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My story and how I beat globus sensation

Posted , 164 users are following.

chippy12
chippy12

I made a promise that if I got better I would share my story on this discussion board in the hope that I may help someone. All the posts on here were a great comfort to me when I was experiencing this awful condition.

It all happened about 8 weeks ago. I was in the theatre and just sat down to begin the show when I ate a sweet normally, took a sip of water normally and afterwards felt like I was having difficulty swallowing. My mouth went super dry and I felt like a had a lump in my throat and my tongue was enlarged (it wasn't). I thought perhaps I was having a reaction to something so before the interval I had to leave and get out of there. I felt complete terror and danger and thought I was going to die. My husband was worried and took me to A&E. I couldnt breathe properly but was not wheezing. I felt like someone was strangling me, standing on my neck and I was in a complete panic that came out of nowhere. Apparently I had a panic attack or severe anxiety episode. Well, I didnt believe this diagnosis because I had over the years suffered from anxiety on and off and bouts of low mood but even when I have faced the most difficult times in my life, never have I had a panic attack so wondered why on such a happy day I would develop this. Anyway the initial attack was only the start of my problems, I was told the symptoms of my choking sensation would go away within a few hours. It didnt. This made it worse and I was not so easily going to put this down to stress as most things seem to be these days. I went to my GP who said I did seem to have some swelling in my neck and ordered me an ultrasound. As I couldn't wait 3 weeks for the paperwork to come through I saw an ENT consultant privately who put a camera up my nose and down my throat and said everyhing looked perfect and likely to be globus sensation which is common when experiencing panic attacks and anxiety. This only gave me some comfort because I was still feeling these awful symptoms. After the 4th week I had scan and this showed nothing. My thyroid was perfect, which I suspected may be the issue due to my high thyroid antibodies, although I knew I had normal thyroid function. This was also some comfort. I was suffering, and it was really really getting me down. Having to get up every day and go to work was so hard and I was so anxious I was not sleeping or eating well. I thought I would have it forever. After a while I started to think, well this isn't going to kill me as time has proven, its not getting worse or better so I need to start trying things to see if anything helps. I also had a strange crawling sensation in my neck not on top of my skin but underneath - hard to explain. Also when I put chin to chest I felt like the part between my neck and chin was swollen. I tried breathing exercises, hot water bottles, hot baths, drinking red wine, taking NSAI's, drinking loads of water, trying to eat better, sleep better, watching funny films but nothing worked. I then found a couple of websites online suggesting a very simple neck exercise to do many times throughout the day and specifically for globus sufferers. I started to do this and over a week the symptoms started to ease and has got better and better to the point that its only 5% there. The most important part is to make sure your shoulders are always down and pushed back as far as you can. No hunched shoulders or it won't work. Then carefully, with mouth closed, ease your neck back as far as it can go, all the time looking up to the ceiling. You should be able to feel yourself stretching your neck. It may make you cough a little. Then roll your head a little to left and right and centre. It probably won't work the first go. you have to do it many times a day over a week or so. 

My GP said that panic attacks can cause a lot of problems in the neck, real tension and muscles, and other structures and a horrid sensation of a lump in your neck. I have to understand now that this is the cause.

Apologies for the long post but it's a long story.

I hope it helps someone.

Good luck to you all and take care of yourselves.

x

 

35 likes, 1120 replies

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  • charo88321
    charo88321 chippy12

    Posted

    Hello Chippy

    Like you I believe that there is something swollen in my neck. I've tried everything

    Even stretching the neck

    Now I'm coughing so bad

    They said it was acid reflux but I'm on protonix already for 4 weeks and does not go away. In fact I think is worst.

    I'm going to start a food and drink diary to see if is a reaction to something.

    Hopefully we can figure this out!

  • charo88321
    charo88321 chippy12

    Posted

    Hello Chippy

    I think the whole problem is that the esophagus swells up

    I wonder if is a reaction that we eat or drink

    I have avoided eggs and it has not appear

    (Cross my fingers) I'm trying to write what I eat

    How are you doing

  • This_man_01
    This_man_01 chippy12

    Edited

    I know this topic may be dead but i just want to talk about this.I am twelve years old and I hate this sensation.It started on the third of july 2017.I was told that I would wake up at four in the morning because I was gong to a vacation.I slept at twelve midnight.At around four I had a nosebleed and since I slept half sitting and hafl lying down the blood ran down my throat.I drank some but then realised that it was a nosebleed and took care of it.After that I spit and vomited trying to get out the blood I swallowed which worked.Then I vomited this foul tasting liquid (GERD?).My parents were awake after and I swallowed some saliva and felt something stuck.I drank some water and we left but since this is posted it is the sixth pf july.And I still feel symptoms.Mild,but I can feel it all the same.Ive read that anxiety has something to to about it.But Google is a horrible doctor.I was getting results from tonsillitis to orla cancer.Which caused anxiety.I wondered,I dont want to ruin our holiday but I dont want the cancer to spread and kill me.But I have realised that it is not cancer.a symptom of cancer is "unexplained weight loss".I have been losing weight but eating less,running a lot at school.jogging 10 km at school in a cours of 3 days and judo training for more than a month or so probably has to do something.I will also be jogging on my holidays 10km I think.I also have been eating healthily and reduced my junk food intake.Sorry for long post I just want to know what can help me to get rid of this.

    • katie16755
      katie16755 This_man_01

      Posted

      Hi there,

      Firstly and I know easier said than done but please don't let this ruin your holiday, anxiety can play all sorts of tricks on your body, you are not dying, I have had this for 3 months now and I can tell you that stress and anxiety make it so much worse!!

      It's good to be fit but do relax and enjoy your holiday as this will benefit you the most, there are some neck exercises you can do and some relaxed breathing, don't google anymore ( we've all done it) it makes you worse!!

      After your vacation pop and see your dr as he can give you something for acid reflux.

      Please don't worry anymore and enjoy your vacation

    • This_man_01
      This_man_01 katie16755

      Posted

      Thanks for the encouragement! I might go check the doctor after but I think suspect tonsillitis or something else that causes this symptom.I have been getting better like its not as bad as when i first got it and I am hopefull that it will get better.I am positive though that if it is globus then it will be due to anxiety as it goes away when I am watching a video that makes me forget about it I hope that one day no matter how I try I will not feel that lump in my throat. smile
    • This_man_01
      This_man_01

      Edited

      Also I am afraid that my throat may never be the same clear throat again,that I might need to take some sort of meds for the rest of my life.I am healthy,no bad conditions,no bad diseases and my immune system is pretty good but the thought of going from a once happy healthy boy to a boy suffering this condition in an instant.It justs feels weid that nosebleed,drink blood,alert,put tissue in nose,put ice on neck nose and forehead,stop nosebleed,regurgitate swallowed blood,BAM YA GOT GLOBUS LITTLE BOY!.Swallowing blood from nosebleed has happened before and I get out just fine.The thought of my throat permenantly damaged in an instant with a currently unknow trigger to globus saddens me.What a coincidence that globus happened on a relatively happy day for both me and chippy (the one who started this thread).I hope I can recover and my life wont be plagued with this condition.Also,I am a christian And I have pately been praying every night in hopes to get better.I prayed last night and right now,its not as bad.I pray that my globus doesnt start off at 100% then gets to 50% then to 10% then to 5% then to 1% then to 0.1% then to 0.0000000001% and never to 0%.meaning that it will always be there may be very small but be there opposed to my past throat that was fine.
    • This_man_01
      This_man_01

      Posted

      who here really appreciates a clear throat only after you get globus?
    • katie16755
      katie16755 This_man_01

      Posted

      My ENT specialist said it will only disappear once you realise it's not serious and try and forget about it, easier said than done! 

      Mine appeared out of the blue but on a stressful day.

      you are very young though so do try and forget and enjoy your holiday! 

    • deon28030
      deon28030 This_man_01

      Posted

      Hi,

      That is very true! I think all of us here can appreciate a clear throat more than others. I'm so sorry that you are going through this, as you are so young, but you seem to have a good head on your shoulders, and I know you will heal. You probably even feel better now. I feel like mine started from a movement I did to strain the muscles in my neck, out of fear, after a car accident, and you may have done the same with the nose bleed thing. 

      Please don't go down a dark hole thinking its a horrible, uncurible thing, and yes, Google is terrible for that kind of stuff. Continue to take deep relaxing breaths, being conscious of that area, and of course eating healthy and being good to yourself. 

      I've had this since Oct. 2016, and its been tough. But I must say that it is much better! And I have a HUGE apprecitation for a clear throat. Be good. Sending you healing thoughts. 

      And you too Katie and Charys if your reading. 

      I don't think Chippy reads these anymore.

    • This_man_01
      This_man_01 deon28030

      Edited

      Hi!,Thanks for the encouraging reply!.I might have something that helps!(Well for me anyway).When I drink a glass of water I tilt my head until I am looking at the ceiling,put the rim of the glass to my lips and slowly drink the water drink little amounts as fast as i could.At the moment when This is posted My globus feeling became hard to explain.I still feel like there is something there but unlike before,Its fluffy andthe shape and location is getting hard to explain.I just feel like its there.If any of you decide to try this then I hope this works for you!.When this globus is cured for any of us lets agree to be really careful about what we do to our throats.since weve already experienced globus then one mistake and it might return,one wrong swallow of food,one wrong stretch in the neck,one wrong vomiting session,one wrong nosebleed the list could go on.I hope you all get better and I certainly will pray for you guys tonight especially you two deon and katie for encouraging me and reassuring me in this time of hardship.
    • katie16755
      katie16755 This_man_01

      Posted

      Hiya, I agree with deon, you are very young to be suffering but you do seem incredibly grown up and positive 😀

      I did try the water thing but was a little difficult 😬!!

      Mine started after shouting so obviously tensed my throat muscles 😒

      My symptoms change all the time but the most annoying I've had so far is the gurgling in my throat, I've never had acid feelings before really but I'm getting it a lot now, possibly brought on by anxiety from this throat!

      I do hope we all recover from this soon! It's great that you are much better deon!

      Our throats will come back one day 😀

    • This_man_01
      This_man_01 katie16755

      Edited

      Hi,I do hope that you get better and the gurgling in your throat goes away soon!Your right,We all will have our throats back someday! good news! I have been recovering.I now don't feel a big urge to swallow my saliva to try and get my throat clear! If you have globus and go to this sight to talk about it  then usually it will be present as not only are you thinkng about it,Your talking about it!But as I am typing this I don't feel much globus.I feel a bit when I swallow but I don't have an urge to do it as I type this message!😄 When you get better remember to think about what your about to donif it involves straining your throat,shouting,stretching your neck,turning your head to sudden and too fast or clearing your throat to hard.We don't want to end up back on patient talking about how globus is back now do we!Instead,we want to talk about how I'ts gone and how happy we are that no more lump in teh throat! hope ya get better-yours sincerely,This man 01

    • katie16755
      katie16755 This_man_01

      Edited

      I think you are completely right!

      The more you think about it or look it up it's there!!

      I'm really pleased yours is improving!

      You can relax and enjoy your holiday 😀

    • This_man_01
      This_man_01 katie16755

      Edited

      Good news! My globus Is cured! I thought about globus sensation,oral cancer,death,ruining vacation,Cancer spread,gonna die,never be the same again for a whole 3 minutes and NOTHING!.😄I hope you get better or your already better!

    • deon28030
      deon28030 This_man_01

      Posted

      Glad your feeling better man01. And glad that now you have the knowledge to be careful with this. It is such a sensitive area. I hope we all heal.
    • terrie27149
      terrie27149 This_man_01

      Posted

      This too shall pass...wink stay busy...keep praying...and you will see, either we get use to it or we get healed..either way, it will all work out..wink
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