was deemed hysterical ,admitted,spitted for over 24 hrs,despite  barium study showing  inability to swallow(barium through the nose is very unpleasant) and an inability for NG tube to be passed. It took another barium study, with it again forcefully coming back through my nose, on day 2 to convince them to scope me. They discovered the full,partially disintegrating ibuprofen. Of course, it had very much inflamed from pressure and the partial loss of the enteric coating leading to motrin eating away my esophagus. I received multiiple dilations and the area is said to be open but I still feel things get caught there and swallow studies support this.I was diagnosed by biopsy 3 times to have eosinophilic esophagitis,but this spring my biopsy did not show it.
This new problem for me occurs when those culprit foods are eaten. I even experienced an episode when taking a tylenol hard caplet. It seemed as if the it was typical slowing at that previously strictured area and soda came through my nose. It burned and I blew my nose repeatedly to get out the soda. The uncomfortable sensation persisted for almost 2 hours and then finally with another attempt to relieve the burning sensation,I blew my nose and the entire intact pill came out.
I have spinal problems and had a lumbar fusion that was successful until an injury in PT. My cervical spine has degeneration among multiple other remarkable findings. My symptoms on my right arm increased over a six month period and a new C-spine MRI supported worsening changes on the right. My doctor dismisses it. This week I returned for follow up and reported that I felt my symptoms that were initially relieved by surgery had returned. I indicated my right arm,wrist and hand problems were worsening,as well as this swallowing issue.
Two different neurologists attributed my symptoms in my arms and legs to spinal degeneration degeneration,sciatica when in reality my spine was unstable and the surgery was mandatory..
My neurosurgeon is investigating my C-spine and L-spine issues with an MRI of both, and CT of L-spines. He says he doesn't believe any of my symptoms in my right arm are related to the degenerative changes and thinks my L-spines are also fine/sees no problem with the fusion. He thinks that all my problems are neurological and is referring me to neurology again.He actually said he never heard of anyone swallowing and having food come out there nose. He said my symptoms all sound neurological and unrelated to spinal pathology.He acted as if there was never a report of C-spine issues causing difficulty swallowing.I was simply attributing my past esophageal issues to this new phenomenon.
As soon as I left the office,I started to explore neurological causes for difficulty swallowing. I quickly and easily discovered ,although rare, there are degenerative issues in the C-spine area that can cause these swallowing difficulties.Most are related to acute severe trauma to the C-spines,but there were other reported causes of C-spine issues causing this problem. I am seeing top neurosurgeon at a famous Baltimore hospital.I do believe he is fantastic,but it is disconcerting that he has "never' seen this. It only took a few minutes to discover these other anatomical problems being reported.
I honestly also considered neurological causes since these symptoms were a bit different than my past swallowing problems.
I then found this site with all these other people experiencing the exact same issues with the same foods.
I hate seeing that only a rare few are being diagnosed with either an anatomic or neurological cause,while every one else is in the "crazy" category. I have been there with the stuck pill. For 1 1/2 years I suffered with my back and was told when they looked at my back radiology studies,my back didn't look that bad. In reality my spine was unstable  and needed the fusion.
I foresee being frustrated again on this medical,messy merry go round.

[Demandy]

Hi Cooper105!

I got to this site from googling, "acid reflux, going up to back of nose"... Interestingly, I randomly have this issue. But recently I went to this holistic chiropractor, who adjusted my back and neck, even though I wasn't experiencing any back/neck pain... I left feeling a bit off balance, but nothing too painful that I thought to say anything... 5 days later, I woke up with pain by my right shoulder-blade/upper back area, I thought it would go away in 2-3 days, as I never have back pain. Then the pain persisted and traveled down my right arm and some of my fingers. I went back to the chiropractor thinking that for sure, he'll fix whatever he did... but I left back home in only more pain. After 20 + days of pain, the first 3 fingers on my right hand are partially numb. Online I found some exercises for a pinched nerve and when I do them, I feel the blood coming back to my arm and fingers... Then, I suddenly started having acid reflux, WHICH I NEVER HAVE. I didn't connect the dots. I thought that it was probably due to this new diet he put me on. So I stopped with the new diet and stopped with the new vitamins, but it seems like the damage has already begun and difficult to just "go back." The acid reflux got so bad, my throat felt like it was on fire and the food and acid just kept coming up to me and to the back of my nose. Even when I don't eat anything, the liquids will come up to the back of my nose.

So, I've been researching like crazy... And it seems as though several factors have occurred. I'm curious if you have any other co-existing conditions and if there are any other similarities in our stories.

So you mentioned the advil getting stuck, have you been taking a lot of advils?? Because of my back pain I was taking ibuprofens several days in a row, which is known to hurt the lining of the stomach. I also had been taking a lot of vitamins that I had stopped, which can also contribute to this. Vitamin D & Vitamin C & digestive enzymes, were stopped, and all those are beneficial for digestion & now that I had stopped, plus taking the advils, my stomach lining became sensitive which could be part of the cause for my acid reflux.

I've also read that a pinched nerve/vagus nerve can impact digestion and if it's damaged or being pressed on it won't do it's jobs well.

In addition this chiropractor moved some stuff on me, not really sure what he did, but there's something called Hiatal Hernia - A condition in which part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm muscle... So I didn't feel it before, but I do feel it now.

I also feel like I have something called, Gastroparesis - A condition that affects the stomach muscles and prevents proper stomach emptying, so all my food just stays in the stomach rotting away and causes indigestion and acid reflux/food particles to go back up. So in addition to the massive acid reflux, indigestion, I have massive BELCHING, from almost eating nothing. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat either.

I am now also having a more difficult time catching my breath, when I do anything exerting the tiniest bit of energy, picking something or going up some stairs, sounds like a just ran a marathon by how out of breath I am.. Also I've been spitting up phlegm and sometimes just saliva with some particles in it, not sure if it's phlegm or bile or whatever.

In addition to all of this, now that my stomach/digestion area is not working well, that impacts histamines... That's ANOTHER whole topic. I am always slighlty intolerant/allergic to certain foods, but nothing deathly... and now suddenly things that I normally would get a slight reaction to, I am getting a HUGE reaction to. It's difficult to explain and it would be super lengthy, but in short, I've been experiencing massive hives to any direct heat and some other stuff. So I've been taking benadryl to help with that. I also forgot to mention that I've been feeling really nauseous as well as weak and light-headed. The benadryl seems to help with the nausea and I've read from other people that it also has helped with their acid reflux.

Now I don't know if you have any of these things, so far the only connection from my symptoms and yours are the back/arm pain and the food going behind the nose/taking advil... So, do you suffer from acid reflux??? Do you suffer from any of the other stuff I've mentioned??

I also wanted to mention that I take adderall and I feel like that just makes the whole stomach/acid refluc thing worse, but it's not the direct cause, because I've taken it for years before this maladjustment and had no such issues with it.

Would love to hear back from you!

Mandy

[terrachroma1_]

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

[Winky9]

I have had this problem for about 30 years, and I also have my wisdom teeth.  Don't know if there is a correlation

[Artsysinger]

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?

[foodupnoseRESOLVED]

I HAVE FIGURED IT OUT.
I've had this happen for a year. I've had tension headaches, dizziness, increased heart rate, etc etc. because of it. I went to the ENT doctor. She offered surgery to expand my nose and all that stuff, saying it couldn't be food going up my nose that was causing the problem. I had a modified barium swallow and they couldn't replicate the food going up. My soft palate was shutting off my nasal passage when I swallowed. So what was it??? I had no medical problems that caused it. When my doctor couldn't figure out a solution, I knew I had to find some way to fix my swallowing by myself somehow. That's when I found out the solution. I needed to dip my chin lower a little bit when I swallow. Before, as I was chewing (mostly on rice), small particles would "fall" back into my throat area and slide into my nose since my chin was raised high. Why was it raised high? Several months ago I thought it would be a good idea not to look at the ground, because I thought others would interpret it as weakness/anxiety (silly, I know). So for all that time I lifted my chin up when I ate. Now to stop food going up my nose when chewing, I keep it level or lower my chin down.

That's pretty much it. For those who are going crazy and seem to not have any medical problems yet still have food going up, try lowering your chin a bit. That will stop any new food from going in. As for the old food already in your nose, take some boiled water, add salt, then quickly snort it down. You have to do rapid short bursts. You can't snort down the food like you blow your nose. It has to be a short, quick burst. If you have ever eaten snail, you know what to do. Sucking it hard and for a long time won't do anything. The key is short bursts, while limiting the air flow (pinch one nose close and the other partially shut) so that the pressure can increase. Similar to how when you put your finger in a hose it shoots out faster. I wish everyone luck!

[Pass28]

I had this problem for 6 years ago. And this thing drive me crazy. I lost my weight. I'm so scary when i have to eat.Sorry my bad english, but i can't clearly understand what are you suggest to do. So when i swallow or chewing, just lower my chin? And then for old food, i have to snort down quickly some water? Is it safe or  is it hurts?

[Demandy]

This makes sense @foodupnoseRESOLVED. I feel like this has been happening to me from a maladjustment from a chiropractor that left me with a pinched nerve... I figured out from some physical therapy videos that in order to alleviate the pinched nerve I need to tuck my chin down and in and stretch the neck a little bit backwards while sitting straight up... I then feel the feel the blood running back through those parts of my body where the nerve is connected to... So since this acid reflux/up to nasal cavity only began since the pinched nerve and that is alleviated by this chin tuck exercise, it makes sense that it takes care of the reflux aspect as well... Pretty interesting! BOY AM I MAD AT THIS CHIROPRACTOR

[Floro84]

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