Strange sensation / tightness in chest and upper throat
Posted , 218 users are following.
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
casper43737 rai27
Posted
hi RAI 27 please i need ur help, im having that same problem that u refer to and the same symptoms, i feel a need to cough all the time geting worse at nigth, i am now doing some alergy and asthma test, i alredy am an asthamtic person and i have allergies but i think its not that the problem, PLEASE have u found a solution to ur problem ?? (sorry for the bad english i'm portuguese)
smartbass1 rai27
Posted
Good afternoon all...Well, not sure if all this makes me feel better or not...identical symptoms to most, and same ok test results,i.e, cardio, oxy 100%, ..etc. Recent endosocophy which showed some effects of GERD and a hiatal hernia. For the last several months now, I've had this feeling of swallowing wrong and tightness in my chest. Feel like lungs are reduced, but no wheezing or shortness of breath, just the sensation. Unlike, some of you, symptoms are either gone or greatly reduced by bedtime...have a rare problematic night, but too few to count. I have the occasional break from symptoms (almost seems cyclic), usually on weekends, but not quite a pattern. My real issue...nothing seems to work. I'm now on Dexilant for 10 days or so and seemed to be a gradual lessening of symptoms but a sudden chest tightness today threw that theory out the window. The tight feeling remains for hours. Severe anxiety sets in and i'm trapped at work...without any Xanax...but i get through somehow. My fear is this is not cureable and i can't function like this. My only hope is the Dexilant eventually changes something.
melissa53667 smartbass1
Posted
Sorry to hear you're going through this too. I've never heard of the medication you're speaking of, I will Google it. I am currently on ranitidine and see no difference in my symptoms. I went off of the omeprazole 3 days ago because it was causing severe itching in my chest (no idea why, maybe allergy) and that also did not help the symptoms subside. At a loss at this point. Praying we all get a d*** answer and soon.
smartbass1 melissa53667
Posted
Good morning ! Thanks for responding...the new med is a versiion of an....prazole...the newest and greatest...(lol). This one is the only one of the 4 GERD meds that SEEMS to be helping a little. My own opinion is the hiatal hernia has worsend somehow and thats the tightness/breathing sensation and the sharper, more consistent pain/feeling is dysphagia of some sort. All are possibly the result of years of stress,etc. I'm fortunate to have decent insurance and a physician who won't let go of this. I will keep posting and checking here to get/give updates. Just a side note, I also think post nasal drip and/or allergies have something to do with all this. Attitude counts, so hang in...and God bless...
melissa53667 smartbass1
Posted
Haha gotcha. I'm steering clear of those 'prazoles after my itching episode. First time it happened the ER doctor told me to stop taking it. Then I decided to take a lesser dosage (20mg) because these symptoms are driving me mad and it happened again. I learned my lesson to say the least. I have to admit, I'm envious that your doctor is staying on top of this. I am starting to believe that mine thinks I'm a nuisance. Are your symptoms on both sides of chest or only one? I think that's another thing throwing him off- that my symptoms are only on the right side of my throat and chest. Blessings my friend... Keep us posted on your findings/progress.
smartbass1 melissa53667
Posted
Good afternoon ! I'm trying hard to zero in on this craziness going on...new thoughts...(all this is still a guess, symptoms sometimes are random,but..) First, most symptoms,i.e., tightness is ALWAYS center upper chest. The occasionaly sharp pain is definitely right side, but not often.
The last day I had a bad episode, I'm pretty sure I forgot my Dexilant. The following day, I remembered it (AM dose seems to be best, like before coffee) and took a Zyrtec PM...next day was really good..This is Monday and, once again, remembered dose in AM and ok day so far. Too much evidence, for me, to rule out gastro as a part of this...I'm going to try a little stricter diet (I already did away with fried anything and carbonated anything, tough in New Orleans ), add some pro biotics and stick with the Zyrtec in PM and the Dexilant in AM. I'm also sure stress is a factor. For those of us w/ asthma, too...remember GERD goes hand in hand w/ the asthma. I think this is a manageable/cureable event, but tough to figure out and unforgiving when a misstep is made...hard to figure out that misstep, though. So today a small thumbs up...will keep posting.
smartbass1
Posted
Forgot to add...the worse sensations, burning, worse chest tightness, seem (there's that word again) to come from swallowing wrong/dysphagia. I've made a concentrated effort to swallow liquid forefully from my mouth instead of just pouring down my throat, if that description makes sense.
melissa53667 smartbass1
Posted
Hi again.. Happy to see your update. Sorry things aren't normal yet. I'm so discouraged at this point. Zantac isn't working, I feel like I can not breathe properly, burning bad in chest on right side (I can literally pinpoint exactly where it hurts) which is making my mind run away.. Is there an ulcer? Is there a tumor? Would that have been seen in the chest xray and ct scan? Does heartburn really last for months? UGH. I'm stressing tonight, my apologies. I get what you're saying about giving stuff up. I'm in NJ- I've had zero wine, cigarettes, coffee, soda, red tomato sauce, ketchup, lemon anything, etc. in months and no relief at all. I just put risers on the head of my bed- it literally looks like a large hospital bed now.
so discouraged and sick of feeling so bad. Symptoms are so random and scattered over here- feel like they differ every day. I need relief!
smartbass1 melissa53667
Posted
Good morning ! Hang in there, I'm no doctor but, I believe what we're dealing with is extremely uncomfortable as opposed to some weird chronic bad disease. I went through all the usual gastro meds w/ 0 results. (Maybe I didn't stick w/ them long enough?) The one I'm on now BARELY helps, but I do think it makes a difference. I THINK the breathing sensation is the result of gerd and allows some thin fluid past it, and thus the breathing sensation. Try to swallow hard instead of just taking big gulps, that seems to help me. I sympathize w/ the anxiety, and when necessary, Xanax definitely helps. A chest xray theoretically will show and obvious abnormality, but be very persistent w/ your physician to rule out anything else. Be very wary of Dr. Google, but look up dysphagia and see if that may explain some of your symptoms. I tested negative for ulcers, cardio issues, lungs were at 100% last doc visit...I know how you feel...stay on it w/ your doctor, keep eating healthy, get a Xanax prescription for the anxiety and keep moving and living your life. Every so often, I get some relief by staying busy and leisure time, which leads me to think stress has a LOT to do with it. Hang in and I'll keep posting...
melissa53667 smartbass1
Posted
I appreciate your positivity. I've begun my self pity trip down the rabbit trail over the past few days so it's nice to read this. I stuck with the 40mg of Prilosec for about a month and then the 20mg for another 2 weeks with minimal relief. The relief may or may not have even existed in retrospect, I think I was just hoping it was. I'm in agreement with the breathing sensation, I think this sensation along with the lump in throat feeling is what is getting me down the most. Dr. Google has informed me that I have every type of cancer possible in the throat, chest, and abdomen, lol (not funny though!). Focusing on it makes it worse, but it is very difficult to just ignore because it is such a foreign feeling. Was diagnosed with dysphasia when I had an ER trip.. Test results were same here- all normal. We'll chat again soon
as always if you have any updates, keep me posted!
melissa53667 smartbass1
Posted
allison38201 melissa53667
Posted
Hi Melissa and everyone.
Well as someone who has all the same symptoms albeit intermittent at the moment ! I sympathise with us all especially as all the test results come back clear in the main ! I've been reading books and googling and began changing my diet as every symptom was suggestive of a digestive disorder such as GERD etc and well I've had a few good days mainly symptom free which feels like heaven after nearly 5 months of hell. I used to juice a lot nearly every day and decided on recommendation to stop.. this seems to have made the biggest difference. I've also been cooking fresh veg and taking an organic cleanser for the blood and I touch wood am starting to feel nearly normal again. I am having an Endoscopy on Friday which I'm not looking forward to ! But feel it's necessary. I will report back here once I have results.
melissa53667 allison38201
Posted
Allison,
That is great that you're having some relief! I've altered my diet a bit too buy haven't noticed any relief. Are you taking any medications for reflux currentlh? Lots of luck on Friday.. You will be fine. Please let us know any results! I have a barium swallow on Friday as well so I will be back to report any findings.
Melissa
allison38201 melissa53667
Posted
Hi Melissa
Although I've been given various medication for the reflux I didn't notice any change with the symptoms so I stopped them. I have been told recently by a Doc that my symptoms were possibly all down to anxiety.. so because I have been feeling a lot better I've been doing some yoga and spinning ( I couldn't spin for 2 months as my chest discomfort and breathing capacity wouldn't allow it) and I have felt more energized and upbeat. I do think I have a reflux problem and believe many of us suffer this problem. I believe our life styles, diets and anxiety levels are causing lots of digestive problems and stress related issues like panic attacks etc. Good luck with the Barium I will let you know the outcome of my procedure. Take care xx
melissa53667 allison38201
Posted
allison38201 melissa53667
Posted
Hi Melissa
Barium's are awful aren't they.
It seems that maybe acid reflux is a contributing factor. Well I had the endoscopy thank goodness I had the sedation as I was really nervous. It was wonderful I had no recollection of the procedure at all. The diagnosis was as follows:- GERD and a bad infection called Gastritis in abdomen and something called Duodenitis so he took 3 biopsies and I have to speak to my Doctor about treatment once the results of the biopsy are back. The nurse said these issues will cause the pain and discomfort I have been experiencing in the throat, chest and back...so I will revert back once I've seen the Do and understand more about the diagnosis. Let me know the results of your Endoscopy as I will be interested.
melissa53667 allison38201
Posted
Proud you went through with it! Wow, that's a fun diagnosis (not). I will keep you posted, I see my GI Wednesday. Changed my diet majorly the past few days (eating turkey and chicken breast, green beans, broccoli, water, oatmeal, rice cakes) and have zero change. I am so frustrated once again.
melissa53667
Posted
GI wants to scope. He's also sending me for a ultrasound of my neck because he said my thyroid feels enlarged. I feel like I'm running in circles with these d*** doctors. Leaving for Baltimore tomorrow. Praying it doesn't get worse or flare up while I'm away. I hate traveling when I'm not well. How is everyone else doing? Any updates?
smartbass1 melissa53667
Posted
Good morning...WAS doing a llittle better overall, but a couple of bad days and 2 nights ago in particular, (major panic attack in the middle of the night, complete w/ shaky/vibrating feeling and chest pressure) sets me back. To me, this is obviously not life threatning..i.e., clear neuro, cardio, 100% on the oxy level,etc. I'm NOT a healh care professional, but my theory is gas trapped in a haital hernia putting pressure in that area is the main cause of the issue. My asthma seems to be better, swallowing irritation seems to be better w/ continued use of the Dexilant. If there are any health care professionals on here/monitoring, or just casually observing, please chime in. Hang in, everyone, anxiety may be the bigger problem here ; Xanax works and don't let the world eat your soul...
melissa53667 smartbass1
Posted
Sorry to hear.. But I'm in agreement. There is a reason as to why this is happening. Just ate oatmeal for lunch (apparently it reduces stomach acid?) And trying to stay calm. Wish I could have a glass of wine though. That always helped but I'm fearful that it will make symptoms worse. May have to try the Dexilant. Wish it would subside. I keep questioning why isn't my body healing itself like it does with everything else? Its a scary feeling. Be well Smartbass, check back soon.