Hi Kyle

I have had hyperactive gag reflex my whole life, like today a dental appointment had to be cut short as I could not supress the choking long enough for impressions of my teeth to be made.

In any situation which gives rise to an increase in adrenalin the gag reflex arises, and has made me take circuitous routes round otherwise normal situations for longer than I can remember. I keep mints in my pocket, and a bottle of water with me constantly as they can ease it, and I have low strength diazepam for trickier situations but nothing really helps.

I'm 52 now and would so dearly love to find a solution to this problem so I can enjoy life in the same way as others. I hide it well, it has not prevented me from doing well in my career or with family etc but to be honest I am constantly low because of it, so many simple things seem like traversing mountain ranges because of it. So I truly sympathise and hope that your own condition will improve.

Thank you for the reply Boxclog. Have you been to any doctors about this problem? If so what have they said?

Well, i'm 25 (and i'm french, so sorry for my english) and i've the same problem Kyle. I've seen an ENT, for him all is ok.

2 month ago i've seen a neurologist, but what he gave me didn't work (some kind of neuroleptic), so i'll see him again very soon.

I've this problem since i'm born... sometimes it's even hard to talk because of it.

Stressfull situations and physical activities "increase" the problem, but they're not the cause.

The "feeling" in my throat (well, in fact it's around the larynx i would say) is sometime worse when i'm on my back, like there is really something physical which puts some kind of pressure...

I will see my neurologist in 4 days, i'll tell you if there is something new.

Thanks for your reply Kyle, and it's good to read your case Rootax, most interesting. I have been to doctors quite a number of times about this problem, and as one would expect it is put down to stress in the majority. I've been on a couple of stress relief courses and spoken to a Psychologist, all very worthy, but nothing changes it, it's far stronger than a course of therapy and the ONLY thing to reduce it on an every day basis is a tranquiliser as far as I can see. The problem is, although I can recognise that there is a stress 'key' present, I get it too when for example I get a cold and the windpipe narrows, I get the cold plus the gag reflex, it's a double whammie! So, logically, there might seem to actually be a physical factor there too. However, normal routes seem to come to no avail when trying to ascertain the source of this condition but again, no-one can imagine how restrictive it is. It started when I was a little boy, that I do know and...here's why 'stress' can be tagged to it. My Father was a prominent Eye Specialist, sadly my elder brother was born blind himself with quite a serious level of handicap too, this put a huge strain on my parents and their marriage began to suffer. When I came along my Father, apparently, pushed me with everything, all the time, he was so terribly strict, and I was made to 'achieve' in all my activities even from a young age. One day, at about five years old, I apparently started to choke...well this may be the start of it but surely, to be so omnipresent in everyday life there must be a physical element to it?
Sorry to gas on about myself, I don't know if this will be useful but maybe if we pool all our stories we can get some answers? It's great to be talking to you folks and I wish you all the best.

My son is 25 and currently in the US Coast Guard. He has been suffering with severe gag reflex since he was a boy, around age 9. It first appeared when we, as a family, where displaced and had to live with relatives for a while. I noticed his "events" would occur when he would start a new year of school. But then the episodes just progressively got worse (couldn't talk and would salivate)...they increased in frequency as well. I attribute this to stress. Now, being far away in another state, he has indured these episodes more frequent than ever before and tells me that he feels like a "freak". My heart breaks for him and I want to find information on how he can get help. Use to, popping a small mint in his mouth would off-set the epidsode or munching on chips, but that doesn't seem to help anymore. He said that he doesn't have heartburn or indigestion problems...just this horrible gag reflex that causes him to have the inability to speak or move. If there's anyone who has gone through this...we would so appreciate any advice. Thank you, CoastieMoM

"I will see my neurologist in 4 days, i'll tell you if there is something new. "

Well, i've been under some treatments (against anxiety and muscles spasm), but, it did nothing. So i did some research.

I didn't know if it was linked, but, my nose is always "blocked", most of the time i can't breath by the nose, and i'm a very allergic person. The other thing is i kind of feel something "behind" or "over" my uvula. And then i found this :

"IANAD, yadda yadda, but I had the same problem, or one very similar. Gagging, vomiting, trouble breathing, chronic sinus problems, sleep apnea...

In my case the 'sinus/nose problems' you mentioned turned out to be the root of the problem. There are these things in your nose called turbinates (or 'nasal concha'), that control air-flow through your sinus passages and moisturize the air as it flows by. In my case the turbinates were so over-sized that they were restricting airflow, and the inferior turbinate (inferior in the sense that it is lower; it's actually the largest turbinate) was hanging back farther than it should, pressing down into the nasopharynx and soft palate, restricting airflow and triggering my gag reflex."

So i asked my doctor if something like this could be the thing which trigger my gag reflex all the time (I asked him because, you know, don't trust everything you read on Internet ) and he tolds me than, yes, it could be it (he knows me since i'm a child, so he knows i always had trouble breathing and had a lot of "nose" problem).

So, next week i'm gonna see an other ENT, with that specific problem in mind. If my trouble breathing by the nose (so maybe a inferior turbinate problem) is linked with my hyperactive gag reflex, damn, i'll be happy ! Because it's something you can kind of cure with medication (nasal corticoids), or surgery (turbinate reduction).

So...we'll see... i'll keep all of you informed. By the way KyleG, any news for you ?

(and sorry again for my english :-/ )

Well, the ENT can't really "see" something without other exams, so i've to do a scan (ct scan in english ?) of my skull base and of my sinus. And an echo-doppler of my cervical arteries.

I'll let you know if in the end, they can "fix" me.

A gag reflex is protective but in some people it works to well. But the good news is it is not totally automatic repsonse it can be overcome. For instance an extreme example would be a sword swallower, or even eating food.
I am a dentist and you would be surprised how many people have this problem. Commonly I find people strugling to get dental instruments in their mouth or impressions.
I have never seen anyone that surgery was required, this not the norm in the UK.
A few simple techniques might be worth a try, hypnotherapy works quite well and can give you some control. Accupuncture also helps, there is a small site that is located just above the chin.
Also there are homeopathic remidies that some people say that work.

I've had gag reflex problem for many years. I am 63 now and it developed as I was exercising upper body in my 40s. Now, sinus drainage in morning sets it off, along with upper body exercise. I take cough drops all the time as I lecture in my job. Had CT scans and no abnormalities seen. Will check on turbinates in sinus area and ask my Dr.

I have had anxiety and times when it is worse is when I gag the most.
A simple, but helpful reduction of the gagging for me is gum. I chew Trident. It almost always helps me.

I still feel like this is a band-aid solution, because I'd like to get to the root of it, but for anyone who needs a quick fix, try gum or a mint.

Just a thought.