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What Causes Fluttering Sensation In The Throat?
Question: 1350-4074-2418-73974 When I'm laying down every now and then I get a flutter in my throat what is that...I also got a normal MRI and EEG but heads tight in different places constantly feeling wobbly sometimes makes my feet feel like climbing a stump , feel sick in the mornings sometimes like vomiting (dry heaving) this has been since 12/24/2015 around this time it was intense but claimed down got tests ran in January 2016 TSH value .55, Trily. value 48, cholesterol value 200, hdl value 53, ldl value 138, cholesterol/ldl ratio value 40 and vldl value 10 and lastly vitamin b12 value 733
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
However the fact that you have a normal MRI (which excludes brain lesions) and normal EEG (which addresses the issue of seizures as well) is very reassuring. The rest of your tests seems ok as well (although the TSH is at the limit of normal and I would consider a full thyroid function screening).
I see that my colleagues have mentioned the possibility of a heart arrhythmia but you seem to be already under monitoring for that through the lifewatch monitor.
Further more anatomically speaking your symptoms seem not related to one another, I mean there is not one single system or site which damage produces that combination of symptoms (flutter in throat, head tightness etc).
So in this situation where there is such a combination of unrelated symptoms with normal tests, the most likely explanation is a psychological origin like anxiety. Anxiety can produce many different symptoms and the ones you describe are among the most common. With the current information I would put anxiety as the most likely cause. I would still have a full testing of thyroid function, because as I said TSH is at the lower limit and a low TSH can suggest high thyroid hormone levels which in turn are a common cause of anxiety.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
However the fact that you have a normal MRI (which excludes brain lesions) and normal EEG (which addresses the issue of seizures as well) is very reassuring. The rest of your tests seems ok as well (although the TSH is at the limit of normal and I would consider a full thyroid function screening).
I see that my colleagues have mentioned the possibility of a heart arrhythmia but you seem to be already under monitoring for that through the lifewatch monitor.
Further more anatomically speaking your symptoms seem not related to one another, I mean there is not one single system or site which damage produces that combination of symptoms (flutter in throat, head tightness etc).
So in this situation where there is such a combination of unrelated symptoms with normal tests, the most likely explanation is a psychological origin like anxiety. Anxiety can produce many different symptoms and the ones you describe are among the most common. With the current information I would put anxiety as the most likely cause. I would still have a full testing of thyroid function, because as I said TSH is at the lower limit and a low TSH can suggest high thyroid hormone levels which in turn are a common cause of anxiety.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
at the end of 2015 Oct and Nov I thought I was pregnant I mean I was stressed but got over that in Dec on that day I mentioned it was like a feeling of unstable came over me I had to sit down then I woke upon Christmas feeling alittle off balance then Dec 31 I woke up feeling like I was about to pass out heart beating fast ems came took my blood pressure it was fine checked my pressure it was fine after that going to the hospital after the ekg, CT scan and blood tests all they came up with was a urinary tract infection I continued to feel off balance went to the ent they said I didn't have vertigo so now I got a MRI and EEG both Fine and I'm going to get a enc from the ENT to go deep in my ear to check
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Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional informational.
It doesn't change my opinion much though. While it is good that you are being thorough and getting checked by all specialists, even if a ear issue came out of it, it still wouldn't explain all your symptoms, doesn't explain the flutter in the throat or the heart beating fast or the head feeling tight etc. Neither would an urinary infection. That is why I still maintain that anxiety could play a role, at least partially if not completely.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
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Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional informational.
It doesn't change my opinion much though. While it is good that you are being thorough and getting checked by all specialists, even if a ear issue came out of it, it still wouldn't explain all your symptoms, doesn't explain the flutter in the throat or the heart beating fast or the head feeling tight etc. Neither would an urinary infection. That is why I still maintain that anxiety could play a role, at least partially if not completely.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
laying on my back to rest I feel a wave sensation come over my body but when I lay on my stomach I don't feel it
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
The fact that it is present in a horizontal position means that it is not related to some drop in blood pressure found in autonomic disorders, such blood pressure fluctuations happen when changing position from supine to standing. Since you are monitored for your rhythm that isn't an issue either.
The fact that it happens when lying on your back as opposed to your stomach is not related to any condition, it reinforces the possibility of anxiety being the cause. I would like to stress the need for the thyroid track to be further investigated as high thyroid function which raises metabolism rate is often accompanied with anxiety and such wave feeling you describe.
I hope to have been of help.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
The fact that it is present in a horizontal position means that it is not related to some drop in blood pressure found in autonomic disorders, such blood pressure fluctuations happen when changing position from supine to standing. Since you are monitored for your rhythm that isn't an issue either.
The fact that it happens when lying on your back as opposed to your stomach is not related to any condition, it reinforces the possibility of anxiety being the cause. I would like to stress the need for the thyroid track to be further investigated as high thyroid function which raises metabolism rate is often accompanied with anxiety and such wave feeling you describe.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor did a neck check and said by checking the TSH was enough u don't think so
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Reference ranges may differ a little between laboratories, I do not know which are the reference ranges for your laboratories. In most labs the normal range for your age is 0.4 - 4.2. So at 0.5 you are right at the limit.
If your symptoms had nothing to do with thyroid I would say that is enough. I would say it was enough if TSH was on the high side as well. But since it is right at the limit and symptoms like anxiety, increased heart rate are typical of high thyroid function (where TSH is low) then I would say a repeat of the TSH, along with the T3 and T4 levels (the thyroid hormones) is advisable. I have had patients with borderline TSH and abnormal thyroid function.
Of course nothing may turn out as your doctor says and be simple anxiety, but I think there's a higher chance finding something abnormal there and it's more worth having these simple cheaper tests than much more expensive ones like MRI and lifewatch monitor.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Reference ranges may differ a little between laboratories, I do not know which are the reference ranges for your laboratories. In most labs the normal range for your age is 0.4 - 4.2. So at 0.5 you are right at the limit.
If your symptoms had nothing to do with thyroid I would say that is enough. I would say it was enough if TSH was on the high side as well. But since it is right at the limit and symptoms like anxiety, increased heart rate are typical of high thyroid function (where TSH is low) then I would say a repeat of the TSH, along with the T3 and T4 levels (the thyroid hormones) is advisable. I have had patients with borderline TSH and abnormal thyroid function.
Of course nothing may turn out as your doctor says and be simple anxiety, but I think there's a higher chance finding something abnormal there and it's more worth having these simple cheaper tests than much more expensive ones like MRI and lifewatch monitor.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
so 0.55 is low and what would this flutter in my neck be
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
I am afraid perhaps I wasn't understandable enough. I didn't say it was low, I said it was borderline, very near the dividing point between low and normal. Again the lowest normal value for most laboratories is 0.4. TSH levels is not a direct indicator of thyroid function, it is an indirect one. So when it is so borderline with your symptoms I would feel much safer by measuring the thyroid hormones, the T3 and T4.
As for the flutter in your neck again I believe it is due to anxiety, it is very common in anxiety and is not explained by any other medical condition, especially with your normal imaging tests.
Wishing you good health.
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Detailed Answer:
I am afraid perhaps I wasn't understandable enough. I didn't say it was low, I said it was borderline, very near the dividing point between low and normal. Again the lowest normal value for most laboratories is 0.4. TSH levels is not a direct indicator of thyroid function, it is an indirect one. So when it is so borderline with your symptoms I would feel much safer by measuring the thyroid hormones, the T3 and T4.
As for the flutter in your neck again I believe it is due to anxiety, it is very common in anxiety and is not explained by any other medical condition, especially with your normal imaging tests.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
ok so I need to make an appointment for my pcp/nurse practitioner to measure my thyroid hormones is that what your saying
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
I think that with all the investigations you have done there is no reason to fear anything else, thyroid function is the only test that would be worth doing.
If that is normal I wouldn't do other endless tests which are unlikely to lead anywhere but consider anxiety treatment. As I have been saying it does explain all your symptoms and I think that to be the cause.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I think that with all the investigations you have done there is no reason to fear anything else, thyroid function is the only test that would be worth doing.
If that is normal I wouldn't do other endless tests which are unlikely to lead anywhere but consider anxiety treatment. As I have been saying it does explain all your symptoms and I think that to be the cause.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
you can have constant anxiety
Brief Answer:
Yes you can.
Detailed Answer:
You are asking if that is possible?....yes it certainly is.
There is a whole spectrum of anxiety disorders with many subdivisions, but just to illustrate the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder has a duration of at least 6 months as its main criterion, so it is well possible.
Yes you can.
Detailed Answer:
You are asking if that is possible?....yes it certainly is.
There is a whole spectrum of anxiety disorders with many subdivisions, but just to illustrate the diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder has a duration of at least 6 months as its main criterion, so it is well possible.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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