Does this sound like Globus? Please Share your Globus experiences

[[it...]]

Hi Everyone,

 

I began experiencing the need to swallow about a year before tapering.  Slowly this escalated into a constriction of the throat (breathing through a straw). The tightness in my throat varies vastly (and randomly) every day. 

 

I've read that globus "feels like choking" BUT, has anyone ever actually experienced choking?  In my case, I've lost the ability to sleep on my back, and after a few minutes of trying to do so, my throat collapses and I DO choke.  I often wake up on my back gasping for air.  I have essentially developed sleep apnea.  The severity of this varies day to day.  On bad days, if I relax my throat and breathe quickly, my throat will suck shut stopping any air flow.  This is terrifying.

 

My questions:

1)  Has anyone else ever experienced actual choking during sleep or awake when breathing with a relaxed throat?

2)  How long after jumping did you continue to experience globus?

 

I am hoping to convince myself that what I am experiencing is in fact globus and not some other fundamental throat issue.  I've been off Ativan for ~2 months now and am more than ready to stop experiencing the globus sensation!

 

Sincere Thanks!

 

 

[[bu...]]

Hey Meow ~

I'm a little nervous to give you advice on this so the first thing I will say is that with my throat problems the best thing I did was go to the doctor - had a load of tests, and they came out fine. That way I KNEW it was anxiety and knowing that helped immensely.

 

I've had throat issues since 2008 - all anxiety. Back in 2008 I couldn't even swallow my own spit without panicking. The only rest I got was while sleeping, but even then sometimes I would wake up choking. After a few months this lessened, and even with benzo anxiety now (and a new throat flare-up that was barely more than a nuisance for years), it is not as bad as it was for me then.

 

I find that opening my mouth slightly and taking deep breaths SLOWLY through my nose - like the back of my nose if you can understand - sort of Darth Vaderish - helps me. Find a helpful mantra for these times - like "the air is flowing freely into my lungs - I am breathing normally - I am okay" or whatever suits you.

But honestly the number one thing was going through the tests - x-ray, barium swallow, endoscopy -- and knowing for sure that it was not a physical problem.

 

The throat anxiety thing changed the way I swallow - I would sometimes feel like I had no control and I'd choke on my spit but over time I learned to stop this and not panic. I realize this is different than what you described, and I cannot speak to the exact symptom you described of your throat sucking shut.

 

When you say "if I relax my throat and breathe quickly" it sounds like you might be experimenting with different ways of breathing to get it to feel normal? I'm not sure. But I would encourage you to do what you can to just breathe normally during these times or take deep breaths through your nose. Any time I ever experimented to test out my capability - like to check and see if was working normally yet, so to speak - messing with my throat, breathing weird - it only made it worse.

 

It could very well be anxiety (as I sit here with a growing lump to the left of my adam's apple describing it  :)) but for peace of mind I'd suggest checking it out if you can, and try the breathing (smell the roses, blow out the candle.) If relaxation can help it in any way then that's an indication that it's anxiety. Also that it changes so randomly throughout the day. But I'll say again - the doctor visit helped me a lot.

 

Middle of the night stuff is tough but the more control I gained during the day, the less trouble I had in the night.

 

Best to you - I know how panicky throat stuff can be. But you can adapt and like all else, it will fade.

[[me...]]

Hi,

 

You're in acute withdrawal at this point.  During this time, we can experience a barrage of bizarre symptoms.  If you didn't have this problem before benzos/withdrawal, it's almost certain that it's a temporary withdrawal symptom and it will definitely pass in time.

 

I had trouble swallowing when I was in acute withdrawal.  It was nothing I'd ever experienced before, I believe it was anxiety driven as were many, many of my other symptoms (see link to my story below).  I also had extreme hypochondriasis, and I believed every symptom I had was from some sort of dire disease.  That is a very common benzo withdrawal symptom as well.

 

You'll heal in time, and time is the healer!

 

[[cu...]]

This is going to sound lame because I can't remember the correct way to describe it but we have chemical alarms and if the brain is not getting enough oxygen they alert us and we wake up when sleeping. And what megan918 wrote, should help you to relax a bit and take it from us that you are not going to die from choking to death. This will pass soon enough. Just try to hang in there BB.

[[it...]]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

Buttercup -

I did see a general doctor, GI doctor, and ENT.  The first two doctors said all was well, however the ENT jumped straight to suggesting surgery (shorten my uvula, which is definitely unrelated to constricted breathing).  My understanding is that this is a very common experience with ENTs.  I also don't believe he was familiar with Benzo use and its symptoms. 

 

I am very grateful that I have no history of anxiety (benzos prescribed for insomnia).  I suspect everything I am experiencing in my throat is the same as one would experience with anxiety, however I am lucky enough to skip the bulk of anxiety component.  But you are right, during these times, slow and controlled breathing has been helpful.  I've found that some nexk/throat stretching has seemed to be helpful as well.

 

You are also right in that if I do not act naturally and choose to investigate the issue (such as breathing differently) I am more likely to overanalyze and scare myself.

 

Megan  -

Thanks for the reminder.  It is SO hard not to expect everything to immediately return to normal after taking my last dose.  I understand there is a lot of healing that needs to occur, but patience is more difficult for me at this stage than during the actual taper   Yeah, I understand your hypochondriasis because hypochondria the symptoms are all so bizarre and unrelated to each other!

 

You advice is reasonable.  I never experience this before benzos, so there is a huge chance it is related to them.  Simple and true.

 

Muffin -

Thanks.  Fortunately not too worried about choking to death.  I trust that my body will send me a signal before anything serious happens

[[Ca...]]

I experienced feeling like I was being choked (not sure if that's what you're feeling) in acute then again a couple weeks ago. It just felt like hands were around my throat lightly pressing but enough to make me uncomfortable & I would wake up many times from it in the night. That's my personal experience w/ it.

[[pr...]]

i had the globus sensation in acute withdrawal. felt like there was a serpent inside choking me. terrible feeling. horrible sensation. it went away.

[[it...]]

CAD and Daisys,

 

Thanks so much for your input.  I simply can't hear it enough.  Your descriptions (hands around throat / choking) sound very similar to my experience.  Every bit of reinforcement gives me more hope that this will disappear some day. 

 

Generally, when does the "acute" phase start and end in the recovery process?  I haven't touched the stuff in >2 months.

 

Thanks!

[[pr...]]

i think sometime next month and definitely the 4th month you will see lot's of improvements.

[[it...]]

Thanks Daisys.

 

Sounds like I just need to wait wait wait....