Swallowing problems, acid reflux, & endoscopy

Hi there,

I've read other threads on this topic but I don't want to overtake them!

I was diagnosed with GAD about 8 years ago, though I think I've struggled with it now and then all my life. about 9 years ago I had a short bout of globus hystericus, and as soon as the doctor confirmed that's all it was and there was nothing physically wrong, it went away.

From January to March of this year, I had bronchitis. I got on antibiotics at the end of Feb/start of March, and it went away. Shortly after, I had a slight wheeze in the mornings and was given an inhaler. Only used it about 8-9 times since then, and the wheezing seems to have gone.

I don't know if any of that is relevant, but that's the start to my year :(

In late March, I hit my head fairly hard (stood up in the cupboard under the stairs). Being a panicky person, and always fearing hitting my head, I had a few panic attacks over the course of a week.

about 2 weeks later, I began to have globus sensations again, and the doctor suggested therapy through the UK's LIFT programme. I also got a book on CBT I'm slowly making my way through. I've been to one class session of LIFT, and have a one-on-one assessment coming up. I've also been doing yoga and meditation and trying everything I can to relax, I've had a few deep tissue massages, have had fun weekends away and so forth, but nothing I does rids me of the anxiety and these sensations for more than a day.

The globus became more persistent, like the feeling of food stuck in my throat that others have described... after meals I either feel like bits of food are in my throat, or that my chest feels heavy, or I begin to panic I won't be able to breathe. Often I have to have several sips of whatever I'm drinking to get the food down, and sometimes it feels like bits of it linger in my esophagus.

I've had several panicky moments and a few panic attacks, more frequent in recent days. Yesterday after eating very soft French toast for breakfast, I had the feeling it was clogging my esophagus and I was going to choke, even about an hour or more after I ate. Eventually I calmed down but it was the scariest thing I've been through yet.

Some times it feels like mucus or phlegm, some times it feels more solid, and there have been a few blessed days where I've felt absolutely fine and was sure I had moved on!! Only to then find it came back with a vengeance.

I have tried Xanax a couple times (I have a prescription I basically only use for flying, usually lasts me about 2+ years) throughout this and both times, it calmed me completely, so I think anxiety and overthinking is a lot (if not all) of this.

This is the most frustrating, maddening, and scary thing that has ever happened to me. I'm 35, and otherwise fit and healthy, try to eat well, work out and run and play sports. But I am under a lot of undue stress, being a writer who works at home, and I've been trying to get a literary agent for over 2 years. My husband is a great support, and my family, too, though they're in the U.S. and I've been in the UK for 7 years. I think anxiety over getting older, not having sorted out a career yet nor gotten an agent despite all my work, etc. plus family health are adding to my already amped-up anxiety.

I've seen several GPs over the past few weeks. One twice has said she's certain it's anxiety and the therapy should help. Another said my oxygen levels and blood pressure were fine (he bothered to check them) and said he might recommend a low-dose anti-anxiety med, if the therapy didn't help. A third doctor referred me to the local hospital triage who decided on endoscopy. I told the doctor I would prefer an ENT referral to begin with, to have someone examine me in-office and listen to me, but the triage said the endoscopy is the way to go, to look for heartburn/acid reflux (I've had a bit of heartburn, but this might be due to stress now, who knows!). And he also noted that an ENT appointment could take months, even if I was willing to pay privately (which I would be; but waiting months is not an option).

So I've got an endoscopy booked for a week from tomorrow. I'm nervous. I think I'll choose the sedation because otherwise I may be too panicky to stop my gag reflex from postponing the whole thing. I don't seem to have much choice. My husband is fairly convinced it's anxiety-based and if the endoscopy shows there's nothing wrong then it will go away. It may be from anxiety, but the symptoms are definitely there. I've also read about cricopharyngeal spasms, but whether those are due to anxiety or acid reflux or something else, I don't know. It feels like I've gone down a rabbit hole trying to ascertain the cause myself, but the doctors are no better, especially if one at a surgery says it's only stress and the one down the hall insists on an endoscopy to "rule out anything sinister."

Thanks for reading, if you have. I've tried muscle relaxation techniques, hot baths, massages, yoga every evening, Calm.com's app, and am now doing a mindfulness online course. No matter how much I tell myself my life *really* is very full and blessed and otherwise healthy and I'm just dealing with normal things that lots of people deal with, I can't seem to get this under control. I'm not keen on taking a daily low-dose anti-anxiety med, but I AM scared of what all this daily, constant tension and anxiety is doing to my nerves and body. It's not good. Just wonder if anyone else has been in a similar boat, and how they're faring now if they've made progress. I just want to be my old self, to enjoy my husband and our holidays and my writing and take one day at a time! It's been 7 weeks of total hell :(

Hi operatic,

Thank you so much for your words... It's only been a short while since I posted and I'm sitting here feeling very anxious indeed having just had a few crackers and hummus thinking that should go down okay, and after weeks of this on-off issue, it's still here, and about an hour later I feel like the hummus is sticking in my throat. So it's really wonderful to hear from someone like yourself with kind words, who understands how disconcerting it is.

And thanks for your wishes -- I think you're right about the sedation when I do the endoscopy. Anything that can help get me through this time in a more calm manner is probably the best option for me right now.

Warm thanks!

Chickadee, Welcome to HealingWell   and the A & P Forum. This is the place to come if you have questions or concerns about anxiety/panic, related medications and their side effects and recovery. Some of our members have been living with anxiety and related disorders for years, while others are new to this disorder.   I'm sorry that your anxiety is so bad and really affecting you in a negative way. Let me see how I might help you . I am posting a link for you that may help you as it explains globus or "lump in the throat sensation"   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globus_pharyngis   Anxiety disorders may be caused by environmental factors, medical factors, genetics, brain chemistry, substance abuse, or a combination of these. It is most commonly triggered by the stress in our lives. Usually anxiety is a response to outside forces, but it is possible that we make ourselves anxious with "negative self-talk" - a habit of always telling ourselves the worst will happen. You have been doing a great job of advocating for yourself.  I understand why you don't want to take meds, however, do think it over and consider trying the meds until you get a medical dx or until you have a better handle on the anxiety. The endoscopy is a good thing as it will help identify if you have GERD or any type of medical issues.  However you may have a normal scope and continue to have symptoms. You posted, " My husband is fairly convinced it's anxiety-based and if the endoscopy shows there's nothing wrong then it will go away. It may be from anxiety, but the symptoms are definitely there". Having a positive or negative test result does not mean your sx will just disappear as Anxiety is a dx of it's own. Since each individual has a distinctive chemical composition, the nature, number, intensity, and frequency of anxiety symptoms will differ from person to person. For example, one person may have just one minor anxiety symptom, while another may have many   anxiety symptoms and to immense gravity. All combinations are common. We have many helpful resources in our Resource Thread.  I am going to share one of the breathing exercises here in your thread so you can start practicing it. The Divided Breath: Imagine your lungs as having 3 parts. The bottom third, the middle, and top third. On the inhale fill the bottom third first, then the middle and finally the third. Make sure that this is one continuous breath, but divided, with a slight pause in between each third. Hold the breath in for 3-5 seconds if possible. Exhale in reverse. First blow out the top third, then the middle, and finally the bottom third of your lungs until all air is expelled. (Remember the pauses) Repeat several rounds for a total of about 10 minutes. Practicing this every day will not only give you control and structure to your breathing, it will strengthen and loosen the thoracic muscles, allowing better, more productive breathing, and relieving the chest tightness. Keep advocating for yourself and know we are here to help. Kindly, Kitt  

C-a-D,

I think that something such as the thin skin of a blueberry would be likely to adhere to anyone's throat...and is probably not indicative of anything being wrong.

I am not a doctor however, so of course continue taking the steps that you are to get your answers...

...but this is likely one of those worries that you can let go of.;)

Best wishes on your upcoming tests!!

Keep posting!

p.s. glad that you are finding the divided breath helpful! I learned this years ago (it's an eastern yoga-type exercise) and it is the only one that has really helped me as far as breathing exercises go.;)

C-a-D,

I am so glad that you went in and got some reassurance from what sounds like a wonderful nurse.:)

If you hit any more rough patches, try to remember her words and advice, to help you get calm again.

She is trained to look for anything that would need further medical attention, and would have called a doctor in if anything looked out of the ordinary...so rest assured that all is well.

Use your coping skills to help keep your anxiety a low as possible during this time.

Also, perhaps some nutritional shakes such as Boost or Ensure (U.S. brands...yours may be different...but basically a meal replacement drink) to help you get the calories and nutrients you need if you are not tolerating solids currently.

Keep posting with us...we are here to listen and support!

S.C.