Well-Women Guide to Globus-hystericus

Now there's a question. But one which should be thought about, and I will tell you why.

About 15 or 16 years ago, I was diagnosed with Globus Hystericus. It is hard to say whether it was my thyroid at this point, other than the obvious fact that my neck was swollen.

I went to the doctor complaining that I felt as though I had a lump in my throat and that I was being strangled. It had got so bad that just swallowing my own saliva was an effort. Food kept getting stuck.

I was sent for an ultrasound scan of my throat and nothing untoward was discovered.

It is worth mentioning this condition as I was absolutely terrified that I had cancer of the throat. As soon as my fears were allieviated, the condition improved.

Now, whether this was actually a goitre is hard to establish because at that time, I also displayed the early signs of Hashimoto's Disease and Hashitoxicosis.

I was extremely anxious most of the time with a churning stomach, sweating, dizziness, huge panic attacks, very fast heart rate and displayed many symptoms of depression and anxiety, but also of an overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism.

I couldn't even go outside of the house on some days and going to work was becoming a nightmare.

Swallowing was very hard and I had a feeling of constant pressure in my throat.

I purchased a book called Self help for your nerves by Dr Claire Weekes (See my books page as it is an excellent book and dispells your fears)

In the book, it mentioned the condition Globus Hystericus

I had not heard of it before and went to the doctor, who, before I even mentioned it, told me I had the condition as my ultrasound was clear of any other explanation. I was sent for a Barium X-ray

She knew I was suffering from anxiety and I was put on beta blockers to slow down my racing heart (propanalol) and anti depressants. I was also sent for cognitive behavioural therapy.

I feel that this condition may be mistaken for a thyroid condition, but also that those who may think they have a thyroid condition, but who are also very stressed, anxious, depressed or suffering from panic attacks, may also actually be suffering from globus-hystericus

This page is for those who may have it and who are very frightened by it thinking, as I did, that they have cancer of the throat or something along those lines.

If you are the anxious type who may also have panic attacks, rest assured that if you feel that you have a lump in your throat and being choked or stranged, then Globus Hystericus is the most likely explanation and is not to be feared.

Read this forum page for further information to help you stop worrying now and in doing so, help the condition to subside.

Bear in mind, that once susceptible to it, it may reoccur throughout life, but once you know what it is, you won't aggravate it or bring it on by worrying. Just relax and let it ebb away. don't give it too much attention.

It is actually caused by muscle spasms in the pharynx. The causes can be psychiatric, acid reflux or cancer, but be assured that it is usually psychiatric and caused by a build up of anixiety. However, for your own peace of mind, an ultrasound of the throat is the best route to ensure it is not what you fear.

You can also ask for a barium meal/swallow or x-ray procedure if the idea of an endoscopy repels you (as it did me and actually made my symptom worse when suggested) which takes about 10 minutes to perform and is not invasive. You can't eat for a couple of hours prior to the test.

You drink a thick fruit flavoured liquid containing barium sulphate and are then x-rayed to see if there are abnormalities in the oesophagus (gullet)and is known as a barium swallow. They are looking for things like hiatus hernia, acid reflux, tumours and swallowing disorders.

A Barium Meal takes slightly longer and is looking for abnormalities in the stomach and duodenum such as ulcers, polyps and tumours. They sometimes ask you to swallow a fizzy bicarbonate of soda drink too as the gas expands the stomach and makes the barium X-ray clearer.

They sometimes rotate you on a couch to take different pictures and sometimes give an injection to make the muscles in the stomach and gut relax. (I did not have that done)

They can tell you there and then if there is anything to worry about so this saves days or weekes or waiting for results.

You can go home afterwards but may feel a tiny bit nauseous. You can also eat as soon as you want to. The barium may may you constipated so it is wise to drink lots of water to flush out the barium and your faeces may be pale.

The barium is not absorbed by the body, so other side effects are rare and unlikely.

Pregnant women should not have this test and those who are insulin dependant diabetics should discuss a plan for going without food before embarking on the test.

Barium Xrays are not done as much as they were, as the preferred method is an endoscopy. If this is something you are worried about, ask for the barium test instead. (Don't be bullied into having an endoscopy if you are frightened by it.

This will only increase your anxiety.

So, all in all, if you are the anxious type, Globus hystericus in generally pyscological, caused by prolonged anxiety and stress and nothing to worry about.

Click here to read about Barium X-rays.

Click here to read more about Globus Hystericus

To read about Irritable bowel syndrome, an associated condition also caused by stress, click here.

Click here to read about stress relief

Click here to go to the thyroid page

Click here to go to the adrenal page

Good luck and stop worrying!!!!