Could this be GERD?

About 6 weeks ago I had a bad cold that went away, 2 weeks later I started having a pain in my upper throat along with a "lump in the throat" feeling. I have always had on and off heart burn, so immediately thought GERD. It didn't feel like a sore throat, just a pain in the upper throat, a lump feeling. I don't feel any discomfort when I first wake up or when I swallow. Eating actually makes it feel better. So, after two weeks I went to a family practice Dr. He looked in my throat and saw nothing wrong. He prescribed Protonix to treat Gerd. after 2.5 weeks, I did not feel any better. (Remember the discomfort is CONSTANT andd only relieved by eating or sleeping) So, I went back to the DR. and again saw nothing in the upper throat region. So, today I am going to see an ENT under his recommendation. Do you think this still could be GERD OR some kind of esophageal infection? If I had an infection, should I have other symptoms? I am so nervous about this and am afraid it's something serious. also, I know how powerful the brain is and the anxiety I feel along with the contstant thought of something being very wrong could be making this worse.

Please advise.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The "lump in the throat" feeling is known as a globus sensation.  The ENT evaluation is the right next step.  GERD can certainly be a possibility.  An ENT evaluation for laryngoscopy to rule out any masses would be a reasonable next step.  Another consideration would be upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction.  This should also be considered by the ENT physician.

If the ENT evaluation is not revealing, I would consider a 24-hr pH study or upper GI series to demontrate whether GERD is present or not.  If it is, and not controlled with the protonix, you may want to consider surgical therapy to control the GERD.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[StaciLynn]

Hi!  I have had that lump type feeling at times and it was either acid reflux or at times anxiety.  If I ate it didn't bother me, but if I thought about the feeling of a lump being there it got worse.  The doctor felt I just needed to take an antacid, and while that may have been true, I know part of it was from my anxiety thinking something was wrong.  While I don't get it every day now, I do sometimes get it especially when I think about it.  I don't think it is anything serious and I read on the internet that there is even a name for that feeling called globus something or another.  If you look up lump in throat and do a search, you will see exactly what is it called and see that what you have isn't unusual at all.

[yoshi]

i have learned from trial and error -what you eat and when you eat make a difference.
some food could trigger the symptoms-hot,spicy food,dairy products,cabonated drinks,fried fat,heavy meat etc tec,chocolate,nuts.
try not to eat heavy meal in the evening.

[tw26]

Hi, I was having the same problem. It drove me crazy, I had so much anxiety because I thought that there was something seriously wrong with me but it would go away when I would eat or drink something.  I finally went to my ENT and he looked down my throat with a mirror and said that nothing was there and to give it a few weeks because I also had mild acid reflux/postnasal drip/anxiety.  After a few weeks that feeling of a lump in my throat was still there, so the ENT ordered a Barium Swallow and nothing was found except mild reflux.  Ever since then I have had really no more problems - I think a lot of it was anxiety related.  Hope this helps, good luck.

[tony38]

I have many of the same symptoms as the rest of you.Started as sore throat and lump in the throat right around my adams apple.Scratchy voice and this constant annoying lump and tighting in my throat.Went to ent 3 times and had the scope down my nose.He saw some mild irritation,gave me nexium and told me to use gaviscon.I did it for a week and no relief,went back and got scoped again.Not much irritation,no tumors or growths in throat.I did have popping in my ear and thick nasal drip.Wife had this a month and it was a sinus infection,not even gerd or reflux.I do have some reflux.By now I am nervous as hell.Read about something called Barrets esphogus which you can get after years of acid and irratation.I stress that it says after YEARS!!!not weeks or months.So now stress and anxiety are taking over.Went yesterday for an esphogram .had to swallow barium and take x rays.All negative.NO GERD>SO WHAT IS THIS FEELING!!!IT consumes my every thought.Tomorrow I am going for an endoscopy.I will be sedated and a camera will go all the way down my esphogus.The doctor reccomended this but I want it anyway.I need peace of mind.As long as nothing is found.I am told this is the most accurate test to determine the problem.I hope it is all ok for me and all the rest of you with this problem.

[SOMIE]

i myself have been feeling some type of lump on my throat.i went to the endocrinologist to make sure my glands were not swollen.they weren't.so im actually going to an  ear,nose,and throat specialist to see if they find something.there has got to be something in my throat cause i feel it.i cant sleep at nihgt because its almost pressing against my windpipe so i wake up shortness of breath.does anybody have any idea what this can be?

[netexplore_us]

plzz help. I'm 30. This is my story. 2 years ago, i took doxicyline to treat eye infection for 5 days after which i woke up unable to swallow. went to pcp, gave me protonix, in a day or two, felt better, discontinued medication. since then, noticed I had problem with eating spicy food late at night, discomfort in the stomach in and in my esphogus. never took anything for it. now, in sept 2003, started eating a lot of spicy food, over and above the usual. starting having the late night discomfort. w/o consulting anyone, put myself on protonix for about a week and got off it. this time, the pain came back, discomfort in the espohagus. continued on protonix for a month, system kept getting worse and worse. 1st got barium swallow, told no reflux. did stomach emptying with eggs, i was burping all thru out the test, they saw considerable tracer of the egg in my lower esphoagus , result of test, good stomach emptying but considerable GERD (okay whatever that means). not convinced b/c i burping a lot which could push the food up into my esphoagus. anyway, system got worse, actually started having heartburn too. my GI did an endo, found out that I had chronic gastritis and esphogitis and acute dudonities. biopies from my stomach came back postive for h. pylori. I had no stomach pain all along though, none. now, this is jan 2004. all along, i have been left on protonix and i get an on going pain in my throat. granted it is winter and i leave the heat on in my bedroom a lot. bought a humidifier but still continue to get on ongoing sore throat during the day and early in the morning sore throat. eating soothes it but it cames back on though.my gi treated my with prevpac for hpylori which i finished a week ago. i've been on preacid since 1-2 times a day. the soreness in my throat is still there, regardless where i take 1 or 2 PPI. I read about barret esphogus and freaks the hell out of me. i am worried to death here. my doc biopsied the the LES are of my esphogus as the Z like red lining extended a little further that normal. her biopy contained of the pale and white lining of my ephophagus lining. result of biopsy came up with moderate to sever esphagitis, no intestinal metaplasia or something, meaning no barret. but i am scared like hell. i've been misreable the past 5 months. please someone help me. i feel like i may have barret for all i know but their was an oversight during the examination of the biopsy or the docotor didn't biopsy the correct area. also, i have this presistent sore throught that started about 3 months ago. i've bought a warm humidifier which i leave on all night but i have sore throat during the day w/o any heart burn. what is my problem. I am no PPI. Is it a side effect of the PPI? also, i really could have barret, should i get biopsied again? I'm so worried. i have only 30, haven't done and seen anything in the world yet. now, i'm stricken with this complication. please, help me. why am I getting sore throat? I started getting sore throat a month after having been on protonix and have had it since, even with 2 PPI treatement a day, why? if this is GERD, then why is the onset so sever on me? could it be the hpylori? sore throat symptom has stayed the same before and after hyplyori treatment. What is this sore throat? I'm afraid that all of the sudden, i have this terrible GERD that may require surgery to strengthen the LES. Also, the fact that my GI biopies by LES area for questionable barret freaked me out. who know if i have it? i mean it could been oversighted. my gi showed pictures she took while she was in by esphogus of the questionable barret? the Z's streached out a bit. i asked here why she questioned it, she said it extended a bit too much. but said not to worry, in her own works, she said she either have it or you don't. i continue to question it though. i'm out of my mind. hpylori, gerd, barret, sore throat indicative of PPI not working for me. what do i do? plz help me. i'm not afraid of dying really but I don't want to suffer. i'm afraid of also being left on PPI for a long period of time, who know how that can screw up my system. what do i do, please help me. i'm never one to post on line but i did this time. some input for some of you people out there my help ease my agony here. I asked by GI about the sore throat, she said it could be my nerves, how it all joined together from the stomach and all, well, i couldn't buy that. no pain in sotomach, no current heartburn or discomfort in my esphogus but just sore throat with on PPI. what is this? i've read a lot on the net, how Hpylori can cause acid hypersecretion (too much)  or hyposecretion (to little). Could mine have been hypersecretin as I never had any major problems with acid reflux until now really? plz help. thx

[Razzy3008]

A related discussion, Still in Confusion whether Dental, ENT or GERD Problem? was started.