Lump in the Throat Sensation

Updated on May 18, 2008
J.R. asks from Bolingbrook, IL
5 answers

Hi Moms, hope this message finds you doing well and enjoying Friday!

I have recently (the past week or two) had this sensation in my throat like there is a lump of food stuck there. i've been drinking fluids and when i swallow it does go away temporarily but returns within 20-30 seconds. it's not gagging me (though my gag reflex is not extremely sensitive) but it's quite annoying. I have done some reading online and from what i gather my symptoms sound a lot like silent reflux. I have no heartburn, just this lump. it seems worst after my morning coffee... and i read caffeine can trigger this in silent reflux... but i don't know...sometimes when we read things, we think oh my gosh, that's me and make connections that weren't really there to begin with. Now yesterday, was a bad day for my diet... my kitchen was taken over by the countertop installers and I am without a sink/faucet for at least another week so anyway, yesterday I ate really bad... burger king for lunch and we got chinese take out for dinner - i have not had burger king in months so that's not my usual diet. it got really bad last night and i did end up throwing up - once i got to the point of throwing up bile, it went away and i felt a lot better. Now, 3 of us ate the same thing for dinner, and i was the only one who got sick, so i dont think it was food poisoning... (from the chinese anyway) - I think it may have been relate to this lump in my throat and the possibility that this could be silent reflux (though, not so silent if i'm vomiting from it! i just have no heartburn/pain).

So..... ok, what am i asking... ?? Do you have silent reflux? what are your symptoms like... should I go see my doc? I really do not want to have the Ph meter test done... i'd rather just try meds to see if it works.

thanks for your help... hope you have a beautiful Friday and are able to enjoy some of the warmth and sunshine!

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So What Happened?

I went to my doc and he sent me over to a gastroenterologist, who confirmed that I have acid reflux. He suggested I take Prilosec OTC for the full 2 weeks when I have symptoms and to come back if I find myself needing it every day.

The chunk-of-food-stuck-in-my-throat sensation went away after a few days on the Prilosec. Thank God!

Thanks for sharing your ideas with me. you mom's are such a great resource :)

More Answers

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K.A.

answers from Chicago on

I have this too although it is very sporadic. It first happened to me about 10 years ago and the doctor I went to said it was a mild form of allergies. Basically she said that everyone has differing reactions to allergens and in my case, my body was generating mucous that was coating my throat giving me a sensation of a lump in my throat. I didn't have any other symptoms, but it was a particularly bad year that year (10 years ago) for allergens.

I have the same thing right now although it's not terribly troubling to me. Not coincidentally, the tree pollen is extremely high right now. Have you noticed that this affects you only seasonally? If so, it could be allergy-related (and I have never had typical allergies with watery eyes and itchy nose, by the way). If it affects you year-round I would definitely consult a doctor.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.A.

answers from Chicago on

J.,

Got to a good doctor and get it checked out. My mother died from esophageal cancer which had spread, and that she didn't know about at all until a few weeks before her death; she was only 61. My sister and I were both "scoped" and she (29 at the time) was found to have Barrett's, which is a precancerous disease, and I had GERD. My colleague's husband had symptoms similar to yours, and he was diagnosed with some kind of esophogeal hernia.

It's better to have a good physician check it out and run some tests; if it's just congestion, great, but sometimes treatable disorders are not found in time....

1 mom found this helpful
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M.L.

answers from Chicago on

You should probably have the doctor check it out. I had something similar last fall. The doctor said the lump feeling was probably just from post-nasal drip. Another thing could be an oral yeast infection. Is your tongue white at all? There are many different possibilities. Seeing a docor is probably the best thing.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.C.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.!

My hubby had this not too long ago. He was complaining of the lump in his throat and then he was vomiting while he was sleeping and aspirating a lot of stuff. We started by changing his diet which helped a little. Finally after a month of hearing him moan and groan I told him I was making an appt for him to see a Dr. We did some research and found all the scary things it could be- esophagus cancer, thyroid cancer, this that and the other scary thing. After telling him I was making it, miraculously the next day it was gone. Well I knew better but decided to let him suffer by himself since I was tired of him trying to be a "manly" man about it and not see anyone. He hadnt been to a Dr in 14 years at this point.

Well, finally one day he came home in close to tears. Now this had been going on for about 2 months that we remember. I called an ENT - skipped the middle man that would send me to one anyhow! He got us right in and the only thing they did was use a piece of gauze to pull out his tongue and look into his throat . It was cool to see. I also got to hear my hubby try to sing opera with his tongue pulled out further than I thought it could go. lol I got to see where his throat was all inflamed from GERD. We both asked the Dr why he didnt have the symptoms of typical heartburn pain. Guess sometimes you just dont! He prescribed something- I think Nexium but that might have been for me awhile back- and gave us some samples and told us when that is gone to start the Prilosec OTC that it is just as good. He noticed relief the first day! By the end of the week it was completely gone!

I hope you find out what it is and get the relief you obviously need!
Many blessings!

1 mom found this helpful
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S.E.

answers from Chicago on

Did they check your thyroid?

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