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
liz22442 chippy12
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katie16755 liz22442
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Hi Liz, if you just type on the Internet “exercises for globus” something should come up 😊
monique7952 liz22442
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Hi Liz I found these exercises recommended by NHS
https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/globus-sensation/
Hope it helps. I am going to start them mysel. I hope it helps.
monique7952 katie16755
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Hi Katie I found these exercises by NHS
https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/globus-sensation/
I have not done them but will try. I hope it helps. Have a great day.
katie16755 monique7952
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Hi Monique, thank you that’s kind.
Unfortunately I think my globus is caused by acid reflux but will still try the exercises 😊
monique7952 katie16755
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Happy day to all!
katie16755 monique7952
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I just had an endoscopy and they said I had a loose sphincter, I’m having a Barium swallow done next week and also sibo and lactose breath tests done 🙄
Like you I have done meditation, I do get stressed, I need to concentrate on my breathing as apparently this strengthens the diaphragm, I don’t breath properly due to stress 😬
Lucky you living in LA 😀??
ellebi monique7952
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monique7952 ellebi
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Hi Ellebi
I don’t have the leaflet but if you press on this link it should take you to it.
https://www.hey.nhs.uk/patient-leaflet/globus-sensation/
Best wishes
ka40647 katie16755
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Hi all, I had been suffering from the globulus sensation too and since I've been free of it for more than a week I wanted to come back and share in case this helps even one person!!
I used to drink espresso daily, in addition to soda occasionally. I drank a glass of oj immediately before the globulus started.
After trying numerous things to get rid of it that I read about online, the thing I think that finally took away the globulus for me is getting rid of the major acidic drinks and food I have been eating (regularly). I quickly gave up all coffee, soda except ginger ale, everything remotely spicy (I have GERD and acid reflux too), and started drinking glutamine powder mixed with water to heal the throat and esophagus, once or twice per day. I've also been drinking alkalife ph drops in my water to make it more alkaline. I did drink olive oil and took coconut oil a few times each and I believe the oils helped too. I knew my issue wasn't anxiety so I just had to dig deeper. Though I'm not sure why the globulus took hold all of a sudden since I've been eating and drinking the same way for years, I am so glad for it to be gone. It hurt so much that it's amazing that it's really gone.
For the GERD/acid reflux which I also have, in addition to digestive enzymes and HCI with meals, I chew papaya tablets after meals, and drink baking soda approx an hour after a meal too, plus taking b complex 50, zinc carnosine and magnesium chloride. My throat still feels tender/swollen where the globulus was but it was so painful that I'm hoping the tenderness will disappear in time. I'm sure globulus can be caused by different things but if you sound like me then you may try getting more alkaline to see if that will help you. It took a couple of days for me to get relief after I started on all of this. I should also note that I bought some manuka honey drops, sort of like cough drops, and those have been good for feeling soothing and better too, and they're easy to use at work, in church, etc.
Knowing how terrible and discouraging this issue is, I had to come back and share. Know you're not alone and you can get better. I hope you all get better very soon. Hugs to you all!
monique7952 ka40647
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katie16755 ka40647
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Thank you so much for your post, I’m so glad you have found relief!!!
Thank you for all your advice, I have tried some of the things you are doing but obviously have a lot more to do! Good for you as you have done a lot to make things better, I will look into glutamine powder!
Thank you once again 😊
joseph76551 katie16755
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Hey guys I've been really scared here lately as I'm new to this and only 19 this all started about a month ago when I thought I was havin a heart attack which then led to panick attacks in fear that I may be having one after that I noticed it hurt to breath like a stabing feeling under my left peck I went to ER and the docs diagnosed. me with a ulcer although.i personally think it was acid reflux. Because my family has it and if it was ulcer i think. The pain would have been worse and lasted longer the medication I got prescribed was Mylanta and Priloses after this all this is when my panick attacks really started because of weird chest twiches and palpitations then it all got worse when i googled in fear that I had these terrible terminal illnesses i now have muscle twiches all over mostly noticeable when I try to sleep also my sleeping has gotten terrible I too have dull pain behind my eyes here recently and its slowly becoming a greater fear also have this weird feeling when trying to swallow theres also times when. Feel my breathing is improper although i've never had breathing problems before i try meditations on YouTube and sometimes they work sometimes they don't I get strange feeling in head to I have been to the docs which they have done blood and urine tests told me they did extensive work on them and that I was fine also did 2 EKG s which also check out fine the meds they gave me were hydroxyzine and lorasapam tbh I have only taken the lorazepam once and have stopped taking the hydroxzine because I felt itwasnt working I would like to have more tests done or even therapy but can't afford any of due to no insurance and no jobdont event have a primary care honestly this site is my only help/reassurance anywa I hope you guys can help me hope to hear from you all
katie16755 joseph76551
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Hey Joseph, I’m really sorry to hear you are having all these problems.
I can totally relate to you as I have suffered all of those symptoms, mine all started when I was 17 with a huge panic attack, I’m now 39 and I have suffered with muscle twitching all over for 13 years!! I used to be scared of it but I’ve learnt to accept it.
I also get palpitations but I’ve had everything test under the sun so although they still scare me I have also learnt to accept.
I suffer with hyperventilation syndrome, if you look up the symptoms you may relate, you need to accept that your symptoms are down to anxiety ( I know not easy believe me!!) and it does get better!! My globus has been going on for 10 months and slowly getting better but it doesn’t bother me as much now.
I think if you’ve had tests done then be reassured, do some relaxed breathing every day to calm your autonomic nervous system down, I should listen to me 🤪🤪
joseph76551 katie16755
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joseph76551
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katie16755 joseph76551
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It’s def anxiety, I used to research all my symptoms and it made me worse, I still do suffer trying to believe that my symptoms are all anxiety and not breathing properly but if you love ok at the list I can tick everyone!!
Look up the list of symptoms, realise your body is just reacting then do t ever search another symptom again, trust me on that 😂
I’ve wasted so many years to anxiety, believe me it’s not worth it!!
There’s many of us out there like it 🙄
joseph76551 katie16755
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Believe me I know not to Google anymore and sorry hear that you been struggling with since age 17 as its only been month and feel like I'm dying due to symptoms I'm trying to convince my self its axniety its just really hard as I've never had any major health issues which is why I freak out anyways hope you n get over your globus feeling
ka40647 joseph76551
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Hi all! I'm so sorry you're experiencing these issues. It seems like our common thread is acid reflux, which is a bear to get under control and seems to be a possible cause of the palpitations we all share. I had read that before about GERD too. It also seems like the even more concentrated excess acid going down or coming up the throat leads to the globulus. I can feel mine threaten to just start coming back if I eat anything even remotely spicy, drink anything stronger than ginger ale or a bit of Sprite, etc. and then I put something calming down there - aloe, baking soda water, etc.
I also had given up caffeine which helped and have since started backing off dairy and gluten to see if that will help in time - not forever, just to heal since it is crazy trying to manage acid reflux! Mine has gotten better but is still a problem. I understand how scary it feels all too well, this stuff is awful. Know you're not alone and that it can get better if you believe in yourself that you can do it, and take the tough steps to make changes. I am talking to myself too.
Have a great day and blessings to you all!
joseph76551 ka40647
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katie16755 joseph76551
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I too have suffered from the eye pain, I’m afraid I’m not sure of any exercises for that 🤔 again I think it’s a symptom of stress, I know out of everything I’ve ever tried the breathing exercises were the best thing for my symptoms, I just struggled sticking to it 🤭
Breathing exercises are also meant to help acid as I was told by the consultant the deeper you breath you use your diaphragm more and this in turn strengthens your oesophagus sphincter!
I’m still yet to do all this 🙄 have just been to the gym though, start as I mean to go on 😀
Have a good day
joseph76551 katie16755
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joseph76551 katie16755
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Hi guys I'm. Trying not to freak out I have this muscle twich to the left below of belly button a lil I don't know what s there but was enough freak me out as its still happening have you guys experience this before I'm trying to stay calm right now its not pain full it just scary
katie16755 joseph76551
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Sorry Joseph I’ve only just seen this, well if it makes you feel better I twitch all over, even in areas I didn’t know existed!!!
Don’t worry or you’ll get more and more like I did!!
Do your breathing 😊
joseph76551 katie16755
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Thanks Katie I have twiches all over too idk why that one set me off tho probably because I focused on it and yes I need to get the breathing excersises into habbit instead forgetting to do them also wish the weird feeling in my head would go away idk how to describe it probably because I be worrying all the time in trying to get it down it has been a struggle i know ice got a long road ahead of me I'm still trying to accept that this is all anxiety anyways hope we all get better
katie16755 joseph76551
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It’s incredibly hard to accept, believe me I still struggle!
I had a really bad twitch in my cheek and leg that went on for months, I read online tonic water helps because of the quinine, I drank over a number of days and those really strong twitches went! Not the little ones though 🙄!!
terrie27149 katie16755
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Hello katie, how are you? Was just reading where magnesium deficiency causes twitches. Been doing very good here on this end with acid. Then vertigo hit. So went to dr. And she saw a small growth in my ear. So now got to go back to ent..I feel like a ball..
but am sure hoping it's an easy fix that will rid me of this tinnitis and vertigo..hope u have nothing new. It seems to and ways be something..
I keep on forums but staying off googling symptoms so dnt seem to stress as bad..take care Katie..
katie16755 terrie27149
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Hiya terrie! Oh god poor you! If it isn’t one thing with us it’s another 🤪
There is nothing worse than vertigo, I’ve had that before too 🙄 at least there’s a reason for it so hopefully once that’s gone you’ll be fine!
That’s great with the acid! Bizarrely over Christmas when I drank and ate chocolate mine was better 🤔 as soon as I’m healthy again it flares up 🙄 though still not as bad thank god.
Oh I’ve tried magnesium but doesn’t seem to help... I’m beyond help!!
Take care and hope all goes well with the ear, yes I agree, I don’t google anymore ( well I try not too 😬
Take care 😊
ka40647 terrie27149
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ka40647 katie16755
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Sounds like chocolate and drinks every day! 😂 In all seriousness though when I had acid issues before that weren't so intense I thought the coffee was helping to put more acid down in my stomach where it belonged. That worked well short term, and until I got the throat issues/globulus. Igh. So obviously that went out the window to take care of that. Katie do you take HCI w/pepsin with your meals that have protein in them? That may help do what the chocolate and fun beverages were doing for you. I'm at one capsule with protein-containing meals right now and still doing trial and error to figure out how much I need! 😉 You may look up bill thompson's GERD protocol, it's on earth clinic. He even describes a specific type of magnesium that may help too. I'm trying several of the recs at this point and think I'm gradually getting better with the heartburn and GERD overall, and the globulus hasn't come back yet. Healing is such a slow, slow gig but you might find some of his recs are worth a shot!!
terrie27149 ka40647
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ka40647 terrie27149
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Thanks, Terrie! That is inspirational. Looks like I will start being more consistent with my apple cider vinegar! I appreciate it. 😉
terrie27149 ka40647
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Sure hope it helps lie it did me..also I got off acid foods and drinks. I was drinking oj morning and eating hot cinnamon candies often. I got off..it prob took a month to clear maybe a bit longer but now I'm back able to eat spaghetti, chili etc with no problems..if I do, I will just go another round with the acv..take care..get better..
ka40647 terrie27149
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Thanks so much, Terrie. That is awesome and I am thrilled for you to have found relief with this. Thank you for sharing and have a great day! 😉
katie16755 ka40647
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Hi Ka, I diet of chocolate and drink sounds fab but think I’d end up on another forum with other problems 🤪🤪
I did start taking digestive enzymes but didn’t probably stick to them as didn’t think they were helping, I’ll go back to them!
Great thanks for that, I’ll look him up!!
It’s all trial and error, think I’m doing something right then it flares up 🙄
ka40647 katie16755
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Amen!!! 😇
joseph76551 katie16755
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Hi Katie where do you buy the tonic water was wondering if it can be bought at a local store ive here recently been freaking out again not gonna lie I also still keep forgetting to do excersises to help and what not I'm just constantly scared that im going to make it worse and ya it's been tough sleep is an issue too I try to help it but its hard I hope you guys are all doin ok
katie16755 joseph76551
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Hi Joseph, oh dear 😢 it’s not easy is it, I’m in the UK so not sure where you are, I’m sure you can buy in most stores, just make sure it has natural quinine it as that’s what’s meant to help the twitching.
My throat not great either, then it just triggers off the anxiety, a vicious circle 😒
ka40647 joseph76551
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Hi Joseph, with the twitching - do you think you are detoxing? I think I am, and think that may be what's causing my eye twitching. Others have suggested magnesium/manganese deficiency which is worthy but I don't believe I have. With so many of us changing our diets I thought I'd mention it may be detox. So annoying but at least is a possibility! Hang in there! 😉
nishant42 ka40647
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