lump in my throat

[stringy]

Has anyone had the feeling of a lump in the throat.I have had this feeling for 3 months.I did go to the doctor but he couldn't see or feel anything.I have read about people who have had this feeling,and apparently it goes away as fast as it comes.I don't know if this is in my mind as my boss has just died of throat cancer aged 55.
Does anyone know if the mind is powerful enough to imagine this.
Kind Regards
Moira

[JosephF]

Hey stringy, I have your same problem, it's called 'Globus Hysterious' and it is made up by the mind. Its the involuntary muscles in your neck that contractand create that lump in the throat feeling.

I have had it for 9 years, and if it isnt relieved i gag, so i eat food or have a drink. though its getting alot worse because of my a-levels. i need to de-stress as that fuels it. it's disrupting my a-level classes now. for 2 monday mornings in a row i've had to leave my morning lesson because it got so bad i though i was going to gag. Though i'm trying to do more work before its due and going to bed earlier, just have to see if it works for next monday.

[missacorah]

Yes its a horrible symptom and does seem to be encouraged for me anyway when I am feeling more stressed. I usually keep a bottle of water or diluted juice near me and just sip on that until I 'forget' about it.

[imogen]

HI Stringy,I also have this lump in my throat thing but I also feel it in my back when I swallow. Im sure its because your colleague died from cancer.B oth of my parents died from cancer and this makes our imaginations run wild.You must trust your doctor, and keep searching for ways to relax and un-hook this anxiety. All the bestIMOGEN.

[miss diagnosis]

after my dad died of cancer i had this for ages too. its pure anxiety. it was horrible. it may also be hay fever so try taking some pirotin.

[Nicholas]

Hello all,
I will begin by saying that I understand how distressful this condition is
And that it is very much a vicious circle, the more stressed about the problem you
become the worse it feels.
I stated with this problem when I was nine years old, and I didn’t understand what
The problem was until six months ago, I am now forty one.

I complained to my parents that I had something lodged in my throat, and was terrified I was going to suffocate. On seeing that I was able to breathe without any problems they
Dismissed it as nothing more than attention seeking, but the problem still persisted.
I complained a number of times about my problem, and my mother began to tiyer at my
Constant wining and on one occasion grabbed hold of me and stuck her finger down
My throat causing me to gag. I was so terrified that she would repeat this action that I
Didn’t mention it again.

A few weeks later my parents went out one evening, and left a baby sitter in charge of
Me my brother and sister. I still had the problem but I think it may have been exsasipated
By the fact that we were being looked after by a stranger, it got so bad that I began to panic, and so did the baby sitter, she phoned the restaurant where they were eating and expressed her concerns to my mother. They came back early and were extremely annoyed at me for ruining their evening.

My mother finally decided to take me to the doctors, and after examining me, he decided
To refer me to a specialist, due to the fact that my tonsils were abnormally large.
The specialist decided to have my tonsils removed, and a few weeks later I spent three days in hospital.

Initially the problem seemed to go away, but after a few weeks I was back to square one,
I didn’t dare tell my parents, so ive been dealing with the problem ever since.
I was bullied at school, and their seemed to be a pattern between the spates of bullying
And my throat problem, but the fact that the problem would come and go suggested to
Me that it was not life threatening.

A few months ago my anxiety levels were high due to work and domestic problems,
Which in turn worsened my throat condition. I decide to search the net for people who
Were experiencing the same problem, and came across a diagram which clearly showed
The upper esophageal sphincter. Until seeing this diagram I wasn’t even aware that their
Was one, it providing me with an explanation as to what the problem was.

Anxiety can affect this sphincter causing it to spasm and contract giving the unpleasant
Sensation of something being lodged in your throat, and the more anxious you become
The worse the sensation. It is imposable for those people who have not suffered with this
problem to fully appreciate how incredibly distressing this condition can be.

And for those of you who do suffer, hang in their You Will Be Ok. Nick

[whitbywitchuk]

I get it when my Hashimotos disease flares up and the antibodies are increased. Same feeling I think.
luv Dawnx

[tigger1964]

i get this symptom at lot especially when im anxious and im eating. The more i focus on it the worse it becomes, try and ignore it take sips of water and it does lesson.

take care

sharon

[whitbywitchuk]

Regarding eating, I have seen a lot about a lump in the throat from reflux of acid. If you suffer from heartburn and waterbrash, sometimes you don't even know you do it can happen in bed when you sleep, then this can cause it too.
luv Whittersx

[PHOBIA MAN]

To you all...
this can help a lot! read through first and maybe get someone to read it to you as you do it (not essential)
Think about the feeling of the lump, give it a colour (the first you think of)
Now think about a calm pleasant place or feeling, Give that a colour
Imagine pulling the lump colour out of you as a swirling (forward tumbling and upright) gaseous loop, now with your hands swirl with the gas tumbling your hands (this may temporarily make it worse, but this next bit stops that)
as you reverse the direction of the swirl (towards you, spinning backwards and downwards) change the colour to the calm one and reverse your hand spinning and really intencify the calm colour, do this til your throat feels free and comfortable, repeat as often as needed but in future think of what stresses you and miss out the first bad bit, just do the good swirl while thinking of what stresses you, but if there is no specific stressor, just swirl that lovely colour and relaaaax.
Also remember DEEEP breathing is natures calmer downer, do it often!!!!
I'll keep an eye on this post to see how you all get on with it.
I use this in phobia therapy, but it's good for any emotional overwhelm.

[spoonfriend]

This sensation can often be caused by GERD. Prilosec is sold over the counter now and is a great medicine for this. Diet and exercise can be beneficial too. This sensation can also be caused by anxiety and is one of the more common symptoms of it, even if you don't feel particularly "anxious." Sinus congestion can also sometimes cause a sensation of having a lump in your throat.

[Cazfat]

Hello, I've been worried for about a week now about the sensation of a lump in my throat, made worse by going to the Doctors about it. I went with two problems and he (rightly) seemed more concerned about the fact I coughed up blood, and not so bothered about the throat problem. I have since been for an X Ray and they have found a mark on my lung! I have to go back in 2 weeks for more tests. But I've been imagining that the throat and the lung problem were connected and that it was all going to be too late. But since reading that it is quite a common problem I have been reassured by posts I have read. I am still worried, but hopefully I won't be a jibbering wreck by the time I have to go back. I have started to use a bach remedy, the white chesnut in the hope that it stops my mind running over every possibility.

[Cazfat]

Hello again I managed to make it to my appointment today without breaking down, a few tears along the way but nothing serious. The doctor looked at the x ray and examined me and now things I have a collapsed lung. So it's back to the hospital tomorrow for an bronchosopy (sp?) a CT scan next week and another appointment with the Doctor in a fortnight. I wonder if I can get an extra large bottle of Bach remedy and extra large packs of painkillers!
Oh I even remembered to do the deep breathing while sitting in the waiting room.

[marky mark]

Has anyone had the feeling of a lump in the throat.I have had this feeling for 3 months.I did go to the doctor but he couldn't see or feel anything.I have read about people who have had this feeling,and apparently it goes away as fast as it comes.I don't know if this is in my mind as my boss has just died of throat cancer aged 55.
Does anyone know if the mind is powerful enough to imagine this.
Kind Regards
Moira
hi stringy, i have just started to get this throat thing feels like theres a pea at the back throat feels dry and some phlem but mostly just the feeling that theres a small thing there , i have been to my doctor 3 times he says its globus hestericus as i have anxiety problems and have become cancer phobic over the years as my peers have died , i have a high stressed design job , and this doesnt help this one is bad however and has replaced my tension headaches as i havnt had one since getting this , once the doctors have examined your throat 3 times i guess its time to trust them so why am i still nervouis about it???, hope this helps

[~Tiggy~]

Hi there,
I have read this thread and have found it so very calming...
I have had this lump in the throat for 5mths now, I have seen three doctors and the third doctor said exactly what you guys have said. Althought she is sending me for one more test... to have a small camera put up my nose and into my throat to check all is ok. 24th sept is my next appointment.
Thank you all so much for these posts they have calmed my mind so much.

Look forward to chatting to you all :hugs:

[Thumbalina]

I wouldnt worry,
it is one of the most common symptoms of anxiety.
I get it all the time when i am in my anxious stage...

[johansaken]

i never had it before. and it comes now? After 15 years of G.A.D? Anyone? Is this possible? One symptom replaces the other?

[~Tiggy~]

Hi all just back from doctors. Had the camera up the nose and down the throat done. Doc said it was globus hysterious and that my throat is clear and no signs of cancer.
I have worried myself sick over this, I have broken a tooth by grinding them at night.
Thank you all for your kind words.
Yay I'm going to be ok. Now to look forward to a good nights sleep :-) oh yes and a trip to the dentist :-( another £200 to pay for a crown.

[~Tiggy~]

I found this info online, hope it helps......



Information for patients with a lump in the throat sensation

Causes

This syndrome results from a spasm in the cricopharyngeus muscle. It is a self limiting disorder that will resolve on its own.

Symptoms

Lump in the throat sensation
feels like a golf ball, tennis ball, fur ball... is stuck in my throat
feels like my tie is too tight
feel like I am being strangled
my throat feels swollen
The symptoms can be mimicked by pushing on the cartilage in the neck just below the Adams apple.
The lump comes and goes depending on the day.
Symptoms are usually best in the AM and worse later in the day
Stress aggravates the symptoms.
Saliva is difficult to swallow yet food is easy to swallow.
Eating, in fact, often makes the tightness go away for a time.
The symptoms are similar to getting choked up at a wedding or a funeral.
Physiology 101

There are two valves in the esophagus or swallowing tube. They are normally lightly contracted and they relax when you swallow, so that food can pass through them going to the stomach. They then squeeze closed again to prevent regurgitation of the stomach contents. If the normal contraction becomes a spasm (like a charlie horse of the calf muscle) these symptoms start. Stress often makes these spasms much worse. Many people have experienced neck tightness when stressed and this is similar. Even if not caused by stress, stress will make the spasm much worse. Relaxation in many forms (from alcohol to meditation) may improve the symptoms.

A management program

An exam of the neck and throat is extemely important to eliminate serious problems. In fact, it enters most peoples minds that a lump in the throat might be a cancer. In practice, real lumps in the throat, such as a cancer are not felt. It is one of the reasons that a cancer can get so big before it is discovered. It probably is fortunate that we don't have great sensation in the throat as we would then feel every particle of food, with every meal as it travels down the throat. So lacking great sensation in the throat, problems are a little mysterious there.

Unfortunately, many physicians are not familiar with how symptomatic a cricopharyngeal spasm can be and I often see patients who have been extensively tested with Barium swallows, esophageal endoscopies, pH testing, CT scans, xrays, MRI scans and they all come back normal or possibly with some finding that is completely unrelated to the lump in the throat sensation. They may have been tried on numerous medication including proton pump inhibitors for presumed reflux.

Really, just a good exam of the throat, voice box and neck is all that is necessary and it is sufficient as well. I record my exam so that I can play it back and show the patient the structures in the throat. If possible I may try to pass my endoscope behind the voice box into the upper esophagus where the sphincter is. This will also elicit the symptoms, just as pushing lightly on the cricoid cartilage from externally elicits the symptoms.

You should know the following:

These symptoms are so characteristic that as soon as a patient tells me they have a lump in the throat, I can usually describe many of their symptoms to them.
After the exam, just knowing the tightness is not a sign of cancer frequently helps relieve the discomfort.
You will get better. Often improvement is over several weeks or even a few months, but occurs once one knows what the problem is.
Warm fluids should comfort the throat. Consider a cup of warm tea (preferably without caffeine) when the lump is bothersome.
If stress lets up, the symptoms improve. Think about what stress might be making this lump worse.
Muscle relaxants, such as valium, would be a good treatment, except for their addictive properties.
Medication
I sometimes dispense several valium (perhaps 4 to 10) as a test to prove the symptoms are from muscle spasms. I recommend taking one of the Valium on a weekend, when being alert is not important. When the lump occurs, one takes the Valium. Within an hour, there should be significant improvement in the lump sensation. If the symptoms improve after taking the muscle relaxant, then the symptoms are reasonably from a muscle spasm. Again, the knowledge that a muscle relaxant makes a lump disappear can help confirm that the cause of the lump is from a muscle and not an actual lump.
I have also tried injections with a local anesthetic, often with good, but temporary results. It does help to confirm in the patients mind, there is the possibility of relief.
If a local anesthetic injections helps, I have with inconsistent results injected botulinum toxin into the cricopharyngeus muscle, sometimes with prolonged relief.

Benefits

The symptoms go away.
Questions

I receive more email on this page than I can possibly respond to. The essence of many of the emails is that some or several symptoms are slightly different than on this page. Or perhaps, you have been examined by several ENT doctors who gave a different opinion than I do. There is really not much more I can tell you about the syndrome without examining you myself. You might consider sharing a copy of this page with your physician, though I am aware many physicians do not like the lack of peer review on the internet, but consider the page as an opening to talk about your particular case. You might also consider getting a second opinon from an ENT who specializes in the throat - a laryngologist.

[SH2727]

Hi stringy,

I suffer from reflux and a lump in the throat is one of the symptoms. Apparently it is something to do with the acid rising up from your stomach. I freaked out about it for months and to be honest still think it is something more serious, even though my doctor told me it isn't!

[bexy333]

Hi.. I'm so glad i've found this site.. apparntly it is the mind.. kinda crazy rally!!
like you mine comes and goes.. all last week i was fine and it was great... but its back now! I hate it.. it feels like sometimes i cant get my words out cos its just there. it's constant.. i think i bring it on myslef sometimes as i wake up in the morning and think is it there?