Rubbing sound/sensation in lower throat/upper chest

[camden73]

For the past four years, I've experienced a strange rubbing sound/sensation in my lower throat/upper chest area.  It occurs only whenever I twist my torso from side to side, such as when exercising, or quickly turning to the side via pivoting at the waist.  It feels & sounds like something is causing friction.  I cannot pinpoint where it is coming from, but it seems to be my lower throat/upper chest, somewhere around collarbone level.  It seems to be located within the windpipe or esophagus.  There's no pain, just a friction/rubbing sound and sensation.  The sound is especially audible if I open my mouth while twisting my torso.
Three years ago I saw my Dr about it and she ordered a chest CT scan, which was clear.  My concern is that the scan began at lung level and didn't cover my lower throat area, and that's where I think this is coming from.  I'm also concerned because since then, it has become much more pronounced...I used to only hear/feel it when I was rotating vigorously (like when doing aerobic workout), but now I hear/feel it whenever I'm simply doing daily activities and happen to turn or twist at the waist.  
Any thoughts on what this may be, or the cause?  
I have no sore throat or hoarseness or any other throat/esophagus symptoms.  I do have very occasional heartburn that responds easily to Zantac.  
Thank you very much.

[tenk]

I am going through something real similar.  It is amplified at night.  At first I thought it was athma, but after many attempts of taking my inhaler, it continued unchanged.  Some nights the noise is high pitched, others it is of medium pitch. I try coughing or drinking but the throat noise does not go away or even change it.  I can tell it is not in my lungs, but in my throat.  I can breathe shallow and minimize the noise but I feel out of breath then.  My daughters say this wheeze is not my snore.They say I wheeze before the snore on intake and then exhale.  I hear the noise during the day but I really have to listen to hear it as there is always too much back ground noise.  I have already had my soft palet surgery for sleep apnea years ago with great success, but this noise is new and annoying.

[battery]

hi, I also have this noise that seems to echo from somewhere below my neck and out of my mouth if it's open on twisting at the waist,which is quite scary seeing as with you I am just doing normal functions, I have showed people this including my local G.P and they all say I am breathing when infact I am holding my breath and the noise is just echoing out of my open mouth, very frustrating seeing I have had chronic neck/jaw/chest pain for 2 and a half years and have been unable to work and lead a normal life, my local G.P has refered me to numerous departments at the hospital over the 2 and a half years from head and neck specialist to nueromuscular. I have only just recently managed to get anyone to look below the neck to see if the pain could possibly be stemming from elsewhere, so I am waiting for the results from a lung x-ray and a spinal and neck M.R.I, still I have mentioned this noise to every department I have been to and they all say they have never heard of such a thing, they don't even ask me to show it to them, after typing in numerous different combinations of rubbing noises into the search engine this was the only mention I could find about this sort of noise, so if you find an answer to it I would appreciate hearing back from you

[MaryRoe]

Count me in too.  I have these nosies daily now and more pronounced ...or shall I say, I can hear them more at night.  I tried coughing to get rid of them but no such luck.  On some rare occasions I can turn over in bed and they are less pronounced.  They are not a snore but a noise that can have a musical overture to them.  One time it sounded like a freight train and then a boat whistle.  There is no pain.  It is coming from the throat or just below the throat.  Telling a doctor...is useless.  I would just get the look....LOL  I do have 4 heart stents and I do have reflux/gerd.

[Laturia]

Hello everyone! The same thing happens to me. Just last week I discovered this rubbing sound that seems to be coming from my upper chest. I hold my breath but it sound like I'm breathing but I'm not, the sound is more audible when my mouth is open. It's scary and like some of you said you can't really hear it if there's a lot of noise around but my sister and my mom were able to hear it. If any of you find an answer please post it here. Thank you!!  

[Craig78]

Hi there, I have had the exact same problem you folks have described.   I first noticed it about 3 to 4 years ago and have never mentioned it to anyone.  I am 29/m/ 6'0 155lbs. Did you happen to find any answers?

[Craig78]

Just wondering if you heard anything back on this strange breathing sound.

[jo1403]

Exactly the same sensation/sound is happening to me. I hear it when I twist my body when I am exercising. I've had it for a few months now. I've also had hives since March and wonder if it's connected some how. Did you ever find out the cause?

[jenniferlynn123]

I have had this same sensation for about a year now. When I twist my body and open my mouth there is like a hollow rubbing sound that somes out and then it makes me cough. I went to the Dr and  showed him and he said in all of his 38 years in practice he has never seen this. I told him its keeping me from certain forms of exercising. He said if its bothering me to just not twist like that. I paid my co-pay and left. Have you found out anything? Thank you

[LA2008]

I'm in the same boat, good to hear there are others out there! 10 days ago I swallowed a chicken bone, the sound seemed to appear at the same time although it could well be coincidental, I was just moving around to try and move the bone, twisting at the waist certainly amplified the sound. I went for a chest x-ray and an endoscope to check the oesophagus but there was no bone to be seen. The noise is still there however so I think they may be unrelated. Does anyone remember swallowing anything that may have damaged the oesophagus?

[lady87]

I have been experiencing the same problems that I see you all are discussing.  The noise coming from what to me appears to be my chest area.  I have been to my family doctor and also discussed this issue with my gynecologist to no avail.  I have had a chest x-ray, which came back normal.  I do have symptoms of anxiety.  As a matter of fact my pulse rate gets to 98-100 and I start feeling light headed at times.  Also I feel if I take off my bra I feel much better.  It feels as if it is squeezing me. I was on a medication for anxiety, but stopped it because  I am now on Chantix.  I don't like taking pills anyway so I did not want to take those 2 at the same time.  I know Chantix has a lot of side effects also, but this problem with the noise in my chest started over 2 years ago.  I also have been diagnosed with costochondritis.  So that makes it even more difficult to figure out what is going on.  PLEASE if anyone has any answers or suggestions let me know!

[aem6352]

I have had this same issue for about 2 years now -- it's the same as most of you have described; I hear it when I twist or move my torso from side to side.  If any of you find out anything, I would greatly appreciate any information at all. Thanks a lot!

[katiejanevl]

this exact thing is happening to me. I twist to crack my back and I hear a hollow rubbing sound and feel almost an extra breath. no pain, no cracks.... it's really freaking me out.
anyone know what it is?

[jenniferlynn123]

Im going to another Dr next week about this. I dont twist from side to side anymore just because the whole things freaks me out. It amazes me that a Dr. has not been able to help me. I sometimes wonder if I had an adjustment that had gone bad or something in the past. I'll keep you posted. Feel free to write.

[shilly]

i have same thing as you lot and my doctor said it was coming from the lungs and was wheezing from smoking.Hope this helps

[Healing_jmc]

Male / 31 / occasional smoker, heavy drinker:

Just discovered I have this today by accident. Moving my upperbody left to right at the shoulders, feels like my lungs are exhaling a tiny breath on their own. It feels strange but if some of you have had this for 4 years, and it was something bad, you would know it by now. So that's reassuring.

I have GERD something fierce and recently noticed GLOBUS sensation. Since August 07 I have had both an Endoscopy and a Laryngscopy from a GI and an ENT. ENT said I'm fine, GI said I have mild Gastritis. But I'll be checking back to see if any of you find out what this is. I think it's probably all Acid Reflux related or just normal. I Read on another blog, one person had their whole family try it and they all could make the sound.

[Westy75]

I've also just started experiencing this, exactly as you describe, a scraping feeling that feels like an extra breath and makes me cough every time i rotate or stretch sideways like i'm stretching my abs. I can still exercise ok but when i do those certain movements it kind of feels like a scrape and a breath at the same time, it's really weird. I have had a bad chest virus that I'm just recovering from and this thing coincided with the virus so don't know if that's related.

Has anyone had any luck finding out what it could be yet? I'd really appreciate any feedback as like a lot of you guys, it's freaking me out.

[jenniferlynn123]

Well I went to my chiropractor and he mentioned to me that this was not going to hurt me any and I was fine. He did do an adjustment which I have to say helped for 24 hours and now its back. Its just such a crazy feeling and there has to be an explanation out there. I guess a chest x-ray might help.
I feel the same exact thing you are describing to so hang in there, your not alone.

[shilly]

i know i only wrote a short sentence (shilly above) but if you read it it may give you the answer!! is everyone a smoker? well itcould be from your lungs, wheezing my doctor said!!

[jenniferlynn123]

I know its not wheezing due to the fact that Im respiratory therapist.  I have never smoked a day in my life either. My symptoms are totally diiferent than what you decribed and is more muscular and positional with exercising.  But thank you for sharing your info with me!

[shilly]

My symptoms are exactly like what most of the people on here have described, a breath coming out from the mouth when twisting the torso even though you are holding your breath.  I showed my doc, he said it was wheezing from my long 20 year 15 a day smoking habit.perhaps he lied and said it to scare me to give up!! you say that your symptoms are different so i dont really understand why your saying that my problem can't be wheezing coming from the lungs

[brandy1126]

I am having the same symptom. It sounds like something is rubbing together when I twist. It is scaring me to death. My voice is also getting raspy lately. I have bad acid reflux and had an upper G.I. scope done two years ago. My family doctor thinks that I have bronchitis, but no coughing. This rubbing sound seems like its coming from my esophagus. There is also a popping sound coming from my back. I am only 29. I don't see why my bones are popping already.

[dianich]

Hi, guys! I am surprised that your doctors did not mention to you that it might be simply arthritis. I got that problem by pulling too much weight while rotation my body in the GYM 6 years ago. I am going to Gym pretty often doing yoga, pulling a lot of weight. My bones started popping and I felt that I easily dislocate my chest bones when sitting not strait (banding forward). So, our joints are week, or it might be genetic condition running in the family. Even kids have arthritis. I am waiting for my chest x-ray results but I guaranty it will be no miracles!!! Take supplements for joints. Good luck!

[dianich]

So, u see - nothing is found on my x-ray! But I still have these symptoms

[camden73]

I'm the original poster, and yes, over 2 years later I still have this strange sensation.  I finally stopped worrying about it so much, since it's been 6 years since it started happening, and I'm still alive...LOL.  It hasn't gotten any worse since I posted this original thread, but it hasn't gone away, either.  
I am not a smoker and never have been.
It doesn't happen when I hold my breath, no matter how much I twist & turn.  But otherwise, it's there anytime I rotate/twist at the torso; it's also there when I run.  I've mentioned it to a couple of doctors now and I just get a puzzled look followed by them saying they've never heard anything like that before.  
I've had a bone scan and another CT scan (both for other reasons) and they've turned out normal.  So I have no idea why this happens...I just hope it's benign.  

[dianich]

I started to feel light headed pretty often. It means that some blood vessels are pressed by this condition (dislocation). Do you experience the same?

[wtfmytorso]

Wow this is weird. Did not expect to find this many people with the same symptoms and still no solid answer.

[weirdsound]

Wow, I didnt think I would find people with this problem, and I really thought I had a probelm with my spine( very scary).  I feel a little better about it now.  I have had this weird sound come out of my chest or throat too, when I twist, and it sounds raspy and hollow.  Now I notice if I do it a lot, it makes me cough.  I realy thought it was my spinal bones rubbing together, but maybe it is something to do with the lungs or esophagus.  The only thing that worries me is that I didnt have this sound before.  Ive been on accutane and I thought maybe since it decreases your oil production, maybe my spine and joints werent working properly.  It's so easy to become afraid for your health nowadays. Well, hope we're all ok!

[ltf500]

This has me pretty worried as well.  I am a thin 30 yr. old female in good health.  For about 7+ months, I have had pain and tenderness in my thoracic spine.  Today I was stretching and felt the "raspy breath" sounds each time I twisted or moved my shoulders up and down.  This happens every time and makes me feel very lightheaded.  I had a chest x-ray 7 months ago, which was clear, and a thoracic spine x-ray about 2 months ago, which was also normal.  However, this really doesn't seem normal to me...

Has anyone gotten a diagnosis from their doctor?  What tests have you had done and have they come back normal?  Do you also have back pain?

[selfdiag]

hi everyone,

this is a weird issue...i just noticed it in myself and found this topic. it's a weird sound coming from lower throat when i move my shoulders up and down and/or quickly twist the upper body.  the only thing i can add is that i have recently been having acid type problems and my throat had been hurting for a couple days because of this -- i have been eating carefully over the last week and taking Prilosec which has seemed to help.  let me also mention that i do not have any back pain or the arthritits type of feelings some have mentioned.

do you think it could be related to some damage to the esophagus or throat because of stomach acid? i was freaked out when my throat started hurting but it's been better, and i read that the esophagus will heal. but then this weird sound made me question everything again!  hopefully somebody has some insight into this -- take care everyone!

[selfdiag]

by the way, i just found another topic on this site about the same thing, if you're curious:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Undiagnosed-Symptoms/messages/20.html

[Melmark]

I've had this same problem for about 2 yrs now.  It has always freaked me out a little, which finally led me to google my symptoms, and I'm really glad to find out I'm not the only one - thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences.
I'm a 36 yr old, slim, non-smoker.  One of my doctors, who at first looked at me quite puzzled when I described my symptoms, thought it was probably GERD.  I was very relived, b/c of course as a woman I was imagining the worst LOL.  Anyway, it's hard to believe that GERD could produce such an unusual phenomenon, but I've yet to hear any other explanation.  All of my xrays, blood work, etc have been normal.  
For me, exercises like yoga/pilates/brisk walking, in addition to a low fat diet definitely help.  Good luck to all of you.  Hope this helps a bit.  Please post if you find out any more definitive answers.

[Rainy69]

I have the same thing.  When I excercise and twist from side to side I hear this scratching noise in the center of my chest, only when my mouth is open, but I can feel it too, it also makes me cough sometimes, I have wheezing in the same spot from time to time and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).  I have had it for about six years. I am a smoker.  I have had a CXR times 3. a MRI of my spine, and an endoscopy, I have also been intubated for surgery of the tonsils and my ENT didn't see anything, and I recently had a barium swallow.  Everything came back normal except  my spine has osteoarthritis and scoliosis and a couple bone spurs.  So maybe thats the reason. I asked a doctor and she looked at me like I was crazy and prescribed ativan for anxiety and albuterol for the wheeze. I am afraid to ask any other doctor, due to they just give you that funny look and say "it sounds like your breathing", I even asked my husband and he said the same thing.   I am going to see a pain management doctor this week to take care of my pain from the osteoarthritis and I think I may ask him.  I really think it my be due to inflammation of arthritis causing friction.  I have also read that maybe it's from connective muscle issues.  If I hear any thing I will let you know. Thanks,  Rainy69

[enilecnoid]

Hi!

I am 20 years old, i'm from Portugal and i have the same problem for about 1 year.
I would like to know what is the cause...

[dianich]

I think the main issue here is spine. Rubbing sounds can be made only by dislocated bones. By the way, we all describe ourselves as athletic. So, we rotate a lot. Spine cord needs to be curved at special degree. When I went to chiropractor, he told me I have "wrong" cervical curvature and thoracic as well. If spine curvature is distorted, ribs are also a little displaced. Coughing might be due to irritation of the tissue or pinched nerves. The bright side - people do not die from that condition. Try to talk to your chiropractors and have once a week/month spine correction. I do not think it is esophagus because sound comes only when we rotate the thorax.

[Jul14]

I have the same thing! I can't believe so many other people have this. It's almost impossible to describe. I am 29 year old female, 110 lbs never smoked, pretty healthy and just noticed this problem in the last six months. It happens when I turn my shoulders from side to side, its like the movement forces me to breathe. It must have something to do with muscles and the diaphragm.

[glamorous]

I am a 17 year old female and i just experienced the same symptoms as all of you.  I was exercising and twisting my torso side to side or w.e and I just felt like a wheezing sensation and it felt like something in my body was rubbing togeather! i don't know what to do, I have NEVER had this untill now so I decided to check on the internet and found this site with other people having the same sypmtoms.

[ssingh238]

Here is the solution.

Hanging on a iron rod for 1/2 minutes can solve this problem.
Try ..

Yogi

[rjbean888]

I can't believe so many people have this and we have no idea what it is!  I also first found this when I was exercising.  I first had it 3 yrs ago, then it seemed to go away, and now it's back.  Two doctors couldn't hear it when I went to do side bends and twists for them, and I was starting to freak out until I found this thread.  If we all have it and nobody has heard otherwise, we're probably ok, right?  Especially b/c that one person's whole family has it and has had it for 30+ yrs!  It must be the exercising.  I knew we were better off on the couch!

[Hells23]

I also have this. I smoke and although I've never seen a doctor about it, I reckon it's down to having slightly congested lungs, and the body movement must compress your lungs, forcing the air out without the need for you to consciously breathe out. I think it's just a question of mechanics really! I know so many people who when I've shown them this peculiar trait, they've discovered upon trying that they often have it to a certain extent themselves.
I'm guessing smoking or respiratory illness aggravates it, but living near traffic or any polluted area propbably contributes.
It's not making me sick, and while this might be a slightly naiive attitude I just don't think it's anything to worry about! I'll let you know though if there are any developments!

[torso_twist]

im glad to read so many people have this issue....im 25 and this has been happening about a year, i also discovered it while doing an exerise routine, i have been too freaked out to ask the doctor, and have been worrying about it all the time. i just quite smoking about a month a go because i convinced myself it was from smoking, it hasnt gone away but i think it may be too soon to tell. it strange and others can hear it...its like a breath is being forced out of your lungs, sorta like a respiratory machine, i also have a strange ssensation in my lower throat if i twist and make the hollow sound for too long, im scared its lung cancer, and booked an appointment for next month....hopefully something will come of it, and i'll let you know!

[physio119]

I'm a physiotherapy student, about to graduate. I noticed the same thing and came on the internet out of curiosity to see if other people experienced it. i can't believe so many people have written about it!
Its just my opinion but i don't think you have anything to worry about, especialy as so many people have heard it and doctors aren't worried about it.
Your lungs start up near your collar bones so when you twist your shoulders/trunk your lungs move, and as they're full of air, the air in them will be forced to move around in them.  I think the noise you hear is just the vibration of air moving, you hear it more when your mouth is open because the air is coming out of your mouth.
I hope this helps to calm some of you down!

[sfr1988]

I've had this raspy breathing noise for years and years, I really don't think it's causing, or a symptom of, any illness or ailment, as I'm totally healthy.
Like physio119 said, it's air being forced out of your lungs as you twist and move them. It's ridiculous I know, but this very issue is brought into the storyline of that teen girl's book 'Angus, thongs and full frontal snogging', that they made a film about. I read it as a teenager and the character's mum sends her to see the hot doctor to ask him about this mysterious noise and guess what... she gets sent home embarrassed cos he tells her it's merely air escaping her lungs as she twists from side to side. It made me laugh as I had the same 'problem'!
I guess it's a bit like joint cracking or pins and needles - it's there, it's common and it's unnecessary but it ain't going to hurt you. just save it for party tricks. you're not going to die!

[kathy86]

I am soooo glad im not the only one with these symptoms, I was starting to get worried. I've had the same symptoms for about 3 years now. I'm 22 and I've always been very active in sports most of my life since i was 5. I've always played sports since elementary (mostly basketball and volleyball) up until my first year of college, then I stopped after my sophomore year. Once i stopped being active all of the sudden I started hearing this noise come from inside me everytime i would twist my torso or when i would run, and i knew it was coming from my spine, but the noise comes out from my mouth like im wheezing (and i'm not a smoker). It sounds like the bones from my spine are grinding together( its like hearing rocks grind together). I don't feel any pain, but I know this isnt normal. I told my doctor once a while back and she checked my spine and she said that there was nothing to worry about, that it'll go away eventually,  but it hasn't. Now, lately i have been trying to figure out where exactly on my spine is where my bones are grinding together and I think its right in the middle of my spine between my neck and lower back (the chest area, but on my back). Now, this is the interesting part....While i twisting my torso from side to side, I apply pressure with my hand on the part of my spine where I think my bones are grinding together and the noise goes away!!! (while im twisting) so I'm 100% sure that it's my spine!!.. Now, I really think this noise is due to the fact that I have poor posture (but I don't have a hunchback) maybe its scoliosis????. I slouch a lot, and im always laying on my bed watching tv for hours. And also, I crack my back A LOT. So maybe these are the consequences of my bad habits?? I'm not sure, but I think I should go to a Chiropractor and see what he tells me.

[Cold_Ethel]

I am so glad I found this thread!  I am having the same symptoms as everyone else here. I am a 37 yr old female non-smoker.  The only thing that I can add is that the rubbing sensation feels like it's in the center of my chest rather than close to the throat.  My husband and brother both think I am crazy, but having a grandfather who died of lung cancer, and my dad is terminal with it right now, I have been pretty worried. At least now since I have read that some of you have been to the doctor and had normal chest scans it makes me feel better.  I had a chest xray last year when I was sick with a bad head/chest cold and they didn't see anything unusual then.

It seems that several people mentioned having acid reflux, I also was diagnosed with that about 5 years ago, but have since changed my eating habits and don't get it anymore. Also the previous poster mentioned poor posture, I clean for a leaving so I do a lot of bending over and I have been guilty of slumping too. Maybe it has something to do with a combination of these things.

[zanad75]

Thank you physio119,
i am a 33year old female from australia and this morning while i was about to get dressed i twisted my body and noticed the weird sound i was making, i then asked my 14year old son to do it and he didnt make the sound but when i did it he could hear it reall well and freaked out wich freaked me out wich led me to google it.
i came across this site and after reading every entry i was still freaking out, only when i read yours (physio119) i relaxed as what you said makes alot of sense.
thank you for being the only one some sunshine in this subject

[rleanne]

HI
    MY SYMPTOMS:
                              Pain in the left side of neck
                              Throbbing sound in left ear
                              Burning in neck
                              Scraping sound back of throat

  I wouldn't worry about it.. August last year i hurt my neck at work but thought it would just go away, Until i heard this scraping sound coming from either my chest or throat. The noise is louder when I open my mouth, people say it is just my breath but I know it's not...I went to the doctors and the xray didn't show much but the doctor told me I had a straightening of the spine caused by injury..I got refered to physio which didn't help much but she told me that it is scarred tissue in the neck (which is  corrigated V\/\/ ) rubbing together. she says it is best to try and strengthen the muscles around your neck by lifting weights,,,Have anyof you had an injury to your neck???? Hope this helps...                                                                                    

[Janoodles]

Wow, I'm glad that I found a whole bunch of people that have the same thing as me. I just noticed this a few minutes ago after I finished showering. I was wondering where some noise was coming from when I realized it was coming from me!! I went to google right away, and was relieved that other people had this, but really disappointed that there hasn't been a diagnosis on this!!

The wheezing sort of noise occurs when I rotate my torso left and right (as most of you said) and its louder when I open my mouth

My first thought was that my lungs were kind of being pushed or crushed against my rib forcing out air...

I never noticed this before, and I don't think I've had this before

One issue I have is that I think I might have a lot of mucus in my lungs

I'm 18, female, non-smoker, eat healthy and exercise fairly regularly.
Its nice to see someone who is around my age that has this too...

[Cammarizzle]

This topic started in 2005 and is still getting people with the same symptoms ( as do I) and still no solid answer. I'm curious to if any of the old posters ever found anything out or have had anything become of it. If you have I'd love I hear from you. Email me at ***@****

[Lisa670]

I get this too and basically this is what it is.......
when you are twisting your torso, the air that is in your lungs is being  expelled by the back and forth motion. Its kind of like a water pump as you are pumping the handle up and down the water comes out of the pipe. Well as you twist back and forth/or side to side, the air that is left in your esophagus is forced out as you twist. I gets this when I am doing twist jumps during aerobics. It an unusual thing that happens to make a weird sound. And harmless

[miamia3333]

I have the same issue...I just noticed it this morning. All the people with so called "answers" I really do not belive. It's not just air being forced out...it's itchy and hurts in a lot of cases taht I've researched and can have many underlying factors. Before you so called "doctors" give advice do your reserach. To anyone with issues - please go see a real doctor. Trust your own body above all - if you feel that something is wrong it might just be. It's def not air coming out of my lungs..I can tell the difference. I am female, 25.

[t90]

Hi,
    I am 27/180cm/70kg... i am getting this sound from past 1 month... first i thought i have got some hole in my throat :)... searched in google and glad to visit this site... i think my bad posture is the reason... i never smoked even a single puff in my life...

[jordan19]

I just noticed this same thing right after i got out of the shower well earlier i had mowed the yard and then road around to cool down on my bicycle. This sound happens whenever i lean side to side or twist left to right! i am 19 and have never had any problems breathing before and i dont have any allergies there is nothing wrong with me except this. its very strange and nobody knows what it is. so i too am looking for an answer. and anyone else who has this problem do you drink a lot of soda??????

[hailsmcphails]

Hello everyone,

OMG!  I can't believe that so many people are experiencing the same problem as me!  I thought I was going mad!  Well, if truth be known, I actually thought I was going to die.

I do, from time to time, suffer from high levels of anxiety.  I went to see my GP about it & was given a prescription for 20mg of Citalopram, which made me extremely nauseous, so I went down to 10mg.  

I also suffer from acid reflux & take Omeprazole to ease the discomfort.  

I have seen 5 different GPs about this strange noise coming from chest / throat & each one has told me that it's nothing to worry about.  The last GP I saw couldn't give me any explanation for it whatsoever, so she sent me to the Hospital for a chest x-ray, which I'm still awaiting the results of.  I'm hoping that it doesn't show anything serious!!!!

From reading the above posts, it seems as though there's a similar link here - ANXIETY & ACID REFLUX.  However, if anyone has had a definite explanation for this noise, I would love to hear from you.

Hails x

[Rachel15]

im 15 and i just noticed this sensation about 15 minutes ago, i, i hoping it isnt anything serious, im supposed to go to the docs next week, i'll ask him about it, and i'll post what he says, and i have asthma and get chest pain and heart palpitations so maybe that contributes to it, and i had pnemonia (pneumonia)-bad at spelling- in the past.

[DNUNZ]

Hello everyone, I am a second year medical student and I have also experienced the same thing that everyone is mentioning, the rubbing friction noise that emits from my mouth upon twisting. I have done a ridiculous amount of research about this and have asked all of my professors and they all give me the same look…. silly medical student thinking you have every disease you read about. So I decided to go on the internet and I found all of these people with similar complaints. The one thing that I have noticed is very common with everyone’s explanation is acid reflux (GERD) and poor posture. The thing about acid reflux is if it persists for a long time and goes  untreated it can progress to more severe conditions, but those would be picked up by the GP’s or ENT’s that everyone has been to.  The poor posture might play a role in the mechanics of the lungs. If you have some abnormality in the curvature of your spine it will compress your thorax and thus compress your lungs and with the forceful movements from side to side this would increase the amount of air expelled in a more forceful manor than one would expect.  Trust me it doesn’t comfort me to think this is all related to me hunched over my desk for 15 hours studying for my exams, but it is the most probable explanation. It all started for me when I started to attend medical school and the massive intake of coffee (which could be related to some acid reflux issues) and the poor posture I have obtained. So in all I hope it’s nothing, but there is no definitive answer. Good luck!!!

[kylet7]

i dont no if im having the same problem but seems very simular. i 1st realised it wen i was flexin in the mirror :P

na i dont no wen i 1st realised it. it was about 8 months ago . wen i twist and turn i here a scrapeing sound sometimes is pretty loud 2 here as i showed my parents last nite and they finaly said maybe i should c a doctor about it after  i told them about it like 8 months ago =/ .. but yea i here like a scrapeing sound maybe lower chest thou ?? and it makes my throat feel kinda stuffy wen i do it?? also i think it makes me pull my muscles in mi stomahce pretty easily cuz im pretty fit ;) and i can pull it these days by turning or walking.

any way i think i probs dumbed this down a bit .. but thats pretty much it
please do tell me if u find anythin out bout it..

if i do i will post back on here .. ill tell  u wat mi doctor says anyway shld be cupl days

hope 2 get a better doctor than the rest of u :P

[kylet7]

ohh and i also do hav and arhced back which if u look at it is probly bad posture. so i do think could hav sumfin  2 do with it sept never had it b4 =/

could also be 2 do with my sexy body?

jus throwin it out there

[Chocomato]

I have had the same problem for five years now except its more of a frog-like crocking noise, along with strong vibrations. It seems like it is almost a burp that has been stuck in my throat for years. I can't pinpoint the exact place, It feels like it is in the back of my throat/upper chest/lungs area. It is very pronounced and loud and i can't seem to get rid of it. Its gotten to the point where people can hear it across a room. I try drinking or eating something but that only makes it worse. It usually comes up at random times during the day. I've been researching it for the past five years and have had no luck on what it is. I haven't talked to a doctor about it, but I have been told it may be  dehydration. Please help.

[GMScribe]

I've just noticed the same issue as well (male 22 non-smoker). Discovered whilst using a punch bag. I can certainly say I have bad posture. In particular I've recently gained a new laptop in the past 2 months and have been using it hunched over the sofa as opposed to my PC on a desk with a proper chair. Coincidence?

I used to drink a lot of coke however have greatly reduced my fizzy drink intake for 6 months now.

I have however been experiencing issues with generalised muscle twitches (which is what prompted me to stop drinking coke), these seem worse when I am tired, nervous or hungover or have consumed a lot of caffeine! However, whilst I believe that these situations cause me to be hyper sensitive and experience more twitching I do not believe them to be the root cause. I have found not leaning back on my spine is the most effective way to reduce them, which is in fact why I've favoured using my laptop on the sofa! I also seem to receive more "white noise" in my hearing than I used too, this can be temporarily relieved by applying pressure/massaging my neck.

To me it sounds like bad posture or a malformation of the spine and perhaps these more advanced symptoms of mine could be related and help in narrowing down your own issues. I've not had a CT/X-ray however have had blood tests including muscle enzyme levels, which displayed an initial positive but was fine in a secondary test and so likely due to recent exorcise.

If you do think it's muscle/nerve related or want to give this a try, make sure you drink at least one glass of milk and one glass of orange juice a day, the minerals and vitamins in the two drinks actually interact to allow  for correct muscle bonding and nerve insulation. A deficiency in either can lead to muscle/nerve issues.

Good luck! Post if you discover anything new!

[lillie254]

I have the same simptoms the scraping noise when twist my top half and gets my lower throt and  caches my breath i been to docters she said she has the same when she exercising she wasnt worried but im. sam

[chillyc]

Oh my god im not crazy! Same thing noticed about six months ago when exercising. Everyone thinks im nuts. Its the loudest if I do the following: Put fists in front of chest and stick out elbows, in this positions roll shoulders forward in big circles one shoulder at a time. It sounds like a loud whooshing inside my chest/throat as if im inhaling and exhaling but im not! Im holding my breath and I can still hear it. Interesting to know there are alot of others but a little upsetting that everyone all of us have told about it has 'never heard of it'. From here it seems pretty common!

[solaris501]

I am a 31 yr old and I just had these symptoms start yesterday, and like most of you they are freaking me out a little. I recently purchased the "Active Personal Trainer" for the Wii and I had done a few workouts and last night when I started doing the boxing (which I had done several times earlier in the week with no discomfort or noise) I noticed a loud rubbing noise which seems to be coming from my upper back/ chest region. I only notice it when I twist my upper body. I hoped that with sleep it would go away, but I am still hearing it today.
     I am some what relieved by the posts of people who have had the symptoms for years with seemingly no other ill effects, however I confess I really do not want to have this sound/ sensation continue! It also bothers me because it started so abruptly and is rather loud ( at least to me) my husband could not hear it.
     I notice it whether I am breathing or not but breathing in does seem to make it more pronounced. I am not experiencing any pain, just the noise. I am 5' 11" 150 lbs and I am a smoker.
     Any info is appreciated!!

[ThrillGirl]

well i'm glad i now know i am not the only one who has this. yes exactly the same symptoms as the original poster and most of the replies

i thought it was my spine rubbing together. then my lungs and don't know which now.

i first noticed it after a chiropractic adjustment though ( he grabbed me at like a bear hug from the front and then popped my spine/sternum and i heard a crack and felt it, and my sternum hurt for day/weeks after.

i thought i might have gotten a hiatal hernia.(newver checked it out)

anyone have a hiatal hernia (they say 15% of the population has it )

when i twist it is more noticable with my mouth open and i can feel little vibrations at the base of my throat (in the hollow)

i am not worried as much now  THANK GOD FOR THIS THREAD!

[ThrillGirl]

i forgot to add

i'm 22/female  and noticed it about 2 years ago.  i also had(when a child) a slipped disk in my back at L5-S1 level   that could have went away since my doctor said i was so young usually things pop back after awhile and with chiro and massage.

[BellaMia23]

Google is an amazing thing.   I searched for my symptoms, which are described above my several of you (grinding/scratching noise and sensation when rotating torso) and I am so relieved to know that I am not a freak of nature (at least not because of this :-)
I recently began bellydancing and we do a lot of shimmies in the upper body. I got really freaked out when I heard these noises coming from my chest, and worried that I was damaging something in there.  I thing it might be something called "snapping scapula" syndrome, but I will hopefully find out more when I see my doctor next week.
I will keep you all posted.

[dellypenguin]

How great is the internet?  I just twisted my shoulders and had the same involuntary gasp of breath and weird sensation.  I was completely freaked out and there are loads of us that have it.  It's weird but even if it is something serious i feel reassured already that I am not the only person to experience it.  We are now living in a society that the up hill struggle to get your GP to listen or take you seriously and not assume you are a hypocondriact(not sure of spelling there) is harder than being told you have a serious illness.  I like the students answer to what it is just air being moved around by us twisting!!

[Brandon18]

Hey everyone,
im 18/male/135lb/5'7 and have been having the same symtoms for about 4 years now.
im so glad that im not the only one with this.. thing.
none of these "solutions" helped at all..
i dont smoke, dont have any other health issues.
i am athletic so maybe it does have somthing to do with that.
is anyone at all gets a solid answer please let us all know

[Storkworld]

Yes, I too am amazed and relieved to find so many people with the same symptoms.

Mine started about 6 months ago when I was trying an exersicing method by pushing my torso only side to side. Then for the first time in my life that raspy noise from my chest, that is louder when my mouth is open. And no it happens even when I rotate my shoulders up and down.

I am healthy, 18, don't smoke and eat well. After reading that so many of you had chest x-rays and other tests done and have had them all come back normal, I decided what would be the point of me spending money to get those tests done when NO ONE ELSE HERE with the same symptons has been disgnosed.

I used to do light dances and such that required side to side movements but never ever had this happen before. Now it happens anytime I try the above mentioned motions. If I do it for more than a few seconds, my chest gets a bit tighter.

I truly hope someone, anyone, can help us.

[redapple26]

I have the same problem! and searched for it on google because I thought it was so weird! I've been belly dancing for exercise and never had the problem before, but now when I move my torso I get the strange noise too. It's almost a little uncomfortable though and odd because I can breathe at the same time. Never been a smoker, but I do have anxiety/acid reflux problems. I'm assuming that is the cause since that is what many of you have too! I was worried because in my last apartment, before I moved out there had apparently been really bad mold inside of my walls that got bad enough to grow to the outside of the walls.. I was hoping it wasn't some kind of breathing problem from that, and I don't think it is now since I'm not coughing or anything.

[campi123]

Okay - here is something.  Do not ignore this symptom.  I had this start 9 years ago.   I too am athletic, 120 lbs, 5'4, 38.  I used to play soccer, dance (ballet), power walk and run.  Now if I even power walk I pay for it for months (yes months).  The midsection sound is not painful, but there is a lot of pain in my knees, hips,shoulders, hands and fingers.  I have tested positive for anti platelet, anti thyroid. All idiopathic (meaning who knows who cares!?)  I have extreme muscle tension.  I still walk around the block everyday, but I can not build speed or run.  I will also mention, I build muscle very quickly.

Okay here is a big clue - I truly think you all need to investigate.  Ignoring this (like I have) will only result in a slow progressive problem.  I have recently been in PT for my shoulder pain.  My shoulders grind and click so bad I needed to go ask for help from my doctor (last resort ya know).  I have had this problem for 12-13 years (yes frozen shoulder, bursitis, etc).  My PT thinks I have torn muscle, postural problems and scar tissue (but who knows from what).  He has been having me do over my head extensions where I grasp the tension band and pull it back over my head with my shoulder blades clinched. Click grind IKES!  Yes, and a million others.  But, anyway, my mid section grinding has since been getting really loud!  It is not just air - it is scraping and grinding.  I have been sure for years it is a joint that I feel.  Now, I read about the snapping scapula thing and I am sure it has to be that.  The air thing may be true - but I do believe there is more to it for some of us (most in fact).

So ask yourself - any problems with your shoulders?  I hope this is a big clue to many of you.  I am not finished - I feel this is secondary to my overall auto immune problem.  You too should investigate any other symptoms you have and watch for things over the next years.  The sad truth is that most doctors do not want to be investigators - so you must be one.  You are your own best advocate and sites like these are a great place to start -

Thank you BellaMia for your suggestion - you have offered to me a great clue to be armed with when I go back to my doctor.  

[TheAddictiveGoldfish]

A related discussion, scraping sound in middle of chest was started.