Lump In Throat, Gerd? Medication Doesn't Help... Posted: 10-07-04 14:43pm
Okay starting in about june I went through
a very high stress time. I got terrible
indigestion and was prescribed zantac by
my doctor. After several weeks it finally
kicked in, I took it for a month then
quit. Then the terrible indigestion came
back followed by a period of high stress,
one indigestion "attack" lasted for almost
12 hours. I went back and got some
aciphex. I have had no indigestion
problems since then but have a very, very
annoying mucus like feeling and general
tightness (like a too-tight necktie)
around or just below my larnyx. My doctor
advised to take acicphex ever other day
and call him back if it didn't get better.
It hasn't and i'm going for another check
up. Anything to expect? Any offers of
diagnosis would be appreciated. I don't
have standard gerd symptoms like heartburn
and the ilk, only what I listed. I've cut
out all acidic food from diet, I don't
drink pop anymore and nothing seems to
help. It's not getting worse but it's not
getting better and it's leading to pretty
big depression. I should also mention i'm
19 and up until this healthy, normal.
I've eliminated the stress (it's not
nearly as bad as it was), and I can't
figure out a trigger or anything since
this is a constant annoyance. I sleep
with my head propped up and anything else
I can think of.
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hamlet
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Oct 2004 Posts: 2
Also Posted: 10-07-04 14:45pm
I should mention that i've seen two
doctors for this (not doctor shopping, my
primary was out of town for my second
visit so they had me go to another one,
i'm in touch now with my primary doctor).
I haven't had any tests done and my
doctors up until now were sure it'd just
go away with medicine, which it has (the
indigestion which was painful and
debilitating).
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wakkochic17
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 494 Location: South Carolina
Posted: 10-08-04 14:33pm
Maybe you should try a
gastroenterologist.. They might have a
better idea.. If they rule any stomach
conditions out then try an ear nose throat
doctor...
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lyricbaritone
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jul 2004 Posts: 31 Location: Minnesota
Posted: 10-13-04 18:02pm
It sounds like you might have very mild
anxiety, caused by the concerns about this
indigestion problem and the possibility of
it recurring. You might want to check
out the anxiety and stress forum -- there
are several threads on the sensation of
having a lump in the throat, since it's a
very common symptom of anxiety. Try
posting this there, too.
I had the same sensation all summer, and
saw an ent about it, who thought it was
reflux, even though I have no other
symptoms related to gerd. I tried
nexium, but like you, it didn't solve the
problem.
This lump sensation could also be a result
of nasal drainage or allergies. About
the most effective thing for me has been a
neti pot. Look up "nasal irrigation" on
the web, and you'll find all sorts of
resources. Essentially, you add 1 tsp
salt and 1 tsp baking soda to 1 l/qt of
warm water, and use the neti pot to pour
the saline through your nasal passages.
It rinses out pollen and dust that you may
be reacting to, as well as moisturizing
the sinuses. This helps to prevent
drainage, and reduce the throat symptoms.
You can find neti pots at whole foods or
many yoga supply stores.
Learning to live with the symptom also
helped it reduce. If you're thinking
about your throat all the time, you're
always aware of it, and more inclined to
listen to sensations you would otherwise
ignore. The more I told myself, "this is
not a big deal -- nothing bad is going to
happen," I started to believe it, and
(amazingly!) the lump sensation went away
pretty much on its own after that. I
occassionally have a feeling of some
constriction in my throat, but not
anywhere near as bad as this summer (when
my anxiety was also at its peak).
I may be way off the mark on this one, but
your situation sounded way too similar to
mine for me not to say anything. Know
you are in my thoughts and prayers.
