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My story and how I beat globus sensation

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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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  • alisha98236
    alisha98236 chippy12

    Edited

    Hi everyone,i created this A/C just to tell  you all it can be cure easily with chinese tradional doctor!!!

    I suffer this torture since 8 months ago.I amost got insane because i was so alone,no one understand or believe me!! I would feel my throat is all twisted tight,one morning so bad that i think its gonna strangle me to death.And the other night, it would go high speed untwisting itself!! its CRAZY!

    anyway,My friend who has knowledage about chinese tradional health knowlege,sent me alink talking about this 'sickness'!! it is VERY common and seems all  chinese tradional doctor (which they feel your pulse,look at your tongue ,give you customize herb,etc)know how to heal it easily.

    This sickness is cause by mainly,  having emotionally issue.may be you are stress,you are depress,or you were traumatize by something happen in your life.And this will cause the "liver to hold all the depression" in their terms,and it will cause globus.Once the doctor give you your customize herb to get rid of that depression in your liver,that globus will be gone.

    For western medical world,when your throat has problem,they JUST look at the throat.Headache,they just look at your head.But for chinese,we look at the body AS A WHOLE,it is NEVER separated.

    So my friend told me my body is overload with "fire'(body type, you can be too cold,too hot,too dry,too moist,fire),

    like deep fried food,coffee,its fire type food.green tea is very cold food.so if you have cold body, drinking green tea can make you very sick.

    SO she tell me to drink some herb to lower my Fire,and i KID YOU NOT, just next morning,My throat has NEVER been better!!

    so I hope you all can find a GOOD reputable chinese doctor!! i hope you have chinese friend that can tell you who to go.

    I pray for you all many nights in Jesus Name that,He will heal you all thru whatever way.

    I so understand your pain !!i feel SOOO sorry you all is struggling with it.

    May you all be heal soon and have a normal throat again smile

    Jesus loves you because He died for everyone of us on the cross to pay for our sins.

    whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life  smile

    I suffer from MS,chronic pain,suicidal thought, depression for along time,but He has helped me SOO much this two are almost defeated!)have a crazy abusive mom who would chain me up and beat me kick me,an absence father who was a gamble addict. IF its is not I hold on to the hope that out there,there is a God Whose Name is Jesus that loves me beyond my understanding,i would not be alive.

    May you found the hope of your life smile

    Im so looking forward to be in heaven where God finally make every wrong right,where there is Justice,no more tears,no more sickness,no more pain.only Peace and Joy and never ending happiness!! horay!!!

    • terrie27149
      terrie27149 alisha98236

      Posted

      Oh alisha, thank you so much for such a sweet, I formative text. I too got rid of flibus, by just destressing ..and yes Jesus ....u made me want to ahout! Blessings 2 u. Will c u one day in glory..wink
  • caroline90176
    caroline90176 chippy12

    Edited

    My GP thinks I have globus. Its been going on for about 2 months. She has prescribed Omeprazol for acid reflux and referred me to ENT. All symptoms do seem to fit. But I suffer with debilitaing health related anxiety which started this and making it 10 times worse!!! Going to give exercises and antihistamine a go. Mine is worse when I worry about it and better when I'm distracted or have had a couple of drinks. Of course my anxiety is telling me it a much more serious problem😢. Stuck in a vicious circle. Do feel better after reading this thread, am clearly not alone. Fingers crossed ENT appt throws nothing up. Thanks for reading. X

    • katie16755
      katie16755 caroline90176

      Posted

      Hi Caroline, sorry to hear you are going through this too, it is miserable.

      I also suffer from health anxiety so completely understand how you feel.

      Do you suffer from acid reflux? 

    • caroline90176
      caroline90176 katie16755

      Posted

      Hi Katie. I don't think so but have started the omeprazol anyway on GP recommendation. Only been taking it for 3 days, can't see any benefit to be honest.

    • tracey00766
      tracey00766 caroline90176

      Edited

      I’ve had it for a few weeks first 2 weeks didn’t eat thought I had serious issues panicked and could not swallow I had to carry water. I thought food made it worse so lived off porridge and soup! It went for a week and I thought fab. But t came back it comes and goes its worst at Night, as I’m writing this my throat started to go tight and than you panic which maybe is the anxiety and heart goes nuts than I wee about 3 times and have to tak to myself to get calm I’ve got doctors tomz I’m hoping she can help!  It’s very comforting this thread as I thought I was alone!  I don’t get how it suddenly comes on?? 
    • ka40647
      ka40647 tracey00766

      Posted

      Yes! Know that you're not alone and that so many of us have been there. I'm glad you found the forum too. It seems like most of us have reported some sort of trigger incident, which may have set off an underlying issue. Mine was drinking a glass of orange juice, someone else's was extreme stress and someone else's came on after yelling at their children. Feel free to scroll through and take a look at all our learnings so you can use our experience to figure out what will work for you to get better faster! 😉 Based on what I know now, I think the top 3 to start you off might be: magnesium glycinate to relax those tight muscles, eliminate acidic foods and beverages for now, and figure out how to relax/get calm/get positive (I realize it is so incredibly tough when you're in a critical situation). When you can, the glutamine in water, exercises, deep breathing, and even lightly singing can help. Once you have a start then you can assess the situation and try more tactics if needed. When I had it, I threw everything possible at it all at once. I got better pretty quickly from the globulus but probably didn't need to do everything I did. Being calm and breathing  probably would have gotten me a long way too 🙃 Good luck and hope your dr has positive news for you tomorrow!

    • ka40647
      ka40647 caroline90176

      Edited

      You are not alone, and once you are sure you can beat it then you will be able to make it happen. 👍 I truly think this is one of those times when the power of positive thinking/attitude does help a ton. If nothing else it gives you the power and focus to do your exercises, breathe, stay calm (which I had an issue with when I was fighting globulus and especially until I found this forum!) and determine which foods/beverages/supplements help you. There's a ton of info in all these posts on what has helped as we work together to piece the mystery together! Stay strong, you will beat this! 💥

    • rogerthat
      rogerthat caroline90176

      Edited

      I tend to get like that too.  So hard when you have to wait for all these appointments.  Just remember the likelihood that it’s something bad is very low.  And you can only control what you can control.  So try to de-stress, think about something else and go about your life as best as you possibly can.  Good luck
    • katie16755
      katie16755 caroline90176

      Edited

      Well that sounds the same as me, was put on lansoprazole and I didn’t have acid in the beginning just the globus, after I went on that and then decided to come off it as there was no change I have since suffered from acid 😡 I don’t know wether being on that caused problems with my acid or I had it anyway 😒

    • caroline90176
      caroline90176 tracey00766

      Posted

      Gosh you so like me. Certainly sounds as though the fear is making it worse. I've not been to bad all day, now I'm home have stared to worry again which makes it worse. What a mess hey. Good luck at doc, am sure they will be able to examine you and offer some reassurance.

    • caroline90176
      caroline90176 ka40647

      Posted

      I genuinely feel that once I've had my ENT appt and they can offer me reassurance I'll feel calmer. It's the fear of it being more serious that gets me in a mess...

      Thank you, ever optimistic 🙂 as you say...

    • Devorgilla
      Devorgilla caroline90176

      Posted

      Hi, I have just started having Globus, not very nice. I am on antacids too. Not sure if they are helping. Helped for a day or two. Was having a good day then it came back.I am going to try the anti histamine too. I do hope you get good results from your test.
  • tammy1616
    tammy1616 chippy12

    Edited

    I'm new to the group.  Trying to keep it short.  Had a tooth pulled in early March and the next day started feeling like something is constantly stuck in the back of my throat.  I kept thinking they left something in my throat and it got stuck.  I went to the doctor a week later and they put me on Omeprazol also .  I'm totally paranoid that it's something serious as my Dad and cousin both died from esophageal cancer.  My family doctor doesn't see a need to get scoped, but I'm still freaking out!  I've got a ton of anxiety and stress.  I'm trying to deal with a job that sucks along with a 10 year old that has ADHD, OCD and ODD so I'm totally worn out.

    • ka40647
      ka40647 tammy1616

      Edited

      Oh no, I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing this and know that we have all been in a similar spot. Hope you feel better soon! Definitely check out the diaphragm breathing exercises, and exercises mentioned above to help you relax. Those will help you relieve the globulus, and if you are able to adjust your diet and try some of the supplements (like magnesium first and foremost) it likely will help you to heal faster. The power of positive thinking and believing you will be ok is a big step too, and I realize how easy it is to freak out and think the worst. Mine was brought on by (significant stress and) a glass of orange juice, so I hear ya. Good luck and hang in there! You will beat this!

    • rogerthat
      rogerthat tammy1616

      Edited

      Tammy get that stress under control first. I really believe the more freaked out you get the worse it makes the whole situation.  Go for a walk, run, whatever just try to mellow the senses.  
    • Devorgilla
      Devorgilla tammy1616

      Posted

      I am so sorry about your worry. I have Globus and on same pills as you.I am a bit paranoid too because my husband died of oesophageal cancer. My doctor reassured me that he doesn't think it is anything suspicious so try not to worry and let me know how you get on.

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