Want to play doctor?

[Stacey in MA]

OK, seriously! I need some ideas to help figure out a medical problem I'm having. ;-p

 

I went to the ER on Friday w/ breathing trouble - tightness in my throat. For a few weeks before, my throat was feeling "weird" for lack of a better word. The tightness I had Friday was NOT (seemingly anyway) in my lungs, but in my throat, right in the area where I swallow. By the time they saw me (4 hours later! My oxygen levels were OK, so they made me wait), I was pretty much OK. They did an EKG (fine), chest xrays (fine), throat xrays (fine), thyroid blood work (fine). So after a lot of waiting and sitting around, they released me and told me maybe it was reflux, and to start a course of Prilosec. (not!)

 

I have had no fever or illness/cold, or any actual throat pain. I am still having multi-symptoms of this problem. Here are some of them:

 

- "weird" sensation in the back of my throat, where I swallow, maybe also on the uvula area.

- feeling of tightness in throat and top lung area

- Lots of mouth breathing and so dry mouth

- Some sudden occurrences of excessive dry cottony mouth

- Dry nose but tissues deep swollen or thickened, esp. deep in the back

- Clearing my throat a lot (mucus in very top part of my chest). Sometimes it comes upon me suddenly, as if if I don't clear my throat I won't be able to inhale.

- Sudden heart fluttering (maybe this is anxiety related to the breathing issues?)

- Occassional dizziness related to the timing of the heart thing, or the getting winded. (I think is may be me hyperventilating?)

- Getting winded walking across the room (only sometimes - other times I can go about my normal routine)

- Some upper chest pain, but not sharp - more like an ache, and only spuratic.

- FWIW, I had about 3 episodes of larynghytis (sp?) this winter that lasted a long while. During those times, I had a similar tightness in that area right where I swallow.

- All the symptoms are worse in the evening. By morning, I'm a bit better.

 

OK there's a list to start you. Now, what would say the problem "could" be?

 

FWIW, I'm headed back to the Dr. this afternoon to discuss these things. I'll let you know what she says.... My DH is away on business, and this freaked me out enough that mom is coming today to help with the kids.

 

Thanks for your input!

- Stacey in MA

[Jean in Newcastle]

I've had trouble sort of like that. You might ask your doc. about panic attacks and about esophageal spasms. (Cal-Mag helps both of them for me.)

[Mama Lynx]

Honestly, don't blow off the reflux. Mine causes throat sensations like that, throat clearning, sinus trouble, chest pain/pressure. I do the odd getting winded thing, too. I have no idea how that relates, but my chest and my heart have been checked out and pronounced fine.

[Tarheel Heather]

I've had trouble sort of like that. You might ask your doc. about panic attacks and about esophageal spasms. (Cal-Mag helps both of them for me.)

 

 

Anxiety and reflux can feel like that.

[Jennifer in MI]

I've had trouble sort of like that. You might ask your doc. about panic attacks and about esophageal spasms. (Cal-Mag helps both of them for me.)

 

I had this too. I didn't get winded and some of the other symptoms don't match exactly, but the cal-mag definately helps!

 

Honestly, don't blow off the reflux. Mine causes throat sensations like that, throat clearning, sinus trouble, chest pain/pressure. I do the odd getting winded thing, too. I have no idea how that relates, but my chest and my heart have been checked out and pronounced fine.

 

This was my SIL too. Her voice changed because of the acid buildup in her throat. She sounded like a man!

 

One other thing - is you uvula swollen? I had this weird feeling in the back of my throat once and I couldn't figure it out. It was causing panic attacks that I thought were other symptoms. Anyway, turns out my uvula was HUGE!! The swelling went away on its own and so did my panic!

 

Good luck figuring it all out.

[tinag]

Honestly, don't blow off the reflux. Mine causes throat sensations like that, throat clearning, sinus trouble, chest pain/pressure. I do the odd getting winded thing, too. I have no idea how that relates, but my chest and my heart have been checked out and pronounced fine.

 

I agree. My dd has had some of the same symptoms like yours and it turned out to be reflux.

[PrairieAir]

That's what he said;) (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. It was the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw the subject line.)

 

Could it be allergies, though? I've had some of those symptoms lately and my allergies attacks have been much more severe the past few years. I've had bad attacks after lying on the couch in the family room where the girls had been petting one of the (outdoor for a reason!) cats. I must have sucked in a cat hair or something since usually my reaction to cats is not so bad. I also had a severe allergy attack with many of those symptoms after 5 hours of using the weed whacker to "mow" around our house. I noticed last night the cottonwoods are letting go of their seeds now, too, and I always have more trouble when that's going on. Are there any things like this that could be affecting you? Have you eaten anything different lately? My mom has some similar reactions to shellfish and even has to be careful what kinds of medicines she takes and dyes are used on her in medical testing as some of these are derived from shellfish.

[Stacey in MA]

Some interesting ideas in your replies. I will be more open to the reflux idea if none of these other ideas pan out.

 

I went to the dr. today, and wasn't pleased with the dr. herself. She was someone I had never met, and we didn't "click". She had this look on her face the whole time (as I tried to explain all my weird symptoms) as if I were a little wacky. I HATE that! I realize it was somewhat vague and maybe difficult. But I dont' just run to the dr. w/ an ache or pain. I come when there is something really wrong that I need to get to the bottom of. And she asked a lot of questions about my home life (as if implying anxiety....). She never once took the ball and said "Well, when it's the back of the throat, it could be this, that or the other, so let's start with this and see if that's the problem". She just acted as if I were making it all up. Ug! I am not a Dr. fan - no offense to you dr.'s and wives of dr.'s. I'm not a completely nutty lady - I have found some dr.'s I love and click with! But this was not this one....

 

Anyway, she did notice some things from my blood work from the ER visit Friday. (The results weren't discussed with me, and they released me, so I thought they all came back fine). She said my white blood cells were high, and something else about my platelets, indicating an infection of some sort (not sure what - I have no pain, just tightness!). So for now, I'm on antibiotics, asthma inhaler (she thought this must be asthma related, so I agreed to try a regular course w/ the inhaler to see if it helped), and Claratin (b/c I think I have some sinus/allergy issues that are relating to this all).

 

Anyway, thanks for all of your ideas and opinions. I really value your input and thoughts! It's not fun to be a sick mommy when 4 little ones are relying on you being and feeling "normal"! It's nice to have people share their stories and ideas.

 

Hoping you all are well.... - Stacey in MA

[Twinmom]

My mom had similar problems and was diagnosed with reflux. A few Prilosec later and she's just fine. It was miserable beforehand, though.

 

Hope you are better soon.

[Kathleen in VA]

I took my oldest ds to the ER several years ago because he was coughing a LOT and sometimes found it difficult to breathe. The ER dr said that it could be asthma and suggested we see our reg. doctor, but she also suggested taking Zantac. She said that many of her asthma patients found relief by taking Zantac. He tried it and it worked. I know this isn't the same problem you described but it couldn't hurt to try.

[Laurie4b]

Well if it is reflux and you don't want to take Prilosec, here are some other things that can relieve it:

 

Raise the head of your bed about 3 inches.

Don't eat anything within 3 hours of bedtime.

Eat very small meals.

For a few days, eat only things that are easy on your stomach.

Avoid ibuprofen.

Drink sips of cold water when you have symptoms.

Chew gum. (Saliva neutralizes stomach acid)

 

I have reflux, took the meds, and they made it worse. These things help me.

[tinag]

Laurie,

Have you tried any natural remedies? My ds and dd have benefited from acidophillus and aloe vera juice.