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
tracy79820 chippy12
Posted
Is it worth having an xray done? I first had this problem 23 years ago after the birth of second child. I wwent on xanax for quite a while then slowlycame off them but had to face thelump and kknow I wasn't going to choke. Now it'sbback again, I'mto hhave a barium swallow tomorrow for the xray but my doctor thinks there'snnothing there and it's anxiety relate. II'm wondering if it's worthggetting it done or not. Seeing a ppsychiatrist tomorrow regarding this.
meridith18672 chippy12
Posted
Hello. I realize this is an older post, but I want to thank you for the tip. I've had globus for two and a half years and I'm taking amitriptyline and celexa for it. It has helped a little, but not completely. I'll definitely try this.
Lj95 chippy12
Edited
Hi there!
I have had anxiety (severe) for several years due to failing health and this was one of my first symptoms to come. It flares up and has good and bad patches throughout the years but I'm currently in a horrific one. I have been on 2 types of ADs for it which helped a little but currently going through withdrawal atm.
My globus is so bad and affects me so much because I over yawn (to say the least) with it to try and automatically release it. If i also leave it without water or gum or something to suck on I start dry heaving. Many panic induced vomiting has come from this.
Are there any pictures on the Internet anywhere for these exercises? I am willing to give anything a go.
L
Seh_Reh Lj95
Edited
Hey umm, did you find any video or an image at least?? I've had this for 3 years now and it's still at its worst, I also have post nasal drip that's making it worse! If you find anything please share! Thanks
tanya65267 chippy12
Posted
Mo1960 chippy12
Edited
Thank you for your post. Very helpful..I haven't had as many test as you, just the scope through the nose by an ENT. He said that all was fine and it was globus.. I always worry about everything. I for some reason lately I'm always worried something is wrong with me.. I have a lot of stress with family and dealing with menopause.. Not a good combination. Thanks again for your post and I am going to try the excercise.
terrie27149 Mo1960
Edited
Same here. The fears overwhelm me at times. Mine all started when I went to a dr. With a knot I felt in my neck. While she's feeling it she's saying stuff like, "bad things happen to us when we grow older." Can you beli eve that. Well I was freaking out. Got catscan, which showed a muscle but day after I got tinnitus. Then year later I feel this glibus thing and see something in throat
Panicked I go to ENT who runs tests , ultra sound and scope. He days all good just acid. That what I'm seeing was lower tonsils swollen. Seriously? I was on 2 rounds of antibiotic and it didn't phase it and iv never her of another lower layer of tonsils. But between Dr., Patholigist, and ENT, Tha all say muscle in neck and acid. Now comes the breathing issues like I can't catch my breath..maybe intense stress and little pains around my left temple behind eye. Seriously? Am I hyperchondriac or does acid cause all this. Jeesh, I am.so exhausted from the stress of it all....
charo88321 terrie27149
Posted
Hello Terrie
I'm sorry you going thru all that
I know how you feel
I'm still in the process of trying to find a cure or solution of this problem
Next Friday I have a breathing test that lasts 3 hours to see if is due to bacteria or H pilory infection
I'm so desperate and sometimes food get really stuck for hours
Is crazy but sometimes I think is the stressful life that I'm living right now
I work in a hospital that is a trauma center and is crazy all the time !
Good luck
terrie27149 charo88321
Edited
I can't imagine that stress. I work at a middle school and wonder sometimes if part of this happened because of stress and raising my voice in the lunchroom daily. I pray you get better. My food doesn't actually get stuck in my throat. I just feel I guess the swelling from globus but what an awful feeling. Let us know how your breathing test goes. Prayerfully they can find the culprit and heal it!!
katie16755 terrie27149
Posted
That's interesting you say that Terrie as mine started after raising my voice and stress, must have irritated the throat muscles 😒
terrie27149 katie16755
Posted
I truly believe between stress and straining my voice, it could have started this. Of course I also was hooked on those cinnamon hard candies, ya know the hot ones? I was eating like 3 a day, plus drinking morning o.j. so sure that ayed a part as well. Combination of all probably. I stopped all that and wI'll try my best to never raise my voice again either. So not worth it. It does no good anyway..
margarete1954 charo88321
Posted
hi I was took in hosp with a swelling in my neck after swollen glands said it was acute dysphagia I was kept in hosp had every test and camera they found the h p virus I come home only eating soup and custard mashed potatoes with beans and gravy wen camera went up right side of nose to throat it hurt they wrote was bit tender but we think itank her arthritus I don't have it in neck 5 months on iv had swollow tests and other things they said I'd be eating I'm not I'm gagging after eating not while eating I have a dry throat all the time iv lost over 2 stone I'm on build up drinks I'm 63 iv seenot Dr's mental health I'm still not eating lumps food or meat salad toms as I gag and choke I'm fed up I was took off ent and salts team as they said my swollow is fineeded iv been refered now to a diff ent at a private hosp I just want to eat. I do mo that bits of food kwept getting stuck around my tonsils and I had tonsillitis after the swollen glands that was March 3rd .I have soup and liquidised all meat and veg in soup I fed up no one seems to care I need two ops on my knees and ndles ndles I can't have them becsuse of the dysphagia even though I eat soft foods I still have it x xxx
katie16755 terrie27149
Edited
I think stress and raising my voice has caused it too, very hard not to raise my voice to 4 kids, especially in the summer holidays!!
My acid came out of the blue so no idea how it's connected...
terrie27149 katie16755
Posted
katie16755 terrie27149
Posted
Hi Terrie, I'm away on holiday for a month now so it will be interesting to see if any improvements, though as you say it's like a cloud hanging over us as it's all I think about, good luck with tests etc and hopefully we can try and enjoy some time off!
terrie27149 katie16755
Edited
katie16755 terrie27149
Posted
Thanks so much Terrie, I'll let you know if a break does me any good!!
Take care 😊