Throat problem(another one sorry).

[Tucker]

Hi.

No rambling/straight to the point.

At the moment i have this lump in the throat(feeling),aching throat and feel as if i need to burp all the time etc. which i admit does get worse when i concentrate on it, the doctor put me on anti-acids and a nasel spray weeks ago, but i'm getting very worried as it just isn't getting any better and this has been going on for the past 9 weeks or so. Have read a bit about Globus Hystericus but can't find anything to do with the ache bit i've got.

I know many of you have had this feeling (lump in throat) before but have any of you had this constant dry ache?

I also know from having anxiety in the past that parts of you body can ache due to stress/anxiety.

regards.

Tucker.

[Meg]

I would be pleasantly surprised if either the anti acid or nasal spray did anything for anxiety driven throat tightness.

Relaxation and distraction help.

MORE HORRID SYMPTOMS!!!!
Swallowing / throat problems / Being strangled!
What has suddenly changed, feel awful!
Really frightend of Swallowing,
A strange one, anyone else experienced similar??
throat !!!
Strange Lump in Throat
Throat, improvements, questions
Problems with eating and Swallowing,
update on throat problems
Swallowing fear
Horrible Throat Feelings!
Finally admitted what the problem is!
Another scared one
Strange symptom that comes with anxiety
Swallowing / throat problems / Being strangled!
swallowing difficulties associated with panic?
Globus Hystericus??? (not so hysterical)
Made It Through




Meg
www.anxietymanagementltd.com

Your anxiety is the human representation of the pictures that you paint using your many vivid colours of revolving and reoccurring thoughts.
How big is your gallery ?

[feege]

Hi Tucker

Absolutely I have! It used to be one of my main symptoms for years and recurs occasionally. I think the best things you can do are distract yourself as much as possible, drink plenty of water, suck occasional sweets (I used to find pear drops especially good - but not for the waistline lol!), and gentle massage just below the collar bone.

You will find lots of help reading all the links, but the best thing is really believing it is anxiety!

Good luck!

fee
xx

[freakedout]

Hi Tucker,

oh thats nasty that lump in the throat feeling. I have experienced that and I know that the more anxious I get the worse the lump is. Yes I can say I get a kind of achy feeling too, just thinking about it brings it on now. The ache is a little like the feeling you have when trying very very hard to hold back tears. It can last for days with me however I do agree that distraction helps but somehow when you are aware of the lumpand ache it seems to be there for ages. I do not know what to recommend, sucking sweets does not help me because I have this ideal in my head that I will choke on one. I just seem to swallow more than is necessary and consequently get wind.

I am taking medication for panic and depression but I am not sure what I could suggest as I always found it a particular problem myself.

Good luck on your hunt for a remedy and try to be happy and calm, Louisa

[Tucker]

Hi all.

Thanks for the replies.

I found this, might explain why i and so may others have this feeling.


...........................
cricopharyngeal spasm

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. The symptoms are so characteristic that as soon as a patient tells me they have a lump in the throat, I can usually describe all of their symptoms to them.

Symptoms
lump in the throat sensation
feels like a golf ball, tennis 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. The are normally 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.

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. Really, just a good exam of the throat, voice box and neck is all that is necessary and it is sufficient as well. You should know the following:

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 when the lump is bothersome.
If stress lets up, the symptoms improve. Think about what stress might be making this lump worse.
.......................

Still don't know if concentrating on your throat ,even through your sub-concious, is why this aching/feeling persitist's.
Might just be another one of those anxiety symptoms, that you just can't understand.

Anyway let's hope it goes away..................SOON!


Tucker

[nomorepanic]

Tucker

That info is very good - thanks for that. I think that is what I suffer from but I am seeing an ENT specialist in February as I have had my throat problems since July so I am looking for some reassurance.

Nicola

[babydoll]

Hi everybody

I am also suffering with a lump in the throat and have been for about 3mts+ now. It is particularly bad at the moment as I am convinced I have throat cancer. I have been referred to hosipital and I am awaiting an appointment. I also get an aching sensation, I burp all of the time and constantly feel as though I am going to gag. I also have all the other symptoms of throat cancer that I have read about. All I can say is the mind is a very powerful thing. I certainly don'tnow how to control it as nothing seems to work.

[lin]

hi tucker

I have a throat problem too, not with the lump in throat although i have had that i am constantly swallowing i've had it since march last year at first it was really bad i thought i was going mad i just kept swallowing and swallowing it just wouldn't stop. Went to the doc's and he said it is due to anxiety and there was nothing to worry about that it is common with anxiety.

I am still swallowing alot but not as bad as when i first had it no sign of it going yet though i just have to cope with it the best way i can.
It would be nice to know though if any1 has had the problem i'm having.

linda x

[roachford]

Hi guys,

I had the mother of all sore throats in early Dec and went to the docs. He said it was a normal virus type thing and probably best not to prescribe anit-biotics as my immune system will fight it off.

Well, the sore throat has gone but have been left with the exact lump in my throat sensation. Usually easier in the am and gets worse towards the end of the day. Its not painful, just bloody irritating.

Good to know that its probably not life threatening! Will keep an eye on it over the next few weeks.

Dan

[Gripped]

Just to add that this was a big issue for me too. Go and have it checked out just to be sure.

I went to hospital 3 times for various investigations and it was all caused by anxiety. A sure sign that it is anxiety for me is that the "lump in the throat" problem is no where near as bad when I am relaxed.

Best Wishes