How To Drink When You're Having Trouble Swallowing
Swallowing troubles can be more than an inconvenience. If you can't swallow well enough to drink, you could quickly dehydrate and run into all sorts of medical problems. Learn how to keep yourself hydrated, even when swallowing is an issue.
Step 1: Choose Your Liquid
If you are losing nutrients because of your inability to swallow food, the liquids you choose can help replenish those nutrients.
Milk can help provide calcium. Orange juice can replenish Vitamin C and potassium. Cranberry juice is a good source of vitamin A, C, B complex, Folic Acid and Fiber.
Work with your doctor to decide how much liquid you need, and which is right for you.
Step 2: Choose Your Thickener
Natural thickeners are available at your grocery store.
• Apple sauce
• Cream of rice
• Banana flakes
• Cornstarch
• Custard mix
• Gravy
• Instant potato flakes
• Mashed potatoes
• Gelatin powder
• Pureed foods
Commercial thickeners are available as well. Consider the following factors when choosing which thickener is right.
• Are you allergic to any of the ingredients?
• Does your body handle this kind of thickener well, or does it give you digestive problems?
• How will it affect the taste of the liquid?
• Is the amount of calories in your thickener right for your diet?
Step 3: Choose Your Consistency
The thickness you choose should depend on what your throat needs. Food can be thickened into three different consistencies:
• Nectar-thick
• Honey-thick
• Pudding-thick
Nectar-thick liquids drip like apricot nectar or thick, creamy soups.
Honey-thick liquids are less pourable, and drizzle slowly.
Pudding-thick liquids hold their own shape.
Step 4: Mix
Here's how to use the commercial thickener to thicken your liquids.
• Take four ounces of liquid you've chosen and pour it into a glass.
• Add 4 tablespoons of the thickener.
• Stir quickly for 10 seconds. Do not over stir.
• Allow the drink to sit for two minutes.
The liquid will become pudding-thick.
Step 5: Stay Upright
Don't lie down or slouch. Sitting or standing vertically is the best way to assure your liquids go down and stay down.
Step 6: Test Your Throat
Slowly feed yourself the new mix. If you can swallow solids, this should go down fairly easily.
Step 7: Adjust
If you think you can swallow a thinner version of this drink, you can make one by adding more liquid to the mix you've already made, or start again and use less thickener. Adjust to find the right consistency.
Step 8: Tips
Do not add ice to thickened liquids. Not only can this be a choking hazard, but when it melts, it will thin your liquids and put you right back where you started.
Do not use a straw. The suction can force the liquid back to your throat too quickly, causing you to gag.
When thickening hot liquids, remember that it will get thicker when it cools. Be prepared to add more liquid to compensate.
Remember, thinner liquids are harder to swallow, so if you're having swallowing problems, it's better to have your liquids be too thick than too thin.
Finally, if you're still having trouble drinking, seek medical help immediately. Your doctor may decide to get you an IV or explore other options. No matter what, you must never allow swallowing difficulties to prevent you from getting your fluids.
