1. Community
  2. Chest and lungs
  3. Respiratory Symptoms and Disorders

Strange sensation / tightness in chest and upper throat

Posted , 218 users are following.

rai27
rai27

I'm hoping for some help please..I have been feeling this strange sensation in the chest and lower throat. It's a sensation which I can only describe as a heavy feeling (no pain) and a tickling cough sensation in the chest. This then moves upwards to the lower throat area and makes it as though it is becoming tight. It makes me clear the throat and try to get the mucus out. I can feel a bit coming out but not much. The sensation makes me want to cough.I have been to doctor many times and he has listened to my chest and back. He's said that it's all clear. In the end he gave me antibiotics which I took for 7 days but it made no difference. He's also given me ventolin but it made no difference. I had chest x-ray and that showed clear. He referred me to ENT specialist who did a nasal endoscopy and that was clear. I have also done a barium swallow and that was also clear. However, I am still having this problem. I have also noticed that when I cough, I hear a grinding noise in my chest which sounds like friction. I've now been referred to a respiratory specialist and my appointment is next Friday. I'm really worried as I don't know what it can be. Has anyone else has this strange feeling? Can it be infection of the lower airway which has not cleared up? All this has been going on for 3 months now and I'm really worried and not sure what to do...Any help would be really appreciated. Thank you..

6 likes, 439 replies

439 Replies

Prev Next
  • ausuk01
    ausuk01 rai27

    Posted

    i have very similar things to you .I have  also had this for some time and cant seem to find out what it is.i get a funny tightness and lower throat feels strange....i have same symtoms
    • rai27
      rai27 ausuk01

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply a ausuk01.

      What have the doctors said? Have you seen any specialist? Are you on any medication for this? What tests have they done?

      Sorry for so many questions, I was beginning to think I was alone..I really appreciate your reply.

      Thank you.

    • derek76
      derek76 ausuk01

      Posted

      Recently I have had something similar. It wakens me up in the night as though I have difficulty in breathing on the right side with a dryness there.Sipping water does not help it so I get up and have a hot drink that also does little to help.

      It makes getting back to sleep difficult as I have to concentrate on breathing, During the day it improves but there is still a tightness in the throat and upper chest.   

    • Jess74
      Jess74 rakshit90042

      Posted

      Search Anthony William, medical medium. He has a blog/Instagram/3 books. Please please research his protocols. You will not regret it.

      Feel good Jessica

  • j1313
    j1313 rai27

    Posted

    Hi.

    It seems you have (Gastro-)esophageal reflux .

    It feels respiratory but it's really a digestive problem.

    • z2danish
      z2danish j1313

      Posted

      My HRCT scan for chest on 64 slice scanner is as follow

      Minimal bilateral apocal subpleural fibrotic changes and tiny subcentimeter sized nodule in anterior segment left upper lobe ? Old etiology

  • chrisk92
    chrisk92 rai27

    Posted

    did you ever find out what this was?
  • gpgp
    gpgp rai27

    Posted

    I agree this could be GERD(in the USA), or GORD (as is more commonly called in the UK) which is reflux, especially with sensations of mucus and a chronic cough. In those circumstances and in the absence of serious symptoms like weight loss, difficulty swallowing or vomiting blood then a trial of a PPI (any drug ending in ...eprazole)

    is warranted. When you have a chronic cough with normal Chest Xray and normal spirometry then the top three possible diagnoses are GORD, post nasal drip and asthma(cough variant)/COPD(unlikely if spirometry is normal). 

    The other major possiblity, if the cough is not helped and is not too bad, is anxiety disorder. 

    Do you have a lot of worries or stress at the moment? Are you a chronic worrier?

    Sedatives are a bad idea these days but a course of CBT(cognitive behaviour therapy) could really help and is available through your GP free of charge.

    • rai27
      rai27 gpgp

      Posted

      Hi gpgp,

      Thank you for your reply appreciate your response.

      The last specialist I had seen was a Respiritory Physician - he refered me to do a spirometry test and other breathing tests which was all normal hence rulling out Asthma. I had a CT scan of my neck and chest which came back normal. Previous to that, I had a camera down my throat by an ENT specialist which was normal. My cough is voluntary, more like trying to clear out the mucus sensation in my chest but nothing comes out. I still have the sensation and is really uncomfortable. I have tried 2 months coarse of Lansaprozol which did not do nothing and now I'm trying Gaviscon - again no affect. I'll be going back to the specialist soon. With this in mind, do you still think it would most likely be reflux and acid related? If so, why is nothing working. Is it worth me now seeing a Gastro specialist? 

      I do have a stressful job but I dont think I am stressed. I do worry alot though - I think it's my nature. Having said this, this problem I am having just came on suddenly - there was no build up to it at all. This is what I don't understand. 

       

    • z2danish
      z2danish gpgp

      Posted

      My HRCT scan for chest on 64 slice scanner is as follow

      Minimal bilateral apocal subpleural fibrotic changes and tiny subcentimeter sized nodule in anterior segment left upper lobe ? Old etiology

  • stephx
    stephx rai27

    Posted

    hey i have kind of had the same thing for 3 months now !

    i dont know if it is the same but theres a internal thump/feeling of heavyness pulling down and a kind of internal grind that feels asif my diagram whatever gets stuck while breathing its effecting my breathing really bad i have anxiety so can only imagine i used to panic but it started in the nights and then made its way to the days it was happening earlier last year throughout the nights but in october it started happening everyday and so far i still have it docs listened in and said everything sounds normal i had a lung xray back in feb so they did not bother doing another one im so confused as what could be causes it i have the feeling of a chesty cough in my throat but theres no phelm that comes up and also not much of a cough did you find out what it was ?

    • rai27
      rai27 stephx

      Posted

      HeyStephx,

      Sorry for the late reply - your symptoms are very similar to mine.

      I've been replying to all the other kind people who had responded to my post and giving an update. My situation is that I still don't know what it is. I have had so many tests - even a ct scan of my chest. All is normal. I am now trying Gaviscon but not really helping..I don't know what to do. I've seen a chest specialist and an ent specialist. As you have noticed, most people are saying it could be reflux so I may now have to see a specialist in that area.

      Initially when all this first started back in May last year, I was exactly the same - I used to get very anxious and it use to affect my breathing. I even had a pump but that didn't help. Now that I have had the breathing tests, they have ruled out Asthma. 

      Are your symptoms still there? It's so fustrating when doctors can't tell you what it is. When I went to see the specialist to get the results of the ct scan - he said to me that you don't seem happy. Well was relieved in one way that nothing was found but disappointed in another way that is did not show what was wrong.

    • stephx
      stephx rai27

      Posted

      Awww no !! That's suckling completely understand the reliefed but upset thing I have had a heart ultrasound and holter to see if they could find anything on that and nothing it's all come back good I'm so fed up yes I'm still going through it I feel it will never end even though it's more cope able it's frustrating when you can't find other people with it even though doctors are telling you they is nothing wrong it's that thought they must be missing something .I have been told that I have hyperacidity I think it's called ...The doctors now have said they is really nothing else they can do ect

      Hope you get some answers x

    • Daylan
      Daylan rai27

      Posted

      I have replied to the post regarding this, Rai27, I know exactly how you feel it took the doctors nearly 3 Months to diagnose what the problems were, and then 6 months to actually be able to do something. I now have a Neurologist, Oncologist, Gastroenterologist, Pulmonologist, and a couple others which I had to have tests from all of them, and several, several blood works done. CT Scans, X-Rays, PET Scan, MRIs. It has a huge mess, but in the end they finally figured out what was wrong, and gave me a kind of solution which is where I have to take medication for the rest of my life pretty much. To deal with all the problems. Just bare with it, and as I mentioned in my reply I do suggest seeing a GI Specialist and if nothing else having an Upper Endoscopy just in case there may be some other causes to the Reflux.
    • natallia04776
      natallia04776 rai27

      Posted

      I'm reading all and don't believe! What about an elegy? I'm going to see my Gp tomorrow and will ask him about everything! !! Don't care! I've got so panicked today😈.

    • netteski
      netteski rai27

      Posted

      Did you take flumucil medicine prior to that syptoms?
    • ola4dmj
      ola4dmj Daylan

      Posted

      Hi Daylan,

      pls may i knw what exactly d doctors said was the the problem in d end?

      A response will be appreciated . thanks!

    • lily27964
      lily27964 stephx

      Posted

      Hey stephx,

      I know you posted this a long time ago, but I have had the same thing for the past two months and I also have anxiety. Did you find out what it was?

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.