Hope this is just Globus - (UPDATE -had scope- TERRIFIED NOW)

For the last few months I have been suffering from an issue with my throat.
It started originally with a feeling like there was a thick clump of mucus I needed to cough up. So I would cough and cough all day long and hardly anything would come up and the sensation wouldn't go.

then I started to get pain on the left side regularly, a sharp stabbing pain every now and then.

Fast forward to now and I still have the feeling of something to cough up but it really feels like it's in my vocal chord area as it affects my voice sometimes.

I also sometimes get the sensation of something moving/flapping around down there when I speak and sometimes on an in-breath too.

I hate lying on my back because it feels like my airway gets restricted in that area too., It feels generally like it's swollen and restricted.

This feeling is 24 hours a day and I can't take it anymore. I'm coughing regularly all day. I'm utterly miserable as a result.

I've tried chewing gum, sweets etc. but it doesn't help - in fact it makes it worse afterwards. However, when I first started suffering with this it did help for a while.

I have a history of Health Anxiety so of course I'm paranoid that it is a tumor. I have however had some medical tests as a result. I used to get severe reflux but had surgery to correct that (a success) 2 years ago. So, the doctor thought it would be good to eliminate that first. Meds didn't help so I had a gastroscopy and PH test. All perfect and normal so it's unlikely to be acid. They only see the throat very briefly during that procedure so couldn't say if anything was there. Doctor said my throat looks normal to look at.

A year or so ago I had a lump sensation problem which was nowhere near as bad as it is now and was a bit different so I had the camera up the nose and down the throat and ultrasound. That showed a nodule and a slightly enlarged Thyroid but was not anything to worry about and wouldn't cause the symptoms I was complaining of.

Now Doctor is saying it may be a motility issue and has given me Domperidone. I really don't think that will help. I trust this doctor as he always has a lot of time for me and knows my anxiety issues but if it was my throat muscles not working right, why would it affect my vocal chords?

Anxiety has been the cause of nearly all of my issues in the past so I guess this could be another in the long line. I really want another camera down the throat to be sure but if it's anxiety then it's a waste of everyone's time.

I just want to know if anyone else's symptoms are the same as mine I guess?
Anyone else get vocal chord discomfort with theirs? Pain? Flapping sensation? It just feels so physical a sensation.

Sorry for the long rant. I just need to let it out.

UPDATE 19th Jan:

Thanks for your replies, I didn't know I had some of them as I don't seem to be getting notifications for some reason?

Well, things have worsened since I last posted.
I have been getting pain in throat that shoots to ear.

Today I had a scope up the nose and down the throat. It looks normal apart from some inflammation on the side I get pain from.

The Dr said that unfortunately, the pain referring to my ear is a 'red flag' symptom for cancer.
Therefore I have to have an MRI of the neck to look at the areas he couldn't reach with the scope (base of the tongue etc.). If anything found then I will have an endoscopy to take a biopsy from the area.

Of course I am now absolutely beside myself with fear. I have just cried like a little baby after coming home to the wife.

I just don't know how I'm going to cope with the couple weeks I'm now going to have to wait till I know the outcome.

Post Edited (BritishBeef) : 1/19/2015 2:46:08 PM (GMT-7)

I have had a Thyroid level test a few months ago. It has always been a little off - 'on verge of hypothyroidsm' they have said. However, that level has always been the same for years and so they think it's my 'normal' level and isn't bad enough to warrant medication they say. Also the latest test showed it to be a 'little' better too.

No reason for me to think tumor apart from having health anxiety!

Thanks for reply :)

BB.,

Have you seen an allergist? Yes, anxiety can cause globus...but if your symptoms are increasing, and you've tried conventional anxiety management techniques...(PMR, meditation, breathing, use of any Rx's you take)...and it is getting worse, you many need to look into other possibilities.

Allergies could cause irritation/inflamation of that area, resulting in the symptoms you describe.

Looking into this possibility, as well as keeping up with your other physical issues (gastro and thyroid) with your doctor...and of course your anxiety management, should help you find your answers.:)

Wishing you the best...and keep us posted.

S.C.

Thanks for your replies, I didn't know I had some of them as I don't seem to be getting notifications for some reason?

UPDATE 19th Jan:

Well, things have worsened since I last posted.
I have been getting pain in throat that shoots to ear.

Today I had a scope up the nose and down the throat. It looks normal apart from some inflammation on the side I get pain from.

The Dr said that unfortunately, the pain referring to my ear is a 'red flag' symptom for cancer.
Therefore I have to have an MRI of the neck to look at the areas he couldn't reach with the scope (base of the tongue etc.). If anything found then I will have an endoscopy to take a biopsy from the area.

Of course I am now absolutely beside myself with fear. I have just cried like a little baby after coming home to the wife. To make matters worse, my 7 year old son hadn't gone to sleep and heard me hystericallly crying and came running down stairs to see what was wrong. Now he's worried about Daddy and I feel awful about that. Especially as he's picked up on my Health Anxiety and is anxious about his already. I feel like an awful father to put this crap on him like that. FFS he's only 7. He's just been back down to see me after we reassured him that I'm OK and I'm just 'stressed' saying that he can't breathe properly. What have I done?

I just don't know how I'm going to cope with the few weeks I'm now going to have to wait till I know the outcome. I'm bad enough normally but after hearing this 'Red Flag' stuff, my health anxiety is in overdrive. I think this is it, It's the real deal finally. I have cancer. What about my kids? My wife? How will they cope? How will I? I've wasted so much of my life already through mental illness and now it's going to end early too. I'm terrified of dying and don't believe in any god - I have nothing.

My wife of course is telling me "It's probably nothing, you've been here before". I don't know - this feels different. Everyone who has been diagnosed with cancer will have been told by loved ones that when they went for scans.

Sorry I'm going on and hysterically no doubt but I'm a complete mess right now.

Post Edited (BritishBeef) : 1/19/2015 2:27:45 PM (GMT-7)

Hi. I am having the same issues right now. I'm new member as of today and feel like I'm losing my mind, will to fight. My famiy thinks its all deprression but it hurts so bad. I hope some of you can be some new friends. I certianly can use them. Thanks and you are in my thoughts, prayers.

My father had throat cancer and as a family we very well know how it goes.

Well If this is going to make you feel a bit better, he didn't experience any symptoms at all, until he totally lost his voice. Not a cracky, harsh voice on and off I mean, he was like he shouted all day previous day and now you can't understand what he is saying. Permanently...

I think if you had cancer at a stage where you feel pain, you would definitely lose your voice or have notable problems with it. Because voice cords are getting effected easily.
And, even if cancer is the case -which I doubt- throat area is very treatable since spreading chance is too low in that area.

I would try to calm down and wait for further tests. I know it is very hard. I send you the best luck and wishes.
Keep us updated.

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate them.
Having the MRI this Thursday so pretty quick after my consultation yesterday.

Booked in for results consultation on Monday but I'm not sure they will be ready that early going by previous experience. I'll check with them on Thursday.

Thanks for all the comments everyone. I really appreciate them. Sorry I haven't replied sooner, just haven't felt like it. Don't feel like it now to be honest but I should keep you updated.

Had worst night of my life last night. When trying to sleep led down, I can really feel this lump and it feels like it's obstructing my breathing. It's terrifying. Took hours to get to sleep and I ended up so anxious and scared that there was no way I could sleep despite trying breathing exercises, meditation apps etc. Even when I did eventually nod off I awoke immediately in a panic. My wife is finding all this difficult to cope with (she has been amazing supporting me for 10 years of Anxiety issues) and she lost it with me in the end.

At some point at 3am I fell asleep and slept OK until this morning (many wake ups). This morning I have woken up with the lump feeling bigger than ever. I'm really scared. It feels like my air 'catches' on it as I breathe in.

I am really concerned about the MRI as I am worried that I will have the choking/breathing feeling during it as I will be led on my back. I will have to be very still. What if I have one of my many coughing fits that this lump feeling is causing?

I find it impossible to believe that this is all anxiety this time. It feels too physical.

I feel so very guilty as, like I said, my wife is finding all this too stressful now as she is snowed under at work and she has a job interview tomorrow. Yesterday she burst into tears at work (not something she would ever do). She's had to cancel her interview as a result :(

You should know that we will be thinking about you. I am wishing you best luck and please try to keep calm during the process.
Let us know as soon as you get to talk to the dr. Hopefully you will be getting good results and we will celebrate it here in forums :)

NOT cancer! Phew!

I have a slightly enlarged Thyroid, which I already knew about. I also have extremely large jaw muscles lol! Probably from teeth grinding which I do when anxious and also in my sleep. This is likely the reason for my ear pain.

As I have a history of my thyroid levels being slightly off and that that my thyroid is predominantly larger on the side of my throat I am having issues and the fact that my symptoms are getting worse, I am going to have an ultrasound to check an existing thyroid nodule that I had diagnosed before and which they don't think should give these symptoms to see if it's grown.

After the ultrasound, I will have a specialist throat gastroscopy to see if there is any restrictions down there causing my issues.

Anyway, main thing is - no tumor :)

Thanks to all of you for listening and your best wishes - really appreciated.

Me too!!

You sound so relieved, and I am glad! Just enjoy that good feeling for awhile.:)

Let us know how the rest of your search for answer regarding the thyroid issues go.

Until then...we celebrate your good news with you!

S.C.