Strange sensation / tightness in chest and upper throat

Anything new I have some symptoms with the tightness in my throat on the left side and it comes and goes as it pleases but I have been to the er 3 different times with a different diagnosis every time none of them correct. I have a hard time breathing when my neck is tight also I am 23 yo and I'm in very good shape and health never had any problems like this before and I have been studying up on your post and I was jw if you have ever paid any attention to you or to nails my left side seems to be swollen but have no soreness just makes it hard to breath please respond soon thanks

Hi everyone,

I have been following this discussion and feel I should share my experience!

I have been having issues for 6 months now. The main symptom I have is a very tight chest and shortness of breath. My chest is tight for most of the time and I am unable to partake in any exercise, or even simple activities. It came on very suddenly, over a period of a couple of weeks. I have been admitted to the emergency room on four occasions now due to extreme shortness of breath and/or chest pains. Every time all tests have come back fine and I was told it was likely to be anxiety.

Since then I have also been having bad issues with acid reflux. I have been having an acid feeling in my throat, nausea and vomit rising on occasions. This is something I suffered with as a young child but not at all until my chest symptoms started 6 months ago. I have read a lot about GERD being related to chest/breathing difficulties and suggested to my doctor, who put me on an ant acid medication, Nexium. This has relieved the acid reflux issues but not the chest tightness.

I was repeatedly told that my issues were due to anxiety, but after several visits to the doctors, have agreed that it is not and have now put it down to asthma. I was started on Symbicort with no improvement, had it increased and with still no improvement was started on Montelukast also. I have seen a slight improvement since this, however I also started the Nexium (Acid reflux medication) at the same time, which could be the reason.

I had asthma as a child, and then on a few occasions as a teen when it was bought on by a bad cold or flu. Because of this, I feel very sure that the symptoms I am experiencing now are NOT due to asthma. I have no wheezing symptoms, no mucus and my Ventolin inhaler does not reduce symptoms as it should do.  

I have just undertaken a course called the Buteyko method. The aim of the method is to stop over breathing, and therefore reduce the amount of Co2 you release from the body. It is designed to teach you to breathe differently, by a series of exercises and learning to breathe through your nose. I found the course interesting but unfortunately has not helped me greatly. I completed the course about 5 weeks ago and am still continuing to do the exercises daily.  

I am due to see a respiratory specialist next week and am hoping that something may come to light.

Although I do not think that my symptoms are due to anxiety, I am now experiencing high levels of anxiety daily due to my health. I also now have the beginnings of varicose veins in my legs which are very painful, due to the lack of exercise I have been able to. Before this I was an otherwise healthy, 24 year old. I quit smoking 6 months ago when I first begun experiencing symptoms.

Below I have listed my symptoms, tests and medication.

Symptoms –

Chest tightness

Shortness of breath

Feelings of throat closing

Air hunger

Excessive yawning

Constant fatigue

Acid reflux

Nausea

Chest pains

 

Tests completed –

Bloods – multiple times

ECG – multiple times

Chest Xray – twice

Spirometry test

Regular Peak flow meters – Always a low score

Allergy testing – have tested positive for some environmental allergies, e.g. grasses & pollens

 

Medication –

Symbicort – 2 puffs twice daily

Montelukast – 10mg daily

Nexium – 20mg daily

Ventolin inhaler – as needed

I hope this helps and if anyone can offer any advice would be highly appreciated! 

hi,

I shall suggest you visit ENT specialist for nasal infection. I have been suffering from same conditions or long,but now I am getting better.

dear rai27,

  Sorry to hear of your disturbing symptoms.   I have had such symptoms including an uncomfortable tightness in the chest and now back... In the past my neck aka throat has bothered me with an uncomfortable tickle and some tightness (fullness etc.).. There are times I have trouble swallowing suddenly, maybe just during a bowl of cereal.  Tonight I have pressure in my chest that is painful to the back.  This is new and not going away but tried anti acids etc. to no avail.  

There may be some GERD (as you sound you may have), but this is a clinical diagnosis much of the time and not easily confirmed on tests. It is Gastrointestinal esophogeal reflux disorder.  It can present many disturbing symptoms, yet I have seen patients diagnosed with it when there has been other problems. I have had neurological problems much of my life and the swallowing and throat symptoms for myself could be connected to a neurological illness.  This could also be something that has not been looked into for you.  Many times when symptoms occur around the throat or/and chest area we are sent to Ear Nose and Throat doctors (ENT) with the referring physician thinking only of the areas your symptoms seem to be surrounding, but a neurological disorder (muscular or neuromuscular) can also cause these problems, especially combined with weakness and/or fatigue.  As well, I went in to see a cardiologist and he found a bulge in my aorta (the large vessel to and from the heart); where things like an aortic aneurysm (maybe mild) or possibly something in the cardiac arena of problems you may have been born with that is now just giving you problems.. A chest X ray is usually not enough in giving information, and sometimes seeing a specialist and an echocardiogram of the heart can be of help. Cardiac probems can certainly cause symptoms up into the neck and upper chest.  I have had confusing times when I was nauseous and blamed my stomach, but am cautious now since I am told I need to go in to have regular echocardiograms since the finding in my ascending aorta.  Do not fear, but if you are still suffering, be diligent and I hope you will seek

further medical opinions ... I have worked in the medical profession and at the same time have a complicated medical history.. Best wishes,

Becky    P.S. I have also noticed  weezing at times when  I have been short of breath or I just had a very full and uncomfortable feeling. A barium enema is helpful for looking for some intestinal problems, but seeing an ENT (ear nose and throat doctor) may not be your best answer when an MRI or/ a CT scan along with a cardiac workup and neuro workup may be in order.. Good luck..

 

I have had same symptoms for nearly a year. I had myself convinced something major was wrong. Symptoms: heavy full feeling in neck, at times felt I couldn't get enough air, grinding sound in chest, constant throat clearing, feels like my throat is restricted at times, and mild jaw pain. I have seen many doctors and specialist and have had tons of blood work, chest X-rays, scope down my throat, several pulmonary test and docs are puzzled. They gave me inhalers, antibiotics, steroids, and several different medicines for acid reflux. 8 months of doctors and uncomfortable side effects from different medications they kept giving me I started doing my own digging into my symptoms and I have found my own remedy. No sodas, coffee, energy drinks or drinks that have a lot of sugar or caffeine in general. Double your water intake and replace your normal beverages with water, Gatorade or Powerade, vitamin water. Get rid of stress. Take a vacation or find a hobby that makes you happy and is calming. Stress is a big factor if you find urself consciously regulating ur breathing. Eat fruits instead of junk food. Introduce fresh produce into your meals. Now I am not a vegetarian and have always thought people were over board nuts eating all healthy and such. But let me tell you I feel great. Grinding in chest is good my lungs feel like new. Heavy feeling in neck is 90 percent gone. Tight throat and urge to cough all the time is gone. If I had only known combination of stress, sodas and hi sugar and caffeine drinks and those delicious dollar junk food snacks that kept me Rollin were gonna turn me upside down this way. After 2 weeks of of doing the above mentioned to the tee I feel great. Had a nice chat with my doctor and after explaining the above to him his comment was makes sense. Hopefully this helps someone else. This may not work for everyone but if u have similar symptoms give it a try I still can't believe how different I feel and no mess!!