Lump In The Throat

[Guest Norah022]

For the past two weeks (it has happened before that but only rarely) every single time I eat, I get the feeling that there is a lump in my throat, like something is stuck in my throat such as food. I can feel a pressure in my throat even when I am not doing anything like there is a big ball stuck right below where my adam's apple would be, if i were to have one.

It happens almost immediately after eating and can last for hours after eating. Drinking water makes it feel worse. The lump in the throat feeling makes swallowing difficult and while I know I am getting enough air, it makes it seem like I am not and i am constantly taking deep breaths to try and get more air. Along with this i am getting dizzy and lightheaded which I can feel affecting my vision. Also either lots of belching or having the feeling that I have to belch but the lump in my throat is blocking it (does that make any sense? This is what happens the most, I feel like I have to belch and I start to and then it gets stuck behind the lump)

Could this be heartburn even though I am not getting any burning sensations in my chest (which I have had with previous heartburn experiences.)

I would really like to figure out what this is since it happens every single time I eat and greatly affects how I feel as well as me completing my school work.

Having the feeling that something is stuck in your throat is a very unpleasant feeling and feeling like you can't breathe also isnt very fun.

So if anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it! I just want it to go away.

Oh and I have been gluten free for since months and while the breathing problem was occuring prior to the celiac's diagnosis, the lump in the throat has started since the gluten free diet and has gotten persistantly worse since I have arrived at school 2.5 weeks ago.

Thanks in advance,

Norah

[Ursa Major]

It sounds like something that happens to me sometimes, and is very painful and scary. With me it is swallowed air that seems to be stuck in the esophagus. If that is what it is, to try to get it down by drinking water or eating something else makes it worse. Try making yourself burb, or just wait it out.

If that doesn't work, I suggest you mention it to your doctor, he may not what it is.

[daffadilly]

Some of us have a swallowing problem that crops up from time to time. I forget what it is caused from, sorry, there was a huge thread on this topic on brain talk & they are not up & running yet after their hardware crash. Mine has not happened in a long time, I have been gluten-free 2 years & 3 months. Are you sure you are not getting cross contaminated at school?

Mine usually happened when I would go to take a drink of water, it just would not go down because it seemed like I had a knot in my throat. so I would have to spit out the water.

[Guest Norah022]

I am trying to be as careful as possible but my friends are not very supportive of the celiac's and when I try to tell them how serious it is they mock me...I have heard them talking about me behind my back about how celiac's isnt as serious as i make it out to be.

Who knows if they are contaminating me by not being careful enough...I have no idea. But i have been extrememly careful.

[Guest Norah022]

okay now the lump is moving down my throat and it feels like actual food...Like it feels scratchy if that description makes any sense. It feels a lot worse now then it did where it was before.

[daffadilly]

how about trying a soak in the tub or a warm shower to see if that helps anything in your throat relax?

[daffadilly]

I forgot to add that I am so sorry your college buddies are acting like that, ignorance is no excuse but those girls have no clue about anything I am sure. But you know they will look back on this time & regret it, wait a few years till they have gone thru childbirth & have sick kids & then start getting sick themselves etc.

It might be best to keep a low profile with them, you do not need them doing something stupid.

Have you checked in with the school health nurse, person etc? I would start there & see if there are any other celiacs on your campus. I see a lot of college kids getting diagnosed, so I would think that you are not the only one on your campus. Also, have you contacted the local celiac group where the campus is? you might could make some good contacts there. We oldies love to have a young person to cook for etc.

I do not know much about what to do about the gossipy girls, I am sure that others on here can help you in that area. If I were you I would hang out at the library and places like that as much as possible. No need to become a part of the "in" group right away, keep a little mystery to yourself for a bit. when you find a friend it will be a true friend & not those thoughtless airheads.

Also, after checking with the health nurse, they should be talking to the people in the cafeteria to accomodate your needs. I was just reading the other day how all the cooking schools are training chefs in how to cook gluten-free, it is a requirement at most places now. & the restaurants have heard us also & are training people, but you know that it is still spotty as to how careful they are. I think it is because of all us baby boomers that have found out what we have, thanks to the internet, & we have the money & the time to eat out & we want the resturants to accomodate us.

I hope your throat thing is gone by tomorrow morning & that you are feeling better.

[Ursa Major]

Norah, I don't like the sound of that lump. If it isn't any better by the morning, go to the ER or a walk-in clinic (unless you can see your doctor right away) to have it looked at. Really, I am serious.

[RiceGuy]

Well, I can't speak from experience with this exact thing, but I did have something similar once or twice. I had tried eating pumpkin seeds, and it gave me a very strange tight sort of feeling in my throat which was very uncomfortable. That lasted over 24 hours, and was very unpleasant in a way much like you describe. However, I doubt this is the cause in your case.

To me (again I can't speak from experience) it sounds sorta like asthma. If there is new carpeting, paint, smoke, etc, or if you are in a relatively different climate, perhaps that has an impact. It may be that the reaction isn't to a food, but to something else like the temperature of the throat or something. I obviously don't know. Suppose you ate a cold meal instead of a heated one? If the effect is different, that may help narrow it down. Does the reaction happen if you eat a salad, fresh fruit, yogurt, frozen dessert, etc? What about the water supply? I guess that's all the ideas I have for now.

Hope you figure it out soon!

[Guest Norah022]

It happens every single time I eat..doesnt matter what I eat but as long as food is going down this lump happens. It is not as bad as it was last night but it is still there and has once again moved so I am heading to health services after my first class although I know they will tell me nothing is wrong as they always do! If that's what they tell me I will put a call into my doctor tomorrow. I have never had it last this long or last overnight.

Unfortunately I go to school in an incredibly small town which is 20 hours away from home...so there are no celiac support groups and I know of one other girl on campus with it.

Already talked to Dining Services (they brought me a care package on Friday night) but i live in a duplex with a kitchen so I am making my own meals.

[elye]

I agree with Ursula, Norah...you shouldn't kid around with this. I'm glad to hear you will be seeing your doc, just to rule out something like hypothyroid. My thyroid gland didn't swell before I was diagnosed with low thyroid, but I know it is a common symptom, and easily treated.

[Guest Norah022]

My thyroid is fine i have that checked constantly because my mom has thyroid problems.

Went to health services and it is post nasal drip...a very nasty case of it.

So I am on a diet of thick, smooth liquids until it gets better...

Any suggestions for thick, smooth liquids? Right now i have yogurt and V8

[daffadilly]

banana smushed up with some ice cream - not sure where you are but here in the south we do Blue Bell Ice Cream. BUT, on second thought with the post nasal drip it could be dairy & really that is probably it, very common - in my family at least. So you might go with applesauce, you could thin with apple juice if needed.

another easy healthy mushy food is baked sweet potato - just wash, poke a hole in it with a fork, put in a glass dish with a lid & put in microwave - anywhere from 6 minutes or so depending on the size.

V8 is good also, I love that stuff !

P.S. contact the nearest support group, they might have people driving from your area

[Suzanne Lanoue]

Norah, my husband gets this same thing sometimes. What did your doctor say?

My husband hates going to doctors but suspects it has something to do with acid relux. He finds that eating slower and chewing his food more carefully prevents the problem.

If you have the problem again, you might try alka seltzer or Coke to help dissolve the food if it is stuck.

But of course go by what your doctor says...

Good luck!

Suzanne Lanoue

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[justjane]

Could it be a hiatal hernia? I have one of those, and it sounds like what I have. It gets worse if I'm glutened and I find my throat swells up...

I'm not sure how to treat it though.

Good luck.

[chrissy]

i have reflux problema and this is the feeling i have been having alot lately----food feeling like it never goes completely down, and then i burp alot and feel uncomfortable. i have actually had food get stuck in my esophagus, it was pretty painful. it lasted for about 45 min. and i couldn't swallow anything. i am seeing the surgeon soon----probably time for a scope.

[Guest Norah022]

Yeah i am definitely thinking it is a reflux problem.

I am taking over the counter Zantac once every day and it is helping a little bit but not entirely.

I go home for fall break in two weeks and will probably head to the doctor.

I actually passed out a few weeks ago and was diagnosed with an inner ear infection and i really started feeling better but in the past week and a half things have gone down hill again.

[amberlynn44]

On 9/3/2006 at 8:31 PM, Guest Norah022 said:

For the past two weeks (it has happened before that but only rarely) every single time I eat, I get the feeling that there is a lump in my throat, like something is stuck in my throat such as food. I can feel a pressure in my throat even when I am not doing anything like there is a big ball stuck right below where my adam's apple would be, if i were to have one.

It happens almost immediately after eating and can last for hours after eating. Drinking water makes it feel worse. The lump in the throat feeling makes swallowing difficult and while I know I am getting enough air, it makes it seem like I am not and i am constantly taking deep breaths to try and get more air. Along with this i am getting dizzy and lightheaded which I can feel affecting my vision. Also either lots of belching or having the feeling that I have to belch but the lump in my throat is blocking it (does that make any sense? This is what happens the most, I feel like I have to belch and I start to and then it gets stuck behind the lump)

Could this be heartburn even though I am not getting any burning sensations in my chest (which I have had with previous heartburn experiences.)

I would really like to figure out what this is since it happens every single time I eat and greatly affects how I feel as well as me completing my school work.

Having the feeling that something is stuck in your throat is a very unpleasant feeling and feeling like you can't breathe also isnt very fun.

So if anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it! I just want it to go away.

 

Oh and I have been gluten free for since months and while the breathing problem was occuring prior to the celiac's diagnosis, the lump in the throat has started since the gluten free diet and has gotten persistantly worse since I have arrived at school 2.5 weeks ago.

 

Thanks in advance,

Norah

Norah, did you find any answers?? I am 25 and have been dealing with this issue since i was a kid. Mostly it has been impacting my life the past 5 years. I have yet to find an answer and am desperate to figure out what is wrong? If you can help me please message back!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kareng]

Those posts are over 10 years old.

[Zodi1993]

Hi AmberLynn, 

Sounds very similar to something that my daughter with Celiac disease goes through on a regular basis. She had her second endoscopy done in June by her Gi doctor and was diagnosed with EoE.  She started taking Flovent but using it a little differently than recommended by most Drs. It helped for a bit but then the symptoms kept coming back. Her allergist doctor has her using a different medicine normally prescribed to people with Crohn's disease. That's seems to be helping as long as she takes it 20-30 mins before eating otherwise she is miserable and her acid kicks in and its a long night. EoE has no cure and sometimes can be treated by eliminating certain foods when acid medicine fails to help. 

Talk a specialist Gastrologist or Allergist Doctor. 

Welcome to the forum.