Posted by Mitch on July 16, 2001, at 13:24:24
In reply to Re: More to the story..Mitch, Elizabeth, Susan C, posted by kid47 on July 16, 2001, at 12:44:27
kid47,
No problem! This is getting really weird, but I also have chronic "choking and difficulty swallowing problems" as well! It does tend to be worse and associated with anticipatory anxiety and panicky situations. The only thing I have found to relieve it effectively is Valium or carisoprodol, and to some extent Benadryl. I have found that SSRi or anti-psychotics tend to worsen it as well-which makes me think of a dopamine connection of sorts (is it really a *dystonia*??). I do have GERD as well, and I was reading somewhere that it could be inflammation due to reflux causing it.
I didn't realize that people's thymus gland was being irradiated to prevent ...SIDS? I hadn't thought that was an issue in the 50's.?? But, evidently you know it was irradiated, right??
That makes me want to go digging into my hospital records to find that out!! Before my last "freakout" two years ago (bad panic attacks), I had the same symptoms-except I did have a thyroid tumor and a resultant left-thyroidectomy.Anybody, out there... What is the role of the thymus gland in the brain/body?? Put your two cents in, I am really curious. Thanks
for the discussionMitch
> Thanx for the responses. My anxiety induced hyper-vigilance dictates I impart a little more info. As standard procedure for a big baby back in 1953(I weighed 10lbs. + & I don't think my mother ever forgave me), my Thymus gland was irradiated in the mistaken belief it could prevent SIDS. 2 mos before my freak out I was having diffuculty swallowing & the feeling of something caught in my throat. This could be attributed to anxiety or the fact I suffer with acid reflux(GERD) but a battery of tests including a sonogram of my thyroid gland & Endoscope found nothing. I have read lots of info on this problem & despite several attempts at tx I still suffer with this. I have a sister who also had the radiation as a new born & she has had immuno related problems off & on most of her life. She has also been treated for depression. I'm not sure where I'm going with this but I have 3 other older siblings who did not have radiation of the Thymus & they are fine. Is this just the ravings of some lunatic (I also believe there was a second shooter on the grassy knoll) or is there some identifiable pathology going on. The docs all just attribute it to insanity. (They may be right!!!) Any thoughts? TIA
>
poster:Mitch
thread:69997
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010714/msgs/70323.html