Sharp pains inhaling, lump in throat - so scared

I have had anxiety and panic attacks since I was very small and have now been housebound with agoraphobia for years.

I am only 24, I have never smoked and i don't drink alcohol.

Recently over the past few months I have been getting a scary sensation and don't know if it's another horrible anxiety symptom or something seriously wrong.

I have been getting sharp pains in my throat when inhaling pretty much daily, it feels like the kind of horrible pains you get if you say do some exercise or go for a run. It's really scaring me.

I have also had a cough since the beginning of May so nearly 12 weeks!

I have also been getting the feeling of a lump in my throat on the right side only, sometimes feels like its in my chest too, i can feel it when i swallow and also when food passes that area. This comes on and off, but its started ever since getting the sharp breathing pains so I'm very scared and anxious. I have also been getting pain in my right shoulder too between the shoulder blades. I can't concentrate on anything properly.

Im so scared of having something seriously wrong with me. My health anxiety and overall panic disorders don't help the situation but i have been in pain with this every day since the beginning of May. I know I am only 24 so I am trying to tell myself its probably nothing serious... but all of you don't need to be told how difficult it is not to worry when you're ill and you have health anxiety, general anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia etc!

I had to go for an X-ray at a nearby hospital (hadn't been out of the house for years until then) which i had to take a lot of diazepam to even get out of my house and had so much trouble getting there. I had to try many times as I kept having really awful panic attacks and had to turn home many times before finally getting there which was a huge deal for me as i haven't been able to go out at all before this (and haven't since) but I'm so scared of the pain and dying i had to get there, anyway the results for the chest X-ray came back ok which i thought they would as it feels more like its in my oesophagus area/throat.

The dr mentioned silent reflux when he came to my home, I've tried taking gaviscon and omeprazole which i think make my symptoms worse as i feel they started after taking the omeprazole but I've not taken any of that for nearly 2 months now, i am eating healthily, only drinking water, no caffeine, but this pain makes me not want to eat much.

The dr wants me to see an ENT to put a camera down my throat, the very thought makes me anxious and panicy, no idea how il get there again and be able to have that test but i guess I'm going to have to :( :'(

Anyone had anything similar? I'm so anxious usually but this is making me so much worse!

Thank you so much much for taking the time to reply to my post "Scaredy Cat"


I will definitely get my referral to the ENT dr and have the camera test done even though it terrifies me, i need to know whats going on for my own health and so i can stop being so anxious and thinking all sorts or crazy things!

It makes it so much more difficult when you are housebound as tests etc prove difficult, i have telephone appointments with the GP usually and sometimes they have come to my home in the past to check me over, but obviously not all tests can be done at home :(

To be honest if i were able to I'd have taken myself off to A&E weeks ago, but i am just not able to do so due to the agoraphobia as its too far away, which really frustrates me. I get very frustrated when i know i need to do something but however much i try i just find myself unable to leave my home. I am very pleased that I managed to get to the X ray appointment as theres a small hospital very close so at least I've ruled out some issues by doing so.

I also have just finished seeing a specialist in agoraphobia unfortunately i didn't improve but I am never going to give up, I am young and determined to beat this !

Eevie,

You say you just finished therapy with a specialist? That is great!!! Do you have coping skills and exercises that you can continue to practice?

I found that I gained much ground after the fact...when I was finished with my CBT sessions for panic disorder. ..

...so keep working on the material you have from the specialist, and keep up hope. You will likely progress more in time!

I invite you to visit our Resources at the top of our main page here for great self help material...

...and to keep posting with us for support. :)

We are here anytime you need encouragement!

S.C.