Extremely Hyperactive Gag Reflex while swimming or exercising

[KyleG]

My problem is there is the feeling of something in the back of my throat that causes me to get an involuntary urge to gag. I however have never actually gagged because when ever I get this feeling I immediately suppress it by swallowing hard or stroking the palate with my tongue. I have noticed this happening when I am running and even normal things when I am just talking. The main thing that is really bad about this, is my inability to run and exercise to stay in shape because of this problem. After a few minutes of running or exercising I get that feeling of having to gag. I have told doctors about this and one doctor said about the post nasal drip causing it and the other said I had a hyperactive gag reflex and I just have to live with it. What it feels like is that my uvula gets irritated somehow and it stimulates the reflex for no reason.  I am currently taking swimming lessons, but this problem makes it almost impossible because when I am blowing the air out through my nose in the water, this also causes me to feel that sensation of gagging which causes me to stop to catch my breathe. I understand that there are many people who have an overactive gag reflex, but I have not read about it being to hyperactive that it affects someone like the way it does to me.

[KyleG]

Hi, kidkoopa. It has been years since I've tried to solve this problem and eventually I just sort of gave up going to doctors as I had other priorities I had to focus on for school. You mentioned an enlarged uvula as being the possible problem. When I was researching this originally, that was one of the main problems I came across. I went to an ENT and inquired about that possibility about my uvula and he checked and said they were normal sized but I just had a lot of adenoid tissue. I still have the same problem today, I was never able to solve it. If you find out anything else please let me know.

[kidcoopa]

hey im sorry im so late with this but i have had the same problem for a year but i researched alot and found your posts alot.  However i think i know what your true problem is.  I believe it is your uvula.  In case no one knows the uvula is the dangling thingy in the back of your throat (not your tonsils)  I found out that when the uvula becomes enlarged it can rest on your tongue.  IT IS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE TOUCHING YOUR TONGUE.  I looked in the mirror last week and what do you know, mine was super long and touching my tongue.  I have an appointment with the ENT to see if i can get it shorten or completly removed.  but look it up it is uncommen but does happen to some people and i believe that might be the issue.  I havn't seen any recent posts so you may have already discovered it or something else but i will let you know what happens after the appointment, peace.