swollen epiglottis

[itchyface14]

Every now and then my epiglottis doenst relax like it should. I know the epiglottis works like a flap, so food and water doesnt get into the airway. It tenses up to cover the trachea and when its not working it relaxes and rest agianst the wall of the throat.
It starts with that feeling that there is something in my thoat and I need to clear it,  but I can't. I feel the need to swallow saliva every 5-10 seconds. It normally happens when I am tired due to lack of sleep and have a really dry mouth. I tonly happens late at night. Usually after midnight. I am a smoker and drink a decent amount of soft drinks, which causes my throat to be a little dryer.  I don't have any symptoms that lead me to believe this is serious such as, actual sore throat, fever, headach, or swelling anywhere else. I know any difficulty swallowing is concidered serious, but it only gets so bad, which doesn't impare my breathing, drinking, or eating. It is more annoying then anything. It is hard for me to go to sleep when it is swollen/tense. I end up staying up until I am so tired that nothing can keep me up.  I always wake up in the morning and it is back to normal. I have tired drinking thinker drinks that kind of coat my throat..like milk and thinker juices. I also take a pretty warm bath to breathe in moisture....which really helped while I was in the bath.
I'm just curious if this happens to other people and if anyone may know of any ways to soothe it?

[newfiegirl_34_5]

I have been experiencing these same symptoms for over the past two months... gag reflux so bad that I can barely keep anything down in my stomach.. I have lost over 17 pounds ( ok not such a bad thing, but not for a good reason), my back of my throat is swollen as well as my voice box, which are swollen quite badly. I cough to the extreme as to try and clear my throat.. to the point where I vomit, and my head feels like it is going to explode. I have had a Upper GI done and it came back no problems.. I think they need to do more tests and I am going to make sure they do................Oh and with this.. I have totally lost my voice, I lost my voice 7 weeks ago and now I cant talk for more then a few minutes without coughing and then gasp for air..... this is not a good experience and I wouldnt wish it on anyone

[laughingwoman]

I've been having this problem too over the last couple of months.  I thought it might be related to stress.  I sure hope to hear some good results from one of you.  I'm going to contact my doc and see what he has to say.  It really does drive me crazy.

[McTigerlily]

My 16 mos. old daughter gags every time she drinks water. She constantly puts her fingers down her throat and gags herself and grinds her teeth. She also seems to have a lack of control to swallow her drool. I thought this was all due to teething, because she is teething. Then, tonight, she began gagging and when I asked her to show me her mouth, I saw this thin (the size of her pinkie finger) protrusion coming up the back of her throat almost touching her uvula. She began coughing (and has continued coughing, but not croup-like or anything) and then threw up. It didn't seem to really bother her, but she keeps gagging herself. HELP! I don't think it's epiglottitis, so why can I see her epiglottis? I'm sure that is what it is.

[Jay171]

Ive been having this same damn thing. Its like theres somthing stuck in my throat and every time I try to clear it it doesnt come out. Ive been told bye doctors who often find nothing wrong that its my anxiety but I have no history of anxiety. It more annoying than anything I just want it to pass already. Everytime I eat its like it doesnt want to go down. When I talk I can only make out sentences cuz then I have to gasp for air. Then sometimes I feel like it interferes with my breathing but doctors say that my oxygen levels are fine every time i go in. They did find abit of swelling though in my throat one time and gave me a steriod shot but that didnt really work. Ya its usually the worst at night and I lose sleep over it so I say well ima go to the doctors in the morning but morning comes and the feeling is gone to an extent and I think im getting better then next thing you know the damn thing is messing with me again. If you guys find out what it could be please share Im deperate.

[Robin1977123]

I'm actually up right now at 4:45 am with this feeling in my throat like theres something in there or its tight and its driving me crazy I feel like I cant breath right and I feel like there is something really wrong with me. I  can't eat right through the day because I;m scared its going to make my throat feel like this. My mouth and throat also gets very dry and I don't know what is going on but Ive been to the upper GI  Dr. and they have only ran blood test so far. I have lost weight and sleep over this problem and it just started a few weeks ago. I just want to be back to myself again.  Im scared something going to happen to me before the DR. finds anything out, I like want to go to the ER almost every night but I don't. My heart rate has also been really slow like in the low 40'S.

[See_Saw]

Thank goodness i found this site and all your comments. Was wondering if i had a life-threatening condition. Started taking Fluoxetine and a week later started having this problem i.e feeling of something stuck in my chest at first and spasms of pain. Stopped taking the fluoxetine after 6 weeks because couldn't stan d the discomfort any more, but it has left me with a feeling of someting stuck in my throat and when it is bad my epiglottis is visible. Going to the ENT Department in July so will fine out more then, but at least having found this forum know it is not uncommon, so thanks for that and wish you all well.