My story and how I beat globus sensation
Posted , 164 users are following.
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
xxKxxxxx chippy12
Posted
Prob didn't help that I had beans and cheese on toast for lunch and a bit glass of milk 🤔
I just don't know what to do.
Just before this started I was eating so many foods that is bad for reflux like cucumber, spicy Indian takeaways, salad cream, pickled beetroot, beans and cheese.. Recipe for disaster! 🙈
xxKxxxxx chippy12
Edited
So I went to see my GP this afternoon and she had a look in my mouth and said everything looks good in my mouth..my uvula looks healthy and she can't really see my tonsils which is really good as it means there's no infections ect.
So I gave her the list of my symptoms and we talked about eating late last night and that it's terrible again today (still not my worst day but when you've had a good day and it comes back it feels awful) She said it could quite possibly be silent reflux. So I've had a swig of Gaviscon and she's done me a prescription for Ranitidine. Told me to watch what I eat, not to eat too late and keep a diary if needs be.
She also said the excess saliva could be due to the acid as the body will produce more saliva to combat the acid and the more stressed you are the more acid is produced.
The whole time I was in there it wasn't too bad but a soo as I came out it acted up! Grrrrr! 😤😡
When all you guys talk about the clicking feeling what do you all mean? Is it inside when you swallow and is like a suction click?
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
Well I'm convinced I have a hiatus hernia, I feel acid even though I haven't eaten!!
When I get back from holiday I'm going to ask for endoscopy so I know once and for all!! I still wonder if it's down to not having enough acid and because I've taken lansoprazole it's made it worse 😡
I'm that fed up with it I'm having a beer!!!
Let's hope eating early helps you 😊
I haven't had the clicking recently but it's when I swallow I feel a click around my Adam's apple area
terrie27149 katie16755
Posted
terrie27149
Posted
xxKxxxxx terrie27149
Posted
terrie27149 xxKxxxxx
Posted
No, it feels like something is in my throat way back. It just moves sometimes. Iv read where others feel that at times as well. I wonder if maybe the acid has caused something ..I'm thinking it's the lower tonsils my ENT said I had tht gets enlarged due to inflammation and I feel it sometimes whn I swallow
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Edited
How are you feeling today? Any relief from it?
My day hasn't been too bad overall..
I stopped myself from trying to constantly swallow my mucous down first thing in the morning which has worked well so far. I didn't eat breakfast today (naughty me!)..
Had a late lunch (more like teatime) - a McDonalds (again naughty me) and I've been very mucousy since and can feel a ball of crap when i swallow, but trying my hardest to not keep swallowing. I am thinking mine may well be due to reflux and stress and mild anxiety makes it worse. Also I haven't felt as chokey today on my saliva and the only thing is I've gone to swallow and my throats said no not ready and won't do it and I have to take a deep breath then I can swallow.. this has happened to me before with reflux but in the middle of the night waking me from my sleep. And as I write this I can feel burning in my throat.
Hopefully I have figured this out for myself!
So no more McDonalds for me, Eat regular small meals, Don't eat too late (I'm starving right now at almost 10pm), Sleep propped up, Don't get too stressed (easier said than done sometimes) And carry on with my CBT for my anxiety x
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
Hi there, well my day yesterday was actually ok ( unless I thought about it 😂
and as I said the night before I ate and drank!!
Well again as on holiday I had pizza which I never do as don't eat gluten 😬 I drank again 🙄 And I slept well apart from being woken by mosquitoe bites!!
This morning I do feel a bit acidy but not sure if it's because I'm thinking about it, will let you know how my day goes!!
Good idea, I think I need CBT for my anxiety again...
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Posted
Glad you had a better day too!
Well I ended up eating late last night.. 2 slices of buttery toast and a bag of Maltesers 🙈 Within 10 minutes the amount of acid I could taste in my mouth was gross! I swear it went in my nose! My throat felt more constricted and I was wheezy so I had to prop myself right up to go to sleep.
I'm hoping I am getting to the bottom of all this now 👍🏻
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
Oh bless you, that sounds awful!
I don't think I can taste it in my mouth yet 🤔
Does it feel tender in your solar plexus area, mine feels uncomfortable to press, slightly bloated.
I do definitely think it's an acid related thing but that's scares me as I'm terrified I'll get cancer of the oesophagus 😬😬
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Posted
Where is the solar plexus area?
It literally tastes like someone has opened a battery and tipped the acid in my mouth.. bleugh!
At least maybe I'm getting to the bottom of it all now.
Yes the cancer worries me to but I said to my partner I'll try and control it with diet and if that doesn't work alone then try Gaviscon again, if that fails then try my Ranitidine again then if that fails I will ask my gp to reference and maybe they can close the hole up a bit x
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Posted
Googled the solar plexus area and yes I've had tenderness there before. My partner who has only just started getting indigestion and reflux it gets tender in that area too x
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
Oh gosh that must taste horrid 😝
I feel more bloated today.
My sister told me that most people feel tender in that area 🤔
Well I will see my dr once back from holiday and get a referral to gastroenterologist, I dont want to be on medication 😒
My husband had a hiatus hernia and had it mended through keyhole, that scares me but so does it having a hiatus hernia!!
Hope you have a good day 😊
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Posted
Having an okay day so far.. The acid taste is constant though so I'm reluctant to eat but I know not eating can do it too so I'm kind of stuck wondering what to do
I had a bit of milk to see if it helps like the doctor said it would and it did initially take the taste away but it came back quick.
I need to take my iron tablet in a minute and I'm praying that doesn't make it worse!
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
Must be awful having that taste! Poor you, I feel more acidy today 😒 Feel like something is catching in lower throat so not as good a day as yesterday.
Oh dear, I find iron tablets cause indigestion 😩 Don't take alongside dairy or you won't absorb the iron as well!
All hard work!!
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Posted
Yeah I never take it with dairy and leave at least 2-3hours until I do but now I have upper bellyache like in that place you mentioned earlier.
That's another reason why I don't want to take anything for acid reflux as that also stops you absorbing the iron so well.. Can't bloody win at the moment! x
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
Oh I know! And my nutritionist said you should never be on them for longer that 2 months! My husband was on them for years.
Also more likely to get osteoporosis 😩
Can't believe this all happened so suddenly and has now taken over my life 😒
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Posted
It's a nightmare and I'm so fed up!
This evening is going pretty crap!..
Have had some tea and can feel a lump of mucous or something I'm my throat which won't shift and have gone to swallow and my throat say nope not happening and I have to take a deep breath and then swallow .. I'm wondering if its worth taking Gaviscon but I really want to get my iron levels up.
I feel drained this evening!
I'm going to have a nice soak in the bath and research some more to see if there's anything else I can do.....
Hope your evening is going better than mine x
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
Poor you 😞
My evening is pretty stressful too, children 🙄
My throat doesn't feel good either and I still haven't had dinner, need to get back home and get back into routine!
If you find anything let me know!!
Enjoy your bath and breath deeply!
charo88321 katie16755
Posted
I'm glad to hear you feel good !
What is CBT?
katie16755 charo88321
Posted
Hi charo!
I've had good and bad days, unfortunately globus and acid definitely have not left yet!
CBT is cognitive behavioural therapy, I used to have for my anxiety, it's helped my overall anxieties and panic attacks but I'm still suffering healthy anxiety ... who wouldn't though if they feel like they're being strangled or have a feeling of being punched in the stomach, I'd say that's normal to feel anxious about that 🤣🤣
How are you doing? 😊
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Posted
Bath was nice, had a relaxing night. I had a 10pm snack with vinegar on and then my partner gave me a nice massage and I fell asleep feeling really relaxed!
I didn't fall asleep propped up but had a good night and not too bad this morning either. And I'm not tasting as much acid today which is good but throat is feeling tight like someone has a grip on it but hopefully that'll go over the day.
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
That's great to know!
My throat always bad in the morning, just been on my morning walk and constantly felt like I had to clear my throat!
I hope the day continues to be kind to you!! 😊
xxKxxxxx
Posted
Hi, how was your day yesterday?
Mine wasn't too bad. After I didn't eat for a stretch things started acting up somewhat.. And after eating my tea last night things acted up a bit more so I can cross beans and chips off my list of things I can eat.
I'm bed last night I felt all mucousy in my throat which was annoying.
My throat was so dry this morning to like there was a layer of mucous dried onto the back of my throat and all I want to do is swallow to get it down and shift it but I'm trying to refrain from doing it.
The only thing that's bothering me so much now is going to swallow and my throat not allowing it so I have to wait a second or two and try again and the front of my throat feels achy.
Hopefully this isn't forever! x
xxKxxxxx
Posted
Does your throat hurt ever? Not pain but more like stretched achy muscles in your neck? Mines feeling tender/strained today from swallowing 😔
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
Hiya! Sorry, busy day!
Yes I have had it where it feels achy before, just all the muscles tensing I guess 😒
Hope you've had a good day ??
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Posted
Seems very tender & achy today. I hate how it gets worse as the day goes on. My throat actually feels sore when I swallow this evening. Fed up but must go on! x
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
I agree, it's hard work daily.
Changes daily too, as you say, we must go on, let's hope it decides to give us a break one day.
Sleep well 😴
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Posted
How is everything going Globus wise?
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
How are you doing?
xxKxxxxx katie16755
Edited
I'm not doing too bad really now I've learnt to accept it all. I have really good days then the odd day where I can feel it acting up more but I try to ignore it the best I can and find I'm not needing to swallow so often anymore.
I would say I feel the lump half way down my throat but I don't notice it too much. The worst thing for me is the difficulty swallowing saliva and choking on saliva but that's not as bad anymore x
katie16755 xxKxxxxx
Posted
How are you doing? Good I hope 😊
Anxietyasf katie16755
Posted
I’m sorry but In the mist of these terrible thought consuming symptoms Katie has had me crying laughing the entire thread 😂 also saying out loud “omg me too!” 😩 like I literally have the exact symptoms.. thanks for the laughs Katie Lol
katie16755 Anxietyasf
Posted
Oh my goodness!! These were a year ago!! Here I am again now in Spain and still with acid 🙄😂
My life hasn’t changed much in a year!!
How are you with your symptoms?
ka40647 katie16755
Posted
Hey old friend! 😉 Sorry you are still having acid. I’m having acid/GERD but no more globulus. I’ll take every single win! My acid in the night is being helped by a wedge pillow - I’m trying two of them put together at this point, and feel like Goldilocks with these pillows, so it’s definitely a work in progress! When my acid is better at night then it seems to be better the next day. I was reading again about amino acids helping and haven’t been trying glycine so am going to do that too! Have you found anything especially useful?
CK091 xxKxxxxx
Posted
Did you have the operation done? How are you feeling now? I have been dealing with this for the past year and a half... I have been taking Ranitidine for a year and prior to that Omeprazole...
x
CK091 katie16755
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katie16755 ka40647
Posted
Hi there!! 😀
Exactly the same, I don’t have globus any more, so no more being strangled but do have the constant feeling of phlegm 🙄 I also have acid daily.
I had an endoscopy and some other hideous tests, my sphincter is slightly loose but no hernia, at the moment anyway!
Oh I tried my friends pillow wedge and spent more time awake than asleep so threw it out the bed! Is yours comfy??
I don’t feel acid in the night unless I get up to go to the loo, then I feel it!!
I’m paranoid I’m going to get oesophagul cancer 🙄😫
Good to hear from you ??
Anxietyasf katie16755
Posted
ka40647 katie16755
Posted
I hear you! 💖 I’m definitely improving but it’s a long road. I had 10 sessions of acupuncture and while it definitely helped me to feel more calm and more on top of the situation emotionally, it didn’t help the reflux much. I did learn from the practitioner that she recommends plain, soft, warm food during healing and for that reason I’ve cut out salads, raw veggies, ice water, and all of those things that I used to rely heavily on. I do think that is definitely helping, as sad as it is to give those things up for the time being too! I also have been trying taking more of the HCI when I eat protein since I have too low of acid in my stomach. That’s definitely helping. Then I’ve started taking collagen to help heal what I assume is a leaky gut and while that’s a longer term play hopefully it will help! I’m improving but it’s super annoying having to manage it! Yes, get a wedge if you’re feeling reflux in the night. I have a bamboo chemical-free one from Brentwood home that I like since it doesn’t smell, but it isn’t tall enough for me. My current contraption is that on top of my medcline. I have them staggered to elongate and have a soft pillow on top. I’m still really struggling for a better way to get comfy but at least I don’t wake up with a burning throat so it’s progress! It’s helping to get “normal” faster I think, but no idea how I’m going to travel with the wedges. I’m definitely going to have to look into travel wedges.
I have the same concerns you do so am hopeful for continued progress. Best of luck for that! 💖 Great to hear from you! 😘??🎉
katie16755 ka40647
Posted
How did you find out you had low stomach acid? My nutritionist said that’s very rare but I have a lot of symptoms of low stomach acid!
I use to have acupuncture but then when she would put the needles in certain places it seemed to irritate my nerves and they would tingle so that freaked me out!!
I do t feel acid in the night but if I start feeling it I’ll have to try a pillow again 🙄 why can’t they be soft?! It was like sleeping on a block!!
I take slippery elm in water just before bed to coat my oesophagus and I don’t eat any of the offending foods that trigger acid, I am drinking beer on holiday though 😀
ka40647 katie16755
Posted
I agree with you about the block, and I slide down in the night too. I’m totally Goldilocks over here. 😂 I’ve had worse problems though, so am glad to be improving though it’s slow...!
Yes, I did the at home tests. You can see online. A good site is scd lifestyle, as they have a few you can do with step by step instructions. I did the baking soda first, and then hci, and now I take hci and it helps. Those confirmations are plenty for me. If I was uncertain, I would have had the “gold standard” test done at the dr’s but since it’s pretty expensive I started with the basics first and found that was enough to determine. Did yours do the test for you? I think it’s more common to have low acid than anyone lets on, especially for all of us who are in need of stomach/digestive help at this point! Hopefully you will get some answers soon. Also, I read this before: if you do try one hci as in the test but do have the warming sensation that means you have high stomach acid then you can just drink a little baking soda water to neutralize the extra acid. That helped me to be more confident in the testing!
Good for you to be able to have beer on holiday!!! Hope you are having a wonderful time. I’ve been off coffee for the better part of a year and had one today. It was a beautiful thing. No trouble with my throat, which was amazing. Woohoo! 💯🎉
katie16755 ka40647
Posted
Haha that’s so funny!! Like princess and the pea on all your pillows too!!
I did the baking soda test and didn’t burp at all, I tried that a few times.
I haven’t tried the HCI it scares me but now you’ve said that with the baking soda I’ll try once I’m home from Spain!
I’ve been taking psyllium husk in water once a day and I’ve had a slight improvement!
Oh I do miss a lovely fresh coffee! I haven’t had for years though as it’s triggers off extra heartbeats 🙄🤣
ka40647 katie16755
Posted
Yes! It’s probably just how you picture it! 😂
So glad you are having fun. I’m not sure if you’re a counting crows fan but, in your honor, I just thought of their song Holiday in Spain and played a bit of it. 🎶💯
Sounds good! Good intel on the psyllium husk too. Let me know if you have any questions on the HCI once you’re back. Have a great day! 😄
katie16755 ka40647
Posted
Ahh I have no idea who they are 🙊 I’ve never heard of them 😂 I hope you had fun though 🤣 🎧
Ahhyes I will thank you, no ide which HCI to buy.
Have you heard of limonene?
Meant to be good at getting rid of acid, well I tried for over a month and no real joy but as soon as I stopped them my acid seems better 🤔
Have a lovely day or evening it probably is for you 😊
ka40647 katie16755
Posted
Hi! I have heard of limonene but don’t know anything about it. It’s in my coq10 and I thought it was just in that for helping absorption but maybe there’s more to it! I’m eager for anything that actually does help though, and it’s very interesting to hear you got better when you stopped!! 😉
I have hci with pepsin. I started with one of the 250 and moved up from there.
Now I’m using the 650 to take less of the capsules as I’ve added! Works well for me. I am shy about increasing but probably would be helped by adding more. It could be a game-changer for you. I hope so!!!
It’s mid-morning here in the US for me, just past 10:30am. So I’ve a full day ahead! Have a great one too! 😄💕??
ka40647 katie16755
Posted
Well...I sent a reply and it’s waiting to be moderated as usual. It’s now 10:40am where I am here in the US though. That timing bit won’t make any sense when the original message comes through so thought I’d clarify! 💛🙈??
ka40647
Posted
Have a great day too! 😄
katie16755 ka40647
Posted
Typical moderators 🙄!! Have a lovely day, 6pm here, thank god as I’m tired!! 😴😴
katie16755 ka40647
Posted
It’s added to a lot of things as an antioxidant 😀 you need to take large amounts for it to help with acid, look it up on google!
Just at go karting as it’s my daughters birthday!
ka40647 katie16755
Posted
How much fun!!! Happy Birthday to your daughter and hope you all have a great time! 😄💕??
I will attempt to send you the link to an article next. I have been researching it since I saw your message and there are so many articles saying how good it is. But I wanted to learn why it’s supposed to work, and I am interested in why you felt better when you stopped. Everyone is different but that part is worth noting. Finally found an article that said why it helps people. It’s bexause it neutralizes stomach acid! So, I’m speculating here, but since you felt better when you stopped taking it then I’m betting you have low stomach acid and this made it lower! If you had too much acid then you likely should have been one of the people who find improvement with it! To be continued, hopefully 😉
ka40647
Posted
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/18072821/
ka40647
Posted
Yea! Both made it through and hopefully this will too! So, I am definitely glad you told me to look this stuff up. Thank you! I now know more, and I also saw a statistic that over 40% of the adult population has GERD. Isn’t that wild? It didn’t say if it was in the US, UK, or worldwide but isn’t that astounding? The other thing I read was about sauerkraut and how a couple forkfuls can really help. I avoid sauerkraut since I really really don’t like the taste but at this point am willing to give it a try.
Again, hope you all have a wonderful celebration!!! 🎉😄
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ka40647
Posted
So, I am definitely glad you told me to look this stuff up. Thank you!!! The other thing I read was about sauerkraut and how a couple forkfuls can really help. I avoid sauerkraut since I really really don’t like the taste but at this point am willing to give it a try. I’m sending just a partial version of what is waiting to be moderated, by the way. Maybe the system didn’t like the statistics I found and flagged them. We don’t like the stats either, about how many people are affected by this!! 😉
Again, hope you all have a wonderful celebration!!! 🎉😄
katie16755 ka40647
Posted
😂😂😂 that’s so funny!!! Yes it obviously upset them!! It is one of the most common digestive complaints but that’s a huge amount!!
I hate that stuff 😝 I’m following a FODMAP diet as I have some rather unfriendly bacteria in my gut 🙄 so I’ve been put on this diet, strangely kefir is not allowed so I bet sauerkraut isn’t either ( thank god!) but I’ll look!
I’m taking probiotics to boost my good bacteria to drown out the bad, I’m allowed small amounts of Greek yogurt and Sheep/ goat yogurt.
Celebrations were good thanks but glad it’s all over now, I’m tired! A day of lazing at the pool today!!
Have a good day 😊
ka40647 katie16755
Posted
So glad you all had fun! 😄 Yes, I take a probiotic too and do think it’s useful. Interesting you aren’t allowed kefir. I take my collagen in coconut milk yogurt most mornings! lol about sauerkraut! I was talking to my husband, who also doesn’t even like the smell of it. He asked what it was good for and did I have other options I might actually like. 😂 I think it mostly works like the HCI so I’m going to get brave and try more of that first. It will be less gross and that’s a win. 🏆 Have a great time at the pool! 😄??
katie16755 ka40647
Posted
😂😂 think I’ll stick to yogurt for the benefits!!
I could cope with kefir but but it did seem to give me more acid, think it ferments too much in my gut!
Oh I use to take Great Lakes collagen powder too but my friend scared me and said it contributes to breast cancer 😫 not sure where she read that, something else to worry about 🙄😂😂