Choking Feeling - Tightness in Neck

[ceedeekay]

After reading a few threads, this is something I've been suffering with since Oct 2001 and no doctor has been able to give me an answer.  This is the cliff notes version.

I've seen THREE endocrinologists (going on 4), an Immunologist, ENT (who pointed towards the thyroid more than once), Allergist, a dentist specializing in TMJ and even a chiropractor which felt like it was irritating my neck with adjustments.

It started with a choking feeling in my neck. I came home from work ripping off my turtle neck and having dry choking heaves. After that I couldn't wear anything around my neck including necklaces, turtlenecks, or my hair touching it.

About two months later, I was diagnosed with mono and was in bed from Jan 2002 to March 2002. During this time I gained 50lbs in those months going from 140 to 190lbs.

I saw an endocrinologist in April in Rochester NY who said I had "Fibromyalgia of the thyroid" and that there was nothing wrong with me.

I went to another endo. in Buffalo NY. She looked at my blood work and said "There is nothing wrong with you."  
I said: Why do I have this feeling in my neck?  
She said: Don't know.
-- and  sent me on my way

I had an ultrasound in 2002 that showed some nodules on the thyroid. No doctor addressed it.

I continued to have this feeling in my neck.  My shirts are all pulled out, I wear V necks, I put my hair up, I can't wear necklaces and I also cannot touch the front of my neck. It's hard to find a comfortable spot when sleeping because pressure below my jaw radiates.  I can't wear a scarf or a winter coat with a high collar because it rubs on the sides of my neck.

I began to live with this as annoying as it was.

Last year, I went to another endocrinologist regarding some other problem and stressed that I had this issue since Oct 2001.  She did another thyroid test and found my leves were off. Gave me synthroid.

She did an ultrasound and took a biopsy of the nodules. No cancer. Thyroid was a little enlarged.
I was told to live with the feeling in my neck.

I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE!!!!  Right now the neck is too tight, I have keep taking Advil which is not good to relieve this tightness. I feel like no doctor cares to help and that I'm the only person in the area with this problem.
It all started around the time I was experiencing symptoms of mono before I was diagnosed.

I see another endo in November. What else can I ask for to see if this problem can be solved (aside from having the thyroid removed).  I'm at my wit's end!

Thank you for any help!

[gimel]

If you will describe the problem a bit more for us and also tell us about any other symptoms you have, we will be very happy to try and help.  

[tyblossom]

I took a Claritin D a few hours ago and my neck isn't hurting. I really do believe it's some sort of allergy we are having to our thyroid med fillers, because it's that pill that would go direct to the gland.

[tyblossom]

I was having the same thing for a couple years. I had my labs done...normal. I had ultrasound done...normal. I asked my doctor to switch me to Armour. It worked. Ok, a couple years down the line....It's happening again. I'm wondering if it's an allergic reaction to the fillers in the meds. I'm wondering if now that Synthroid is out of my system if I could try going back to that and seeing if it would disappear.

[1Kel12]

I had a sudden onset of bizarre seemingly unrelated symptoms. Left arm numbness/tingling, severe throat choking sensation, LPR symptoms, back/muscle pain, fatigue etc.

The doctors said it couldn't be my thyroid but it seems it is just that. My throat choking is spontaneously disappearing with NDT. I spend thousands out of pocket for endoscopy and other tests because they said it could not be my thyroid without a goiter. The lymph on my left throat swells so much it pushes my trachea over slightly. They thought I might have cancer. I've just started NDT (2 months or so now) and the swelling is better.

Seems they were wrong this couldn't be thyroid. I can't explain it either like my one arm problem, it seems impossible but obviously it isn't.

I hope these posts help others some day.

Take care, Kel

[its_kayden]

I am 14 and I have this problem right now. I dont know what to do!!

[Arfy]

Glad i'm not alone, the symptom is so bizzare and feels so unique. I too am unable to tolerate any clothing touching my neck. It all started around 15 years ago, was at uni at the time, so under some stress, all of a sudden one day felt a tingling sensation within my throat, it escalated into some form of spasmic attack in my neck, it became very sensitive, the sensation manifests itself from below neck to ear level. Like some sort of hypersenistive gag reflex but constant. only thing which helps me control it is having something in my mouth at all times (including night) i use an almond (less damaging than sweets). Had been diagnosed with panic disorder with globus. the second the almond is removed from my mouth the choking spasmic attack initiates. Had tried CBT which involved taking almond out my mouth and letting whatever happens, happen, but I just could not cope with the intesity of what was happening so am just living with this problem, its overtaken my life as it affects me constantly, still looking for answers even after all this time. So if anybody can relate to my symptom any advice would be appreciated, likewise if i find a solution will post.

[ddm2099]

Here lies a tremendous coincidence between our symptoms. Holding/biting something in my mouth also releases the choking sensation in my throat. I'm male, 37, and have been struggling with this choking sensation since my mid 20's. It led to a fruitless thyroid screening and biopsy of a benign lump at age 27 (the tech doing the biopsy almost canceled the biopsy since they couldn't find the reported lump on the repeat ultrasound). I suspect there is some sort of 'orthodontic' (for lack of a better word) connection. I also don't subconsciously swallow a couple of times a minute as most people. I've begun work with 4 different orthodontists using different techniques, but none of them convinced me that they had that sufficient control of what they were doing. I'm still not even sure that's the problem.

Whether the cause of all this is primarily endocrine or orthodontic I wish I knew!

[Deborrha]

i have the exact symptoms, I visited my GP last week and without doing an examination or any tests, he just told me I was menopausal and should pay a visit to my Gynae.