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
lee99408 chippy12
Edited
can someone tell me if they ever had a feel like a pill stuck after eating food its it do with Globus
jordi00007 lee99408
Edited
yes it feels like after taking a pill , i currently have this but is not as bad as when i first had it. i seen a video any way i can send it to you ? apparently it helps bring the feeling down
i have also read it can be due to stress or anxiety ..... if not due to acid reflux , which i showed symptoms off
mubashra1304 jordi00007
Posted
pls send the video i would like to see
kristen56686 lee99408
Posted
Yes! I have had that feeling. So far, my primary and ENT are chalking my symptoms up to Globus. The feeling of a lump, food, or pill stuck in my throat (especially the base of my throat) come and go throughout the day. At night it's the worst. I also cough at times. The thought is that GERD is one of the main reasons along with stress that has brought the Globus on. I hope you get some relieve soon! I highly recommend getting in to see an ENT and Gastroentrologist.
terrie27149 chippy12
Edited
I beat it as well by getting a handle on my stress issues..One of the things to do was first trust in God, and then I formed an attitude of saying, " it will be what it's going to be and I will deal with it as each step comes.
God's strength, will see me through!" And as I allowed that to permeate inside me, I found a peace washing over me. I now know, I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me! So..I am now cured of globus! Praise the Lord!
Aaron17 chippy12
Edited
I get these flare ups also. Started maybe 2 years ago and ya they freaked me right out. Thought I had something serious going on except whenever i ate food or slept it would go away. We moved to our dream house last year and up to the day before moving it was pretty bad, just that strangling, neck muscles tightening up, feeling like its hard to swallow or having a tie on too tight. But the day we moved it magically went away, i guess because the serotonin release of moving and being where we had been wanting to go for so long , made me relax more. Anyway it was gone for about 6 months before it came back and months later some days i get it and some I don't. Usually starts with the stress of the day starting hour or 2 after I wake up. Some days its there and some days its not. It's really weird but for me started around 40 years old. I find showering helps or just putting my mind on something to forget about it. Doesn't always work but sometimes can make it fade away.
mubashra1304 chippy12
Posted
thanks a lot for this long story. i am in the same situation and it makes me panic a lot. since i am pregnant i cant take medications and many home remedies as they are hot in nature. in shaa Allah your post will be a life saver and i will try this and let you know how it went.
Dannyboybcf1997 chippy12
Edited
i also feel what you felt as i type this now, but my Doctor said the reason for my throat tightness is from acid reflux plus i'm very anxcious and stressed which both of those reason (acid reflux,stress plus anxciety) but atm the back of my throat feels like there's something there also my uvula feels like its touching my tongue, i'm autistic so this feeling will make me feel worse but i know this won't kill me, it's just a horrible feeling, am drinking plenty of water and i'm going to attempt that exercise you have suggested, might take a little bit of time but it will help me greatly!, i've tried it but it put more tension on my throat (around the adams apple) but thats my stress kicking in but i can stop thinking about it and keep doing that exercise!, thank you for easing my mind!
julie73220 chippy12
Posted
You are the first person that I have found to mention that crawling sensation, I cannot explain it and no one understands, honestly it is more and more lately and driving me mad. Could you please let me know the websites you found, I have had this horrible thing about 18 months since my mum sadly passed away and I'm really at my wits end, I also went to the ENT back in January and he couldn't see anything bad and just said Globus.
michael22771 chippy12
Posted
Hi everyone, I felt symptoms start in June of this year which I thought it was tonsilitus but then began to get a globus sensation. I took 14 days of Nexium and felt slightly better and didnt take anymore as it said to consult your doctor. Then the acid reflux started back up which I then consulted my doctor.My doctor prescribed me Emazole 40mg twice per day for 28 days which I started to feel less acid reflux after day 16 but still had globs sensation. I have finished Emazole and am now on Nexium for 5 months, I'm am now on week 2 of taking Nexium and I still get acid reflux and globus. I often belch and feel like I'm belching from my throat. Can anyone help me as I've seen various ideas on forums. Thanks
steven32495 chippy12
Edited
Thank you for all who have posted. I have had this sensation for about 6 months. Ive tried been prescribed meds. Im an asthmatic as well so doctor consultations always focused on treating that rather than globus. Now i know what the problem is. I looked up online and came across this which is full of advice on exercises and what not to do for example your not supposed to keep clearing your throat this exasperates the problem. Hope this helps someone. Im so happy i have a solution now.Thanks again https://www.wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Patient-leaflets/SpeechandLanguageTherapyServices/6425-1-Globus-sensation.pdf
andy78810 chippy12
Posted
Glad to hear that you managed to get rid of it and feeling better now. I started having mine about 5 months ago(on and off) and now started suffering from sore throat and neck pain(on the front). Still tests to be done to get diagnosed but the doctors are saying it's just an acid reflux. I've been taking omeprazole for about 6 weeks and it doesn't really help. I'll try some exercises and may be massages as well.
Bunny13545 chippy12
Edited
Your description is quite elaborate, and very useful for the ones who've been diagnosed or advised medication for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Globus feeling, especially in these post Covid recovery times, when it is quite common to see this disease/ symptom flaring up.
Thanks for sharing this detailed account.
aaron187 chippy12
Posted
I can't thank you enough. I have been struggling since April 2021 with this exact same issue. My throat feels like it's being choked every single day. I have been to so many doctors I have lost count. Every one of them says its anxiety but it happens to me randomly. I get it while eating or lifting something. I think it was caused by some neck trauma and my anxiety makes it ten times worse. I also get anxiety attacks because of the feeling. When I feel like I can't breathe I panic and it's a cycle that nobody could figure out. I'm going to try to do this exercise daily to see if I notice a change. I'm also getting massages on the front of my neck to see if the severe nerve damage can be worked out. You are one of the first people to say exactly what I am feeling that I have found on a forum. I appreciate you.
aaron187 chippy12
Posted
I can't thank you enough. I have been struggling since April 2021 with this exact same issue. My throat feels like it's being choked every single day. I have been to so many doctors I have lost count. Every one of them says its anxiety but it happens to me randomly. I get it while eating or lifting something. I think it was caused by some neck trauma and my anxiety makes it ten times worse. I also get anxiety attacks because of the feeling. When I feel like I can't breathe I panic and it's a cycle that nobody could figure out. I'm going to try to do this exercise daily to see if I notice a change. I'm also getting massages on the front of my neck to see if the severe nerve damage can be worked out. You are one of the first people to say exactly what I am feeling that I have found on a forum. I appreciate you.