You need to watch out if hare getting silent aspiration. At least you’re coughing when liquids go down the wrong way. My husband didn’t feel a thing at all when he aspirated. The SLP at the hospital told us that just the amount of saliva going down the wron “will catch up with you over time.” Are you drinking thickened liquids? That should help a bit. Consult an SLP who specializes in swallowing problem if you should be taking in nectar/honey/pudding grade thickness.

The doctors can tell if you are suffering from silent aspiration by doing a culture of the phlegm you cough up. It will show if you have bacteria that’s not normally found inside the windpipe in your phlegm.

My husband never had a high fever on the occasions when he was hospitalized for aspiration pneumonia. He had chills and he threw up blood which ad the consistency of coffee grounds. He needed oxygen on a permanent basis after his first stint in the hospital. He was given a nasal tube for feeding while he was in hospital and the point was to not give him anything by mouth.

Silent aspiration is a very serious condition. I implore you to be really careful and to make sure your doctors are fully aware of your condition.