After months of thinking I've intermittently going mad, mine turned out to be acid reflux! I dunno, because I know it's physical now and I'm not manifesting it I've started ignoring it (my stomach is more bother just now, truth be told). I guess the body gets distracted when there's a new focus. But acid reflux swells the back of my throat up sometimes, producing too much saliva (gross) and I also had oral thrush which kick started what has turned into the worst 3 months of my life in regards to health - in fact, just everything. When your health and mental wellbeing go you're so drained. I hope to get better soon! They think I have an ulcer and as crap as this outcome has turned out to be I'm gaining peace of mind in understanding my symptoms, and my GP is fortunately pretty good at explaining minute details.
I believe I am also suffering with this. I am scheduled to have my esophagus stretched as I have strictures that are a problem with actually getting food to pass. This whole lump in my throat thing is a recent development. I wonder if anyone else has actually had problems with their esophagus. Thanks for having this site as I don't feel so alone now.
I am going thru the same thing but i have to say the neck exercises does work it takes time but it works
Thank you, I'll give this a try as I'm at my wits end after almost 2 years of this 'lump in throat/back of nose' sensation ;-/
Hi, could you please tell me the web site of the exercise you are referring to? (The neck exercise.)
Thank you.
YouTube I still have it the exercises didn't work for me I suffer from reflux this is related but the more you think about it the worse it gets my doctor also told me it's stress & anxiety related it's really poo but it does come & go
Good luck Lucy hope your get better
Hi Lucy - it came from this site, if you go to the original post at the top of this page, you will find it, it is basically looking up and kissing towards the ceiling. It helped me tremendously. All the best
Ann
Also.,,,,, everyone try sandbag breathing in yoga. It down regulates an over active nervous system.
What should I search under for these excercises, my doc also said my difficulty swallowing is also anxiety related
What excercise are you referring too??
Hi / go to YouTube and look up sandbag yoga used with bags on stomach, parasympathetic. 😎
Reflux is horrible and has given me loads of anxiety. I woke up today feeling good after a day taking digestive enzymes yesterday and trying to chill out/eat more. I have to say I feel a bit better. I love days like this, I feel human!!
If I get heartburn I can feel things are uncomfortable and itchy and raw when I swallow. It makes me feel like I'll gag and my throat closes over. Same when acid comes up my throat. It makes me oesophagus tight and it spasms. So very like what you're describing!
Thanks Sandy.
Hello ellebi, I tried to msg yesterday but got deleted as it had a link in it. If you do a search on the internet of globus hystericus stretches a video comes up. try that. Best wishes.
How is everyone doing? I tried to post yesterday but got deleted. I have not had this problem since doing the stretches. I wanted to add that as an asthmatic I have been breathing in a way that worsens my anxiety. I breathe with my mouth rather than my nose and sometimes lead me to feel like I cannot take a satisfying deep breathe. This worsened my anxiety - viscious circle. I had amazing results with breathing through my nose (hard at first) and breathing out longer then my inhale. eg. in for 5 seconds and out for 6 or in for 4 and out for 5. After a while it becomes habit and so calming. Its helps regulate co2 in body and can dramatically help asthma sufferers. Just a thought in case you want to try. It can never be a bad thing to breath properly.....
Hello. I am having the exact problem. I have been suffering stress and anxiet for over 2 years and about a month ago this same very thing started. Did you ever feel like your epiglottis was inflamed?
I really hope you read this. Im going to try these neck exercises because this feeling is making my life hell. Its depressing not knowing whats going on. I also have high antibodies and thyroid problem. All started after having my son. Im going to an ENT 1st February to find out what they say. So glad I found this!
Hi Fellow Globus Sufferers,
Sorry I'm a little late to the party! I've had mild cases of globus on and off throughout my life, mostly when I've hesitantly taken a new medication that didn't agree with me. But because there was always a reason for it, even thought it was uncomfortable, I knew it would go away (ie: after I stopped taking the new med). A couple months back I had horrible pain in the upper left hand side of my stomach. It went on for a couple weeks. I could only eat liquified veggies/fruit and a tiny bit of protein because eating made it worse. My stomach under my ribs was filled with so much pressure (almost felt like negative pressure) and felt knotted up and nauseous. The Dr. did blood tests, tested for parasites, and I had an CT scan - everything came out totally normal. During that time, I had globus too - to the point where I would start to panic that my espophagus/trachea area would become completely blocked. Eventually the globus subsided when the acute stomach issue did. Now I just have stomach discomfort - mostly on and off gnawing feeling, a little nausea, and just a feeling that my gut is off somehow (slowed down digestion, air pockets in my gut, etc). Then just yesterday, here comes the bad globus and this time much worse - like I'm being choked! But, along with that, it feels either like I need to swallow something that is stuck or like I have a bunch of trapped air at the base of my throat/neck. Every once in awhile, all the pressure comes out in a bunch of tiny burps. I try to force more out but get to a stopping point where nothing comes and I have to stop because of the pressure. I burp every single time I drink something - even water or herbal tea. I can swallow but it feels different when you swallow and feel like something is trapped.
I'm very discouraged because I know my Doc will just say it's GERD and to take some antacids but when I've done that it hasn't helped. Plus, I know that antacids make your stomach worse off in the long run because it prevents your bodies natural enzymes and acids from being produced. So, here is why I'm confused - I have eliminated wheat from my diet (which I've had intolerance to) and don't each much corn or soy either. I rarely have dairy or caffeine. I eat lots of veggies, fruit, good fats, meat, and fish. I take high quality probiotics everyday, along with fish oil and vit D (I was deficient before), I have bone broth weekly (gut healer), I drink lots of herbal tea and water, I take long walks nearly everyday and do lots of stretching. I feel like I put a lot of effort into my health and don't try to just do "quick fixes" or rely on medication. So, why is this happening? I went online and tried to find ways to heal this globus - what I've done so far that hasn't made a difference is press on accupressure points throughout the body that are supposed to open up the throat/esophagus area, drink 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in one glass of water 10 min before eating to stimulate my bodies own enzymes and stomach acid for better digestion (in case the lump I feel is pressure from undigested food), yoga exercises for opening the esophagus/throat, walking, wearing a healing gemstone necklace, meditation, drinking cold and warm water, and gargling with sea salt water. So far, nothing has changed! I'm going to try the exercises you mentioned as I'm willing to try anything at this point! I'm in the process of studying for a 3 day exam to get my license to practice law, so I know that I do have stress in my life but it doesn't feel out of control. What does feel out of control is trying to focus while it feels as though I'm being choked out! Any advice or camaraderie is appreciated!
Anyone else have the burps or feeling like you need to burp in order to relieve pressure but can't?
I hope you are all feeling better than I am!
For many years, I suffered from a constant sensation of a lump in my throat when swallowing. The first time it occurred I was 40 years old and it was intermittent for 20 years. The doctor I saw then said it was globus, and caused by the fact that I hadn't had a baby and was getting old! He referred me to a psychiatrist. I didn't go. Even when physical symptoms are caused by stress and mental stuff (and I have plenty of that) I find there is usually a physical component that can be treated.
The lump sensation went unexplained and untreated. It was possibly associated with stress. I believe that during that time I also had acid reflux which was not diagnosed until 2011, when I was 61 years old. I took omeprazole for two years, then weaned myself off it and controlled the acid reflux sensation with other methods.
After about 3-4 years of the constant lump sensation, I discovered that if I turned my head to the left before I swallowed, the sensation might go away. It also bothered me less when I drank a beer before eating. I did much physical therapy for my posture (for other reasons) and after about a year the sensation stopped.
I have a schatzi ring at the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and have had trouble swallowing (different from globus). I’ve had three “throat stretches” over the last decade, the most recent Sept 2015 after I had some difficulty swallowing. At that time the doctor said that the ring was not very tight and he only stretched it a small amount. He does not think that is the problem now: recently I have had difficulty swallowing large pills and food like bread, it seems to get stuck higher up than the LES, perhaps at the Upper esoph. sphincter (UES). I had a modified barium swallow which showed two instances of leaking a drop of thin liquid into the airway. That’s all. No constriction at the UES. The speech therapist theorizes that the LES might be constricted and the esophagus backing up to the UES, slowing down swallowing and keeping liquids at the level of the airway.
My theory is that the UES went into spasm for those few years that I felt the lump sensation, and something caused it to relax, perhaps exercise, then it was reactivated by increased acid reflux.
Thankyou soooooo much for your article - I have exactly the same as what you described and it is unbelievably horrible - I have started your exercises and already on day one notice a reduction in symptoms - I'm so glad you wrote this as nobody seems to have heard of it let alone has a remedy - doc put me on diazepam which helped but didn't solve it - thankyou once again