tightness in throat, nausea, chronic feeling as though i need to gag, miserable, please help

[will3477]

Hi, my name is will. i am eighteen years old and in very good physical shape an otherwise very healthy, but for a long time or at least its seems like an eternity, i have had this recurrent feeling of tightness in my throat just below my jaw bones on either side of my face. It is like i have this constant need to gag, and eventually i finally do but afterwards the feeling just comes right back with no relief.

Some times if i take a sip of a drink of some sort the feeling will go away for a second, but then comes right back and i have to sip on it continuously until it eventually goes away, sometimes not for hours. Another thing that helps a little is chewing peppermint gum. But neither of these completely relieve the feeling.

I have been to many doctors. Until just recently i have referred to this feeling as nausea because it always makes me feel like i need to gag an sometimes almost vomit. Due to this i have had many GI tests done with all clean negative results. I also seemed to notice that this feeling gets worse if i lay in an inclined position such as a dentists chair. This feeling seems to be completely unrelated to anything i do. i am unsure but sometimes it seems to come a little while after i eat, and many times after i eat i will burp for hours, long deep burps.
I have seen a neurologist who diagnosed me with abdominal migraines, and i have since tried several medicines to treat this, all with no results. I have recently several days ago been diagnosed by a different doctor with gastroesophagal reflux disease.
This seemed very strange to me as the main symptom is heartburn and i very rarely get heartburn.  the day before yesterday i was prescribed prevacid solutabs that dissolve in my mouth and gas x for the burping. so far i can tell no difference whatsoever, but it has only been two days and i am going to see if they work after a couple weeks.

I have always referred to this as nausea because it makes me feel like i need to gag and vomit, so i always believed it was some sort of digestive problem as did the doctors. and recently the idea hit me that this could possibly be something wrong with my throat?

This is so miserable, it is practically ruining my life. If anyone has any suggestions as  to what is causing this, or anyone out there with the same symptoms, please comment i would greatly greatly appreciate it and thank you for taking the time to read this

[davey885]

will. i have the very similar symptoms. im 22 yrs old. & i have the worst problem with..just not gagging. i gag anywhere from 10 to 100 times a day. & when ever i tell doctors this..they kind of shrug it off & start asking me about stress & stomach acid & all that stuff. i do have bad heartburn but im not sure if theyre related..from my research i either have a hernia or an ulcer...but nothing really emphasizes on the gagging as much as i feel...its terreible...i constantly have to have a drink & usually still gag. its worse in the morning. or when i havent eaten...also sometimes if ive eaten a lot....dairy & sweet foods cause it too...docors seem to be stumped...one thing thats helped me...is sit ups trying to raise my endorphins...its kind of a wierd treatment...but ill seriously do anytihng to stop my gagging. & doctors are basically stumped when i tell them..that gagging is the main problem ..its embarassing & i also feel like im losing brain cells everytime i do it...the gags are so violent. anyway...good luck & if anything works for you pleeaaasse let me know...thank you

david

[SMTiberio]

Do any of you have nausea and coughing fits with the gagging?  

[sickguyPA]

I often have many of the same symptoms described here...My gagging issue happens most frequently in the morning and usually gets better as the day progresses...however sometimes it is constant all day.   For many years I was able to limit it to just gagging, but lately it has turned to actual "dry heaving" and vomiting which is very strainful on the body.  I have also had all of the tests and have been diagnosed with GERD and IBS...Also, when I gag, I often have a lot of mucus that literally just "flies" out of my throat.  This is a very bothersome condition because it makes you feel like you can't have a "normal life".

Lately I've been focused on trying to control my diet, I'm now thinking maybe it's related to the overall health of the colon...Maybe its all the toxins in my gut that are causing this (???)  I'm also considering doing a colon cleanse to see if it makes any difference...In addition, I often wonder if this is all just related to excessive gas buildup...sometimes the gagging sensation in my throat is helped somewhat by anti-gas drugs....

Anyway…I definitely don’t have any answers and I’m suffering every day just like you folks…

[anitasue]

My nephew has had a terrible time with  gagging.  He has to constantly suck on cough drops to control it.  The Doctors currently have him on meds but they aren't helping.  He was diagnosed with Crohns Disease 2 yrs ago and has been on Asical since then.  Could a side-effect of it be gagging?  Any suggestions

[tree27]

My son has the same problem as you do.  It's tough for all of us because we can't go and eat anywhere, we have to stay close to home all of the time because of his gagging/vomitting problems.  It's the worst in the morning, but it happens all day.  We used to go out to restaurants to eat, but can not do that anymore because he usually vomits everywhere.  Sometimes making it to the bathroom, sometimes not.  I've been researching this for a number of years, and we've seen may specialists.  I'm wondering if you've heard of over sized turbinates? (nasal concha)  It is when they hang back into your throat farther tahn normal, pressing down into the nasopharynx and soft palate, restricting airflow and triggering the gag reflex.  Let me know...
T

[MattKlmn]

I have the same conditions as will3447 to the same degree.  I feel ill today.  I'm in Vegas, and its unusually humid, and I didn't sleep well. Its not one thing causing my conditions.  I was treated for rephlux brought on by stress, but the gagging first started when I moved to a house with large oak trees.  I later found out I was allergic to oak, but the symptoms persisted as I continued to be exposed to the allergens.

This was in Florida.  I found myself allergic to more things in Vegas (mulberry and olive trees are the worst offenders here), and now get anti-allergen injection therapy and use anti-histamines (NOT decongestants. They should only be used when you need to get clear.  Anti-histamines should be taken throughout allergy season even when sinuses are blocked.  Decongestants usually have a "D" in the brand name, and make you speedy, while AHs will not.). I'd be willing to bet that Will has allergies that stress out his system and bring on acid rephlux.  Big advice - DO NOT DRINK, especially to the point of intoxication. Severely aggravates the symptoms.

If you live in a part of the country that has major allergy conditions, changes are that's what it is. Living near the ocean is best, as it acts like a giant filter for pollen, et al.  But it definitely erodes quality of life. I used to be 100 percent healthy and in top shape, but half the time I have to cut my workouts short. Exertions like weight lifting can be hard. There are a lot more people worse off than you, but since this isn't something people can notice like a cold or a handicap you don't get cut much slack. Acidic foods like hot coffee and onions should be avoided. I sure do miss hot peppers, but I hate gagging more.

BTW - I have trouble at dental appts.  My dentist insisted it was all in my mind at first but I couldn't get through a checkup.  INSIST that they give you novocain for even minor procedures. Its the only way I got my last two fillings.  The dentist even missed a cavity at first because I couldn't make it through all of my x-rays.

Good luck. Its not in your mind whatsoever, and there's no one cause. Marijuana cures the gagging within seconds, but the danger of dependency is amplified due to the psychological association with relief. Still, it beats being sick all the time.