HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Swollen feeling in my throat

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/19/2007 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I've been having acid reflux problems for a while now - largely heartburn and a tickly cough feeling. Recently, I've been having a feeling like my throat is swollen. I'm otherwise healthy and I don't think my glands are enlarged, but it does feel kind of similar - an even pressure around the lower part of my neck, particularly noticable if I swallow.

I supose it might just be a viral infection, but it's not sore as such, just feels like my throat is swollen. It's more noticable at some times than others (mid to late afternoon seems to be particularly - it's about 4pm here...) so I wondered if it could be linked to digestion?

Chris.

Posted 4/19/2007 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi - I have the same problem.  I went to an Ear, Nose & Throat doctor, who did a scope thru my nose (sounds awlful, but no biggie).  Everything was fine, but he ordered a barium swallow (just had it done).  I noticed that it seems worse at the end of the day and greatly improved in the morning.  I just read that our stomach's like warm things and take longer to digest cold things (even water).  Also, drinking large quantities of water at a time is just like a meal to our stomachs.  Anyway, I tried the warm drinks, water throughout the day, but no large quantities at any given time, frequent smaller meals, and added DGL Licorice and a natural sleep aid for night.  It has been two days since I started doing this and today is the first day I feel a noticable difference with my throat - still there, but no where near as bad.  I think to that I get anxious over this which isn't good for my general wellbeing.  My husband had severe GERD (pre-cancerous spots), but with medication, diet, and time he is doing well.  I asked him how long it took for all of this to correct itself & he said months and months - but it did improve.  Good Luck!

Also - a side note for everyone - I went to my local independent health store dealer and left feeling more knowledgable about GERD and what can help than after I went to the nationally known chain.  Just and FYI for you.

Posted 4/20/2007 3:14 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks Browneyes.

To be honest it's not really getting in the way at all - it doesn't hurt or anything and I can physically swallow without any problem, it's just a bit unnerving feeling like your throat is closing up! Just wondered if it was likely to be GERD related.

I work in a stereotypical office complete with...... a watercooler. And so (not being a fan of coffee) I tend to drink, say 4 cups of chilled water over the course of the afternoon. So this seems to lik in with what you were saying.

I've never had sufficient problems to justify medication - symptomatically speaking they're an annoyance at the worse. I also try to avoid taking conventional medication for stuff unless it's strictly necesary (just out of personal preference and also cost!) Is there any medical justification for looking into some, or is it purely symptomatic relief?

(don't get me wrong, I'm sure many people with worse GERD need the meds to control their symptoms, but not sure that's the case with me)

Posted 4/22/2007 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
Browneyes31, what kind of health store did you go to?? WAs it a vitamin shop?  Because my GI doctor is so unavailable that I have all these unanswered questions.  It would be good to have a health store to go to. 

Chris711, do you have post nasal drip?  Because lately post nasal drip has been giving me the feeling that my throat is closing up as well.  I've had the lumpy feeling for months now.

Posted 4/22/2007 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Not too sure what you mean, but everything else seems normal. It started off with a tickly feeling in my throat about 2 months ago, then I went through a period of bad chest pains (at which point the Dr diagnosed it as an acid reflux problme - dunno if that means GERD necesarily, but it's similar symptomatically) Anyway, that actually seems to have eased off lately (although it's still there) and now the main thing is this constricted feeling in my throat. It's there mor0e often than not, but still not all the time, so I presume it's caused by the acid (rather than a throat infection or whatever) Might go to my doctors in the near future and see what he says. There's a family history of hiatus hernias, so might have to get it double checked.

Chris.

Posted 4/22/2007 8:02 PM (GMT 0)

friendlygal - It is an independently owned health food, vitamin, supplement, etc store.  The owner has a master in nutrition.  When I asked about GERD, he immediately said the DGL licorice & even commented that his son who was on a PPI for six years is now off of them totally.  He now takes one DGL a day.  I figured why not try & it has been 4 days with very little throat problems (I think I tend to get a mild sore throat in the am, because I sleep with my mouth open) & no burn.  Last night I even had a wine spritzer without incident.  I have eliminated all the caffeine, chocolate, rich & fatty food (& hope to keep w/this healthy lifestyle), but am hopeful that with continued watching, I may be able to have a treat now and then.

Another interesting thing I read (which by the way, my husband told me I should stop reading, because I now have everything!!) is that our throats will spasm because of the acid and sometimes they feel like there is a lump or something stuck.  Further in the article & apparently the good news is that it does go away and is not harmful.  The length of time it takes to go away is still a mystery to medicine.  The doctor that wrote the article said that you can have it one minute & it will last for months & then it's gone!

I felt much better after my ENT doctor said my throat was fine.

Posted 4/23/2007 7:54 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds promising! Look forward to the point where it goes :)

On a related note - I suppose it varies from person to person, but I can totally sympathise with your husbands comments! I had a mystery illness (quite possible stress induced itself) a few months back. The doctors seemed quite concerned initially, but couldn't pin point anything and eventually gave me a clean bill of health. Not before I'd wrongly diagnosed myself with every unpleasant illness known to science however. I'm (normally) a very self reliant, healthy, pragmatic 23 year old guy, but too much time spent reading articles off google sent me to pieces for a few months as I had a severre bout of hypochondria. You can immagine where my mind started going when I began to have chest pains from the acid reflux!
Posted 4/24/2007 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
PS Can anyone recommend symptomatic relief - gargling (water solluable!) paracetamol or something maybe?
Posted 4/24/2007 5:11 PM (GMT 0)

I have had severe post nasal drip these days.  So that must be part of the swelling in my neck for me.  So I'm going to take allergy medications for a while, even though I was tested for allergies and don't have them.  I am hoping that this will get rid of the swelling...

BTW, can reflux cause PND???

Posted 9/21/2015 4:22 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!

Miraclemom
Posted 10/14/2015 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Chris711,
Some people on the FB group I'm on for LPR/GERD gargle with 1tsp baking soda/8 oz. water. My son can't stand it, so we have begunto use carafate liquid suspension. His gastro dr wrote the prescription for it. It coats the throat and allows healing, and then prevents irritation from the reflux. My son has severe sore throat, swollen sensation throat and tongue.It took almost a year before we found out it was the reflux (allergists, ENTs,Rheumatologists,gastroenterologists). I have not tried it but some of the people on the group also use slippery elm with good results (health food store). Good luck, I hope you find relief.
Posted 10/14/2015 10:23 AM (GMT 0)
It's quite a common feeling from reflux, even if you don't get typical heartburn sensation. You could ask for a pH test to check you for reflux, or just try a modified diet or PPI to see if it helps
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply