Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) describes a sense of exhaustion and post-exertion malaise, even when you have gotten enough rest and sleep. The disease is characterized by six months of incapacitating fatigue experienced as profound exhaustion and extremely poor stamina, and problems with concentration and short-term memory. The cause is unknown, but it is a...
I am feeling pretty lost right now. I started having swallowing issues, plus ball in throat feeling in Feb and it got worse two weeks ago, a lot worse to the point that I am only getting down one smoothie per day.
Anyway have lost just over 15kgs so far and counting. Had gastroscopy, barium swallow, ultrascan, anti-anxiety pills (to prove to the Dr that it wasnt anxiety) and anti-reflux pills. Funny as 5 days after starting Xanax, was when it got really bad, now I HAVE anxiety because it sorta feels like my throat is getting squeezed constantly.
Anyway to get to my point, I have now been referred to an ENT specialist and a neurologist. My Dr said that if nothing comes up then it must be psychological. Really? And exactly how can they prove that? Does it not show that since I have been on Zanax and its gotten worse that that would suggest it is not caused by anxiety? And what would happen then? Is that diagnoses going to help me to eat?
Now I have actually started to think it could be anxiety? That is what makes me mad, so many times Drs have suggested that something is from anxiety and later its been proven that it wasnt. I have told them so many times that I dont have anxiety. I hate when I end up questioning myself and what I know is right, but here I go again doing it.
I think that once a Dr knows that you have CFS/ME, they attribute EVERYTHING to anxiety! AHHHH Makes me so frustrated!
Anyway have lost just over 15kgs so far and counting. Had gastroscopy, barium swallow, ultrascan, anti-anxiety pills (to prove to the Dr that it wasnt anxiety) and anti-reflux pills. Funny as 5 days after starting Xanax, was when it got really bad, now I HAVE anxiety because it sorta feels like my throat is getting squeezed constantly.
Anyway to get to my point, I have now been referred to an ENT specialist and a neurologist. My Dr said that if nothing comes up then it must be psychological. Really? And exactly how can they prove that? Does it not show that since I have been on Zanax and its gotten worse that that would suggest it is not caused by anxiety? And what would happen then? Is that diagnoses going to help me to eat?
Now I have actually started to think it could be anxiety? That is what makes me mad, so many times Drs have suggested that something is from anxiety and later its been proven that it wasnt. I have told them so many times that I dont have anxiety. I hate when I end up questioning myself and what I know is right, but here I go again doing it.
I think that once a Dr knows that you have CFS/ME, they attribute EVERYTHING to anxiety! AHHHH Makes me so frustrated!
I am so sorry you are experiencing these most uncomfortable symptoms. They can be very frustrating and very maddening. It is possible that it is anxiety. But it might be something else. I would suggest going to the Doctor and asking for some tests to be run to be sure that everything is okay. In the meantime ask your Doctor and or Pharmacist if you can take a Benadryl when you feel that sensation in your throat like when you cannot swallow. It might be very helpful to you. Have you ever tried that before? A lot of times we do have anxiety and we are not even aware of it and it manifests itself in many ways and it is possible that this could be one of those ways but as I stated it could be something else. So asks for some tests to be done to either rule out other things or include other things. I hope that it is nothing too serious and that in time it will subside. Maybe think about see a Gastro Doctor.
I myself have never undergone any psychotherapy, but from the few books I have read (with lots of patient stories), I am amazed at how psychology can help people who, on a conscious level, are "fine" and therefore don't "see" that their issue might be unconscious instead of conscious.
I for one would love to go to a psychotherapist. I am fed up with my normal physical exam results, and I am willing to let someone have a go with the thornbush of my unconscious before accepting that "everything's fine."
The Xanax could easily be making you anxious, these meds often cause symptoms they are meant to defeat. I took Xanax for quite awhile then when I wanted to stop...WOW, what anxiety! You really have to taper off this med. I took it for sleep so didn't think I'd get anxiety.
Yes I have posted before and I was told by three Dr's that I had an enlarged thyroid. Now they are saying it isn't.
I am doing a counselling course all about feelings so I am very reluctant to admit that I may not be 'aware' of anxiety. But as someone said, I do think it could be a type of stress related thing. I have in the past had really tense muscles in my neck and shoulders which comes with really bad h/aches. Perhaps I have a tense throat???
I don't know, but I had anxiety before two procedures and my throat didn't get worse on both occasions. That's what I don't get.
I have now stopped zanax to see if that helps.
I am fortunate to be a patient of Dr. Rey (Dr. Klimas' associate) and she is being very proactive with having me checked out by several other specialists that deal with muscle disease. Swallowing issues and muscle disease go together. Dr. Rey says that since my glands are so swollen (due to my body fighting all the reactivated viruses I have) it makes perfect sense that swallowing is an issue.
She has NEVER insinuated that it is psychological. She is very concerned about it and your doctor should be too! Keep pushing for the help you need!
I've had an ultrasound, gastroscopy, barium swallow, EMG, nerve conduction studies, all show no indication of anything being wrong.
I have found some posts by ppl with M.E who have swallowing difficulties and have never found a reason other than M.E. So I am perhaps going to have to accept that this is just another weird and wacky symptom of this dreaded illness. And somehow accept not eating normally........not sure how well I'll go at that.
I fully understand what you are saying. I feel like it's neurological or muscular. I had this idea that perhaps I had a neuromuscular disease that had been overlooked but I'm coming to the realization that it's just another symptom and reminding myself that ME IS a neurological disease so of course it could be what is affecting my swallowing. I caught up on sleep last night and felt a lot better when I woke. I eat relatively normal first thing. As the day has gone on, it's becoming challenging to swallow but at least I got some food in, more than I have in the past three days combined. Just more motivation to not push that energy envelope.
I had a Dr tell me that if they can't find anything than that proves its psychological. Well no, it only proves they can't find a cause! I know for sure that it's not and I'm going to try dam hard to not question that.
I am a bit concerned tho about more weird symptoms, I know I shouldn't think about that but I've been sick for two years without difficulty swallowing, it just makes me wonder if there's more neurological symptoms to come.