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tightening of throat, pressure, and upper chest discomfort

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Posted 11/2/2008 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
 

     Hello to all,

      For 5 months now I have suffered from a strangling feeling around my throat,  congestion in my ears and discomfort in my upper chest, below my breast bone,  also the feeling as if I have just eaten a large piece of food that gets stuck,    GI doc did endoscopy which show some distal esophogeal changes and was put on Nexium twice a day ( 40mgs)    ENT doc performed nasal endoscopy and was all normal,  congestion continued and was given Patanese and a round of oral steroids which may or may not have helped.....after 7 weeks of twice dosing of Nexium,  was told to go on 40mg's once a day,   felt a bit better throughout September and now symptoms are just as bad again,  will be having an esophogram tomorrow,  also head and neck CT were negative as was abdominal CT except for small hiatal hernia.........constant pressure on sides of neck,  when I bend over feels like my neck will explode,   eating actually helps and lying down is a bit of a relief,  which is what my life has existed of for 5 months,    back on Nexium twice a day now and will see what tomorrow brings,,   also negative for all allergy tests,     any one with these symptoms please respond......thankyou

Posted 11/3/2008 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
       Yes, i have had the same type of symptoms. tightness in throat to the point where i can hear myself wheezing, not a gd feeling. sides of neck hurt with sharp shooting pain into my ears (no ear infections). when i talk im constantly clearing my throat cuz of gastic juices splashing into my throat and sometimes its so forceful that it shoots up into my nose and then my nose burns. i was diagnosed with gerd and peptic ulcer disease (neg for h.pylori-bacter) and talking aciphex 20mg 3 times a day and using other heartburn meds with it. the aciphex holds me over for about a week then it just doesnt seem like it works anymore so i take myself off for a couple days and start over. its hard for me to get it under control and keep it there. docs also suggested the BRAT diet (brown sugar rice and toast) it helps but i get so hungry and my stomach feels like its eating itself. the tightness in the throat has been ongoing for 2-3yrs. docs said it was the stomach juices irritating the throat and in my case spills over into my chest and i get a lot of colds, bronchitis and pnuemonia. mayb the hiatal hernia might be some of the cause. i hope they can get it figured out for you
Posted 11/3/2008 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Sorry to hear of the misery you are feeling, I just had an esophogram, results to come this afternoon, I do not feel the gastric juices as you do, just a constant pressure on the sides of my neck, very congested too, but ENT doc could find nothing wrong, GI doc says perhaps my esophogus goes into spasms, maybe stress related, don't know, sorry you have had this for so long, do you feel relief when you lye down, I usually get worse as the day where's on, bending over is the worst feeling, take care.........
Posted 11/3/2008 10:39 PM (GMT 0)

homemom,

Be sure to let us know what your test results are.......we are here rooting for you.

((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))

Kitt

Posted 11/4/2008 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
  

   Good morning,

  Thankyou for the support and caring thughts,   my esophogram was negative,  small sliding hiatal hernia seen,  nothing else,  GI doc has not had time to discuss this with me yet,   still have pressure that runs along the sides of my throat,  feels as if it is constantly congested.....ENT has done all tests and  cannot help me,   is it LPR that is giving me this feeling, stilll taking patanese nasal spray and nasalcort everyday as well as nexium 40mg's twice a day,   grateful that tests are negative,  but just want some relief,   once again this is a great site.......homeom 

Posted 11/7/2008 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
I have these same feelings but my pain is also in the center of my back where my bra strap goes. I am in HORRIBE pain today. I've been up the past 3 nights about 3 hours after I fall asleep. I've placed a call to both my primary and GI docs today. I just want someone to see me and get me some relief!!! I have a panic disorder and I feel like I'm going to have an attack cause I'm scared.

Posted 11/8/2008 4:38 AM (GMT 0)

Hi--Does anyone have this symptom: it's as though I swallowed a handful of strong peppermints. I have a "minty" burning at the base of my throat and into my chest. I used to take a lot of pseudo-ephedrine decongestants years ago. One dr said I had "epehedrine burn." Well, I stopped taking them after hearing that. Now it's very rare I take any decongestants. My dr told me to try an anti-histamine when I feel pressure in my ears and to try to avoid taking any decongestants, which I've done, but I still get that burning sensation. Is it GERD??

I welcome your comments...

Posted 11/13/2008 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi homemom,
Are you anywhere near perimenopause? Perimenopause was just AWFUL for me, GI-wise. I had to sleep upright in a chair for 7 months because I felt like something tight was around my throat. I also had this incredible tightness in my stomach area. In fact, I could actually feel a band tightening around my diaphragm area..........it almost felt like false labor! I also had high blood pressure at that time (I believe it was hormonal triggered too). I went on Toprol (a beta blocker) and Aciphex (a PPI). These 2 drugs seemed to help alot. However, after having daily horrible headaches for several years, I discovered it was the PPI!!
I haven't had a period in 4 years, but I'm still feeling the affects of an occasional hormone, and it really messes up my GI tract. My stomach fills with gas and I believe it even pushes on my heart, so that I have constant palpitations. Boy, am I having fun! Not!
I guess what I'm saying is, hang in there. As long as your tests are normal, its probably not fatal, and it will eventually pass.
Sometimes I think it stinks being female, with all our complex hormones!!
You might try some herbal supplements that are supposedly good for digestion. I've used Peppermint and also Digestive enzymes. I'm not sure if they helped, but it at least made me feel like I was trying to help myself.
Posted 11/13/2008 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have had the same thing bothering me for weeks. I had a endoscopy and no barrets, just esophagitis. A little irritation in the throat that should heal on its own the doctor said. He doesnt know if this is causing my closed throat feeling though. It is worse after I eat or smoke. I am in my late 20s.
Posted 1/18/2010 11:12 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Homemom,

I was so happy to find your post because so far yours describes my symptoms perfectly.  I realize it's been awhile since your post, but I was wondering what the outcome was and if you were ever diagnosed.  I've been to the doctor - had bloodwork, ekg, chest xrays - and they haven't found a cause of these symptoms.  It's been going on now for 2 weeks, and I'm becoming anxious and actually starting to experience some weakness.  I have another doctor's appointment next week and I was hoping to be able to share your diagnosis.  I'm in my mid 50's, post-menopausal, and otherwise in good health.  Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. 

Posted 1/19/2010 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
i also suffered the same symptoms as homemom. nasal congestion, chest pain... those are GERD related. im taking omeprazole twice a day, and have a cup of chamomile tea before bedtime. i also dont wear tight bras because it adds to chest pains. Dont get panic once you feel the symptoms. the more you panic, the more its gettin painful and you might suffer from hyperventilation. Just relax. Since you had your tests (xray/allergy/cardio/pulmonary/ent) and results are normal, you have nothing to worry. those are GERD related conditions. I also suffered fr nasal/ear congestion.. a had this nasal puffer and i also tried to decongest by using salt solution in a boiling water. Panic/anxiety attack make you condition worst. Always think positive that nothing is dreaded. I understand the pain but its our condition we have to acknowledge and just relax. have a massage and dont stress yourself.
Posted 1/30/2012 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thank god for the internet. Last night I was suddenly awakened by in incredible sensation of tightness in the throat, pressure up and down the esophagus... I thought I was having a heart attach (post menopausal female)... but after a few minutes I didn't have any other sensations....

so I got out of bed, drank a few sips of water and tried focusing on my breathing.... which helped make it subside somewhat. Since it didn't worsen after about 20 minutes, I figured it was safe to go back to bed. I too an anti-anxiety pill just in case and was able to sleep.

The sensations are back during the day, intermittently. I did some searching and found this most helpful page on another forum: [see the post by So_Danca - Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:27 pm]
http://www.doctorslounge.com/primary/forums/backup/topic-9323.html

Since I have already been diagnosed with GERD, and since I am not a fan of medications generally, I am going to try meditation to deal with the underlying stress/anxiety which I suspect is fueling the GERD and causing the throat/esophogus sensations.

QUESTION: does anyone know if thyroid levels are associated with this set of symptoms?
Posted 1/30/2012 12:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi to newbies, welcome to the forum.

For those who are getting esophageal spasms or have sliding hernias - Sometimes these reactions are from specific food intolerances. If you start keeping a journal of the foods you eat, you may be able to find your triggers.

If you have large hiatal hernias you can have pain triggered by the stomach migrating through the hernia. It usually feels like heart pain - right in the middle of the sternum.

I get both of these symptoms.
Posted 1/30/2012 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
natpaw,

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  Thank you for the link and I found it to be interesting as I am sure others will.  I think meditation is a great idea and I wish you the best of luck with your plan.

I have a suggestion - perhaps you would like to start a thread of your own.   It is always a good idea to take the time to introduce yourself in a new thread as this gives the members the opportunity to meet and greet you as well as to offer you support.

This is done by clicking on the 'new topic' button which will open a new thread for you to post your introduction. This will help members see your first post.  It is best to start your own 1st thread rather than attach it to an old thread that way you will get more responses.

Due to how old this thread is I am going to lock it.  I hope you continue to talk with us and please know we care.

Kindly,

Kitt

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