pressure in my throat feels like I'm suffocating or my throat is closing.

First and foremost - Insist that you have tests (no matter whether you're too young or any other 'excuse'). It could be nothing serious and very treatable. INSIST.

Your story is almost identical to mine and I was hoping that you found out what the issue was. I'm 19 year old male college student, and I have been having this problem for almost 2 weeks now. Sometimes it the stress on my throat almost makes me feel like it is becoming hard to breath. I understand that you posted this over a year ago but it I would really appreciate it if you let me know what you found out.  Please, PLEASE let me know if there is anything I can do to help feel well or "normal".

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I deal with the same thing it's a digestive issue its from your esophagus to your stomach it almost feels like a burp is stuck or someone's pressing on the bottom of your throat so I know exactly what you're going through but its internally.

Ive had the exact same symptoms for 5 moths and i havent got any help from a doctor either. They say its most likely not acid reflux with the tests theyve done so far.. I know how you feel. Id really like to know if you ever made it past this because you posted this over a year ago. Its really affecting how i live my life.

This is not good. You need to go to an endocrinologist asap

I've had the same issues for years. I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and prescribed medication. The meds worked and I'm so relieved to feel better. It's a terrible feeling otherwise.

Hi all, I dont think that u will beleive me .but actually this problem also happened to me .it feels so bad.mind is so upset .mostly this happen in the evening or different different times.just look at this.don't worry this cannot believe doctors ...but this is actually I think another soul is get in to our body from back side of the throat. Then it is strucked inside.he wants to talk by us .but words not come out.i think u have to find a priest special minded.then he will help u .dont say this to doctors .other wise u all have to go for a psychologyst.useless.

What meds were you prescribed? I was prescribed Ativan and diazapem but they make me so tired.

I've been experiencing the same thing on and off since late Aug 2012. My throat feels like it's closing in on me, causing a gag like reflex and the only way I can find any relief is by eating..or sucking on cough drop; which obviously I cannot do 24/7. It seems to get somewhat better at night, although I wouldn't say it completely disappears. The first time this happened to me back in August 2012, it last about 7 1/2 weeks straight. I was miserable! I went to the doctor MANY times, even urgent care. They ran all kinds of tests. Checked to see if I had the common cold, strep, tonsilitis, etc. Took many viles of blood to check my thyroids, liver and God knows what else. Even ran a few other, not so flattering tests (this, I will just leave out for all our sakes' lol), I spent close to $1,000 on medical bills when all was said and done just to hear "everything seems to be normal". Never did get an answer. I practically spent that 7 1/2 weeks inside. Couldn't work or function in the slightest. Finally...it was gone!

 

Then it came back a few months later. Not as bad, didn't last as long, but it was back. It's lasted about two weeks, and again, it was gone. It has come and gone several times since then. Annnnnd...it's back again as I'm writing this. It's pretty bad this time. Not as bad as the first time I had it, but if I had to rate in on a scale of 1-10, I'd give it a six- the first time I had it, I'd give it a 20 on the same scale above (that's how bad it was) :(

 

I still haven't found any answers and to what it is...what's causing it...or what makes it go away for periods of time. I used to smoke, was a smoker for 15 years; recently quit- been completely smoke free for 43 days. I know, I know...that doesn't sound like a long time; but I used to think that my problem was due to inhailing the smoke. Well, ruled that out! My diet hasn't changed during the course of time from before the onset of this strange "disease" to when it started, nor now. I live in the same city I was raised in.

 

I've seen a lot of people posting that it could be stress or psycological (depression/anxiety). Yes, I have recently had a lot of anxiety problems..and maybe some depression (although I hate to admit that). My Dad passed away in 2010 at the age of 63 from liver cancer, and that was really rough on me- yet, I didn't have this problem; then my Grandfather died the next year in Dec. 2011; still...nothing... then all of a sudden, right before the 2 year anniversary of my Dad's passing, I got this for the first time. Since I first started feeling better, after the initial onset of this, I've only had small dealings with it. Nothing major. However, my cat of 15 years passed away March 8, 2013, my closest Aunt died the very next day March 9, 2013 and my oldest sister (age 34) was killed in a motorcycle accident the next month, April 13, 2013 (almost a year ago)...and now this c**p is back.

 

Shortly after my sister died, my doctor perscribed me Xanax and I've been taking that when I feel like I really need it- a few times a week, so I doubted this was anxiety related...because that's what Xanax is for, right?!?

 

If anyone else finds and answers or any soothing remedies, please keep us updated. Like I said, I've only found that constantly sucking on cough drops (sugar free of course) helps...but after a while, that gets old.

 

Good luck to everyone with this problem. I know how frustrating this is. Not just because we're actually physically miserable, but also because no one really believes us because it's not something that can be seen. I was so stoked to come across this page today because I finally feel like I'm not alone anymore!

Have you thought about a spiritual cause for this problem? If you have Freemasnory in your family that can be the cause. When Freemasons are inducted into the craft they call down a curse of themseves and on their family which involves being throttled to death - hanged - if they ever divulge the secrets of this cult. Freemasonry is demonic and has evil at is core and foundation. If you have Freemasonry in your family - or if you live next to a Masonic lodge - you may well experience a sense of being throttled, or have other health problems to do with your airways, and other parts of the body, such as the heart. Go to Freemasonry Watch for more information.

Had the same problem also and I was told its allergy, after doing an ultrasound I found out it was my tyroid glands. They found out I have goiter. Still feeling it after six months of medication, so your not alone, do an ultrasound.

Jackie M. - Xanax?? really?? don't take that sh** please.. rather cry and go to psychologist, not psychiatrist, and talk it out. xanax may only take away immediate symptoms, and won't solve the problem, and that much grief is not something to ignore. besides, the side effects could really be bad.But I'm here to tell you that my throat is closing as well, and it's bothering me. From where I stand, I am as well in a diffult time in life. Throat chakra (if you believe that) is connected to person's individuality and selfawerness. I think I'm having trouble with knowing who I am anymore and am kinda lost in life currently, so I think this is why it's happening. I am working on myself and this could be a symptome of my actions. Anyways, I think it's all psyhological. There is no drugs that can help or solve this.. It's in the mind and heart. So try to solve that.Hope we all feel better and find a way how to work this through.

Cricopharyngeal spasm Information for patients with a lump in the throat sensation Causes This syndrome results from a spasm in the cricopharyngeus muscle. It is a self limiting disorder that will resolve on its own. The symptoms are so characteristic that as soon as a patient tells me they have a lump in the throat, I can usually describe all of their symptoms to them. Symptoms Lump in the throat sensation feels like a golf ball, tennis ball ... is stuck in my throat feels like my tie is too tight feel like I am being strangled my throat feels swollen The symptoms can be mimicked by pushing on the cartilage in the neck just below the Adams apple. The lump comes and goes depending on the day. Symptoms are usually best in the AM and worse later in the day Stress aggravates the symptoms. Saliva is difficult to swallow yet food is easy to swallow. Eating, in fact, often makes the tightness go away for a time. The symptoms are similar to getting choked up at a wedding or a funeral. Physiology 101 There are two valves in the esophagus or swallowing tube. The are normally contracted and they relax when you swallow so that food can pass through them going to the stomach. They then squeeze closed again to prevent regurgitation of the stomach contents. If the normal contraction becomes a spasm, like a charlie horse of the calf muscle, these symptoms start. Stress often makes these spasms much worse. Many people have experienced neck tightness when stressed and this is similar. Even if not caused by stress, stress will make the spasm much worse. A management program An exam of the neck and throat is extemely important to eliminate serious problems. In fact, it enters most peoples minds that a lump in the throat might be a cancer. In practice, real lumps in the throat, such as a cancer are not felt. It is one of the reasons that a cancer can get so big before it is discovered. It probably is fortunate that we don't have great sensation in the throat as we would then feel every particle of food, with every meal as it travels down the throat. So lacking great sensation in the throat, problems are a little mysterious there. Unfortunately, many physicians are not familiar with how symptomatic a cricopharyngeal spasm can be and I often see patients who have been extensively tested with Barium swallows, esophageal endoscopies, pH testing, CT scans, xrays, MRI scans and they all come back normal or possibly with some finding that is completely unrelated to the lump in the throat sensation. Really, just a good exam of the throat, voice box and neck is all that is necessary and it is sufficient as well. You should know the following: Just knowing the tightness is not a sign of cancer frequently helps relieve the discomfort. You will get better. Often improvement is over several weeks or even a few months, but occurs once one knows what the problem is. Warm fluids should comfort the throat. Consider a cup of warm tea when the lump is bothersome. If stress lets up, the symptoms improve. Think about what stress might be making this lump worse. Muscle relaxants, such as valium, would be a good treatment, except for their addictive properties. Medication I sometimes dispense several valium (perhaps 4) as a test to prove the symptoms are from muscle spasms. I recommend taking one of the Valium on a weekend, when being alert is not important. When the lump occurs, one takes the Valium. Within an hour, there should be significant improvement in the lump sensation. If the symptoms improve after taking the muscle relaxant, then the symptoms are reasonably from a muscle spasm. Again, the knowledge that a muscle relaxant makes a lump disappear can help confirm that the cause of the lump is from a muscle and not an actual lump. I have also tried injections with a local anesthetic, often with good, but temporary results. It does help to confirm in the patients mind, there is the possibility of relief. If a local anesthetic injections helps, I have with inconsistent results injected botulinum toxin into the cricopharyngeus muscle, sometimes with prolonged relief. Benefits The symptoms go away.

I was told I had GURD what I think it was It was the first signs of gall stones. It seems as time went on from the first throat symptoms my entire digestion system seemed to get out of wack including pain in my gall bladder on the right side right under your rib. I did what the doctors said didn't work. After a lot of searching on internet I started doing everything to try and help and what helped me was the 2 cups warm water w/ lemon and honey every morning 1 tbs of apple cider vinegar w/ the mother every day mixed in a glass of apple juice or tea and a shot of kefir everyday I feel all better the best I can tell a acid indigestion is not you have too much acid it's when you don't have enough and your body works overdrive to make enough and ends up with extra. When you take tums and all the other stuff it just makes it worse you need more acid which your body turns into alkaline go figure now they have a new diet called the acid diet that is actually all the rage now all I now is those simple things changed my life and any time I felt like I might get acid reflux I took a shot of kefir not anti acids I added pro biotics it's worth a try I don't feel like I'm being chocked when I lie down or have a sensation of food stuck in my throat like I used to Good Luck

I have the same thing exept the headaches,dizzyness and nausea...dayum