Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Choking feeling

For a couple of months now swelling would come and go in my neck.  The best way to describe the area is (if I had an adams apple it would right under it).  In the last 3 weeks it has been swollen and hasn't gone down and I almost constantly feel like I am going to choke or my airway is being cut off a bit.  I googled and found an article about thyroid nodules and Hashimotos Disease and it describes EXACTLY what I have been going through.  I was also dx'd last week with hypothyroidism.  Is there anyone out there that can tell me if they have this and if they feel like they are choking?  Is this dangerous?  I have lupus and have been in a flare with two hospital visits this year regarding the lupus attaking my heart.  I am wondering now if it isn't also attacking my thyroid.  Does anyone have any experience with Hashimotos or thyroiditis?
Thanks,
Joni

[AJWS6]

Hi,
I have an enlarged thyroid, half the size of a softball, and can relate to the sensation you are feeling in your neck.  

But the only way to truly know is to get an evaluation from a doc or endo, have a CT scan of your neck, ultrasound etc....

I never had a choking sensation, but occassionally dry foods, takes a bit longer to go down.  

But as I shared before, get tested to know exactly for sure.  Acid reflux, allergies and other types of health conditions can cause the throat to swell as well.  

Good luck !!    

[selmaS]

HI...yes I know what u mean....I can't stand turtleneck sweaters I feel like I am being strangled.
I Hashimotos and acid reflux...so I am not sure which is causing the issues, but I do know what u mean.I had the barium swollow study done and I do have issues....just not sure y.

Some days trying to swollow pudding is a real treat!!

Good luck
"selma"

[Barb135]

I have Hashimoto's and I also have the choking feeling, but it comes and goes over a period of time.  It's like having "attacks" and might last for a few days to a few weeks.  

Have you been tested for antibodies to see if you have Hashimoto's?  That's the only way you will know for sure.  Ask you doctor to let you get tested for TPOab and I think there's another but not sure - maybe someone else will chime in.  

[Dawn1214]

I know exactly what you mean. I struggle with this all the time. My TSH is high and I am hopeful when it gets more in range that feeling is going to go away. I think mine is like spasms in my neck which makes it feel like something is pushing on my throat. Is that what is feels like to you?

Dawn

[Cheryl226]

Hi Joni,

I know exactly what you're talking about "choking feeling"  I thought it was stress related, but my Oncologist sent me for an ultra sound and the ultra sound report stated that I have nodules.  He then sent me to an Endocrinologist who sent me for another ultra sound.  Results came back with 5 nodules.  My endocrinologist sent me to a Renowned Radiologist who did a needle biopsy.  They said that one of the nodules was indetermined?  I actually see my Endocrinologist next week to go over the test results.  My thyroid levels are off also.  My TSH level is high.  I have had low-grade fevers which are concerning me.  I guess I must sound like a mess.  But I know exactly what you're talking about having the same choking feeling.  Hope you are feeling better.

Cheryl

[Joni686]

Thank you all for your responses and I wish you all healing.  I no longer feel alone or like it's all in my head.  My boyfriend and my friend both tell me they can see the swelling on my neck but when I went to the doctor the other day she had me drink a glass of water and she watched me swallow.  ??  She said it is probably nothing but that we will do an ultrasound this Friday.  How can it be nothing when you can see it and I am saying it feels like I am choking?  This is a doctor that has so far been good to me and is working with me to get my lupus under control.  Maybe she is tired of seeing me.  I have had to go to the ER and be admitted twice in the last two months.  Both times they kept me for four days.  I have vasculitis (swelling of the blood vessels around my heart) so why would my tyroid possibly be swollen?  Doctors make me crazy sometimes.  Anyway, I go for an ultrasound Friday and I do hope it's nothing but at the least I think it is inflamed.  For now, it is just annoying and disturbing.  But it sounds like you all understand.

AJWS6 - how are they helping you with the swelling?  That sounds very uncomfortable.  I read that the thyroid wraps around your esophogus (sp?).  I can't imagine you not having a choking feeling.  Gld Bless.  I hope you feel better soon.

Selma - funny you mention pudding.  I am eating some as I write this so I can take my nightly medicine.  lol  I also have acid reflux and a hyatal hernia.  As long as I take Nexium each morning I am ok though.  Feel better soon Selma.  I like your name by the way.  It was my grandmothers name.

Barb - thanks for the info. on the lab work.  I am assuming if I have this that maybe my autoimmune is attacking it, the same inflamation (inflammation) that is attacking my heart but now I know to ask the doctor about that specific antibody labwork.  I hope you feel better.

Damw, it does feel like someone is pushing on my throat and I can't get confortable when i lay down.  I have to get my pillow just right and it can't touch my throat.  Ugg !  I hate anything having to do with the neck or choking.  That is my biggest fear, choking and now this.....  Feel better.

Cheryl, I pray that the other nodule is nothing serious.  Please let me know what you find out.  I hope you feel better soon.

Thank you for your responses.  I am overwhelmed and I don't feel stupid like it's in my mind or just stress anymore.  I am sorry you all feel or have the same symptoms and the choking part stinks.  Please let me know how you all are doing.  I will let you know what my ultrasounds says when I get results back.
Take care.
Joni

[Joni686]

OK, I got a call today from my Internest today that just reminded me of how ridiculous doctors can be.  They evidently didn't find anything in the ultrasound on my neck.  YES, IT TOOK THIS LONG FOR THE DOCTOR TO GET BACK TO ME SINCE THIS ORIGINAL POST.  And I had to call them and they didn't even have the results, they had to call the hospital and get them rather than be on top of things and have them in my file.  If I hadn't have bugged them about the results I wouldn't even have them yet.  But besides all that.  The doctor had the nurse tell me that they found nothing in the ultrasound and that I can take, if I want, Ibuprophen or Tylenol for it.  I said, "You mean I should take Ibuprophen for the swollen neck and lump sticking out of my throat?".  "First of all she should know I can't take Ibuprphen because I am on 400mg. of Celebrex a day and secondly, how is that going to help the KNOT I HAVE STICKING OUT OF MY NECK AND THE SWELLING OF MY ENTIRE NECK?"  If I didn't know that I can't take ibuprphen with celebrex that doctor would have me frying my liver right now.  And how in the world she thinks that Tylenol would make a knot in my neck (THAT IS STICKING OUT THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE EXCEPT HER I GUESS) go away and stop choking me, I just can't comprehend.  I have liked this Internest, she is nice and talks with me but I have wondered about her experience since she mentioned being in that practice for four years.  I believe now that she is inexperienced.  I spend all day trying to ignore my neck swollen and I toss and turn at night trying to get in a position where I can fall asleep and not be choking.  I wake up and it;s the first thing I notice.  I FEEL LIKE I AM BACK IN THE BEGINNING WHERE I HAD TO CONVINCE A DOCTOR SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH ME.  Doesn't having lupus attack your heart count for some attention to the rest of your body?????  I feel like I am back to square one at finding a good doctor.  I am going to see my PCP on Thursday.  She is awesome but there is just so much that she can do.  Once again, I am so let down by these so called specialist !

[redheadaussie]

You really need to insist on having a thyroid anti-bodies test done...If the ultrasound shows no nodules, then you are probably more likely to be suffering from Hashimoto's disease....It took me 15 years to get my doctors to listen to me....you can do it tomorrow!
  I ended up having my thyroid out coz it had a cancer in it, but besides that, it would have had to come out anyway as the Hashi's had been left untreated for  so long had totally made mine swollen to the point I could no longer breath without taking huge gulps of air like an emphysema patient.
   Don't be shy in asking for the test.....it proved my doctors wrong and pretty much saved my life.
  Lupus and Hashimotos are both auto immune diseases and there is nothing to say you can't have more than one auto-immune disease at the same time...in fact some people get more than 3!
  Good luck and let us know how you get on.

[Joni686]

Thanks.  I am going to my PCP tomorrow.  She drew bloodwork last week for the usual CBC, ANA and she also too some for T3, T4 and TSH.  I wonder if she will know what blood test to run for Thyroid anti-bodies.  Do you remember the name of it?  I wish she was a Rheumy or Internest because she is awesome but her knowledge is limited.  Let me ask you.  They said my ultrasound showed my thyroid to be "normal size" would it be enlarged if I had something wrong with it?  I can't figure out why my neck has this bulge coming out of it and why my whole neck is swollen but they couldn't find anything.
Thanks,
Joni

[Jules77733]

I have had this same choking feeling for a year now, and I've come to realize that it's more of a discomfort than anything truly harmful. It does making swallowing a little more difficult than it normally is, but I haven't had any problems with it and I'm hoping I can get rid of it with thyroid hormone treatment. I had a thyroid ultrasound done and no discrete nodules were identified, so I don't think the "lump" is a result of anything worrisome, besides thyroid swelling. I was just diagnosed with Hashimoto's today and will be starting on levothyroxine soon, so I'll let you know if this helps!

[comedydiva]

I am dieing to know about your blood tests. I have ahd the choking feeling for a while now. I comes when I yawn or turn my head a certain way. I also cough like a smoker, kinfd of a constant tickle in my throat. I am waiting to see an endo in 6 weeks. But have my blood numbers. Would love to compare.

[beva32]

I also have Hashimotos with nodules and I have the same feelings og tightness and choking. I have an enlarged thyroid and hurthle cells I am tired of having to chew small amounts of food for a while before attempting to swallow. I understand how you feel just see your doctor and hang in there. Keep us posted good luck.

[chattytalkgirl]

can i ask if anyone feels this TERRIBLE PRESSURE in their neck too like a burning also and when i stand i get sorta like confused and dazed and i feel like im on a rocking boat and it hasnt gone away since 2 weeks and now my neck is turning red and ohh i feel like im choking so bad abd the presure is SO BAD but i finally went to the E.R. and he laughed and said its just reflux and your panicking making you have shortness of breath and tingling and i said NO its totally different  its like the burning is in the muscles on the front sides of my neck not in my throat like reflux andf the tingling comes when my neck feels swollen but they dont listen and i cried cause this is tearing up my life i cant get into my doctor for a month so ill go back to another E.R. today its terrible does anybody else have this tightening feeling sorta on those muscles in the front side of your neck and do they get so tight that it feels someone is squeezing your neck to death? and do you get this feeling of doom at times ? i will feel so much presure i get so off balance and feel like im on a boat thats in a storm on the sea and i cant stand up striaght or think striaght from this pressure and burning feeling in my neck its HORRIBLE but maybe knowing would help all of us that dont have an answer

[Smilerdeb]

I had the burning sensation and also the choking sensation (eating was the worst!) and I have Graves and WAS hyperthyroid.

Get a full thyroid panel done.

I would often eat and choke on the food and in the end would cut my food up smaller to be able to eat.

I havent had that sensation since RAI (thank Gawd!)

[Lolavk]

I also suffer from Hashimotos. My symptoms began just after my son was born (he will turn 17 in a couple of weeks). A nodule was discovered and I was monitored for 3 years. Needle biopsies could not clearly rule out whether the nodule was cancerous so I had surgery in 1998 to remove the right side of my thyroid. Even post-surgery they were still unsure whether it was cancerous. My slides were sent to the top world specialist in New York who determined that it was not cancerous but was caused by Hashimotos. Ten years after my surgery I was contacted by my surgeon who had completed a 2-year research study on thyroid cancer and my slides were re-examined at that time. Some people in the study were given the news that their previous diagnosis was incorrect, but fortunately my results came back the same as originally diagnosed. This year, however, I am experiencing more symptoms of Hashimotos again - especially the choking feeling and also difficulty swallowing food occasionally. If things increase in severity, I think I will have to get it looked at again. My hope is that some day the my thyroid will die off from the disease as predicted by my surgeon. Good luck to everyone who suffers from Hashimotos - I can totally relate to everything you are feeling.

[sick and tired 47]

Hi all! I too get that choking feeling off and on... - it seems to cycle too. I also can NOT STAND a turtle neck or anything tight around my throat now. I had 1/2 my thyroid removed for benign enlarged nodules. The remaining 1/2 has small diffuse nodules  the dr is watching. I had negative thyroid antibodies test, but have many symptoms of hashimotos.
Good luck!

[ceedeekay]

someone please tell me that if you find a good doctor who will treat you, the choking feeling will go away.

I've had this since 2001 and NO DOCTOR will listen to me! I've been to TONS of endocrinologists in the Buffalo NY area to no avail. I have all symptoms and new ones are now appearing such as hair falling out worse than before and my heart racing.

I even had one endo read a blood test wrong and put me on synthroid which made the choking feeling worse.

I've had an ultrasound which showed an slightly enlarged thyroid and nodules. Don't know how many because I cannot get a copy of the ultrasound AND biopsy because the endo did both and won't release them.

I't's been almost 10 years and I would really really like to not have this feeling on my neck, be able to wear my necklaces again AND not to be preoccupied with if a shirt touches my skin around my thyroid or not.

[Hashimoto73]

I understand completely.  I don't even like to where a t-shirt unless it is v-neck now and no more necklaces.  I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 2004.  I have been taking synthroid every morning religiously since then and I have been at 125 micrograms for the last 6 years (even with a pregnancy in there, my daughter is 3).  I have recently started the choking thing again, I feel like my throat is swollen but not from allergies or a cold.  My wonderful endo, no longer practicing :0( unfortunately, told me that flare-ups of swelling of the intestinal track often occurs with hashimoto's causing especially during stress or adjusting to new med dosage.  This causes choking, acid reflux, gall bladder flare-up and in liver swelling.  I have had the liver swelling, reflux, and choking due to throat swelling.  Silly as it may sound Benadryl helps greatly for me.  I have awakened in the night twice in the last two weeks and I took a benadryl and with in 30 minutes I was able to breath and sleep, I didn't have flem (phlegm) (sp?) just swelling.

[gimel]

How are you sure that the 125 mcg of T4 is the right med and dose for you?  Please post your thyroid related test results and their reference ranges shown on the lab report.

[LLM2526]

I have the nodulars  I mean 10 on one side and 6 on the other. I went to a doctor who was a THYROID doctor at the Cleveland clinic in Florida. I had moved to Pa and tried to get my records for 2 years meanwhile the "Doctor"
I began to see in Pa said to me You have a problem with your thyroids. I said how do you know I can tell by your eyes and throat. I told him I was told I had only 2 nodulars He was suppose to refer me to another thyroid doctor but forget and every time I reminded him he said yea yeah. I switched doctors to Hershey Medical in Central Pa. 2 days after I saw her I was schelduled for a Ultrasound they found the goiter with nodulars all over my enlarged thyroid, I am choking on my food which I was blaming the MS I have I was tired all the time which I blamed my heart problems I had high cholesterol  low vitamin D I had high normal TSH and T4 I have high sugar one day and low the next. I just found this link and you have no idea how excited I am t know it's not my imagination. It took Neurologist 15 year to diagnose me with MS I have lesions in brain they are there but they were only looking at my spine not my brain and they told me it was in my head my imagination. Well it was, Now I finally know what is going on and we need this type of communications because Doctors dont know everything and they wont think about checking into this. Thank you for being here

[gimel]

Glad to have you on the Forum.  We do our best to provide good info and support to members.  I'm sure you have read many times here about the importance of testing Free T3 and Free T4, along with Vitamin D, B12, ferritin, and a full iron test panel.  You should also be aware of what a good thyroid doctor will do for you.

A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels.  You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation.  The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment.  In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."

http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf