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Suggest Remedy For Dry Throat And Sudden Breathlessness Causing Panic Attack
Question: 45 yo female experiencing throat/breathing issues.
Over the past few weeks I have awoken during the night on a few occasions with a very dry throat and the feeling like perhaps my throat was closing up. It was a bit alarming when it happened but it has been a very dry winter in an already dry city so I boiled some water with eucalyptus to get some moisture in the house until my humidifier arrives. Seemed to perhaps help but still had a few of these episodes over the past few weeks. This ONLY occurred at night when I was trying to sleep ~ no issues what so ever during the day.
This week however has become unbearable. I awoke one night and had a panic attack due to the feeling of gagging/gasping for air and that my throat felt closed/swollen. I do not have a history of anxiety or panic disorders so this was very alarming to me. I have only had a panic attack once or twice before (about 10-15 years prior) and that was due to me having laryngitis and my throat being very swollen.
I also felt like I had something like a lump in my throat but could not get it out for trying ~ and I tried to gargle/clear my throat etc. It felt phlegmier than an actual object or food and I do have post nasal drip so I am somewhat used to that feeling….. Just not to that degree.
Got very little sleep that night and went into a walk in clinic 1st thing in the morning and the Dr looked in my throat felt my lymph’s / throat and said all looked well, to try to use the humidifier more regularly and gave me a lab req. to get my thyroid checked/blood work. NOM results yet but I have had my thyroid checked literally countless times to date, including having an ultra sound on my lymph’s in the past couple of years and all has always been just fine.
As the day progressed I felt a bit better and of course was distracted. When I got home I boiled water with eucalyptus all night and for the most part it seemed to help. I was able to blow my nose productively and clear my throat and seemed to sleep reasonably well that night but did get up to a dry throat again (as I had to stop boiling water when I went to bed).
The last couple of nights have not been kind and this past night I have pretty much not slept at all. Now it’s less about the dry throat and more about the post nasal drip and my throat feeling very restricted, particularly when I am breathing in… I am VERY conscious of my breathing now yet breathing out does not feel bad.
I am becoming overtired to due to the poor sleep quality and am feeling stressed by this to the point where I am actually scared to fall asleep as I don’t want to experience the tight / heavy throat or the feeling like it is swollen/closing.
I do not have asthma but do have allergies and GERD. I have been sneezing the past couple of days and have a cough due to the post nasal drip/allergies and blood pressure medication I am on.. My cough does not seem to have changed and there is no wheezing etc.
I am immuno suppressed due to a kidney transplant in 2001 (very successful / no issues ~ cause by reflux /Dr. misdiagnosed).
I just am in the process of changing GERD medication to Nexium as pantaloc stopped working so had some serious heartburn last night.
I just had a chest x-ray last month for different reasons and it was clear/fine. I have had an endoscopy and colonoscopy approx. 2 years ago was diagnosed with GERD, although I have been on a PPI for many years largely due to the vast amount of medication I take for the transplant.
I have no other symptoms, my throat is NOT sore at all. I have not experienced these symptoms before and they only seem to occur at night or perhaps it’s due to the fact that I am not upright.
Help?
Over the past few weeks I have awoken during the night on a few occasions with a very dry throat and the feeling like perhaps my throat was closing up. It was a bit alarming when it happened but it has been a very dry winter in an already dry city so I boiled some water with eucalyptus to get some moisture in the house until my humidifier arrives. Seemed to perhaps help but still had a few of these episodes over the past few weeks. This ONLY occurred at night when I was trying to sleep ~ no issues what so ever during the day.
This week however has become unbearable. I awoke one night and had a panic attack due to the feeling of gagging/gasping for air and that my throat felt closed/swollen. I do not have a history of anxiety or panic disorders so this was very alarming to me. I have only had a panic attack once or twice before (about 10-15 years prior) and that was due to me having laryngitis and my throat being very swollen.
I also felt like I had something like a lump in my throat but could not get it out for trying ~ and I tried to gargle/clear my throat etc. It felt phlegmier than an actual object or food and I do have post nasal drip so I am somewhat used to that feeling….. Just not to that degree.
Got very little sleep that night and went into a walk in clinic 1st thing in the morning and the Dr looked in my throat felt my lymph’s / throat and said all looked well, to try to use the humidifier more regularly and gave me a lab req. to get my thyroid checked/blood work. NOM results yet but I have had my thyroid checked literally countless times to date, including having an ultra sound on my lymph’s in the past couple of years and all has always been just fine.
As the day progressed I felt a bit better and of course was distracted. When I got home I boiled water with eucalyptus all night and for the most part it seemed to help. I was able to blow my nose productively and clear my throat and seemed to sleep reasonably well that night but did get up to a dry throat again (as I had to stop boiling water when I went to bed).
The last couple of nights have not been kind and this past night I have pretty much not slept at all. Now it’s less about the dry throat and more about the post nasal drip and my throat feeling very restricted, particularly when I am breathing in… I am VERY conscious of my breathing now yet breathing out does not feel bad.
I am becoming overtired to due to the poor sleep quality and am feeling stressed by this to the point where I am actually scared to fall asleep as I don’t want to experience the tight / heavy throat or the feeling like it is swollen/closing.
I do not have asthma but do have allergies and GERD. I have been sneezing the past couple of days and have a cough due to the post nasal drip/allergies and blood pressure medication I am on.. My cough does not seem to have changed and there is no wheezing etc.
I am immuno suppressed due to a kidney transplant in 2001 (very successful / no issues ~ cause by reflux /Dr. misdiagnosed).
I just am in the process of changing GERD medication to Nexium as pantaloc stopped working so had some serious heartburn last night.
I just had a chest x-ray last month for different reasons and it was clear/fine. I have had an endoscopy and colonoscopy approx. 2 years ago was diagnosed with GERD, although I have been on a PPI for many years largely due to the vast amount of medication I take for the transplant.
I have no other symptoms, my throat is NOT sore at all. I have not experienced these symptoms before and they only seem to occur at night or perhaps it’s due to the fact that I am not upright.
Help?
Brief Answer:
seems to be sinusitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns that you are having dry throat and sensation of throat closure. I would like to ask you few more details.
- Is there any head-ache or nasal obstruction or associated with any fever ?
Kindly get back to me with the details.
Based on your clinical details, it appears to be sinusitis secondary to allergic rhinitis.
Post nasal drip, commonly seen with sinus infection, can involve throat (pharyngitis), voice box (laryngitis), trachitis (cough) lung (wheeze) and esophagitis (burning sensation in chest).
Kindly follow these measures to overcome your ent issues.
1. You need to evaluate with ent surgeon for detailed ent examination, nasal endoscopy and CT scan of para nasal sinuses.
2. chronic inhalation with eucalyptus, can cause burning throat by damaging the throat and nasal mucosa. There fore you need to stop.
3. In immuno-compromised status, you need to be cautious about your medications. so, Have a word with your nephrologist about these medications and consultations.
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health.
seems to be sinusitis
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns that you are having dry throat and sensation of throat closure. I would like to ask you few more details.
- Is there any head-ache or nasal obstruction or associated with any fever ?
Kindly get back to me with the details.
Based on your clinical details, it appears to be sinusitis secondary to allergic rhinitis.
Post nasal drip, commonly seen with sinus infection, can involve throat (pharyngitis), voice box (laryngitis), trachitis (cough) lung (wheeze) and esophagitis (burning sensation in chest).
Kindly follow these measures to overcome your ent issues.
1. You need to evaluate with ent surgeon for detailed ent examination, nasal endoscopy and CT scan of para nasal sinuses.
2. chronic inhalation with eucalyptus, can cause burning throat by damaging the throat and nasal mucosa. There fore you need to stop.
3. In immuno-compromised status, you need to be cautious about your medications. so, Have a word with your nephrologist about these medications and consultations.
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hi there,
To answer your questions there has been no headache and my nose is stuffed at night but not during the day.
I have had several sinus infections before and have to say that this does not feel like sinusitis. I have no pressure/stuffiness or rawness in the nose that I normally experience, nor have I ever had throat issues with any prior sinus issues.
So you think it is more nasal versus my GERD?
Thanks
To answer your questions there has been no headache and my nose is stuffed at night but not during the day.
I have had several sinus infections before and have to say that this does not feel like sinusitis. I have no pressure/stuffiness or rawness in the nose that I normally experience, nor have I ever had throat issues with any prior sinus issues.
So you think it is more nasal versus my GERD?
Thanks
Brief Answer:
sinusitis induced GERD
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thanks for considering my answer and for your follow up.
Post nasal drip, is a characteristic feature of sinus infections. In immuno-compromised individuals (renal transplantation), fungal sinusitis are common (which is always silent, will not show any regular sinus symptoms). It can be diagnosed only with nasal endoscopy and CT scan of para nasal sinuses.
GERD, can be due to upper level (sinus infections) or lower level (esophageal reflux or acid peptic disease). Anyways, evaluate with the above mentioned investigations for proper diagnosis and treatment.
All the best. Take care.
sinusitis induced GERD
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thanks for considering my answer and for your follow up.
Post nasal drip, is a characteristic feature of sinus infections. In immuno-compromised individuals (renal transplantation), fungal sinusitis are common (which is always silent, will not show any regular sinus symptoms). It can be diagnosed only with nasal endoscopy and CT scan of para nasal sinuses.
GERD, can be due to upper level (sinus infections) or lower level (esophageal reflux or acid peptic disease). Anyways, evaluate with the above mentioned investigations for proper diagnosis and treatment.
All the best. Take care.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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