What to Do if Food is Stuck?

What should you do if food gets stuck? This is called a food impaction or a food bolus. It is an emergency and you need to go to the ER if the food will not go down or come back up. This is different from, and more extreme than, having trouble swallowing! We discuss that distinction in the video. A food impaction can occur because of Eosinophilic Esophagitis, GERD, or other conditions.

Sometimes the ER can handle the food impaction with non-invasive measures. However, if those do not work, you will need an endoscopy (EGD). During the procedure, precautions will be taken to ensure your airway is protected. The GI doctor may push the food into the stomach or, more likely, remove the food. Afterwards, a dilatation may be performed to lower the risk of early recurrence.

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DISCLAIMER: While I am a Gastroenterologist, I am not acting as your Gastroenterologist. The information provided on this channel is intended to be general educational content and not directed towards any one individual. If you believe you have a medical condition that deserves attention please seek care from your healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, call 911.

[BRINpeterson]

My Dad had a piece of chicken stuck in his throat. He went to pizza ranch for lunch yesterday. He waited until 1 AM to go in. He couldnt even get a single drop of water down. He had to have surgery to remove it. The piece was rather large and located in the lower third of the esophagus. I swear this man has 9 lives.

[itsCDD]

I decided to go have a nice steak for my birthday last year. After the first bite it was stuck. Unfortunately I didn’t know this at the moment and tried fighting the pain, uncomfort, lack of being able to eat or drink and the constant dry-heaving for 6 hours before I decided it was time for a ER trip. Once I arrived the doctor immediately asked me to drink some ginger ale. I took a big sip and this was the scariest moment of the night. It wouldn’t go down and I ended up feeling like I was choking and couldn’t breathe until I finally gagged it up. Finally an order was put in for me to get an endoscopy and the giant piece of steak was finally removed after 12 hours of pain.

[matthomson]

Thanks doctor. This has now happened to me twice. One ER visit to remove.

[liliere]

Thank you deep from my heart for this information. I live in Quebec, Canada, where health system is managed 100% by the government. Since december I have been trying to be checked and diagnosed for food getting stuck in my throat. Impossible to see a ENT in 3 full months and NOBODY has taken this 7 minutes of explaination to say that probably is not cancer and when it is the time to go to the ER.

[TracyTsVideos]

Thank you. I have been struggling with an impaction for nearly 2 hours. I could not drink, could not throw up past the pathway towards my lungs, I could not force water down, nor could I gulp down air into mg stomach. A little cola soda and it broke loose and went down. ❤

[Bikewithlove]

To belch deliberately, you can manipulate your diaphragm to suck air into your stomach then ‘belch’ it out. If a clump of food is stuck in your esophagus, try to belch. When you do this, the first ‘sucking’ part of belching will feel blocked. Maintain that firm, steady ‘belch’ suction and the pressure from it should ‘pull down’ the food into your stomach.

[A_l]

I have this problem. Steak and bread and pasta are triggers. It scares me so much. One time while on vacation in Mexico I was in the bathroom alone and thought I was going to die I had to force myself to throw up. Drinking fluids doesn't help. It's blocked so liquid won't go down. I have been dealing with this for almost 20 years.

[chadcollins]

Excellent video. The best Ive seen on this topic

[aerodicus]

Happens to me all the time, I chug water and it’s like a plugged toilet, but if I force enough in it painfully goes down. Sometimes though the water backs up to where I can’t breathe.

[ashleighpyke]

When I had dried chicken left over from my takeaway that I had last night it got stuck in my throat I tried everything coughing tapping my chest drinking water and nothing actually helped so I continued to choke until the food actually went down

[Orangekhoi]

This happens whenever I eat thick meat food. I try eating smaller bites, but still happens. I usually try to keep emergency water on hand ahead of the food and to follow the food after I eat it.

[prepareahead]

I had a piece of steak get stuck last night even with chewing it well. It took about 3 hours of retching and drinking coke to get it up. It can’t eat anything the next day because of severe pain in my throat and stomach even though I’m just trying to get some soft food and cereal. Feel like swelling with some cramps. I’m guessing it’s going to take some time for the irritation and inflammation to go down. My stomach is sore even when I’m not eating. Can’t get into see a GI for 2 months. Already lost 25 pounds. I’m just going to eat soup.

[snxq]

Currently have a piece of chicken stuck in my throat right now, got stuck about 6 hours ago from this comment, been drinking warm water and laying down, something similar happened to me about 1 year ago, and it lasted for a full day before it went down when I woke up that morning, I fear that this situation would last even longer, I’m not sure, anyone got tips, I can sip small bits of water, at a time, but if I chug it down the water just builds up and I gotta vomit it out should I do something different? Like possibly drinking soda or something, im not sure currently, cause I also fear it will just build up, but then as well I can just take sips of it, anyone have any recommendations to what I should do???

[jlctjl]

So if i can drink water and eat food there isn't anything stuck? I swallowed a half of a cherry tomato last night and it has felt irritated ever since. I am also 8 months pregnant and have felt this sensation in the past. Just slightly irritated behind the breastbone

[ImmortalNB]

I'm not sure whether this is what I have, but it happens regularly, usually with corn chips and I don't usually take it to the ER. It usually occurs with the same types of food, mostly corn chips, tortillas, and strawberries for some reason. I usually get rid of it by just trying to throw a little up, then try to attempt a burping action until it clears up (hard to explain). I went to the doctor once for it (few years ago) and they just gave me some capsules/pills which I can't recall were effective. I still have no clue what it was, and it still happens but I handle it as I described. Hopefully it isn't cancer, and hopefully I don't get any tears or similar problems beyond the typical food blockage. If anyone can give me a word of advice, please do.

[alalal]

its been 3 hours i dont wanna goto the er dont have insurance

[Lipripper]

Happened at school and my mouth filled with saliva, and I tried to hold it in, and all I'll say is I failed

[monique.thenurse]

I ate a piece a small chocolate cake and it feels like the chocolate stuck in my throat wall and I try water warm water gargle it still feels weird every time I swallow I feel like chocolate is stuck on the wall of my esophagus .. i’ll try to eat a banana and see. If not I’ll go to the ER. Thank you for this video is very informative…

[Mrs.Milkins]

I have been having trouble breathing after eating for a long while. There is a wheeze and it feels similar to asthma.
My doctor has said he believes it’s anxiety. B
Now, I am having trouble swallowing food also.

[vernonholliday]

Today I had a turkey and cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes and maynosine and honey mustard ; all of sudden i had a sensation that my food was stuck, i drank a rootbeer soda, it helped a little bit, but a lot of the sandwich came up. Was this food impaction?