LUMP IN THROAT??

[Jayne59]

Hi

I have been experiencing a flare up for 3 months, they have never lasted so long before. I am always bloated and getting pain in my upper back, I now feel as though I have a lump in my throat when I swallow. I have had a very stressful year with my partner being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and I have had to resign from my job to be a full time carer.

Does anyone have these symptoms as I am getting very stressed about everything.

Thanks in advance

[Maureen1958]

I think the lump in the throat is indigestion cause by the IBS. I have it most of the time these days. The stress you are going through at the moment with your partner will not be helping your IBS at all. My IBS is 24/7, I don't have flare-ups, so it isn't unusual to have it on a daily basis. Once things calm down for you a little, perhaps the IBS will ease of too.

[Frasina]

The lump in your throat when you swallow is a type of acid reflux called laryngopharyngeal reflux as I have had this very same thing back in 2018 and it was when my mother was very seriously ill. GP did not recognise what it was so I suffered for over a month until someone told me what they thought...it is also called 'silent reflux'.

Please look it up online -it is not dangerous but you do need possible meds to help. Stress can make any type of acid reflux worse, but this type does not give the usual indigestion symptoms as the acid ends up affecting your throat (larynx) which is why some doctors have no idea what it is! Something you can buy from a chemist is Gaviscon Advance -it has to be the Advance variety and you take it a few times a day initially but the evening dose must be the last thing you swallow so after you have cleaned your teeth! It really helped my lump in my throat and I still to this day take just one little teaspoon of the Advance before bed. Speak to your GP too as they will probably prescribe something to prevent the acid from coming up from your stomach as high as your larynx so possibly Omerprozole or similar....

There are also things you can do in the meantime to help as it is not a nice thing to put up with but I promise, it does go away! Eat less fatty foods, have smaller meals more often, minimise alcohol, sleep semi upright, do not eat for 3 hours before going to bed, etc..

So sorry to hear you are going through such a tough time; having IBS alone is an issue in itself so no one wants additional problems. Your daily IBS is most definitely down to current stress levels and so you also need to find a little time for yourself even though you are a full time carer. I hope my suggestions help you. x

[Iesgobdafydd]

Symptoms can be caused by so many different things. It sounds like you've had a very stressful time and that your IBS may be responding to the difficult situation you're in, so hopefully Frasina's suggestion will help you. Bloating is something I never had, but throat lumps and back pain are symptoms I get and in my case they're from connective tissue problems and not from my IBS, which is now largely gone away. I hope you're managing to find time between your caring responsibilities to do some soothing things that can reduce your levels of physical and mental stress. I know it's not easy when someone you love is in trouble, or when you're a full-time carer.