Posted by Debby on January 21, 19104 at 20:56:23:
In Reply to: I AM NEW!!! AND YES I HAVE THE LUMP....errrrrr posted by Lisa on November 06, 19102 at 14:53:55:
Dear All, I just happen to be browsing late tonight and I came upon this site. I am 53 years old and started with the lump thing at age 19. Now don't get discouraged! Way back then nobody knew what to call it or how to help me. I also started with anxiety attacks at the same time. Let me assure you all--- you are not dyinng and are not terribly ill. I know the sensations are very freightening and real and I've experienced all those that everyone has described. In recent years, I've found that the Clonazapan (Klonopin) works best. I take one .5mg before work each day and I get through pretty well. Concerning the feeling of wanting to swallow so much, the more you do it the worse you fel. There are products that you find in the drugstore right by the toothpaste and mouthwash, they are called Biotene. There is gum, toothpaste, and a gel that help to moisten your mouth and make swallowing easier. I keep the tube of gel in my purse and when I'm especially tense I put a dab in my mouth and swish it around. I've also found that a quick brief cry, like in the restroom will relieve the tight feeling. The turtleneck tightness that you all describe is exactly right on. I love turtlenecks but find that if I wear one I am even more aware of my swallowing. It's late but I'd like to keep chatting here especially since I have been living with this for so long. I might be able to help someone else. We will be OK, we have to believe that! Debby
THANK GOD for this message board. Ok my story...a little long but maybe someone can help me and I can help them.
: Ok. It started about 3 months ago. I started having what I was almost sure was anxiety/panic attacks. I had alot of physical symptoms. I would have attacks at least 4 or 5 times a day. My symptoms would be...short of breath, feeling of doom like I was going to die, sometimes chest pain, tingling in my head, dizzy, being really really scared. I couldn't hardly do anything...especially sleep. Then about a week later I got what felt like something in my throat like a lump. At first I thought it was just from being tense and feeling like I was going to cry. Which that what it feels like only sometimes worse it's like that feeling of a lump in your throat when your about to cry or holding it back. So finally I couldn't take the attacks or the lump anymore and went to my doctor which I was really scared cause I thought it might be something really bad. So my doctor tended to my attacks first and pretty much said I was having anxiety/panic attacks...then she took a scope...sprayed my throat and look at the my throat with the scope and she said she didn't see anything. She left the room I guess to consult with another doctor and came back and said what she thinks I'm experiencing is globus hystricus. Which is from all my muscles including my throat tensing up cause my throat to have spasms which causes the ball feeling in my throat. I was very doubtful. Just didn't make since to me. Anyways, she gave me Celexa to try, its like Paxil and the other anti-depressents. But on the second day of the Celexa I woke up having a severe panic attack...I thought I was having a heart attack. So I took myself of it. Then she perscribed me Clonazepam and I started taking 1/4 of it when I need it and it seemed to help. At the time all of this was going on I was having alot of problems with my teeth and some of the ER doctors I had seen through all of this said it might be my teeth causing this. So they put me on all kinds of antibiotics throughout this. But they didn't help my lump. So after 4 weeks and $3,000 all my teeth are fixed. But still I have the lump. I did stop taking the Clonazepam during this since I was taking so much medication (Lortabs and Keflex). So today I'm going to start taking my Clonazepam again. But I do think there for a while it was helping the lump. But then I stopped and it came back. Like right now...the lump is so back it is actually hurting. It's driving me nuts.
: I am also going back to my doctor Nov. 19th for a re-check and I am going to have her do some x-rays just to make sure and whatever other test I would need for this problem.
: As of today I have been panic attack free for 4 weeks but the lump is still there. I just wanna be normal again.
: If any of you want to talk through email about our lumps (lol) or if you suffer from panic/anxiety attacks too email me and we can support each other and talk about our symptoms.
: sky4evercc@yahoo.com
: Peace, Love and God Bless-
: Lisa