tightness on throat, gagging

[jsantos]

Well its happening again. last month my son suddenly started having tightness on the throat which causes him to gag. it lasted for 7 days then stopped. now a little over a month it has started again. his neck gets tight  then he starts gagging. it happens all day not just when he eats. It doesnt happen when he sleeps. I cant figure out what triggers it? He has to constantly have gum or cough drops in his mouth to stop the gagging feeling. last month Dr thought it was GERD, he has no heartburn or reflux. She gave him Ranitidine which he didnt take because the day we went to the dr it stopped. Should i give it to him now? Im so worried.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for keeping me posted!
Thanks for a more clear picture. There is one more possibility that comes to my mind. Since your son is a baseball pitcher and at his age would be studying a lot and using computers too, maybe he has cervical spondylitis or a cervical intervertebral disc problem. Hence when he feels that tightness, he gags. The cervical spondylitis is associated with neck muscle stiffness and nausea like symptoms.

Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[jsantos]

My son is 15 years old, and let me clarify the tightness in throat. He says he feels like someone is pulling the skin in the back of his neck and the skin on the sides of his neck get tight and then he starts gagging. About a week ago he was on antibiotics for 10 days for sore throat and ear ache. But he had this episode last month also and hadnt been sick. He does suffer from allergies in the spring but nothing too bad. I have started him on the ranitidine just to say we tried. I did ask him if he was worried about anything or stressed. He says no. Hes a pretty happy go lucky kid. Good appetite, happy 5'10, 175lbs. He plays baseball with a passion, he is a pitcher. Im just so sad to see him so uncomfortable. Thanks for all your help ill keep you posted.

[Encephalomalcia]

Allergies can cause this.  Try Benadryl to see if that helps. If your child is young, you may want to check with your doctor before giving Benadryl.  My throat swells from allergies and has enough closed for a minute where I could not get any air.  It can happen where the throat closes off.  Another thing you can have the doctor check is his thyroid.      

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for keeping me posted!
A tightness in the throat along with gagging is usually a sign of upper respiratory infection along with post nasal drip. It can also be due to allergic sinusitis too. How old is your son? Tightness in throat along with gagging can also be due to stress, anxiety and as a part of panic attack. Yes, GERD too is another possibility. You can give ranitidine and see if this helps. I would suggest an ENT examination at the time when your son is having these symptoms.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!