Posted by Tami Newman on September 16, 19102 at 03:29:42:
In Reply to: Re: Lump in throat posted by Chris on September 11, 19102 at 13:23:47:
Hello--I'm going for an ultrasound of my thyroid this morning due to this lump in my throat feeling. Then--I am being sent to an ear, nose and throat specialist. I might back up and add that I was prescribe xanax for 4 and 1/2 years and it totally screwed me up so I checked myself into a detox unit nearly 6 months ago to free myself of the medication. I feel great that I am no longer dependent on the medication but have had the lump in throat feeling just about ever since withdrawing from the drug. Xanax dependency is a nightmare to overcome and withdrawal symptoms last up to 18 months. I never had this choking/lump feeling before discontinuing the medication. However, I will keep the lump if it means going back on some type of drug like xanax. It's just that the lump scared me half to dealth as I note it has others who have posted here with the same condition. I have been prescribed medication for reflux as well which didn't do anything. I also had the endoscopy (spelling) which revealed that I had mildly irritated vocal cords--anyone else find that they had this? I notice that someone posted a cure for the lump here by suggesting durgs in the benzo or anitdepressant family. Before you consider this, I suggest you do a search on the drugs mentioned to understand the nightmares they can create for you. I seriously believe if my lump is due to stress it will resolve itself without my going back on some type of addictive medication. I do wonder, though, if those of you experiencing this ever get short periods of relief. I do. It might stop for a few hours and then return. The fact that it does this makes me believe that it is due to a spasm and not some permanent growth. I have joined the support group at yahoo that someone offered in a posting. Support groups are great. I am currently in a yahoo support group for the xanax withdrawal and have found it to be a life saver! I hope to exchange messages with some of you there. Yes, it is a relief to find that others have this same condition; however, I am so sorry that you are experiencing this because I know how miserable and scary it is.
: What a relief to find that there are so many people displaying the same annoying discomfort that is the throat lump. After reading through a goodly portion of the postings, I've noticed a few people that had the gassiness/burpiness that I constantly feel. What I haven't seen mentioned though is the problem of trying to burp, and having food come up the esophagus instead. It isn't acidic, which leads me to believe that the food didn't ever make it all the way to my stomach. It seems a logical explanation for a lump in the throat, if in fact there is some sort of object lodged down there.
: I have been for a barium swallowing/upper GI, to no avail. Everything was normal. I somehow question the validity of that test though, since you're swallowing a liquid, and not solid food.
: Am I the only one here with this particular strain of the lump? Has anyone else experienced these symptoms?
: One other thing. I'm only 25, and relatively healthy, but I was convinced that I had throat cancer, due to smoking. I was finally able to quit a couple of weeks ago, only to find that the sensation went away about a two days later. Came back a couple days after that though, so I think the act of quitting might have relieved some stress, and made it go away. I'm speculating here, but that's what these postings are here for, right?