Lump in throat

[Jacquie728]

What in the world could this lump be, and how can I make it go away?  I was said to have acid reflux, and that was the cause.  I was put on Prilosec, and antacids with no relief.  I've been tested for my thyriod, and all was good there.  If it is acid reflux, what can I do to make that awful feeling go away?  I am loyal to my meds. I am careful with my diet, and sleep with a thick pillow to keep my head up.  They gave me a ct scan that they say came out clear, but what else could I possibly do.  Other than the feeling in my throat, the only other symptom was I was losing my voice, and slight heartburn.  Please help me.  Jacquie

[Enoch Choi, MD]

boy those are long french nails!  ;)

muscle relaxants may help, but are not a great long term solution since they can be addictive.

better is to stop the activities that are causing it (e.g. don't hold your breath when lifting)

[Jacquie728]

Hi John,

I hope you too figure out what is wrong with you, I totally know how you feel!!! Whenever I went the third doctor, they said the same thing! I was so hudt that this person thought I was a head case! He said sometimes we out these things in our mind and will truly convince ourselves that there is something there,  It was really hard to swallow that my well know, and trusted doctor had no idea what was wrong with me, I personally have been tested for my thyroid, Gerds, stess, but not anxiety. John I truly hope you find the answers you  are seeking as I hope I too can find a sense of peace! Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon!

[JohnM74]

Hi Jacquie ,

I think my problem might be muscular after all . I realized that when I move my arms or shoulders upwards I kinda get the lump feeling . It does get worse when I do this while lifting weights or any heavy objects . I wish I could get a doctor's  opinion on this . Last doctor I saw suggested I was paranoid . I know I'm no mental case . Anyway ,since the lump first appeared while I was weight training i thought that I might have injured a neck muscle like Doc Enoch Choi suggested in one of his replys .

After researching for a long period ,I found out this : The lump could be caused by million different things such as anxiety ,stress ,gerd ,thyroid goiter and the list goes on .

I really hope you find out what it is that's causing it for you so you can get some piece of mind . I know it can be nerveracking to have this feeling and not know what it is or how to make it go away .

Take care of yourself
John

[Jacquie728]

Well John, about a month ago I was totally lump free, for a few weeks as well, but without warning it returned, and though I'm not saying that is what will happen to you, as I hope you are cured! I'm just saying that the feeling in my throat comes and goes regularly. Well look further into the spasms, you never know. Good luck! Let me know if you find a cure or if it persists. Keep me informed as I do hope for you it doesn't return.  

Bye, and take care
JacquieZ

[JohnM74]

Hi Jacquie

thanks for the info . Sorry it took so long for me to reply . I do find sometimes when I get into a stressfull situation the lump appears and gets more intense . Could it be this so called cricopharyngeal spasm ? Who knows ... I do have all the symptoms . I do feel sometimes uncomfortable when I wear tight clothing around my neck . Like a tie for example . I haven't worn one since this whole thing started . And I can't stand to wear turttle necks or scarfs either .

Anyway , I haven't felt the lump in weeks . Am I completely cured ? Only time will tell . The lump has come and gone ,so I doubt it would be different this time .

Hope all is well
John

[Jacquie728]

I just wanted to write you back and say thank you so much for all your inputs, and I will talk to my doctor about Paxil.

[laura444]

hello i have the same sort of problem. the thing is i can see the lump my doc said its a cysts and not to worrie but i do. it at the left side of my thorat near my tonisis, i dont get pain just dis comfort and today the feeling some things in my thorat

[Enoch Choi, MD]

you're welcome!

ask your doctor to consider an anxiety reducing antidepressant if it gets too bad.  Such as Paxil.

much better than taking muscle relaxants for a long time, which are addictive.  antidepressants aren't and could possibly help other symptoms you may have.

[Jacquie728]

Hi, I know I always keep the long nails! It's a must. Okay, I will continue my search for the source of the problem, and I do tend to hold my breath whenever I lift things. Thanks for your blog though!

[Jacquie728]

Hi John! Well trust me when I say I feel your pain! I don't know what the cause is, but I do know that I too have heard of cricopharyngeal spasms, and though at first I was doubting it. I had hurt my back about a year ago, and still had a couple of muscle relaxers, when I researched it, a doctor said the way he found out if this was what the tightness in the throat was with his patience was to give them a sample dosage of muscle relaxers, I thought it could not hurt to try. So I did, and it worked though if I aloow myself to get stressed, or statr raising my voice it comed right back, it really helps me. Just thought I'd let you  know. Jacquie728

[Enoch Choi, MD]

lifting heavy objects increases your intraobdominal pressure if you're holding your breath, we call it valsalva and shouldn't damage anything

hope you find a doc you can trust, they're out there, you have to keep looking...

[JohnM74]

  I remember when lifing weights I had a bad habit of holding my breath .I always did this unconsciously . Could this be the cause of it all ? If lifting heavy objects was the cause ,is there anyway to cure this or prevent it from happening ? Could I have dammaged the neck muscles ?

Geez I wish you were my Doc , I've gotten more answers in too sentences than 2 years of seeing doctors and waiting in emergency rooms ....

Thanks

[Enoch Choi, MD]

Can't say what but there are a few tips:

- by lifting heavy objects, you are straining the external neck muscles which can feel like and look like a lump when the muscle contracts

- alcohol causes flushing and vasodilation which could make things swell

[JohnM74]

Hello there , I've had the exact same feeling .It's been going on and off for the last 2 years . At first my doc thought it might be an infection ,gave me amoxicillin for 10 days .Felt better on the 10th day but on the 11th one the lump came back . He then tried Zithromax with exact same resulsts . I tried antacids .Took care of my heartburn but did nothing fo the lump .I've had my thyroid checked  ,nothing there . One thing I noticed is that the lump appears and gets more intense whenever I lift heavy objects . I use to train with weights  ,but had to stop because the lump was intolerable . Sometimes when I wear tight shirts especially around the neck area I get really uncomfortable as if I am choking .I read somewhere about cricopharyngeal spasms . The lump does feel like getting choked up ,like when I cry . Also alcohol seems to agrivate it too .

So please if anyone has any idea of what could be causing this or is going through the same stuff let me know I'm not alone !
John

[Enoch Choi, MD]

saline rinse is available over the counter, there are many brands, it doesn't matter what brand: ocean, etc.

@H2 are zantac, pepcid, tagamet

Pepto doesn't do squat

Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor

it can take some time.  at least a few weeks

[Jacquie728]

Hi, thanks so much for your blog.  I was wondering where I would get a saline rinse, I've never even hears of that?  What about the anti-H2 antacids, as of right now, I take Pepto max strength, and Prilosec in the am and at night.  I also sleep with like three pillows under my head!!! It's killing my back! I'm considering going back to another doctor, because the one I'm seeing now says it will take months for me to start feeling a real difference in my throat!  Is that true?  What do you think?  Just wondering? Jacquie.

[Enoch Choi, MD]

have you tried more frequent rinses?  that helps many of my patients

how about nasal steroids?

[cat33]

I have had everything you mentioned, except for loss of voice. Always the felling of something in my throat. Have had the thyroid test ,CT scan and everything else you mentioned. Even had an endoscopy. They found nothing wrong with me. I do the saline rinse about every two to three days helps for a while.
If you find any solution. Please post. cat33

[Enoch Choi, MD]

If the CT scan is normal, i wonder if it's that you feel a lump but there's not one there?  Post nasal drip can make you feel like there's a lump, and cause laryngitis, but doesn't often cause heartburn.  Nasal steroids and saline rinse helps drip.

I often have my patients try the prilosec in the morning and take the maximal dose of anti-H2 antacids at night.  Consider propping the head of the bed up.

Get another second opinion if you're not getting enough help.