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Original poster

choking feeling in my throat - any ideas ?

55 replies

candyfluff · 05/02/2010 08:39

for over a week i have had a choking feeling in my throat ,also like there is a big lump in my throat,sometimes it hurts when i swallow - but i can still eat and havent been sick ,its there constantly and seems to get worse as the day goes on ,feels just like someone has their hands around my throat squeezing it
any ideas on what it could be
thanks xx

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Original poster

candyfluff · 05/04/2010 17:13

why would a post nasal drip cause an actual lump ?
sorry im just scared and tomorrow cant come quick enough so i can get some medical help

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mamas12 · 05/04/2010 17:21

Hi candy I sympathise atm because I'm going through something similar(my problem, as well as a lump is that my throat paralyses and I can't swallow because it won't move,it's stuck open, horrible) tests come back normal but the symptoms are still there.
Will be interested what your docs say to you tomorrow .

Fliight · 05/04/2010 17:21

Candy,

there is a very remote outside chance it could be something terribly serious, of course there is - but that's not your fault, and it isn't something you can do anything about.

It;s sadly down to luck.

Do not feel responsible for it, do not panic about it. It;s there, whatever it is, and your doctor will know probably what it is. I bet they see at least one a day,

on the lymphoma forum I visited once they said out of about 100 people posting in the past 3 months saying 'I have a lump, help!' only one was lymphoma. That was quite reassuring.

look for the most obvious thing first. Thyroid, blocked parotid gland, that kind of nonsense...can be easily dealt with...cancer is so much less likely. And even that is usually treatable.

Good luck tomorrow and please let us know what they say x

dearprudence · 05/04/2010 17:24

candyfluff, there may be something physical, like a blocked salivary gland or something, but you're seeing your GP and they will find out if there's something there.

I'm not an expert, but I am an anxiety sufferer, and the feeling of choking or having something stuck in your throat is a classic symptom. I've had it and it's horrible. I also became convinced there was a lump. It's embarrassing to say, but I was convinced that a bone had moved and was pushing into my throat through the skin at the back.

It went away, but only after a few weeks. Have had it two or three times since, and it frightens me less because I know it's anxiety and I know it will go away eventually.

Anyone would be stressed, dealing with what you're going through, so my guess would be it's a stress/anxiety/panic type thing.

Original poster

candyfluff · 05/04/2010 17:37

thanks for your replies - so heres the thing - because ive got anxiety on my notes what if they just put it down as that and dont investigate ?

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PixieOnaLeaf · 05/04/2010 17:41

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CantSupinate · 05/04/2010 17:48

If there's a lump that they can see and feel they will take it seriously!

My cousin had a very similar experience, she actually mostly stopped eating it was so uncomfortable and then she was accused of being anorexic. It turned into a many-years phobia because of the way people kept hassling her to eat more.

Cousin was treated, though it did require surgery & hospitalisation, but she was absolutely fine afterwards (and it wasn't a malignant cancer at all, if that's what you're worrying about).

She laughs about it now, the way much of her life was coloured by this ruddy growth in her throat.

feelsilly · 05/04/2010 18:14

Candy was asking if you had a full blood coutn as they can tell if there is a chance of lymphoma from doing that test, I have a lump on my neck under the angle of my jaw on the right side have had it AGES I went to GP bricking it, I thought he would say the usual "just your anxiety dont worry about it" but he didnt arranged for a full blood count and me being me said, your checking for lymphoma aren't you? He said he was just being thorough (sp?) anyway it came back normal, thank god. What time is your appt? Write things down if you want incase you forget to ask something when you are there.

Original poster

candyfluff · 05/04/2010 18:20

ive got to call for an appointmnet when it opens tomorrow at 8am hopefully sometime in the morning.
i think it was just testing for the thyroid - i cant be sure though
the lump is about a cenitmetre up from the base of my neck on the right side ,the lump is quite soft though

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Fliight · 05/04/2010 18:25

If it were cancer it would be hard.

I think I can say that with a fair amount of certainty.

It could be a lipoma or fibroademona or just a sebaceous cyst. But if it is on the outside it's unlikely to be stopping you swallowing iyswim.

Original poster

candyfluff · 05/04/2010 22:06

not its on the inside for sure

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watsthestory · 06/04/2010 08:48

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memorex · 06/04/2010 09:58

Candyfluff,

just scanned through the thread so not sure if
anyone has said this but I have had something similar - like a golf ball stuck in my throat- as a side effect of citalopram...it felt unpleasant but went away eventually.

Original poster

candyfluff · 06/04/2010 10:19

yes been seen this morning and she said - well i cant see it or feel it !!
just as i said she would say that but she could see that my voice had changed so she said she will ask them to fit me in sooner and if in the meantime im being choked to go to A&E

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mamas12 · 06/04/2010 13:05

Oh bloody hell
It's not right really that we are treated as 'symptoms' and not a whole person at the doctors isn't it.
Just investigating one thing at a time is frustratingly aggrivating isn't it.
At least she didn't think it life threatening.

Original poster

candyfluff · 06/04/2010 14:20

so ive just got to choke all the time - how lovely when ive got the 3 kids at home on half term

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Original poster

candyfluff · 06/04/2010 15:57

does nayone think i should just go to the hospital and see if they will do something - im so scared of my throat closing up its untrue

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Fliight · 06/04/2010 16:48

no, I don't,

this isn't going to strangle you, it really isn't. It's not an emergency at the moment. You could be lying in bed, having severe dyspnoea, with oxygen cans all around you and it would still not be an emergency..do you see where I am coming from here. You've seen the GP and she has told you she can feel and see nothing, she wouldn't be doing her job if she fobbed you off without actually meaning it - she CAN'T find anything wrong, and if there was something seriously wrong, she would have been able to.

They will just tell you off if you turn up at the hospital, and you will feel stupid, and probably still have it!

Save your strength and try and do something else...I know it is hard not to obsess about it but nobody can actually take that away - that's something only you can solve, iyswim.

I hope you feel better and it stops feeling like such a problem.

loopylou6 · 06/04/2010 17:28

My friend had a cyst exactly in the place you are describing, it went awayon its own, also your lump could be a thyroid goiter, which my Dad hasd, and tis harmless.

Original poster

candyfluff · 06/04/2010 21:33

its hurting to eat now

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Original poster

candyfluff · 06/04/2010 21:52

maybe i will lose some weight

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dearprudence · 06/04/2010 22:00

So sorry you didn't get any peace from seeing the GP. If they couldn't see or feel a lump, did they tell you what they thought it was? And did you make it clear how much it was upsetting/frightening you?

The last time I saw a practice nurse with palpitations I sat in her room and sobbed. A few days later when I came back for some tests and I was in a bit of a state, she popped in to see me and said 'but you were fine when I saw you on Monday. Er... no I wasn't!

Although I'm mostly happy with the treatment I've had from the NHS, I'm starting to realise that you need to be ultra-clear about what's bothering you and what you're hoping the GP can do about it.

Fliight · 07/04/2010 07:14

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Original poster

candyfluff · 07/04/2010 13:21

curious to hear what you wanted to say fliight ?

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Original poster

candyfluff · 07/04/2010 13:26

the lump can be seen by family - as ive asked them which side do they think its on and they all said the right side - i know by body and i know there is something there
the gp didnt really feel much on my neck as she just felt under the chin area ? maybe looking at the glands there - i told her it lower down but she didnt seem interested - i think i wasnt clear enough when i should of told her how much it was bothering me

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