For about 3 weeks now I have had this feeling of something stuck in my throat. The feeling is not always present. It does not hurt, nor bother me when eating, drinking, or swallowing. I have googled this and found many sites with others seeking help for same problem. Many of the sites answer that it may be GERD or acid reflux. I do not have any upset stomach or heartburn pains though. Twice in the last 2 weeks I did have a little backup come up into my throat. And I do seem to be burping just a little bit. But, maybe I am just more aware of this because I read it is a symptom of reflux. But, again, I have no heartburn, just the lump in throat feeling.
I have this same exact problem! It's been about 2 weeks. I already take meds for GERD and have for 4 years. Just wondering if you found out what was the cause of your problem. It is so annoying and of course I think the worst, like CANCER!
I do not have any upset stomach or heartburn pains though.
GERD is definitely the most likely cause of the "lump in the throat" feeling but it's very common to have GERD without an upset stomach or heartburn. The lump is usually a small area in your esophagus that has been irritated and inflamed by acid from your stomach.
It could also be that something you've eaten caused a small irritation or scratch, but that feeling usually clears up in a day or two.
For about 3 weeks now I have had this feeling of something stuck in my throat. The feeling is not always present. It does not hurt, nor bother me when eating, drinking, or swallowing. I have googled this and found many sites with others seeking help for same problem. Many of the sites answer that it may be GERD or acid reflux. I do not have any upset stomach or heartburn pains though. Twice in the last 2 weeks I did have a little backup come up into my throat. And I do seem to be burping just a little bit. But, maybe I am just more aware of this because I read it is a symptom of reflux. But, again, I have no heartburn, just the lump in throat feeling.
I had the same feelings a few years ago. I was sure it wasn't reflux either because I didn't notice heartburn. I raised the head of my bed - it didn't change anything. So I went to a GI doctor and he sprayed some numbing stuff in my nose or throat and put a very small tube down my nose to look in my esophagus. He started me on Prilosec and I take it at bedtime and when I wake up and I haven't had the feeling ever since.
(When you're laying down, have you ever noticed a little gurgling noise in your throat occasionally. That is actually a sign that you have reflux, but some people don't notice it).
Im having the same issue, i have had this feeling for about 2-3 months, it comes and goes, worst when hungry or nervous.. Im on Nexium 4th day on it no help at all...ent appt soon, any ideaS?
If it's a foreign body sensation that feels like it's more on either the right or left side (or both) then it could be tonsil stones. If it's more the middle, then possibly reflux, or even a thyroid problem as someone mentioned. Sometimes the only way to figure this stuff out is through trial and error. My dr. said some acid reflux meds can take 4-5 weeks to start working, so to the last poster, give it some time...though I'm not sure how long nexium takes.
Sorry to hijack this thread, but I am having very similar problems.
Mine began about a month ago. It started with pain in my throat that radiated to a tooth ache and ear pain. That went away and now the pain is more centralized inside my throat. The pain is definitely only on one side and if I were to guess, I'd say it was coming from my left tonsil. If I roll my tongue back down my throat as much as possible, it feels like there is a foreign body (almost like that feeling when you get a popcorn kernel stuck on your tongue).
I'm thinking its probably tonsil stones that are enlarging my tonsil. Does this sound like it could be the case? My only argument AGAINST tonsil stones is that I don't think I have bad breath, which is often a major symptom. But if I lay on my left side, when I swallow I can feel like a lump move around in my throat. The pain isn't strong and I don't have ANY pain when I swallow or eat. But if I press on the area of my throat I can definitely feel pain. I've really felt around my throat area and I don't think any of my lymph nodes are swollen (obviously I'm not a doctor but nothing feels out of the ordinary).
Does this sound like tonsil stones even if I don't have bad breath? How about the fact that I've had it for a little over a month? What can I do to treat it?
I first had the "lump in throat" feeling back in about 1994. For me there is no pain, it just feels like the lump you get before you are going to cry. It does come and go. Back then, it was annoying enough that I saw an ENT and they said there is some name for it (that included the same root word as "hysterical"), that it was more common on women. They said they didn't know why, some people just get it.
Ok, so it went away after a while and I didn't have it for a long time. About 5 years ago, I started going to a chiropractor for headaches. Turned out my neck was a mess, but my headaches gradually went away -- I hardly ever get one anymore. I know, I know, a lot of people think chiropractic is wacky.
My chiropractor says that during the healing process, sometimes you will have old symptoms in reverse order. Well, I had the lump feeling come back a year or so ago, not as bad, and didn't last as long. (I noticed in another thread, someone said their child knocked them in the neck and brought on the feeling).
I am convinced there is some interference with nerve impulses in my neck, brought on by my neck being slightly off. Since your brain controls everything with nerve impulses, doesn't it make logical sense that if there is some small compression of a nerve (thus not allowing nerve impulses to get through uninterrupted), that several things in the same area of your body would not be functioning well? (thyroid, reflux, etc.)
My suggestion is, just try a chiropractor. It can't do any harm. And it MIGHT help you without any drugs. What can you lose?
I have the lump feeling right now. I always feel panicky and hungry when I have it....and I always wonder if the affected nerve controls those things as well. Fortunately, I know this won't last. I agree that the chewing gum thing works...for me swallowing something helps, which also includes eating (even when I realize that I am not really hungry.)
Good luck to all who have experienced this. It is not pleasant, and it's worse because, unless you've experienced it, to others it sounds crazy.
Im having the same issue, i have had this feeling for about 2-3 months, it comes and goes, worst when hungry or nervous.. Im on Nexium 4th day on it no help at all...ent appt soon, any ideaS?
4 days is not enough time for Nexium to have an effect. It can take 8-12 weeks for the irritated areas in your esophagus that cause the "lump in the throat" feeling to completely heal and it make take 4 weeks before you notice any improvement.
You really need to give the medication time to work.
I have had this feeling in my throat for about 3 0r 4 years. Only way to explain it is
annoying, does not hurt. Quit smoking 5 weeks ago, has not helped yet. Feels like I have to keep clearing my throat but nothing comes up. Sorry you feel badly but relieved to know I am not alone.
Hedi
finally i found some anwsers to this ive just started having this feeling 3 days ago and its scaring me so much everytime i try to swallow i get scared that im going to choke because it feels like theres something stuck it doesnt help that have anxiety plus i do suffer from Acid Reflux so those combined can put me into a day of terror and worrysome. guess im going to try some otc acid meds for a few weeks see if it clears up. man some of you had if for months id be going crazy thinking i have some sort of unknown crazy disease
Why guess? Go to see your doctor to find out what is happening. It is dangerous to try to diagnose over the internet with limited information and without a physical examination. If your doctor's diagnose doesn't convince you, get a second opinion. Different health conditions sometimes can cause similar symptoms. A person of GERD may have very similar symptoms with you but it doesn't mean yours has to be GERD. I am a strong believer of alternative medicine but I have no reservation of using my M.D. to diagnose. Once you know what exactly is the cause, then it will not be difficult to treat the problem with natural methods.
GERD is definitely the most likely cause of the "lump in the throat" feeling but it's very common to have GERD without an upset stomach or heartburn. The lump is usually a small area in your esophagus that has been irritated and inflamed by acid from your stomach.
It could also be that something you've eaten caused a small irritation or scratch, but that feeling usually clears up in a day or two.
My doctor tells me the same thing. I've been having the lump in the throat feeling for a few months, mine is at the top of my throat. I think it is a mix of GERD and anxiety. I notice when I eat certain things or too much, or am overly hungry I get that feeling. I've also noticed that I will get that feeling for no reason at all and have it all day but when I get busy with something that totally distracts me I evenutally realize I don't have that feeling anymore
I had the same feelings a few years ago. I was sure it wasn't reflux either because I didn't notice heartburn. I raised the head of my bed - it didn't change anything. So I went to a GI doctor and he sprayed some numbing stuff in my nose or throat and put a very small tube down my nose to look in my esophagus. He started me on Prilosec and I take it at bedtime and when I wake up and I haven't had the feeling ever since.
(When you're laying down, have you ever noticed a little gurgling noise in your throat occasionally. That is actually a sign that you have reflux, but some people don't notice it).
I know this is an old post but I was just scanning some info. This is the FIRST post that has mentioned the gurgling noise. I had the lump in the throat feeling for over a year. Tubes up my nose, down my throat, blood tests, I even had thyroid surgery on a nodule and NOTHING helped. It just finally went away on it's own. I DEFINITELY had the gurgling noise and it drove me NUTS but I couldn't find anyone else that had it. I still get it now and the lump feeling comes back once in a while but nothing like before. You guys on this site were lifesavers for me when I was so terrified I couldn't think straight. Did the OP ever find out what was going on?
Hi Stina, I am a new LPR sufferer too! I have had the nasty scary symptoms for a month. I went to Germany for a research exchange, drank and ate badly, got sick right away, and the globus, drip feeling, stick in throat and all the other things you know so well started. I noticed you were going through this back in 2007 and I feel sorry that your doctors gave you the run around. I really really think we need to increase LPR awareness because I would be terrified if I had these symptoms and then realized that no doctors know it. As it is, the German ENT suspects the LPR and has me on two ppis a day (pantozol or somac). I felt relatively good today after less than 2 weeks on them. Something is definitely getting better. I've given up the alcohol, cigarettes, and foods I love generally speaking. Anyway, your story encouraged me. Did it just go away and never come back? I'm praying for the day that happens to me too. What changes, if any, did you make that finally got rid of it? When it comes back, for short periods, how long does it last typically? And also, are there a lot of people that it just clears up for? Right now, I'm going through a pretty tough time, so feel free to cheer me up. Thanks!
Hi Stina, I am a new LPR sufferer too! I have had the nasty scary symptoms for a month. I went to Germany for a research exchange, drank and ate badly, got sick right away, and the globus, drip feeling, stick in throat and all the other things you know so well started. I noticed you were going through this back in 2007 and I feel sorry that your doctors gave you the run around. I really really think we need to increase LPR awareness because I would be terrified if I had these symptoms and then realized that no doctors know it. As it is, the German ENT suspects the LPR and has me on two ppis a day (pantozol or somac). I felt relatively good today after less than 2 weeks on them. Something is definitely getting better. I've given up the alcohol, cigarettes, and foods I love generally speaking. Anyway, your story encouraged me. Did it just go away and never come back? I'm praying for the day that happens to me too. What changes, if any, did you make that finally got rid of it? When it comes back, for short periods, how long does it last typically? And also, are there a lot of people that it just clears up for? Right now, I'm going through a pretty tough time, so feel free to cheer me up. Thanks!
Hi Seeking Sunrise, yes i was VERY lucky to find this sight, without them I may have had a nervous breakdown over it. The lump feeling went away all on it's own. Usually i'd wake up and it wouldn't be there but by the time I got to work it would be there full force and would stay nearly the whole day. One morning I woke up and it just wasn't there. It DOES return once in a while but I am not frightned of it anymore and I think that makes a HUGE difference. When it does come back it can last for an hour or the whole day but no longer. It often happens if I'm overly hungry and I will usually have a hunger headache along with it. Eating almost always helps. One big thing i noticed is if I'm very busy, I forget about it and by the time I remember it was bothering me it's gone. They do believe the globus for me was partially caused by silent reflux (I'm not a big drinker and have never had a cigarette but I'm a HUGE coffee drinker so had to cut back) and I'm on protonix but I suffer from anxiety anyway and that makes it FAR worse. I'm glad you are starting to feel better. It's an aweful feeling and SO stressfull when you KNOW something is not right but the doctors tell you it's all in your head. The biggest change however was that I used to work a very high energy job at a theme park...the big wigs at my company decided they liked my energy so transfered me in to the home office & i ended up with a desk job. i hated every min. of it. I was bored, miserable and had PLENTY of time to dwell on things. I got sick a few months after I was transfered and the globus part stayed. I was so freaked out i couldn't concentrate on my job so I was transfered back out into "the field" Everyone considered it a demotion for me but I was delighted. I love being in the parks. The globus went away shortly after that.
Good Luck, hopefully it'll all be behind you soon.
