Feels like something is stuck in my throat

[SpideyMom]

Help? I'm really fed up now. It's been 4 weeks of feeling like this. Literally feels like something is stuck in my throat. I tend to need to burp slot. I've been treated for acid reflux and it's still here and driving me mad. And to be honest really starting to worry me. Could it be hayfever? Though piriton is having no affect on me either. I've never had hayfever before but I have no other symptoms if it is.

Any tips or advice?

Thanks in advance

@KindnessCrusader
Slightly better but it’s only been about a week since I got the medication.
I have a follow up appointment in about 3 weeks.
Also I was given a very long list of what not to drink and eat.
Are you on the same medication?

Good luck today OP.

If you tell them how much pain you sre in they might offer you sedation. If they do, say yes please.
I didn't have anything but the throat spray for my first gastroscopy and it was bearable. The second one, I had had such severe pain for so long, they gave me diazepam.

@SpideyMom mine has never progressed to pain in the chest area, but I have had inhalers since a couple of months in for wheezing and a 'dusty' chest. I don't feel like mine has got worse but it hasn't got any better.
Yesterday I had a long planned hip op and I was terrified of the general anaesthetic because of the breathing issue. I almost just cancelled the op (I've been waiting for for 8 years!) because I was so worried. Hopefully it will make you feel better that it was absolutely fine-the anticipation was far worse than the actual thing.
I so hope you get some answers today. I'm so amazed your GP hasn't been more supportive-and that that seems to be a running theme on the thread.
Thank you for starting this thread though it's amazing how many people are experiencing this and very useful to read suggestions/commiserations/diagnoses etc.
Good luck today

Hi @LittleMissRainbow I've just started back on the Omeprazole alongside the Gaviscon advance. It didn't help at all last time. I really hope it improves for you.

@KindnessCrusader
Thank you.
I hope it helps you and you feel better soon.
I too was on omeprazole and gaviscon advance for 3 months and it did nothing for me. GP just kept increasing dosage so I ended up on 80mg of omeprazole - ENT consultant was quite shocked by that. I was told it was too high without proper examination and diagnosis.

Hi everyone. So it's been done and I'm delighted to say she found nothing wrong. I say I'm delighted, obviously I am, however it doesn't make sense why I feel the way I do and for long as long as I have.

There wasn't even any sign of reflux which I was shocked about as I bring up acidy burps and also there is a thick white foam at the back of my throat. She was confused why I feel the way I do however I will take the positives from this that nothing serious has been found. Although there is no sign of reflux she has asked me to stay on the esomperazole for 6 months at least!

The procedure itself was actually OK. I'm not going to lie I was terrified. It probably didn't help that I arrived 20 minutes early for my appointment and it turned out that they were running late so when I actually ended up having my procedure done I'd already been there nearly an hour and a half. I could feel myself wanting to cry as whilst I was waiting in one of the rooms I heard some commotion going on with another patient and it just made me feel horrible, like what the hell is going to happen to me. I told the nurse doing it that I was really scared and that I was going to close my eyes and I'm glad I did because I didn't want to see what was going on. The worst part of it for me was the swallowing of the camera, at that point I felt myself wanting to cry and I went into abit panic however i was told I was over the worst and to regulate my breathing which I actually found really really easy. Something which I was scared I wouldn't be able to do was breathe so it was fine.

Im not saying that it isn't as horrendous as others have told me when I've asked, as everybody reacts to things differently. But my experience of it really wasn't bad at all and if I had to have another in the future I would probably be scared because at the end of the day it would be somebody else performing it, however it really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. It maybe took no more than 2 minutes and after the initial swallowing of the camera I was fine. So anyone who has to have it please do not worry. I wasnt sedated either and I'm glad I wasn't. From having it done to leaving it took no more than 15 minutes. If id have been sedated I would have been there hours and needed someone to accompany me

I think that's good news @SpideyMom - you've got the confirmation nothing sinister is going on. I strongly advise trying apple cider vinegar if you haven't already!

Ok I will. Also going to start the esomperazole too

So pleased you're 'ok' IYSWIM

@SpideyMom
So happy for you it’s nothing serious x

@SpideyMom mine was a dairy intolerance which i thought was nonsense, cut it out and i have not had 1 symptom since.

Really how interesting. Today I did ask about intolerance but that was obviously outside of their dept

Glad everything was ok, i was told esomprazole for 6 months too as apparently it’s the superior ppi, time will tell I suppose

Hi everyone. Sorry I've been quiet. I've taken this weekend to try and feel better. I've felt so ill for so long now. I've had a pretty nasty wisdom tooth removal recently too so that's caused endless pain in my face, neck, head and shoulders.

So yesterday was a bad day for my throat. My diet wasn't great and it really affected my throat. Yesterday consisted of alot of sweet stuff and ive been so down I binged. My throat felt bloody horrendous which made me order a food intolerance test to see if food could be my issue. Today I woke up determined to not binge and not eat anything sweet. Ive also started the esomperazole (or whatever it is) and ive had a good day. I can feel the lump and tightness but it's better, and ive even managed to eat and food not affect me like it normally does. I highly doubt day one of the new meds has made the difference as I suspect I need to be on it longer, but im starting to wonder if its sugary things that are affecting me? Then again its early days and I could have bad days ahead, but I hope I won't. I feel better knowing she was confident there was nothing of concern. Im also really pleased I managed to stay calm though the procedure as I really am a massive wimp.

How's everyone doing? I'm so glad I started this thread months ago. I appreciate everyone's input and I'm glad we are here together

Sorry to read about your wisdom tooth issues on top of everything else. I have been on esomeprazole for over a week and the lump in my throat has definitely improved. Similarly, from the first tablet I took, I could feel a noticeable difference. I tend to take it an hour before I eat and have noticed that when I have certain meals (usually with bread or bad carbs), the lump feeling comes back a bit, but nothing like before. I am also taking ACV every morning too. I'm worried as my prescription finishes on Friday, but I'm seeing the doc on Thursday, so hopefully he can extend the prescription - all depends on my h.pylori result. Today I had some sweet stuff, but not a lot. I had only one slice of toast and didn't have any throat issues, but did have some twinges in the upper part of my stomach. I think my doc is going to recommend and endoscopy and i have read about your experience, which has helped me feel calmer about it. However, I think I will be taking sedation as you are clearly a lot braver than me.

@mylipsarechapman you are the 3rd person now to say they felt an improvement straight away on this new medication. I wasnt sure but maybe it is the superior one to be taking.

I've definitely felt the lump however noticeably different than I've been experiencing. Ive been able to relax today with it and whereas I'd be swallowing loads to try and shift it, I've been swallowing (I think out of habit now) and its not sent me into a panic.

Its now 11.50 and I've not snacked today other than a bag of crisps. Not going to lie the last hour and a half I could have easily gone into my DS treat cupboard but I've not...turns out I do have some willpower in me lol. After the sweet binge yesterday and how awful my throat and chest felt I really do want to avoid sugary stuff. I need to cut back on it anyway so this will be my opportunity. Had to fall in December though didn't it. Meant to be starting my Reeses Advent Calendar this week lol.

Im not sure how an endoscopy is different to the gastroscopy but I imagine they both involve have a camera into your stomach. But honestly you will be fine. Im not brave. I spent most of the morning abit teary, and the waiting beforehand at the hospital was horrible. I really didn't want it. Both my dad and sister have had them before and let's just say their experiences of it didn't help my anxiety towards it. I can only speak for myself and wouldn't judge anybody for having sedation but it was over far too quickly for it to be worth it for me. I had the school run to do after lol. My letter told me to allow up to 2 hours. I wasnt far off that to be fair leaving in just under 2 hours. But from walking to the room, being prepped, having the procedure, going into recovery and being handed my letter and discharged it was no more then 15 minutes. The camera part being maybe 2 minutes if that. When you get your appointment try and keep calm, although I know if I had to have another I would still worry, its perfectly natural. But what I will say is you can 100% still breathe as you normally would during the procedure. This was my fear that I wouldn't be able to and would be constantly gagging. The worst part was the swallowing of the camera and it is that point you have to stay calm and take big deep breaths to regulate your breathing again. If I hadnt then I would have spent the time choking and possibly making it take alot longer than it needed to. They said as i remained still and cooperative it makes it alot easier. Before you know it its over. Even having air pumped into the tummy was fine and having the camera removed. If I was asked which was easier, a camera down the throat or a camera up the bum (soz lol) i'd 100 percent say its the camera down the throat.

Honestly though you will surprise yourself. You'll be fine

Thanks for the reassurance @SpideyMom. I will try to stay calm about it (on the surface anyway ha!).
It could be good intolerance as today I've mainly had fats and protein and not been as bad. I guess I have to wait and see what the h pylori test says and get to the bottom of it. 9 months of this is enough now. I hope the tablets work for you. I've read about them not helping many with similar symptoms but there's a few different types, so it depends on the person. Fingers crossed we can get some comfort soon.

*food intolerance

Well today is absolutely horrendous and I've not touched anything sweet. I could cry

@SpideyMom this may or may not be any consultation but my oesophagus pain was really bad for a few days after my endoscopy too. At the time I thought it might be linked to poor sleep/ stress as I was so surprised the results had been clear and stupidly went on a Dr Google search trying to find another reason for the pain and had a good few insomnia nights doing that...

Now a few months later in hindsight I do wonder if there is/was just lots of inflammation in the area that wouldn't show up in a camera - not necessarily in the oesophagus but just the whole area and it got irritated by the camera.

Things that work for me: apple cider vinegar; hot water bottle on my chest and I've also taken quite a few supplements (turmeric as a natural anti-inflammatory; probiotics; good multivitamins etc). And always gaviscon advance before bed. It's a lot better for me now...

Thanks @givemeanother how do I take the ACV?

I take the ACV with a glass of water and 1 tablespoon of the vinegar. Also take turmeric too.

@SpideyMom good question to ask, don't drink it near! I add a tablespoon to a cup of herbal tea, or you can just dilute in normal water. Buy one with 'the mother' in it as that is most effective. I hope it works for you...cleared my throat within days and I think keeps the chest area less painful too.

@SpideyMom how are you getting on? Is there any improvement yet?