Throat Tightness-please Help Posted: 05-01-04 23:46pm
Hello, has anyone ever had the following
symptoms? My throat feels tight like it's
going to close up. It basically feels
like I have a lump in it. I feel I can't
breath properly and that something is lose
or rubbing inside my throat
I can't sleep at night and I find it hard
to eat and sometimes i'll panic about it
and it'll get worse. I'm sure somethings
wrong and it's making me feel really
scared. Thanks
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Pmarie
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Apr 2004 Posts: 15 Location: WV
Posted: 05-02-04 04:24am
Hi there! I had your same symptoms after
suffering from persistent sore throats
for the past 9 months.My doctor told me
that I had swollen tonsils and that my
lymph nodes in my neck were swollen and
that it was being felt in my throat as
well.She said not to worry about the lymph
node swelling that it was just my body
dealing with the throat problems and it
would go down in time.She said if my
tonsils stayed swollen that I would have
to get them out. You can check and see if
it is your tonsils by shining a flashlight
into your throat. If you can see swollen
lumps on each side of your throat that is
your tonsils swollen. I have trouble
eating and breathing because of it also.
It seems if I obsess over it it gets
worse. You need to see an ear, nose and
throat specialist and have him look at it.
You can ask your doctor for a referral to
one. Let me know what they say.In the
meantime, know that you are not alone.It
helps me to know that others out there
have my same problem.
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san54
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 227 Location: Virginia
Throat Tightness Posted: 05-02-04 08:14am
Have you seen a doctor. I would see an
ent or a endocronologist. Maybe your
thyroid is enlarged. I would see a doctor
asap.
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jeanpackard
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 2
Thanks For Reply -new Problems Posted: 05-05-04 02:43am
Thanks for replying. I had a blood test
for thyroid and that's o.K and i'm going
to see a ent specialist. Unfortunately
though I have a new problem. This morning
I felt short of breath so I coughed fairly
hard. I also have a cold so I was
sneezing hard too. After I had coughed I
noticed a lump feeling in the bottom of my
throat and that's when this new hell
started. It's sharp pains all the way
from my throat to my tummy. It feels like
there's a bone in my throat and when ever
I swallow anything it's very painful. I
cannot breath in either with out a sharp
pain. Also I feel like I want to burp but
I cannot because if I do the pain is
unbeleivable. I can't do anything with
this pain in my throat, it hurts so bad I
cannot even lie down , anyone have any
ideas? Thank you
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vicki d
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 12 Location: St. Augustine
Lump In Throat And Pain All the Way to Tummy Posted: 12-30-04 16:33pm
:?
Hi
just wondering how you are doing with the
symptoms you had in may and if you found
any help.
I too have suffered with same symptoms for
a year and a half now...It get's worse
when I think and worry about it.
I have had upper endosc, thyroid check,
throat exray, barium swallow and saw an
ent several times with no results...
Let me know how you are?
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sweetiepie
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Ukraine
Feeling of Being Strangled Posted: 01-11-05 13:05pm
I've had the feeling of being strangled
for 5 days now. It's as though somebody
is squeezing my throat. I searched on the
internet and found an interesting article.
It certainly reassured me. Perhaps it
might help you as well.
Http://www.Voi
cedoctor.Net/therapy/cps.Html#cause
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.
Muscle relaxants, such as valium, would be
a good treatment, except for their
addictive properties.
Medication
i sometimes dispense several valium
(perhaps 4) 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.
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vicki d
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 12 Location: St. Augustine
Sweetie Pie Lump In Throat Posted: 01-11-05 16:16pm
Thank you so much for the good info you
sent me. It is such a scarey thing. I
do hope yours goes away quickly and
doesn't hang on for a long time like mine
has.
Again, thanks so much...It is nice to know
others care and understand.
Vickid
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donnako
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Missouri
Neck Spasms And Lump In Throat Posted: 06-03-05 23:06pm
Hi--i'm going through the same thing with
feeling like something in my throat. I've
had endoscopy, barium swallow this week
(showed normal) been on acifphex for acid
reflux (no help). Never a burning, just a
thickness-like that doesn't loosen up. It
hurts when I swallow almost like it's sore
just below where an adam's apple would be.
I read where a gal had gone to a
chiropractor for some adjustments and she
has been lump free for 3 mohths. I can't
believe this is acid reflux as everyone
has said. I'm starting this week on
getting massages and get off this medicine
that's not helping anyway. Mine started
after a severe cough. Does anyone that
has this have upper back or shoulder
tightness? I'm just trying to see if
there's a connection. Keep in
touch--we'll figure this out. Donna
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donnako
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Missouri
Throat Tightness Posted: 06-03-05 23:46pm
Jean--one more thing that may ease your
mind since i've been dealing with this for
3 months now. Don't panic--your throat
will not close up. Try doing some neck
stretches and get a sore throat lozenge.
That helped me. I had panic attacks at
first thinking this was the end of me. It
is amazing reading about so many people
with the same thing (through google and
yahoo).
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vicki d
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 12 Location: St. Augustine
Throat Tightness Posted: 06-07-05 12:39pm
Hello donnako
i have been struggling with throat
problems for two years now....I too had
upper endos./barium swallow and also saw a
chiropractor for one year....Tests were
normal and chirop. Didn't help much.
Yes, I too have problems with tension and
tightness in my neck.
I also have suffered with chronic
tonisilitus and pus nodules in my tonisils
since I was a small girl. In may I had
my tonsils removed. Worst surgery I ever
had. I am older and it is true what they
say...It is a very hard operation on older
people. I was not prepared for the pain
afterward. I ended up loosing 15 lbs in
7 days and ended up back in hospital. I
am doing better now, still have a sore
throat and discomfort from all the
cauteriztion, but glad its over and to be
rid of the tonisls....I cannot tell yet
about the tightness as I have been in so
much pain and weakness.
Anyway, how are you doing with your
problem, and how long has it been a
problem?
Regard
vikidi
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donnako
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Missouri
Throat Tightness Posted: 06-08-05 19:31pm
Hi vicki--i hope I am responding right,
i'm still tryng to figure out some of
these forums and how they work!!. I have
felt really bad the last few days. When I
lay down at night, I feel like my
esophagus is closing up on me. My throat
hurts way down by the adams apple, all day
every day, almost like it's been strained.
Tightness still there, should have went
for another massage. Was your throat
problems due to your tonsils or did you
have them removed just to see. I have
been dealing with this for over 3 months.
It use to be loose in my throat and now
it's tight and nothing comesup. This all
came on after a bad cough. Have you had
the ct scan in the neck yet? I think
that's what i'm doing next but really feel
like my gi doc is no help at all, been
dealing mostly with the allergist. Good
luck, keep in touch were your upper
shoulders tight?
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vicki d
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 12 Location: St. Augustine
Throat Posted: 06-09-05 17:33pm
:( hi donnako
so sorry to hear you haven't felt good.
I do know how that is....I suffered with
the same thing for two years...I too went
to a gastro doc who did an
endoscopy.....Which was ok....Then I had a
barium swallow and xray of throat and
thyroid...All normal. I finally went to
an ent...Ear/nose/throat doc and he found
nothing unusual....After a year with him
and lifetime infections in my tonsils, I
had them removed.....What a difficult
operation!!
I would suggest that you see an ent....My
gastro doc did little for me either...
If you would like to email me rather than
post for all to see let me know. I would
be glad to correspond with you.
Also, you might try relaxation tapes....My
family doc did say that some people get
spasms of the esophagus due to stress.
Hope you feel better today.
Sincerely
viki
Lsomeone told me tonight that every health
problem they had was due to bad eating
habits. After losing 40 pounds on atkins,
his hearburn went away and a pain in his
leg that no doctor was able to find a cure
for. I'm ready to get off all the sugars
i'm eating and give it a few weeks and see
if it helps. I keep reading about
everyone (including me) trying more and
more medicine and not changing the diet.
I guess it's worth a try.
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dazz
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 16 Location: cheshire
Tight Throat Posted: 06-19-05 16:02pm
I have got the same problem it feels like
your throat is closing in, I got told from
a doctor that its acid reflux, but i've
found it hard not to think that it could
be something more seriouse, but at the end
of the day you have to tell youeself that
your thraot will not close up, although
this is extremely hard to believe, its
nice to know that im not the only one with
the problem, I hope I have helped, please
reply
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mop4me
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 4
Tightness In Throat Posted: 06-19-05 17:55pm
I am so thankful that I found this site.
I have had an ache in my throat for a few
days. I read the post about it being a
spasm. Those symptoms described exactly
how I feel. Like I am getting choked up
at a wedding or happy or sad occasion.
When I tell myself to relax, it goes away.
It has to be that spasm. I was so
scared I had something serious.
Hopefully I will be able to relax and it
will go away.
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donnako
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Missouri
Tight Throat Posted: 06-19-05 18:24pm
Mop4me and dazz--your lucky if your's goes
away. I have had every test under the
sun, I now have hooked up with an
aggressive ent and he's a plastic surgeon
(someone recommended him) and he has
tested me for fungus in the throat. Will
find out next tuesday, in the meantime he
put me on nyastatin, nose sprays, acid
reflux medicine (even though he sees no
signs of it) and a muscle relaxer in case
it's a pharyngeal spasm. He wants me to
come back in two weeks and do a full sinus
ct scan. Why he didn't do it at first, I
do not know. I've only been on the meds
a few days, not a whole lot of diff yet.
But my throat constantly feels like I have
something I can't swallow in it, I feel it
get tight around my neck and almost
(lately) like my neck is twitching. Just
wanted to know, have either of you had any
upper back pain around the shoulder/neck
area? I'm sure I feel like it's related
to this. Mine came on after a bad cough.
Donna
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mop4me
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 4
Throat Tightness Posted: 06-19-05 18:39pm
Donna
mine started right after I had walking
pneumonia. It started with a dry, hot
feeling in my throat. Then this
tightness started. I think the tightness
started because I was so worried about the
hot feeling. I suffer a lot from
anxiety, so I am prone to think it is
related to my mind. I do also have pain
in my neck alot. Why do you think it is
related to the neck. Sounds
interesting.
Janet
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donnako
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Missouri
Throat Tightness Posted: 06-19-05 19:27pm
Janet--i think if the muscles are tight
around the neck it can give you a choking
sensation. My chiro looked at some
x-rays I brought him last week and said I
had some definite rotation in my upper
vertabraes. He has already helped me
with a mid-back spasm a few months ago.
Doesn't it seem weird this comes on after
something else? My 4 months ordeal and
doctors and tests is too long to go into
on the forum but i'm really anxious to
see about the fungus test results. I had
a live blood cell analysis done and it
showed I was high on fungus and parasites.
My 3-mail dokayko@aol.
Com. If you have aol we can im each
other. If not feel free to e-mail me.
I'll be back on-line after while. Donna
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ambi
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Posts: 17
Throat Tightness Posted: 06-30-05 01:49am
I know this thread is a little old but am
still hoping maybe someone can help me.Im
desperate.
I have been having this really awful same
tightness in my throat-but it feels
from the
outside.No pain on the inside of my
throat...It feels as if a muscle has been
pulled crazy tight from my jaw to my
collarbone straight down the centre and im
being strangled.
Its hard to breathe and doctors really
cant shed any light on it.Im going in for
a upper endo in a month and seeing a ent
specialist.Its starting to drive me
crazy.
Im not sure if this is at all relavent but
ive also been having a really heavy
swollen feeling in my head and bad blocked
feeling in my ears(as if I just got off a
plane)-it seems to make me a little bit
vague...Ive had a ct scan which has ruled
out anything serious in my brain.
Im so hoping someone can shed some light
on this.I have alot of responsiblities in
my life right now and being so sick every
day is starting to have a major affect on
everything and everyone in my life...
I can't sleep at night and I find it hard
to eat and sometimes i'll panic about it
and it'll get worse. I'm sure somethings
wrong and it's making me feel really
scared. Thanks
