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Eating and swallowing
"I kept coughing and choking when I tried to eat and drink. That was caused by the stroke."
After a stroke, it can be difficult to eat and drink. You may find yourself coughing and choking.
This can happen if the muscles for chewing and swallowing are weakened by the stroke.
Coughing and choking are uncomfortable and can be embarrassing.
But they can also be dangerous.
Food or drink may 'go down the wrong way' into your windpipe and lungs.
This can cause chest infections.
Some signs that your swallowing is not working well:
- choking and coughing whenever you try to swallow food or drinks
- certain foods and drinks go down the wrong way
- coughing fits, especially after mealtimes
- your voice sounds gurgly after drinking
- food is left in your mouth after a meal
- feeling 'chesty' and unwell with a high temperature
- losing weight
- eating slower than usual, or leaving food
- feeling scared or out of control when eating or drinking.
If your muscles have been badly affected by the stroke, you may be coughing all the time.
It may be too dangerous for you to eat or drink in the usual way.
You may find it impossible to drink or eat enough.
If this happens, you may be given liquid food through a tube into your stomach.
Naso-gastric tube (NGT)
Sometimes people are fed through a tube passed through the nose into the stomach.
This is called an NGT (or naso-gastric tube).
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)
Sometimes people are fed through a tube directly into the stomach.
This is called a PEG (or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy).
A PEG is put in under anaesthetic.
Both the NGT and PEG can be removed easily when your swallowing improves.
It's important to take nourishment through one of these tubes if you can't swallow enough food safely.
If you are properly nourished, you will be stronger and make a quicker recovery. You're less likely to get ill with pneumonia.
If the tube is hurting you or uncomfortable, tell someone. Don't try to pull it out yourself.
Sometimes the ability to swallow returns quickly - after a week or a few weeks.
Occasionally it takes longer to recover.
You may need to do exercises to strengthen the muscles used in biting, chewing and swallowing.
If you can eat and drink a bit, you may have to eat a special diet:
Drink
You may need thicker drinks than usual.
Thickened drinks move slowly in your mouth and throat.
This gives you more time to swallow them safely and easily.
Food
If you're able to swallow a little you may need soft or pureed food, which is easier to chew or swallow.
Certain foods are difficult to swallow. You may have to avoid things like crisps.
Further information
Speech and language therapist
An SLT can:
- work with nurses and dieticians to make sure you are getting enough nourishment
- suggest foods and drinks which are easier and safer to swallow
- tell you which foods and drinks to avoid
- show you exercises and positions to make swallowing easier and safer
- tell you and your family what to do if you have a choking fit
A doctor
A nurse
- can help with eating and swallowing difficulties
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