After eating at a restaurant last evening (about 7 hours ago), I have not been able to swallow food or even water. I also have excessive saliva buildup in my esophagus to the point that the saliva would block my windpipe if I did not continually spit it out, This condition always begins with slight hiccups and shortly afterward, I cannot swallow food -- not even water. I have noticed that this condition often happens when I have been eating saltwater fish, Chinese food (MSG?), or spicy food. This difficulty usually goes away after about one hour but tonight it has been with me for over seven hours and I am afraid to lie down to sleep. .