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Gastroenterology  (Expert Forum)
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Could this be GERD?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin, M.D. Boston - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
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MedHelp Member's Question

Could this be GERD?

by kimmy975, Dec 22, 2003 12:00AM
About 6 weeks ago I had a bad cold that went away, 2 weeks later I started having a pain in my upper throat along with a "lump in the throat" feeling. I have always had on and off heart burn, so immediately thought GERD. It didn't feel like a sore throat, just a pain in the upper throat, a lump feeling. I don't feel any discomfort when I first wake up or when I swallow. Eating actually makes it feel better. So, after two weeks I went to a family practice Dr. He looked in my throat and saw nothing wrong. He prescribed Protonix to treat Gerd. after 2.5 weeks, I did not feel any better. (Remember the discomfort is CONSTANT andd only relieved by eating or sleeping) So, I went back to the DR. and again saw nothing in the upper throat region. So, today I am going to see an ENT under his recommendation. Do you think this still could be GERD OR some kind of esophageal infection? If I had an infection, should I have other symptoms? I am so nervous about this and am afraid it's something serious. also, I know how powerful the brain is and the anxiety I feel along with the contstant thought of something being very wrong could be making this worse.



Please advise.
Doctor's Answer

by Kevin Pho, MD, Dec 23, 2003 12:00AM
The "lump in the throat" feeling is known as a globus sensation.  The ENT evaluation is the right next step.  GERD can certainly be a possibility.  An ENT evaluation for laryngoscopy to rule out any masses would be a reasonable next step.  Another consideration would be upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction.  This should also be considered by the ENT physician.



If the ENT evaluation is not revealing, I would consider a 24-hr pH study or upper GI series to demontrate whether GERD is present or not.  If it is, and not controlled with the protonix, you may want to consider surgical therapy to control the GERD.  



Followup with your personal physician is essential.



This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.



Thanks,

Kevin, M.D.

Member Comments (6)

by StaciLynn, Dec 22, 2003 12:00AM
Hi!  I have had that lump type feeling at times and it was either acid reflux or at times anxiety.  If I ate it didn't bother me, but if I thought about the feeling of a lump being there it got worse.  The doctor felt I just needed to take an antacid, and while that may have been true, I know part of it was from my anxiety thinking something was wrong.  While I don't get it every day now, I do sometimes get it especially when I think about it.  I don't think it is anything serious and I read on the internet that there is even a name for that feeling called globus something or another.  If you look up lump in throat and do a search, you will see exactly what is it called and see that what you have isn't unusual at all.

by yoshi, Dec 23, 2003 12:00AM
i have learned from trial and error -what you eat and when you eat make a difference.

some food could trigger the symptoms-hot,spicy food,dairy products,cabonated drinks,fried fat,heavy meat etc tec,chocolate,nuts.

try not to eat heavy meal in the evening.

by tw26, Dec 30, 2003 12:00AM
Hi, I was having the same problem. It drove me crazy, I had so much anxiety because I thought that there was something seriously wrong with me but it would go away when I would eat or drink something.  I finally went to my ENT and he looked down my throat with a mirror and said that nothing was there and to give it a few weeks because I also had mild acid reflux/postnasal drip/anxiety.  After a few weeks that feeling of a lump in my throat was still there, so the ENT ordered a Barium Swallow and nothing was found except mild reflux.  Ever since then I have had really no more problems - I think a lot of it was anxiety related.  Hope this helps, good luck.

by tony38, Jan 07, 2004 12:00AM
I have many of the same symptoms as the rest of you.Started as sore throat and lump in the throat right around my adams apple.Scratchy voice and this constant annoying lump and tighting in my throat.Went to ent 3 times and had the scope down my nose.He saw some mild irritation,gave me nexium and told me to use gaviscon.I did it for a week and no relief,went back and got scoped again.Not much irritation,no tumors or growths in throat.I did have popping in my ear and thick nasal drip.Wife had this a month and it was a sinus infection,not even gerd or reflux.I do have some reflux.By now I am nervous as hell.Read about something called Barrets esphogus which you can get after years of acid and irratation.I stress that it says after YEARS!!!not weeks or months.So now stress and anxiety are taking over.Went yesterday for an esphogram .had to swallow barium and take x rays.All negative.NO GERD>SO WHAT IS THIS FEELING!!!IT consumes my every thought.Tomorrow I am going for an endoscopy.I will be sedated and a camera will go all the way down my esphogus.The doctor reccomended this but I want it anyway.I need peace of mind.As long as nothing is found.I am told this is the most accurate test to determine the problem.I hope it is all ok for me and all the rest of you with this problem.

by SOMIE, Jan 15, 2004 12:00AM
i myself have been feeling some type of lump on my throat.i went to the endocrinologist to make sure my glands were not swollen.they weren't.so im actually going to an  ear,nose,and throat specialist to see if they find something.there has got to be something in my throat cause i feel it.i cant sleep at nihgt because its almost pressing against my windpipe so i wake up shortness of breath.does anybody have any idea what this can be?

by netexplore_us, Jan 19, 2004 12:00AM
plzz help. I'm 30. This is my story. 2 years ago, i took doxicyline to treat eye infection for 5 days after which i woke up unable to swallow. went to pcp, gave me protonix, in a day or two, felt better, discontinued medication. since then, noticed I had problem with eating spicy food late at night, discomfort in the stomach in and in my esphogus. never took anything for it. now, in sept 2003, started eating a lot of spicy food, over and above the usual. starting having the late night discomfort. w/o consulting anyone, put myself on protonix for about a week and got off it. this time, the pain came back, discomfort in the espohagus. continued on protonix for a month, system kept getting worse and worse. 1st got barium swallow, told no reflux. did stomach emptying with eggs, i was burping all thru out the test, they saw considerable tracer of the egg in my lower esphoagus , result of test, good stomach emptying but considerable GERD (okay whatever that means). not convinced b/c i burping a lot which could push the food up into my esphoagus. anyway, system got worse, actually started having heartburn too. my GI did an endo, found out that I had chronic gastritis and esphogitis and acute dudonities. biopies from my stomach came back postive for h. pylori. I had no stomach pain all along though, none. now, this is jan 2004. all along, i have been left on protonix and i get an on going pain