Globus Sensation / Tightness in neck / Strangling Sensation
Posted , 49 users are following.
It started on August 2011 the 8th around 8pm I was eating but had some difficulty getting it down . The discomfort in my throat & neck quickly spiralled out of control and I had several panic attacks with a constant urge to keep swallowing. I paced up and down like a nervous wreck for over 12 hours desperately trying to convince myself it was entirely mental.
Since then it's never really gone away and has put my life on hold.
Symptoms:
-tinnitus in right ear
-panic attacks (rare)
-urge to swallow
-stifled breathing (rare)
-thick saliva / phlegm at back of throat (often)
-feeling of hair stuck in throat (often)
-feeling of someone strangling neck with an invisible wire (often)
-feeling of discomfort around adams apple area (often)
-discomfort in neck when lying down (often)
Diagnosis:
-GP guitar behind right eardrum / congestion
-Barium swallow -VE
-ENT tube thing down throat -VE
It's gotten worse this year. I now have difficulty swallowing most of the time and frequently panic.
I'm thinking I should get a MRI scan of my neck as I can't take much more of this.
If it was mental why does it strike so randomly? 
1 like, 81 replies
joyceUS707 Sam12084
Posted
tj45080 Sam12084
Posted
Chgo Sam12084
Posted
Have you had a head & neck MRI? Seen a neurologist?
I had some of those same symptoms. Turned out I had Glomus vagale tumor(very rare), located in my head & neck. Ended up at Mayo Clinic in MN, having surgery.
Lost 4 of my cranial nerves # 9, 10, 11, 12. It was a very large slow growing tumor.
Not saying you have this, but it seems like your symptoms relate to nerves.
FWIW: Mayo Clinic is great, esp. for difficult cases. Hope your doc is sending you to GOOD specialists.
monica82327 Chgo
Posted
valerie76392 Sam12084
Posted
Did you ever get a diagnosis? I'm 39, recently started getting similar symptoms. I tend to have chronic sinusitis, but lately feeling like there's a lot of mucus in my throat, trouble swallowing at times, right ear pressure, feeling like there is a lump in my throat. I also feel at times neck and jaw pain, and like someone is squeezing the back of my neck as well. It's pretty scary, not sure what's going on. Are you doing better? And if so, what helps?
Faceless8 Sam12084
Posted
Regards,
claire9710 Sam12084
Posted
loay92931 Sam12084
Posted
ash77589 Sam12084
Posted
Hi Sam, I'm here to share my own experience with a great many of the symptoms you describe. Without going into the minutiae of each sensation, I'll sum it up by saying that I experienced throat, jaw and ear tension almost constantly, most often when eating (or attempting to eat). It started for me exactly as you described- one day at lunch I had trouble swallowing something, and it quickly escalated from that moment. I eventually had constant tinnitus in both ears, could barely swallow my own saliva at times, and felt like my neck was being squeezed almost all the time. I struggled with it for almost 3 years, losing over 30 pounds, quitting my job, and having every test known to man, from imaging to biopsies and beyond. As a last resort, and mostly to help cope with the stress of my life falling apart due to this mystery illness, I began taking an antidepressant. And as if someone waved a magic wand, 3 years of struggle, pain, confusion, tension, feelings of strangulation and choking dissipated essentially instantly. Within 4 days of my starting dose, every one of my symptoms vanished, and I ate my first real meal in 3 years. It was gone, full stop. It's been 6 years since then, and I have never once experienced any of the sensations that previously plagued my life for what seemed an eternity. Now I understand that although my symptoms and sensations were very real and in some cases even measurable through pressure and motility tests, the underlying cause was systemic stress and tension. My brain had created a powerful and impenetrable network of pathways surrounding my throat tension, which were reinforced every time I sat down to eat. No matter how "relaxed" I was, I could never affect this process permanently. Sometimes I'd have a period of feeling better, but then something would happen, I'd perceive a tightness when swallowing, and it would all come back. I believe the increased serotonin circulating in my body from the antidepressant facilitated a "re-boot" of the entire process, and allowed my subconscious to begin to perceive things normally again, thus allowing my body to react more appropriately. I've been off of the antidepressant for about 3 years now, and haven't had any problems at all. It seemed that in my case, an interruption of whatever was going on was enough to set things straight again. It's amazing how powerful our minds are, and how much they can affect us physically. The way my neurologist described it, experiencing neck and throat tension and pain initially due to a legitimate cause such as choking or illness can in a sense "trip a wire" and establish a neural pathway which will self-perpetuate the sensations and pain. Until the pathway is brought under control- basically by re-establishing a competing pathway (eating normally, throat feeling relaxed, etc) the cycle just continues. For me, the antidepressant was what allowed that to happen, and from there, my body got re-accustomed to eating and swallowing normally, and feeling a lack of tension in my throat and neck. It's almost like a habit I had to break, albeit a habit I didn't know was a habit and one I didn't have control of. I took the antidepressant to try to cope with my illness, but the anti-anxiety aspect that many antidepressants also have was what really worked. It just shut that process right down. I hope that all makes some kind of sense. For me, the mystery was solved. I hope you find your answer before long.
ellebi ash77589
Posted
AlanJM ash77589
Posted
Alan
Blossomstix AlanJM
Posted
AlanJM Blossomstix
Posted
I think it sometimes depends on where the surgeon made the joint. Sometimes it is higher up towards the throat. Some people generate more scar tissue than others, and there is the possibility of hoarseness and nerve damage that may have contributed to the globus sensation. The people who have had oesophagectomies will normally contact the Oesophageal Patients Association either through their website, the helpline 0121 704 9860, or the local support group meetings. There is also a community on HealthUnlocked where I am sure that others will be able to share experiences who have suffered the same.
?Try and avoid sweet food, because it is often the sugar levels that make the dumping worse; you have to pretend to be diabetic. Try and eat very small amounts, but very regularly, say 6 times a day, and keep your mouth and throat moist. There are medications that might help with the phlegm. Your lungs have taken a bashing and it does take time for them to recover. Honey, yoghurt, ice cream, smoothies all tend to slip down better. Even SlimFast (although it sounds daft, it does give you nutrition without so much dumping risk).
?Nearly everybody has a 'dip' about 6-8 weeks after the surgery. It is to do with things catching up with you after all you have been through and feeling as if you are not getting better (or perhaps feeling worse because sometimes the cancer in its early stages is not painful). A good proportion (around 25%) of patients who have been through cancer treatment do need to go and see somebody sensible and trained to talk through what they have been through - the hospital may have a unit (like Maggie's centres or their equivalent) - they are there to be used. And a smaller percentage (10%) need some medical help to get over temporary depression problems. So the depression side of things is quite normal.
?It does get better though, even though you may not believe this at the moment. But as long as you feel better now than you did a couple of weeks ago, you will gradually keep improving. It just takes a very long time, much longer than one normally expects after an operation. The inside of your chest has had a drastic rearrangement and your body has to get used to its new plumbing arrangements. The twinges and aches are not a sign of the cancer coming back.
Blossomstix AlanJM
Posted
Hi Alan
Thanks I have already tried the OPA but there is nothing local to me (Guildford was the closest and still over an hour away and no-one really seemed interested in connecting at the meeting).
I have been unable to locate anyone with globus on health unloocked which is my primary issue right now together with my voice. Also I find the seach engine very limited so hard to find similar situations.
I posted on Macmillan to no avail - no one replied but I did get a very kind reply from a gentelmen on health unlocked but it was regarding other issues.
At the moment it is hard to see anyone as my voice is weak and it's exhausting to talk and I find the journey to a therapist too tiring at the moment.
Not reallyhaving major dumping issues as I quickly worked out to avoid dairy and sugar. I am having far more problems with constipation.
Unfortunately my surgery was done 3 hours away so I cannot see anyone there as it is a 6 hour round trip. I basically was thrown at the Royal Marsden when my cancer was discovered and I was so appalled at the attitude of the oncologist that I opted to be treated elsewhere. However, it has left me without local support unfortunately.
AlanJM Blossomstix
Posted
One thing you might try in relation to your voice is to check your breathing. Make sure your stomach goes out when you breathe in, and vice versa, so that you breathe deeply and do not strain your throat and voice by breathing too shallow.
The constipation is something you may have to cure with trial and error, diet and gentle laxatives if necessary.
I could quite understand it if you end up being between two specialisms, the other being ear, nose and throat for the globus sensation. It all depends on how much is the surgical scar and how much is nerve issues that might somehow improve over time. It is feasible that it might be made worse by reflux. Try liquid Gaviscon and see whether that has any effect because you can get that over the counter at a pharmacy.
It is feasible that a manometry test (the pressure at various points down your throat) might help the doctors to establish where any problems are located but this would be unusual.
I think I would also try some form of relaxation exercises, that migth also help with your fatigue.