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Strange sensation / tightness in chest and upper throat

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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

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  • Gad
    Gad rai27

    Posted

    Thanks for the info this far. I have been having this same tightness for close to three or four years, All checks have been done, barrum swallow, G1 endoscopy and all. They turned out normal. I have decided to ignore but just cannot but i realise it is related to certain foods. Bread and some pastries especially make it feel worse.

    What has helped is increased intake of ginger drinks. Home made smoothies with lots of jinger has really helped. I recommend this therapy for anyone in similar situation. Ginger really helped me. Hope it does for you too.

    • janice26609
      janice26609 Gad

      Posted

      Hi

      I tried loads of ginger it didn't help one bit

  • meg85242
    meg85242 rai27

    Posted

    hello rai,

    i know this is too late, but i had similar problems. I wanted to rule out few things.

    1. do you drink tea, coffee early in the morning as soon as you wake up?

    2. did you suffer from fever before all this happened?

    3. were you on any supplements or medications before this started?

    4. was there any episode when you felt as if food was stuck in your throat?

    5. did you have other symptoms along with it like nausea, vomitting, intermittent chest pain, neck pain?

    6. does this problem increase during menstruation?

    7. is your haemoglobin level low?

    Please do reply whether it was diagnosed or not and about your current situation. In my case, everyone is saying its because of acid reflux, i took zantac, still there wasnt a relief.

  • yve32487
    yve32487 rai27

    Posted

    OMG - I am glad I found this post, I thought it was just me! I have been having very similar issues for a good few months now. It all kicked off when my inhaler was changed from Symbicort 200 to Duoresp spiromax well over a year ago. Repeated bouts of oral thrush (almost monthly) - treated by nystatin - eventually put back onto Symbicort, things really kicked off mid November 2016. Thought I had chest infection - several trips to GP, stetoids, antibiotics, different antifungal treatments x 2 SMART technique recommended for symbicort which helped for a bit but then deteriorated again. I had a real tightness in my tubes but not lungs - all clear and sats fine - made me and the GP wonder if the thrush had progressed further. Changed inhaler, from symbicort to Fostair which helped over Christmas but still didn't 100% help with breathing. Back to GP/Asthma nurse 3 weeks ago - changed back to Symbicort, Chest Xray done all OK - bloods and repeat ECG booked and returned to work this week. Yesterday things kicked off again used Symbicort as a SMART inhaler as I felt just couldn't get meds into lungs, felt as though a filter was preventing it getting to lungs - worsened during the evening so also took ventolin, 2 x 5ml piriton, then in sheer desperation had a couple of puffs of fostair which seems to have done a temporary fix although I am a bit mucousy this morning. My back is a bit tight but at least I feel I can breathe better.

    I am 46 yo, female, take fluoxetine to help with anxiety (cycle related) and have had a slightly stressful few months. I am back to Asthma nurse this week for review but after yesterday wondering if I am allergic to Symbicort/ asthma meds. Apologies for my long post but thanks so much for your interesting info, I will take it along with my experience to my GP for perusal. Hope you are feeling better now.

    • carmel96402
      carmel96402 yve32487

      Posted

      I believe Symbicort and anxiety caused my problem.  I stopped the Symbicort as I felt I was allergic to it and was having to be rushed to get nebuliser of ventolin.  Stopped using, Symbicort and switched to two puffs of Seretide morning and night taken through a spacer.  Haven't had to use ventolin for two weeks and the lump in the throat sensation has gone.  I rinse my mouth and brush my teeth well after inhaling the Seretide to avoid oral thrush.  I have learned to try to reduce anxiety (real or imagined), get off the Symbicort and appreciate every day that I don't have to struggle for breath or feel like my throat is closing up.

  • andrea19312
    andrea19312 rai27

    Posted

    I am 43 years old. For the last few years about once a year I would have problems breathing with heart palpitations. It was so bad I thought I was having a heart attack so I would go to the ER. The outcome was always that nothing was wrong with me. Within the last 3 months I started with chest heaviness symptoms and a constant slight pain that did not go away. It would also move to my throat. I finally decided I couldn't take it any more and went to the doctor. (Note: I do not have severe depression and am not depressed at all. I do however worry and stress over small things until they are completed or taken care of.) the Dr suggested I start 50mg of Zoloft ( actually the generic version) she suggested taking half for a few days. I have been taking the 25mg for 28 days. In less than a week I am no longer having the chest heaviness or symptoms. I can sleep all night without my mind racing. I did not have to increase my dosage as of yet. I hope this helps someone with the same symptoms.

  • joseph93813
    joseph93813 rai27

    Posted

    I be leave it is linked with stress. The muscles in throat and upper chest being tense due to stress. Try meditation and some breathing exercises. Works for me
    • Gad
      Gad joseph93813

      Posted

      Absolutely Joseph, i cannot agree with you more... it is related to stress. I will apportion 50% of it to stress especially in my case. It drastically reduces when i relax continuosly for a couple of days eg. when i take a vacation away from work. However, there are other factors that seem to worsen it. i think the consumption of certain (artificial) spicy foods increases it. Ginger, although a spice tends to reduce the funny feeling... 
    • janice26609
      janice26609 Gad

      Posted

      I agree.  When I am happy, laugh or have a blissful moment it passes or when I take my mind completely off the subject and forget completely about the breathing but there are certain triggers, so you have to first find what they are and stay clear of them. Try watching a good commedy!
  • Alan08
    Alan08 rai27

    Posted

    I have a strange reaction every time after having a bath at home. Everything it's ok in the first couple of hours. Than I start feeling strange with chest tightness and shortness of breath and sometimes wheezing. Is getting worst when lying down. Sometimes it takes 2-3 hours and sometime whole night. But in the morning everything backs to normal. It is annoying. I am afraid to have a bath in my own house. I have tried to have a bath in a diffrent place and everything was all right. I use to swim at the pool and again everything is ok. Due to my job I have acces to check often my SPO2 and blood pressure and everything is normal. I am 44, male, 185 cm and 74kg.

     My bathroom is clean with no mould. I have cleaned my walls with vinegar...just in case....but nothing changed.

    I have seen my GP where he used the stetoscope to listen my lungs and he said it is everything ok. I ask for a chest xray but he said I don't need xray.

    My physical condition is excellent, I can run or climbing stairs and I have no problems.

    I realy apreciate any advice.

    • anetta94863
      anetta94863 Alan08

      Posted

      I remember one guy had asthma from vinyl shower curtains.  
  • pin15638
    pin15638 rai27

    Posted

    Hi Rai, I hope you have been well. I am suffering the same symptoms as you i think. Been having bad breath, dry mouth, dry throat, constantly swallowing my saliva and lubricate my throat, bloating and smelly fart

    I had bronchitis and been given a nasal spray before.

  • Qwn-B
    Qwn-B rai27

    Posted

    Hi rai27 & all other "patients".

    I'm 34, & have been suffering from the same symptoms as most here:

    Tight-chested feeling, accompanied by heart palpitations whenever I bend down/over, walk fast or climb stairs (no matter if it's up or down), etc

    Shortness of breath

    Dryness in throat

    Constant discomfort in my chest - wheezy feeling, soreness (inside chest) between my breasts, etc.

    Constantly fatigued & feeling lethargic...

    I have had trouble with Plantar Fasciitis, of late, & not sure if any of the meds (cortisone/steroid injection) for that had caused the chest problem...

    Had a spasm in my calf after the Plantar Fasciitis episode, which I had to take medication for again (mostly Prednisone, spasm relaxants, pain tablets, etc), & then suddenly all of this had started.

    Also, I had been diagnosed with Psoriasis in May of 2015, been on Methotrexate up until Dec last year - it's a bit better now, just suffering with the eczema still.

    I've been smoking the e-cigarette for some time now (thought that maybe that was the problem).

    Now it seems as though it could very well be stress/anxiety related - of which I've had an overdose of, over the past 8 months;

    Or even gut-related issues (GERD), & yes, I suffer from IBS too!!

    I'm as clueless & hopeless as most here; this strange sensation on my chest just came from nowhere. It's not getting better & has me stressed out too.

    Good luck & well wishes to all, I'm looking forward to everyone's updates, feedback & responses.

    Special thanks to rai27 for posting, I too thought I was alone in this!

    Hopefully we'll get to the bottom of this at some point!!

    Take care...

    • anetta94863
      anetta94863 Qwn-B

      Posted

      Steroids can cause all kinds of problems. It make take 9 months to get rid of the problems, it takes the adrenals that lonfg to balance itself after steroid use.
    • Fargo2
      Fargo2 Qwn-B

      Posted

      Im very new to this but it sounds like your symptoms are all very similar to mine. I just looked into AS and am pretty sure thats what I have. I am going to consult a few drs and report back.
    • leighton21013
      leighton21013 Fargo2

      Posted

      I was diagnosed with Silent Reflux via Bupa. Gases was causing coughing. Wheezing . Lump in throat. Sickness and lost 2 st. If your symptons are similar then the cure was simply ADVANCED GAVISCON. You can buy it in boots. It seals the stomach to prevent the gases and allows healing. Try this while you wait for tests etc. And see any improvement
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