Overview

Sometimes after you swallow a pill it may feel like it "got stuck" or didn't go all the way down. This feeling usually goes away within 30 to 60 minutes if you drink liquids or eat a piece of bread.

You may not have any symptoms when something is stuck in your esophagus (Figure 1). But when symptoms are present, they may include:

• Rapid, noisy, or high-pitched breathing.
• Increased drooling.
• Trouble swallowing, pain when swallowing, or complete inability to swallow.
• Gagging.
• Vomiting.
• Refusing to eat solids.
• Pain in the neck, chest, or abdomen.
• Feeling that something is stuck in your throat.

If an object is stuck in your esophagus, your doctor will need to remove it.

Most swallowed objects pass through the digestive tract without any problem and show up in the stool within 7 days. But a swallowed object can scratch, irritate, or puncture the digestive tract, causing bleeding. Blood in the vomit can appear bright red or look like coffee grounds (partially digested blood) and usually comes from the stomach, esophagus, or throat.

Figure 1 - Esophagus

The esophagus is the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. When you eat or drink, food and liquids travel from your mouth through the throat and esophagus into your stomach.

Current as of: October 19, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.