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Feels like something is stuck in my throat

613 replies

SpideyMom · 19/04/2020 22:18

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

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Proudnana3 · 27/06/2020 13:53

Thank you hayfeverhellish, it really annoys me sometimes it’s hardly noticeable but I keep swallowing to check and then feel it bad again, The dryness is much worse when I am outdoors I find chewing gum helps when I’m out. I’ve used gaviscon advance now for 2 weeks but only twice daily so perhaps need to do it more regularly. One minute i feel it on one side then the other and then it’s just central and feels like I have a piece of skin stuck that I can’t swallow. I hoped the Amitriptyline would help me stop focusing on it constantly. So glad you’re feeling better sm.

SpideyMom · 27/06/2020 14:52

Mine is horrible at the moment. So thats defo no more cheese or chocolate for me! I've been abit reluctant to really look at my diet massively as I was more worried about that was in my throat. Now I know there's nothing, I've got to start eliminating foods that are making me feel like this. Feels like my throats covering over

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Proudnana3 · 27/06/2020 15:37

Chillie gives me that feeling I remember thinking that before any lockdown but because I wasn’t dwelling on it then I didn’t really let it bother me and eventually it eased off until I ate them again. I always remember having an off and on sore throat as well but it’s not felt sore at all since I’ve been taking the ppi and gaviscon just all the other sensations instead

Autumn101 · 30/06/2020 10:05

How are you doing Spidey?

I’ve having a tough day, the feeling of something in my throat is awful - eating or drinking anything makes me gag and I just want to rip my throat out!

I’ve changed my diet so much and still so miserable with it, when will this end?!!

SpideyMom · 30/06/2020 16:09

I'd love to say I am doing much better but I am the opposite, and I am so upset.

Since Saturday it's felt horrendous. I've had burning, soreness and constant nausea. It feels like something is growing over my base on my throat. It's really annoying me now as even despite having a camera I cannot shake this feeling.

The doctor wouldn't give me Gaviscon Advance as its one the the medications they have been told they are no longer able to give. So ive had to buy it myself and so far its not making any difference.

Honestly its felt awful to the point I could cry. I just want to feel normal again

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Proudnana3 · 30/06/2020 18:01

Give the gaviscon time it should help. I’ve got my appointment next Tuesday, I have to go to a pop up clinic as they are not doing hospital outpatients.

SpideyMom · 30/06/2020 18:08

Fingers crossed for you proudnana. I know these things take time but I'm just feeling really impatient now and I want it gone. Because I feel it all the time it's all I can think about

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Autumn101 · 01/07/2020 10:59

I’m so sorry to hear that Spidey, it’s rubbish isn’t it?? It’s the first thing I think of when I wake up and the unrelenting nature is so draining.......

I’ve got Gaviscon Advance now too as well as the H2 drugs. Are you taking any other medication? One thing I was told is to not take them within 2/3 hours of having Gaviscon as that can stop them being absorbed properly.

Also trying to minimize stress which is hard!! We’re about to move back to UK from the Middle East (not our choice unfortunately) and have no idea about schools, how long it’ll be for so it’s all consuming!

I have everything crossed that in a few weeks things will look different

Proudnana3 · 01/07/2020 12:38

Thanks sm, I was worried it would not go ahead as my appointment is in Leicester ☹️ Luckily we have not been included in the local lockdown as we are on the outskirts. I’m sure it s no coincidence that our symptoms started with the pandemic it’s such a depressing, stressful time.

SpideyMom · 01/07/2020 16:47

Turns out the doctor gave me lansoperazole again. Im certain he never said this however I'm back to taking it again. Only been given 1 a day however I'm having to take 2. So far its feeling better. Still down about it though

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highlandcoo · 02/07/2020 23:44

OP I haven't been able to read the full thread so sorry if this is advice you've had before but if you are on ezomeprazole/lansoprazole or similar have you also tried a very very bland diet?

For me to get rid of similar symptoms I had to cut out lots of things and for weeks only ate plain chicken, mashed potatoes, bread, yogurt and so on. Very very boring but worth it and to my huge relief it did the trick and little by little I could reintroduce more varied food.

I can now pretty much eat anything although would still avoid very hot chilli or curries.

Acid Reflex for Dummies was very helpful in knowing what foods are most troublesome.

I hope you find the answer. It's a miserable condition and in my case I was virtually having panic attacks and feeling my throat was closing up. But now it's infinitely better.

highlandcoo · 02/07/2020 23:55

Oh, and I still take ezomeprazole and probably always will but that's fine.

Used to be constantly burping when it was bad but that's once in a blue moon now and only if I overdo it with very rich food.

I'm happy to give you more detailed advice about what worked for me re what to eat and what to avoid if you think it would help Smile

AngeG · 03/07/2020 01:08

Interesting for me to find this thread tonight.
I had similar symptoms to you, burning in the chest, feeling of a lump, burping etc, but also had terrible nausea as well, it got to the point last summer where I couldn't do anything for feeling so ill, I honestly thought I was dying, I lost over 1.5 stone in about 6 weeks as I just couldn't eat anything,
Every dr I saw said it was anxiety (and there was indeed an element of that) but it was more because I felt so unwell!
In the early stages I had omeprazole, but I had a reaction to that, made me panicky, raving heart beat etc, so they put me on ranitidine instead, although it helped a bit, it wasn't enough.
Finally after going back and forward to the drs for 6 weeks, they put me on a combination of lansoprazole and ranitidine (can't get this any more) and sent me for the camera down the throat,it showed I had acid reflux, a hiatus hernia and oesophagitis (which I think is basically damage where it had been burned by the acid so much) I honestly though I would never feel better or be able to eat again. I changed my diet and carried on with the meds including gaviscon advance (but not within 2 hours either side of the the others) finally after about maybe 4/5 months I started to feel like normal again. I'm now able to eat/drink pretty much what I did before, although I'm still wary.
I sleep with a wedge pillow as found lying flat was terrible for it, I'm still taking the meds and will likely have to for life, but it's so worth it to feel better.
Any way what I'm trying to say in a very long winded way, is that if the oesophagus is damaged it can take a long time to heal so give the meds a few months at least and take the gasviscon as well if you need to!

Autumn101 · 03/07/2020 06:16

Highlandcoo and Ange - I’m sorry you’ve also suffered but thank you so much for posting, it’s very reassuring to hear of others out the other side! I’ve been so down thinking this would never feel better and I’d never be able to enjoy eating again......

I had the endoscopy last week which showed GERD and oesophagitis plus I had polyps from reacting to the PPIs. I’m now on Famitodine (slightly more potent than ranitadine) and Gaviscon Advance.

I’ve been feeling so desperate that I wasn’t feeling better even on a bland diet and I definitely think stress/anxiety is high which isn’t helping.

I’d love any tips or advice you both have

SpideyMom · 03/07/2020 08:48

Same here. Any advice an tips are welcome.

Its been a week since my camera and the reassurance theres no lump but I feel horrible. Only had 2 days where I've felt okish. I'm eating much less this week because of it. Cheese and chocolate are definitely two foods I cant eat right now. The feeling in my throat after those is awful

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highlandcoo · 03/07/2020 08:53

No problem OP.

My experience sounds very like Ange's. I agree that it can be a gradual process to heal your throat but we've both done it successfully. You can feel hopeful.

I have a busy day so can't add more now but I'll come back later.

highlandcoo · 03/07/2020 08:56

Oh, and Autumn too. I was getting confused who was who there!

See you later Smile

wheresmymojo · 03/07/2020 10:37

I know it sounds woo but it really isn't and there are scientific studies that now back it up.

Have you tried hypnotherapy?

It is brilliant for things with a psychological element.

I know an amazing hypnotherapist who works via Zoom if you want a referral.

Autumn101 · 03/07/2020 11:05

Wheresmymojo - yes please share, I’ll willing to try anything!!!

wheresmymojo · 03/07/2020 11:46

This is the link:

hhchypnotherapy.co.uk

She's absolutely wonderful and very ethical - if she thinks she can't help once you've had a chat about it she'll say so. Worth a go!

I know that she's cured a lot of phobias, anxiety, etc so if there is a psychological element I think she could really help.

wheresmymojo · 03/07/2020 11:48

Just say Sarah on Mumsnet referred you...I'll let her know I've put her link here

AngeG · 03/07/2020 11:50

Aww ladies I'm so sorry you're suffering but I do totally understand how you're feeling. It really is so debilitating.
It will get better.
I found the wedge pillow at night an absolute life saver, I'd been sleeping on the recliner sofa downstairs for months before finding it.
I do believe changes in what I ate/drank and when made a big difference too!
I totally eliminated fizzy drinks and caffeine, in fact I pretty much drank plain water, except for the odd smoothie (but had to be so careful what was in it)
I think I'd got into a terrible cycle with food, where I didn't eat because I felt pain and nausea, but then I felt those things and worse (blood sugar dips, more acid etc) because I wasn't eating!
The old eat little and often was really helpful and I tried to eat the last meal of the day no later than 6pm to allow time to digest before going to bed.
I stopped eating anything spicy, citrus fruits and drinks, anything with tomato/onions in, chocolate and fizzy drinks.
Very much plain and easy to eat food, intact I think I survived pretty much on mashed potato/veg, ham and lettuce sandwiches and small amounts of chicken for a while.
The good news is that I can now 10 months on from the gastroscopy eat and drink all of the things I cut out, I'm still careful to limit them, but if I fancy a coke or a bar of chocolate I'll have it!
Some days are better than others and stress does play a part, I did in the early stages have some hypnotherapy to help with the anxiety, which I do believed helped, I also used the headspace app, to try and keep myself calm.
All these things helped, but the game changer for me was the lansoprazole regularly, I remember times when I thought I would never feel better or be able to eat properly again.
Any questions please ask.

highlandcoo · 03/07/2020 16:47

Hi again

The exact title of the book I mentioned is Heartburn and Reflex for Dummies. Good clear explanations and chapter 6 deals with what you should and shouldn't eat. It divides foods into red, yellow and green according to how damaging/helpful they are to the oesophagus. I started with only green foods, and introduced yellow ones gradually. I'm still a bit careful with some of the red list, like raw onion and chocolate, although almost anything is OK on the odd occasion.

I agree with what Ange says above. Avoid citrus everything and cranberry, plus tomatoes, onions, leeks and be careful with garlic. If you think of sharp or acidic tastes in fruit, these are the ones to avoid. Pineapple was bad for me. Berries are in the middle and the fruits least likely to cause a problem are bananas and apples.

In vegetables, peas, carrots, baked or boiled potatoes, broccoli, green beans and cabbage are all OK.

One tip is to eat a couple of spoonfuls of plain yogurt at the end of every meal as it leaves a layer of bland food at the top of your stomach. That wasn't official advice but I did it and it seemed to work.

And avoid very rich, fatty or greasy food. As little butter as possible. No cheese at first. No ice cream. No rich sauces.

Nothing extremely hot or extremely cold. No scalding drinks and no ice.
Absolutely no Coke. And avoid fizzy drinks. Try to avoid alcohol. I found Prosecco and white wine particularly bad. A little light red wine was easier to cope with. I gave up caffeine and drank roobois tea instead, in fact now I prefer it.

I agree with eating smaller amounts and not late in the evening. You don't want to be trying to digest food while lying down.

I found a wedge pillow a bit awkward so I put bricks under the head of the bed and that worked for me.

It does take time but it is so worth sticking at it. It should really help. And once you've got it under control you can ease up a bit and eat more of what you want.

Best wishes Smile

SpideyMom · 03/07/2020 20:44

Thank you. May i just ask, (I'm trying my best to believe it's reflux) because I'm getting very little pain. Is this really reflux. Ive started panicking something is really wrong again. Its just a sensation that there is something in my throat. Like a hair feeling, lots of phlegm (sorry). Saying just is totally wrong because its making incredibly miserable now. The lansoperazole and gaviscon aren't doing anything now and the more I am swallowing to get 'rid' of it, I can feel my throat is becoming sore. I'm having to force myself to eat as I'm at the point its making me so nauseous too. All I've had today is a piece of bread, 2 coffees and a bowl of cereal. Im sick of feeling sick

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Proudnana3 · 03/07/2020 21:40

I am the same no problem but the sedation in my throat , no pain, no burning, no nausea just feeling of mucus in my throat eating actually makes me feel better