Throat issues... anyone else?

hi everyone,

i am REALLY hoping someone can help me with this... i have had fibro for 6 years & have seen many strange & painful symptoms come & go... for almost 3 YEARS i have had this "thing" going on ONLY with the right side of my throat...

* i keep trying to clear it but it feels tight & constricted on one side

* it feels clogged/stuck (when there is barely any mucous) i have a dry cough that will not clear it but sounds hollow & deep coming from the bad side only.

* when i breathe it sounds all whiny/wheezy like i am breathing through a tiny straw or something

* when i swallow sometimes it feels like i choke on saliva/food...

* my chest hurts on the same side

i have had a ton of tests including: x-rays, pulmonary CT scan, spirometer, allergy tests, etc.. etc.. etc... basically they just look at me & say we can't find anything! all pulmonary, allergy & asthma tests are negative.

this feels terrible!  i cant stand thinking this is with me for life. i am constantly clearing my throat (to no avail) and coughing (which does nothing). it varies in intensity but is there all the time.  this TOTALLY SUCKS & it hurts!  the left side of my throat feels TOTALLY FINE. its just the right side!

has anyone else had anything like this?
or have a clue what the hell it could be, or how to fix it?

thanks so very much :)

[sunshinestate]

I too have a "throat" issue.  I also have a thyroid issue.  If you haven't had that checked, I suggest you do.  I can't really imagine you haven't.  But, you might not.  Recently mine throat feels like it is restricted, or tight.  Also like there is something caught or stuck, a feeling like my pills were stuck.  It turns out I have a multinodular thyroid, with a cyst.  The later is recent news, of last week.  It will possible have to be removed.  Good luck.  Fibro seems to be a revolving door of constantly changing symptoms.

[idesofmarch]

I also have a throat issue and Fibromyalgia 7 yrs, hypothyroid over 3 years and sleep apnea over 5 years and I still snore which doesn't help the throat. Please have your thyroid checked and if you have a sleep partner ask if you snore or stop breathing alot at night.  Also look it up to see if you match any symptoms.  If you do bring the proof/paperwork to the doctor's w. you.  ENT for throat  ENDO for thyroid & A sleep clinic for sleep testing.  Good Luck

[jenn38018]

I have just started having some throat issues myself, but have had fibro for years.  My throat has been sore every day for the past three weeks, and my lymph nodes are sore in my throat and under my armpits.  I am also having neck problems.  Seems to all have started at the same time.  CFS has been suggested to me.  I will say that my mother has CREST Schleroderma, which is an autiommune disease, and she has major throat problems like you are talking about.  Have you noticed any changes in the texture of your skin or the inability for sores to heal on your skin?  Schleroderma effects your collagen production and eventually hardens or entombs your soft tissue organs.  The esophogus is usually the first thing to be effected.  You can have an upper scope done and also a biopsy to determine if your esophogus has been damaged.

[keblergirl]

hey i have the same thing even on the same side and i got tested for thyroid and it was neg of coarse as all the other tests  good luck to you!

[briso]

Hello Sinead, I have just read your question.  I have exactly the same problem and experience increased pain when talking. I have attended ENT clinic several times over the past 6 years and like you have not got any concrete answer except that the throat is a muslce like the rest of my body and it can be affected by fibromyalgia just the same.  I least i know it is not something more serious.  I have to accept that i will probaly have a sore throat, ear ache, tinitus, tmj,etc on the right side of my throat and face and will learn to manage it like the rest of my fibromyalgia pain.  I am getting referred to a speach therapist, apart from that i am not sure where to go from here or how to manage this problem, but i know i have to or let this problem win. good luck lynn.

[MegMcC]

Hi, I am posting this to all fibromyalgia and sore throat threads.  Please pass this info along to others who are suffering if it works for you!

I may have some info that will change your lives! I had chronic sore throats and fatigue for about a year and NO ONE could offer a solution. A friend had seen a special on Dupont and specifically Teflon risks. The nonstick cooking surfaces that are made of PTFE, when heated to 500 degrees (and sometimes MUCH lower than that if damaged) emit a vapor that I was constantly breathing and eating when I purchased a new set of T-Fal cookware about 10 years ago. Once I got rid of my nonstick pans...I felt like my life had been given back to me.

Lock up your nonsticks, see if this cures you! It is definitely worth a one month trial. Be careful when you go out to eat, there is no harm in checking with your regular restaurants/cafeterias to see if they are using nonstick cookware, most do not. Recently I had these symptoms from a slice of Pizza Hut Pizza, I called and they had just upgraded equipment and indeed were now using nonstick pans for running pizzas through the oven.

Once it is not a daily occurance, the reaction will be easy to recognize when you experience it. If this is the problem...you will know in the future.

For me, it starts with a sore throat 4-6 hours after I have been around "superheated" PTFE or when I have eaten something cooked on a PTFE surface that is maybe degraded or was preheated too fast. Head and neck and glands all feel swollen and sore and I really feel like I am coming down with a cold/flu. Extreme fatigue, stomach upset, sometimes intestinal upset, sleeplessness and general malase follow.

I recognize the signs now and just try to take it easy and really pour on the vitamins...this reaction can lower your immunities and allow you to actually "catch" a virus. If you are careful to take care of yourself once you notice the symptoms, generally the sore throat goes away in 48 hours.

My real advice, THROW OUT your nonsticks...tell your friends and family too. If you read up on it, you will find that there is not much information online, which is irresponsible of the medical community in my opinion.

GOOD LUCK!!! Please let me know who this works for! I am one of only a few who recognize that they are living with this particular allergy!

Oh, I have not found anything to stop the reaction when I do have it.  Steroids, relux meds, allergy meds, anti inflamitories....none made a difference, just had to wait out the 48 hours.

[TheSinger]

Hi all, I have only just come across this site, and noticed the last posting on this thread was on Oct 2009...but im having serious issues and need some answers if anyone can help?

I was diagnosed with (FMS) around 2 and a half years ago, it started with back pain, leading to neck and head pain, then a bend in my right arm which still today still has not been treated for 2 years and is extremely painful.

As the years have gone on new things have cropped, up can barley walk most mornings as ankles and knees and back hurt, I have only what I can explain the pain to me...a constant stiff neck which effects all my back muscles and spine. Also had this for nearly 2 years.

Now I have started to noticed things popping out of place in my throat which causing lots of pain and discomfort that it brings me to tears. I push whatever pops out into place and it is slightly better, but I have a cough thats on going and the muscles in my throat feel strained (at is worst) After I have been singing/peforming as I am a singer (this is causing me problems for my career, it is worrying me so much.

Can anyone tell me do they have these symptoms? I have read through every ones problems I know exactly how your feeling but I only have some of the throat symptoms that are in the other posts and have looked through the internet not finding any answers.

Please help E.

[dailystruggle]

Throat problems here too. I was diagnosed with fibro over 12 years ago...symptoms seem to be much worse lately. My throat problems started about 3 months ago, but it is on the left side, it is driving my crazy. Been to the ENT, went on antibiotics, no help, scopes and ct scan of neck and brain scan shows nothing, I do have severe acid reflux that is so bad it affects my layrnax. But this is a different pain, soreness on the left side and around the windpipe area, feels like somthing on the side of my thoat when swallowing or eating, Dr can't find a thing going on....didn't even know, fibro could cause throat pain till I started researching today. Wow, this disease just keeps on giving....Get so tired of hurting all the time.

[loulou1967]

I too have the same throat issues and was surfing the eb for relief as I suffer from pain beyond bearable. Have you found the cause yet? Thanks, lou Ann

[ILVPUGS]

I myself also live with Fibro and have been having constant issues with sore throat pain and lately inflamed lymph nodes that cause major pain in the neck and ear region.  I have come to deal with alot of my pain with meds but throat pain is a thing that there is really no known help.  If anyone knows of anything that might help I am willing to trying anything once.

[Melsie7]

Hi I've had fibro for  at least 18yrs & only 37. Neck pain/tightness can be simply a muscle spasm that finally locked. Mine got so bad couldn't move neck at all, as well as the issues swallow food. It can be very painful but i had to have lymph drains/deep tissue massage and when effected all left side was like had stroke. Took 7 months to sort and even did Chinese acupuncture to help release muscles. I do have a thyroid now, so yes worth checking this ok, tim at time my neck at worse mine was fine. Also probs wiv esophagus would only be if you notice very bad acid reflux and they would put you on acid inhibitor 1st and only is this didn't work they will investigate more. You would also have problems every time swallowing food despite chewing everything to death, food would also come up on a regular basis, along wiv acid and that would be more noticeable after lying down. As if esophagus isn't work like mine then your stomach contents would be like a free flowing river at night. Other signs would be a awful battery acid like taste in morning wiv white fur'd tongue, mouth sores, throat infections or inflamed tonsils. But as said in begin despite all these problems the main tightness and pain was locked muscles and blocked lymph nodes in neck area. Sometimes the answers can be the simplest especially where fibro concerned x

[Melsie7]

Hi I've had fibro for  at least 18yrs & only 37. Neck pain/tightness can be simply a muscle spasm that finally locked. Mine got so bad couldn't move neck at all, as well as the issues swallow food. It can be very painful but i had to have lymph drains/deep tissue massage and when effected all left side was like had stroke. Took 7 months to sort and even did Chinese acupuncture to help release muscles. I do have a thyroid now, so yes worth checking this ok, tim at time my neck at worse mine was fine. Also probs wiv esophagus would only be if you notice very bad acid reflux and they would put you on acid inhibitor 1st and only is this didn't work they will investigate more. You would also have problems every time swallowing food despite chewing everything to death, food would also come up on a regular basis, along wiv acid and that would be more noticeable after lying down. As if esophagus isn't work like mine then your stomach contents would be like a free flowing river at night. Other signs would be a awful battery acid like taste in morning wiv white fur'd tongue, mouth sores, throat infections or inflamed tonsils. But as said in begin despite all these problems the main tightness and pain was locked muscles and blocked lymph nodes in neck area. Sometimes the answers can be the simplest especially where fibro concerned x

[nana1964]

Had you tried to see a gastroenterology doctor? I have the same syntoms and a doctor told me is severe acid reflux , and is getting worse, if you had not seen a doctor for that yet, tried, maybe is the same fibromyalgia or maybe is this situation...hope you find that answer...

[RoseAnn751]

Thank you very much.  I had heard a little about this earlier this year. Much appreciated.

[sorrento66]

I too have a funny throat.  It feels like there is a lot of mucus and it wont go away.  Its also sore sometimes and I get twinges in my ears.  If I am having a bad few days I describe my symptoms as 'a cold coming on/chill'.  I also get a little snuffly.  

[Lynne472]

My throat has been tight and sometimes sore for the past several months. I've been on thyroid hormone since age 12 (now 50). Sometimes my voice cracks as if I were in puberty. When it does it is painful. I will be talking and my voice will just seize up suddenly. Then I cough. In the morning, it is hard to swallow my pills with water because one side of my throat is like "paralyzed" or something. Feels like a big lump on one side. I do have a slight goiter on palpation but the ultrasound was "normal," which makes no sense to me. Now in menopause and voice is deeper than it was before. Got the TMJ for at least 20 years too. Geez. Popping jaw does not open all the way and is misaligned, which feels fabulous too.

[Millermp8181]

I was diagnosed a year ago w/fibromyalgia. I recently started having the dry throat issues, mostly only the left side, however, sometimes on the right. I'm wondering if it is from fibromyalgia or is any of you taking Savella? I'm wondering if it is fibromylagia (fibromyalgia) or if it is the medication. I know Savella causes mouth dryness

[colleenmarie537]

Sometimes I feel like I forget how to swallow correctly. It feels awkward and I choke on my own saliva almost daily. I can't eat thick foods, like mashed potatoes, I'm scared I'll choke. Sometimes when I swallow, I feel like there's a huge lump of tissue that I'm forcing down my throat, It hurts because whatever it is feels too large to swallow, but I choke it down. It;s hard to explain the sensation. It's like having a huge ball connected to your throat, it's loose not tight, so loose that you can swallow it and push it further down your throat. It hurts as you swallow then there is relief. THERE IS NOTHING IN YOUR THROAT! It;s making me crazy!

[kevieb]

I have a condition called eosinophilic esophagitis.  It is a fairly newly recognized condition---especially in adults.  I also have severe acid reflux.    I have had to have my esophagus dilated 4 times---first in 2006--then 2010, 2011, and again two weeks ago.    3 times I have had something called a shotzky's ring, which is a narrowing band of tissue that must be snipped in several places or fractured with a baloon dilator.

I get food caught in my throat, which can be very painful until it passes.  I also have trouble swallowing--sometimes it is as if the muscles briefly forget what they are supposed to do--usually only lasts a few seconds, but i get almost a panicky feeling when it happens.

I also have been noticing that my chest feels tight sometimes--like i have to take a really deep breath to get enough air--or like I need to cough something up.

I also get hoarse quite often, especially towards the evening.  Sometimes I wake up with my ribs and back hurting---doc said it could possibly be connected to my eosinophilic condition.

This condition is diagnosed by a GI with a scope a biopsies.  My condition has progressed enough from last year that it has caused changes in my esophagus that were visible with the naked eye.  The GI could tell I had it even before he got the biopsy results back telling the number of eos cells that I have (according to their measurement) I went from 15 last dec to 80 this year.

Right now I am on high dose prevacid---30 mgs twice a day---I do not like taking PPIs--i think we have stomach acid for a reason, but my reflux is too bad and it is the starting treatment for the eos cells.  I will probably have food allergy testing done, but environmental allergies can also cause it----reflux can cause some of it---but I don't think it can cause it to the extent that I have.

The next line of treatment is swallowing a steroid that reduces the inflammation--but is not absorbed very much systemically. (I am already on hydrocortison for adrenal insufficiency)

I have had fibro pain for about 13 years.  Interestingly, I just had a colonoscopy and had to be on a clear liquid diet the day before.  I happened to notice that after not eating any foods for a day, and not taking my pain meds before I went for the procedure, I was not aching all over like I normally do----makes me wonder if some of the foods I am eating are causing my muscle and joint pain.