posted
Unfortunately for the last 2 days I've been having terrible tightness in my throat..
feels like it is being squeezed from the insides, i've never had this before, and it is not pleasant whatsoever.
I can breathe and swallow, even though swallowing with this feeling feels different than normal.
I did do a search on this and a bunch of posts came up, but I'd just like to hear anyone else's experience with this terrible symptom.
it just seems like with each new symptom, I don't think it can get any worse, and then the next week comes and it DOES get worse - last week eye pain, this week throat squeezing.
oh and based on prev. posts lots of people mentioned babs but i tested negative for b. microti IFA test thru IGENEX - IgM <20 and IgG <40
thanks for any input as always as I try to get thru this as a 'new' person to lyme...I truly appreciate
I have a phone consult with my llmd and going to run this by him, who knows what he'll see but I'll update in a bit
Thanks!
Posts: 82 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2011
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philly78
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 31069
posted
This was one on my MAIN issues prior to being diagnosed with lyme. I also think it may be a contributing factor to my weight loss. I would try to eat and literally choke on my food! It gets worse when my anxiety is acting up as well.
along with the throat tightness, I get an extremely dry mouth and throat. Seems like I can't drink enough water and even have hard time swallowing my own spit or feel like I have to "double swallow" if that makes sense. It is very annoying!
I tested negative through Igenex for both babs and bart but my doc is treating me for bart anyway based on some of my symptoms. My treatment does seem to be working.
-------------------- When faced with pain you have two choices....either quit and accept the circumstances, OR make the decision to fight with all the resources you have at your disposal. Posts: 1000 | From PA | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
update: well I just got off the phone with my dr a little while ago, and he really hadn't heard of this symptom. unfortuately, he said my "case is not classic at all" which makes me nervous, even though I already realized it.
fortunately though because of you all, I have learned that some of these crazy symptoms that I experience are shared by some of you.
his concern was that I'm having an allergic reaction but being that I've taken Ceftin for weeks before and this just came on, I don't think so..
thanks again to anyone who reads this.. not having a good day here, but it helps to have all your support!
Posts: 82 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2011
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BackinStOlaf
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23725
posted
Go to an ENT and have them put a tube down your nose to your larynx and check it out. Could be some kind of swelling causing the problem. It needs to be checked.
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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sounds invasive - have your have this done?
Posts: 82 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2011
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BackinStOlaf
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23725
posted
Yes, I had it done 2 weeks ago to check about my breathing difficulty and throat mucus. They discovered the problem for me so now I can try to treat it.
There is a little discomfort but nothing major, very tolerable. It's also fascinating because you can see what it looks like it there..
-------------------- First Symptom 9/09 Multiple docs, negative Labcorp test LLMD: 1/10 Positive Igenex/CDC test Treatment 2/10 2/10-8/10 Amox, ceftin, zith, flagyl Currently: Bicillin, Minocycline, still dealing with severe breathing issues
Posts: 1121 | From New York, New York | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
okay, thanks! were they able to do this for you at your first appt??
glad they were able to help you!
Posts: 82 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2011
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Jamers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28016
posted
I have the same problem lately. Mine started when I began treating Babesia. I also have difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, swelling in sinuses. I believe this is the Babesia acting up since I can take a Benedryl and it will calm down.
It could also be Bart that is just coming to the surface since I am treating Babs. It's very annoying. If you have acid reflux, that can also cause swelling in the throat.
-------------------- Diagnosed Pos. Lyme Nov. 17, 2010, Igx. Pos. Babesia Duncani March 2011, Igx. Clinical diagnosis for Bartonella Posts: 1127 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2010
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BoxerMom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25251
posted
Babesia does this to my husband.
I was also negative for B.microti through Igenex, but positive through Fry Labs.
When this happens, docs often choose to do a trial run of antimalarials/antiprotozoans to see if you herx for Babesia. I had no typical Babesia symptoms until I was put on Mepron/Zith. Then I got them all.
posted
Thanks for all the responses so far - truly appreciate it.
jadams - interesting b/c just lasw week I was having sinus issues, and now as of yesterday the throat tightness, and now today difficulty w/ swallowing and shortnesss of breath - We need to talk ha!! I was thinking about stopping at the store later to try benadryl since I read on other posts that that seems to help. What is your treatment for babs??
boxer mom - babs does seem to come up with this symptom. i really starting to wonder if I do indeed have that. I don't have many of the other typical babesia symptoms either so it's really perplexing. I have been on arteminsin for 2 months now, so I'm not sure if that has any relevance here. Once you were put on mepron and zith, you got all the typical symptoms -- that seems so opposite to me, once you start taking meds to kill the coinfection wouldn't you get better?
I'm new to this so I guess I'm still confused..I never know if the symptoms I'm having are b/c of Lyme, co- infections, or herxing...Oh boy.. :\
Posts: 82 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2011
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posted
Dyshasia (swallowing difficulty) is on every lyme symptom list I have seen. It is NOT uncommon.Are you sure your dr. is a llmd. I have this and mine are caused for laryngeal spasms. I can feel my throat tighten. Xanax helpd.
It went away when I did Plaquenil and Biaxin, so I tend to agree that it is babs. The testing for babs isn't great especially in the chronic stage.
I had the scope done 3 times and they found nothing.
Good Luck
Posts: 433 | From new york | Registered: Dec 2004
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Jamers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28016
posted
Bridge-My Babs symptoms were very miniscule and since treating they come to the surface and now they are pretty annoying. It sounds like allergies almost but I "suddenly" got these symptoms while treating Babs.
My treatment is a little weird b/c I cannot take the Macrolides (Zith or Biaxin) so I take Mepron and Art. 3 weeks on, then 1 week off.
-------------------- Diagnosed Pos. Lyme Nov. 17, 2010, Igx. Pos. Babesia Duncani March 2011, Igx. Clinical diagnosis for Bartonella Posts: 1127 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2010
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posted
Jadams- thanks for getting back to me. If you don't mind, can you tell me what exactly your babs symptoms were - I'm trying to get the bottom of whether or not I have it, since my test came back neg but it seems like lots of ppl have it despite negative results.
I too am debating whether this was allergies.
I've been taking artemensin for 2 months so unlike yourself, these symptoms didn't come on 'suddenly' since having taken something.
Just would like to hear some more info, as I'm getting quite confused about the babs thing. You're the 2nd eprswon that has said once they started treatment for it, the symptoms came to the surface/got worse - I just don't get that - wouldn't it have to be the other way around - you have symptoms, you start treatment, you see improvement?
Thanks for any more help in the matter!
Posts: 82 | From NJ | Registered: Mar 2011
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Jamers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28016
posted
Well, the symptoms are sort of hard to discern which infection each belongs to but I believe that the following symptoms I experienced are from Babesia:
-Dizziness/imbalance/rocking like on a boat -Shortness of breath-Can't get a good satisfying breath -Fatigue (extreme at times, like I could never get enough sleep) -Hot sweats (like feeling really hot, with NO fever, for no reason) -Allergy like symptoms that we listed -Limited Stamina (only able to walk/stand for short periods of time
-Others get night sweats, but I've never had these.
Mine would come and go. When you start treating an infection your symptoms will almost always get worse. This is due to the die-off of the critters and the infection coming to the forefront (i think, don't quote me on this This is known as a herx.
Testing is very inaccurate so many LLMD's go off of symptoms. Have you had any symptoms of Babesia?
Also, it could just be allergies b/c Lyme Disease seems to cause allergies. I seem to have more allergies but I really think mine is due to the infections, mainly Babesia.
Hope that helps, you can message me if have any more questions.
-------------------- Diagnosed Pos. Lyme Nov. 17, 2010, Igx. Pos. Babesia Duncani March 2011, Igx. Clinical diagnosis for Bartonella Posts: 1127 | From North Carolina | Registered: Sep 2010
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When I was undertreated and my symptoms were bad, I would get a throat constriction, or at least a sensation of a throat contriction. Even now sometimes I can choke a little bit when I eat. Boy isn't lyme fun. I have had it about 21 years. There are good days and bad days. Hopefully with sufficient antibiotic treatment, this throat sensation will disappear.
We're with you.
We'll Win
Posts: 107 | From maryland | Registered: Feb 2007
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Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
I have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). And I have to do the double-swallow thing described above to get liquids to go down at all. So frustrating.
Mine was triggered by what doctors (2 LLMD's, 1 LLND) think was a severe herx that caused permanent damage to muscles and/or nerves related to swallowing (I suspect more nerves than muscles). These doctors also think it may be from Bartonella, at least in part.
I test negative to all coinfections through Fry Labs (I did every test Fry has except the Lyme test and all were negative) and also negative for Anaplasma & Ehrlichia through IGeneX. But the Lyme docs think I have Lyme + Bart., and I think I also have Anaplasma.
But you guys are scaring me - I thought I didn't have any Babesia symptoms, but then I read that for some of you the difficulty swallowing apparently was caused by Babs... Sigh...
Anyway, here's what I do to improve my swallowing:
Chewing gum (a lot) got me from unable to swallow anything at all to being able to swallow some solids.
Once I started eating again, then I slowly started trying different liquids to see which ones worked and which ones didn't. Here's what I found:
Hot or warm water, tea, or meal replacement drink goes down fine. It refluxes/comes back up if I don't eat something or chew gum after drinking.
Cold anything can go down part-way, but often will just sit there part-way down and then either eventually come back up or eventually go all the way down. Even eating something after drinking cold water doesn't make this change.
So for cold things, I use a feeding tube. But my stomach handles luke warm or warm best, so I try to avoid the ice cold or room temp. liquids as much as I can.
I haven't found a work-around for swallowing solids with certain textures (mashed potatoes, yogurt, basically anything thick & sticky...and also things with dry particles, such as plain crackers). They hurt or don't go down all the way, no matter what I try. Even trying to drink liquids after doesn't make the particles or thick sticky stuff go down any easier. So I avoid these textures and then I'm ok.
Swallowing pills is also out of the question, so I either chew or crush tablets, or open up capsules and eat the contents.
Take care,
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
bridge- I had something similar a few years ago though I think mine was associated with quiting cigarette smoking and the residual effects and anxiety associated with it. You should probably google globus hystericus as the condition is often associated with anxiety. It is also highly associated with the acid reflux disease LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux disease). I also think it can be caused by post nasal drip. It was one of the most difficult symptoms I ever had to deal with though I will admitt I had a lot of anxiety about it never going away which made it a lot worse. I found honey and Thayers slippery elm lozenges to be helpful. If you look into LPR it is a real quagmire, and be ready for ENT's to prescribe PPI's such as nexium at a drop of a hat. They probably help a lot of folks, but they are perhaps the most unecessairly prescribed drugs going IMHO
Posts: 357 | From California | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
Throat tightness for me has been due to an allergic reaction, a need to drink more water, or, and this is a main one, vertebral subluxation in the neck.
When neck muscles get tight and/or vertebrae go out of place, it can affect the nerves to the throat area. Specifically, C1, C2 or C4 dislocation can cause throat tightening. I go to a good chiropractor to stop the symptom.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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feelfit
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12770
posted
hello there-
First of all, were you also tested for Babesia WA-1 (duncani) ? I was only tested for microti for years and was negative. WA-1/Duncani originated (supposedly) on the West Coast, so doctors don't usually test if you don't live there.
HOWEVER! those in the Midwest/East Coast are often positive when tested, I sure was!
That said, I have had the swallowing issues...bad. They first started during my first HBOT dive...while coming up...I could barely eat for three months and it took me hours to do so.* note: also developed severe air hunger immediately after this dive..another babesia sx.
a year and a half later, and I still have trouble at times initiating a swallow, I often feel like I am being choked and I can feel my food stopping at times or very slowly moving down my esophagus...not nice at all.
I truly believe that, for me, these are BABESIA symptoms...I believe that during HBOT babesia flared (babs loves an oxygenated environment).
And, these symptoms, while still present to some degree have become much, much better with babesia treatment.
Razzle, I would take a test run with Babesai tx. if you haven't already. My symptoms were not permanent....well at least not as severe after treating babesia....it is worth a shot..
@ Razzle, curious to know what tx you were on when your 'herx' of swallowing difficulty appeared??
Good luck to all...this is a scary, ever changing illness, but it can be managed/conquered.
[ 05-11-2011, 08:48 PM: Message edited by: feelfit ]
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