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feels like lungs and throat closing please help

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 1/6/2013 9:38 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone ever experienced this? I have just discovered that I have some sort of reflux but it has not been diagnosed by my doctor yet. I have other issues were addressing at the moment. It feels like I'm wheezing without actually making the noise if that makes sense. As if my throat, esophagus and lungs at closing. Its extremely uncomfortable and even causes panic attacks.
Posted 1/6/2013 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
Please go to the ER. This does not sound normal. It sounds like an asthma attack.
Posted 1/6/2013 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
I actually have that. I have constant breathing issues from the time I wake up. I can feel my throat closing at times and swell up. Also feel it in my lungs at times. I can also feel my nasal passages swell and then a little later release. Is crazy. I've been cleared of lung problems at the doctors before, but if this continues at the severity it is now, I'm heading to the doctor tomorrow. The last doctor I went to told me that the shortness of breath is a "sensation". I tried to think that every time it happens but I'm not quite so sure that's what it is. It s my worst symptom and I haven't been diagnosed with reflux. I'm so afraid that I'm doing damage to my lungs not to mention the constant feeling of struggling to breathe.
Please go get yourself checked and make sure.
Posted 1/6/2013 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi tguy, Welcome to Healing Well!  Sorry to hear you're struggling.  There's one other thing that might be happening, so I thought I'd put it out there.  A dear friend of mine had this problem for years, went to docs for it, and they never actually told her what it was.  I shared this information with her, and she immediately realized it was exactly what was happening.  I learned about this from my asthma/allergy doc, who thought I might be having it, but fortunately I never did.  Here's a link to a PDF explaining what it is, and below the link are the breathing exercises he recommended to practice so that it occurred I'd be prepared and know what to do to get through it. http://patients.thoracic.org/information-series/en/resources/what-is-vocal-cord-dysfunction-vcd.pdf Good luck! Denise Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion (Vocal Cord Dysfunction)   Relaxed Throat Breathing Exercises   During practice:   1.   Sip water before and after doing these exercises. 2.   Exercises:   A.   Shoulders Down   This is the cue for you to relax   B.   Hand on abdomen This helps you focus on easy abdominal breath support--the best and most relaxed way to breathe.   C.   Gentle, quick "sip" of air IN   (sip, sip, sip) Breathe through your mouth Relaxed lips about 1 second inhale each sip   D.   Gentle blow OUT   (blow, blow, blow) Through slightly tight lips about 2-3 seconds for each blow out   3.   Practice 5 reps, 20 times per day when you are NOT having symptoms.   4.   Make it automatic, and use it at the first sense of throat tightness to prevent or suppress the VDC.   You may start with the inhale or the exhale.   5.   Use it to "pre-treat" yourself before known triggers for VCD.     6.   This technique can also be a "stress buster" tool to use in other situations.
Posted 1/6/2013 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I have just had a cat scan and it showed nothing, its been going on for almost a year now its kinda hard to describe like a tightness in the throat esophagus and chest. I have no known heart conditions either. I can breathe deeply just fine for the most part but sometimes it just feels like I'm not getting oxygen or something. Also when i lean forward in a seated position its very difficult to get a breath at all. Another thing that happens when I take a deep breath is that it feels like everything in my chest is gonna cramp up or something. Its very disturbing. I'm gonna try the recommended excercises. I really appreciate all of you taking the time out of your busy lives to answer my questions. I apologize if what I said is confusng or hard to understand at all. Ive always had difficulty putting my symptoms into words.
Posted 1/6/2013 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi tguy,

Have you had a barium swallow?  What you're describing sounds like what people experience when they have a paraesophageal hernia...when much of their stomach herniates into the chest cavity and takes up space there.  Just another thought.

Good luck!

Denise

Posted 1/6/2013 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Dont worry ur not alone, i get this all the time too, although urs sounds a little bit worse than mine. It feels like my throat is closing up, and the sensation of not being able to breath, but my breathing is actually fine, even under stethoscope and xray. I can take full breaths and theres no sharpmpain or wheezing, it just feels like my chest is very cramped inside if u know what i mean. After having it a while i put it down to something wrong in the esophagus and throat rather than an actual breathing problem.

I have been diagnised with a large hiatus hernia, but am still waiting to have ph manometry and barium swallow, you could have te same thing, i wud recommend the barium swallow, i only had an endoscopy for diagnosis which i dont think is ideal although it diagnosed gastritis and ruled out other problems.
Posted 1/6/2013 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Also, something ive found that helps with it is sipping hot water, seems to relax my throat and esophagus
Posted 1/6/2013 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
tguy

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  Glad you've found our online community. It’s a great place to connect with others traveling the same road...you'll find much support, encouragement and advice from others who understand.

Great input by everyone and I am glad you have been actively seeking answers to your problems.  One that comes to mind is anxiety. Chest pain and shortness of breath can  be symptoms of panic or anxiety attack, or gastroesophageal reflux disease.  Chest pain and shortness of breath may also mean asthma, bronchitis, inflammation of the lining of the lungs, allergies, sleep apnea and more.

Continue to be your own best advocate and the suggestion of a barium swallow is a good idea.  Do talk with your Dr.

 

Posted 1/6/2013 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
what happens to me is I feel what Andy describes. A kind of congested, full feeling in my airways and then I get anxious and feel like I'm drowning, not literally but getting close Two weeks ago I told my husband I was SURE I had pneumonia. When the doc said my lungs were clear I decided to work on my anxiety. I find it comes when I've cheated with food or lay down too soon after a meal. Good luck!
Posted 1/6/2013 9:18 PM (GMT 0)

Andy1986 said...
Also, something ive found that helps with it is sipping hot water, seems to relax my throat and esophagus



Thank you. I am gonna talk to my doc about this barium swallow.
Posted 1/6/2013 9:19 PM (GMT 0)

Andy1986 said...
Dont worry ur not alone, i get this all the time too, although urs sounds a little bit worse than mine. It feels like my throat is closing up, and the sensation of not being able to breath, but my breathing is actually fine, even under stethoscope and xray. I can take full breaths and theres no sharpmpain or wheezing, it just feels like my chest is very cramped inside if u know what i mean. After having it a while i put it down to something wrong in the esophagus and threxlike.er than an actual breathing problem.

I have been diagnised with a large hiatus hernia, but am still waiting to have ph manometry and barium swallow, you could have te same thing, i wud recommend the barium swallow, i only had an endoscopy for diagnosis which i dont think is ideal although it diagnosed gastritis and ruled out other problems.

Yep thats exactly what it feels like. It gets pretty scary at times.
Posted 1/6/2013 9:24 PM (GMT 0)

thegspeak said...
what happens to me is I feel what Andy describes. A kind of congested, full feeling in my airways and then I get anxious and feel like I'm drowning, not literally but getting close Two weeks ago I told my husband I was SURE I had pneumonia. When the doc said my lungs were clear I decided to work on my anxiety. I find it comes when I've cheated with food or lay down too soon after a meal. Good luck!

Thanks ive also wondered if it was anxiety. Ive had anxiety issues in the past but this feels different. Its more relentless and the anxiety tends to com afterward because of the tightness. Lately the tightness is all the time. Thats one of the main reasons ive dismissed anxiety. When I was dealing with anxiety it would come and pretty rapidly. This seems to be constant. Thank you again for your reply.
Posted 1/7/2013 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
Tguy,
I can't attribute it to anxiety either but who knows. I know what anxiety feels like, and like you said this will sometimes happen after the breathing problems. Different feeling completely. Also, its basically bothersome all day but gets more severe at times. It seems with all these breathing problems, chest pains, closing throats, it's a wonder everyone doesn't have major anxiety!
Posted 1/7/2013 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Just want to clarify the anxiety issue. It's not a panic attack or anything like that. What happens is that I "panic" when I have real symptoms and feel (real or not) like my symptoms are worse than they are and they do start to feel worse probably because I"m so focused on them!
Posted 1/7/2013 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
I have the same breathing issues. Doctors don't seem to care or take it seriously. I can't wait to be able to breath again. I'll try drinking some warm water.
Posted 1/8/2013 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Not unusual for people who have LPR type Reflux to get there esophagus inflamed and the Vagus nerve irritated which gives you a feeling of shortness of breath and can bring on anxiety , thus panic type attacks. The Vagus nerve travels through the esophageal area , it controls a lot of the digestion system etc and sends messages to the brain. Google Vagus nerve for more explanation. When the acid travels up it can inflame the area and start to create issues around this nerve.

Some people report the feeling of a heart attack from this, it can be quite scary. Lots of folks with GERD report going to the ER thinking they are having a heart attack when it is diagnosed it is reflux. In the end refllux can bring this on , some reflux happens without the classic symptoms of heartburn and can fool doctors. Anxiety can cause your body to create more acid and cause more reflux a circular effect. I have had that issue before I got my reflux under control, shortness of breath, feeling like my heart was being affected, feeling like it was missing a beat at times. Not unusual. Not to say this is what you have but it is a common theme with some types of reflux , you should pursue with your doc.
Posted 4/27/2015 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
I have Ur answer of your still experiencing this feeling. Its caused by Cricopharyngeal Spasm. I know because I suffered from the exact same symptoms for 6 months and now its completly gone. After all the doctor visits, tests, and checks for gerd and such the docs put me on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds. It still didn't help just made me care less that it was happening. I finally found the answer and it went away almost immediately. A muscle in your throat is spasming and it's caused by stress. More accurately the lack of dealing with stress. Mine would always happen at work. I can't quit or change my job so I found better ways to deal with the stress. Immediately start with declutering your life. Eat healthier and excercise more. Be more verbal about what you believe in. Conflict is healthy and nessesary for growth. When you've had a stressful day drink a hearty glass of Red wine. It has to be a dry red. My cardiologist actually told me that. And the next time it happens tell yourself "This is all in my head - nothing bad is going to happen - my body will get the oxygen it needs - there is absolutely no reason to panic". Just continue to breath normal, change Ur environment for a minute. It will pass. Start a journal, join a group, work through the things you worry about. You are going to be just fine.
Posted 9/21/2015 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm brand new to this site and am feeling a little scared. I have had a cough for two years and have started having a feeling of my throat closing up for a month now. I haven't had the cough checked out yet; don't ask why! That's for a book! but I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism a few years back, am on medication for it. When my throat feels like it's closing up it's usually at nite, no feeling of reflux or GERD or indigestion. Usually eating helps and swallowing helps, but it almost always is at nite or when I'm waking up.
Any ideas what this could be??? Being human and a bit hypochondriac-like, I fear it's cancer. Any help would be great. Yes, I do have an appt. to see my doctor but can't get in until November and don't want to wait that long for some idea.

Thanks!
Posted 9/21/2015 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
It can be reflux, in many people reflux does not give any symptoms like heartburn, but if it reaches the throat then this is more sensitive and you can get the feeling of a lump in there and it closing up. In fact as I write this I feel like my throat is constricted. This is just a sensation though, I don't have any trouble actually breathing, if you do I suggest you see a Dr sooner.

It's definitely a possibility but obviously we can't diagnose on a forum. Cancer is a bit of a leap from constricted throat though, I think reflux is quite a lot more likely but only by getting a thorough checkup can your mind be completely at ease.
Posted 3/2/2016 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hey georgi303

I have the exact same problem as you. Word for word.
Did you manage to get better and what did you do to make it go away.

Please respond.Doctors just don't take me seriously.
Posted 4/20/2016 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys, for those that are suffering.
I was told by my ENT specialist that these symptoms are associated with a laryngospasm.

Watch this short video on it: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nPtdkqOLLP4

My doctor said my problem was due to silent acid reflux or medically known as Laryngopharyngeal Reflux.

I hope this helps anyone who comes across this.Best of wishes.

Also if you are overwieght, losing weight will help reduce your symptoms.
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