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
ellebi chippy12
Posted
blankie41622 chippy12
Edited
Hi I am new to the group and I am here because for over two months already I constantly have the feeling of having something stuck in my throat. It's like a big flem and I keep clearing my throat and trying to swallow it or spit it out. But nothing seems to work. Already went to an ent doctor a gastroenterologist and nothing. Can someone help? This is already driving me crazy
katie16755 blankie41622
Posted
I’m still looking for answers, I have a slightly lax oesophagul sphincter but I don’t know if that is the real cause, I also get a constant gurgling in my throat! That drives me mad!!
susan39050 katie16755
Posted
Hi Katie and Blankie
My throat muscles are tight and my food is getting lodged at the back of the v shape where your tonsils are or even in the crypts I have just got some lycopodium today to help them relax nothing woking for me and my ears feel itchy the mucus just keeps building and my nose runs every time I eat so I get a waterpik and will flush my throat about an hour after eating or the gag will cause more reflux I have been told to do a deep swallow but that is hard when my food it seems is sticking to the side walls of my throat, any tips ???? Is the gurgle or the squeak that you sometimes get not linked to thyroid I have read that somewhere and the burp pulls my throat muscles up so that doesn't help hey ho
katie16755 susan39050
Posted
Hi Susan, my throat muscles are obviously tight too as foods like cake or dryer textures feel like they get stuck, this then makes me panic.
The gurgling could be to do with my loose sphincter, I spoke to my dr yesterday who said I need to be on omeprazole at a low dose for life, I’m not happy with that so he said exercise and breathing exercises can strengthen the diaphragm and in turn strengthen the sphincter, I have 2 months to try then I have to go on medication 😒
ellebi katie16755
Posted
susan39050 katie16755
Posted
Hi Katie
Get the waterpik and try it you just sqiurt at each side salt water and wiggle your tongue in your throat and it should release it, £4 on ebay and always rinse your mouth after eating after you have sipped some water it won't cure it but it helps a bit my eyes and ears itch and are pressured so I know its allergy or food any food
susan39050 katie16755
Posted
Does anybody's nose run while eating ?? I think when I blow it the food is going further into my throat
susan39050 ellebi
Edited
Lookup throat strengthening exercises
terrie27149 katie16755
Posted
You can do it katie, even if you have to set yr phone alarms..do all so u won't have to take the meds for peace of mind..
I'm just so happy 4 you that it's nothing serious. How have u been as far as googling symptoms. Iv been doing good..I feel better too..
katie16755 ellebi
Posted
katie16755 terrie27149
Posted
i really must, I suffer also with something called POTs and they’ve said exercise will help with that too, just so difficult as when I exercise I get light headed and palpitations 🙄
i haven’t been too bad but still googling things to help and underlying reasons for a loose sphincter, so not good really 🙊
terrie27149 katie16755
Posted
I so get it with lightheaded and palps. Sometimes at night if I have slightest dream I awake with the palps and funny feeling in my head. I know it's stress related cuz I was doin tht everytime I felt stress and iv really been working on calming myself dwn and it seems to help. Now to stop having anxious dreams..can u blev tht? Jeesh..
katie16755 terrie27149
Edited
What are we like 😂😂
Stress is the cause of all ills 😬😬 well it is in my case!!!
I got to stop thinking and start doing!!!
terrie27149 katie16755
Edited
👍🏻
THERE WILL BE GRACE!
terrie27149 katie16755
Posted
katie16755 terrie27149
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I hope so 😂
Emojis I downloaded on my phone I think 🤔
katie16755 susan39050
Posted
Hi Susan, we have a waterpik but my food doesn’t just get stuck in those areas, it seems to be further down like my muscles aren’t moving the good down 😒
terrie27149 katie16755
Edited
katie16755 terrie27149
Posted
Hi Terrie, great to hear from you!! I often wonder how you’re all doing.
That’s great you’re doing so well 😊
I’m still similar, some days good, some bad, I still religiously do ACV and Turmeric amongst everything else 🙄
I saw gastroenterologist last week and he’s arranging a Barium swallow, SIBO and lactose breath test so he will see where we go from there, he said I can also have an acid test done where they leave wires going from nose into stomach to see how much acid coming up.
Glad you’re doing so well 😊
terrie27149 katie16755
Posted
terrie27149
Posted
katie16755 terrie27149
Posted
Typical 🤦🏻???
I agree, I need to eat earlier! Not easy when sorting kids etc though 😒 will try and eat before 6.
Will let you know how I get on with all tests, did you have a Barium swallow done?
terrie27149 katie16755
Edited
No. My ent seems to be hesitant of all the different tests. He says he will if I want but he didn't see much since in a bunch of tests..so I agree with him..yes, please keep us updated..have a gr8t day.
katie16755 terrie27149
Posted
soeak soon, take care xx
terrie27149 katie16755
Edited
I know I hate hate tests..I think he and my dr. Think I'm hypo anyway..lol..have a great one...
katie16755 terrie27149
Posted
😂😂 me too, sure it’s written all over my notes 🤪
I’ll get these tests done then I’m sure something else will pop up 🙄
Will be in touch when all done!
Take care
terrie27149 katie16755
Posted
nishant42 katie16755
Posted
Oh man the leaking gurgling is so weird. PLease let me know if anything solves it.
For now I avoid large meals, and over spicy/oily/etc. It does help. And water!
Do you think the cause is acid reflux? Because that's what I had initially.
katie16755 nishant42
Posted
The gurgling drives me mad too!!! Do you even get after swallowing saliva?
I’m just waiting for results for the PH testing I had donedo see exactly how much acid is coming up and how effective my oesophagus is working, not looking forward to results 😬
Did you say you’ve had an endoscopy?