I have a question that I’ve been thinking about posting to the net
for some time…
For the past four or so years, I have experienced what I think is
chronic muscle tension in my upper body, especially around my upper
chest and throat region. In any case, much of the time, it feels
like there’s something stuck in my throat and/or chest; right now as
I type, for example, it feels as if there’s a vise around my neck
and a knot in my chest. Also, the inside of my throat feels
slightly scratchy. The problem is that because my muscles seem to
be perpetually constricted, I often have difficulty speaking; my
voice sounds tight and frequently "catches," and I normally sound as
if I am recovering from a cold. On rare occasions, I also have
problems breathing because my muscles get so locked up that I can’t
expand my chest properly.
This also *seems* to be accompanied (it may not be related) by a
minor sort of cognitive block when I’m speaking, writing, or
thinking; as my body feels tight, so does my mind. I may have
difficulties using the precise word I know fits, that is, it may be
on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t access it somehow and I have to
switch to another word that comes to mind more readily.
It’s not gotten any worse, thank god, and has gradually improved
over the last year or two; most of the time, it’s more on the order
of an annoyance. But, because of this, I shun any type of public
speaking. And, the symptoms always become much worse in the week
before my period.
A few years ago, I went to a otolaryngologist (wow! I spelled it
right) who didn’t really see anything but a minor redness in the
back of my throat. She thought it might be an allergy, and gave me
some sort of allergy medication, but it didn’t work.
I also went to a regular family practitioner who thought it was a
psychological block. Perhaps this is the case, but intuitively I
doubt therapy alone would resolve this.
So I decided to look into alternative remedies. I went to a
chiropractor for a few months. In additional to the adjustments,
she ran thyroid tests, which came out borderline normal at first,
and then normal the second time around. I went to an acupuncturist.
True to form, she stuck some needles in me. Over the period of a
few months, I experienced no discernable progress.
Oh, and exercise makes me feel better in general but has no impact
on these symptoms.
So I wonder could it be neurologically based, some sort of allergy,
or something else I should be aware of. I welcome any ideas, both
from traditional medicine as well as alternative remedies.
– mwf
m friedland (SF….@forsythe.stanford.edu) wrote:
: I have a question that I’ve been thinking about posting to the net
: for some time…
: For the past four or so years, I have experienced what I think is
: chronic muscle tension in my upper body, especially around my upper
: chest and throat region. In any case, much of the time, it feels
: like there’s something stuck in my throat and/or chest; right now as
: I type, for example, it feels as if there’s a vise around my neck
: and a knot in my chest. Also, the inside of my throat feels
: slightly scratchy. The problem is that because my muscles seem to
: be perpetually constricted, I often have difficulty speaking; my
: voice sounds tight and frequently "catches," and I normally sound as
: if I am recovering from a cold. On rare occasions, I also have
: problems breathing because my muscles get so locked up that I can’t
: expand my chest properly.
: So I wonder could it be neurologically based, some sort of allergy,
: or something else I should be aware of. I welcome any ideas, both
: from traditional medicine as well as alternative remedies.
: — mwf
I happened to see a programme a few weeks back that mentioned symptoms
similar to what you have. They called it an Anxiety attack. Sounds
simple, but has quite a devastating afect on the patient. These attacks
can come on at any time, anywhere. The main thing to remember is to
calm yourself down and relax. Tensing only makes the attack worse.
Perhaps you could research some books on the subject. I know my
wife gets a tightening of the throat similar and she was comforted
to know that it was something that was of minor concern. If your
doctor has checked it is’nt anything serious,then I would just try
to relax when it happens. Note the times it occurs and try and find
a pattern to your attacks. Hope this helps. Good luck.
–
>>>>> bss_g…@seqeb.gov.au <<<<<
Greg Dutton-Regester, Computer Services Officer
The South East Queensland Electricity Board
Brisbane AUSTRALIA
I’ve said it before and now I’ll say it again. If you have a chronic
health problem (one that has lasted several months or more and shows
no sign of going away), don’t try treating the problem yourself. Don’t
ask for a diagnosis on the net, because even the best doctor can’t
diagnose from an ascii description of your problem. SEE A QUALIFIED
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. If you are interested in alternative treatment,
see a health professional that practices alternative health care.
Actually, I would suggest alternative health care in your case,
because it sounds like you have a functional health problem and
allopathic medicine is rather poor in treating functional diseases. If
you would like advice in finding an alternative health care
professional, ask in this newsgroup for advice. Someone (perhaps me)
will give you assistance.
–
Bernie Simon (bsi…@stsci.edu)
BU>I’ve said it before and now I’ll say it again. If you have a chronic
BU>health problem (one that has lasted several months or more and shows
BU>no sign of going away), don’t try treating the problem yourself. Don’t
BU>ask for a diagnosis on the net, because even the best doctor can’t
BU>diagnose from an ascii description of your problem. SEE A QUALIFIED
BU>HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. If you are interested in alternative treatment,
BU>see a health professional that practices alternative health care.
BU>Actually, I would suggest alternative health care in your case,
BU>because it sounds like you have a functional health problem and
BU>allopathic medicine is rather poor in treating functional diseases. If
BU>you would like advice in finding an alternative health care
BU>professional, ask in this newsgroup for advice. Someone (perhaps me)
BU>will give you assistance.
BU>–
BU>Bernie Simon (bsi…@stsci.edu)
Are you serious? If a net doesnt exist for the free flow of information
among its memebers then why does it exist at all? I think people here
are intelligent enough to know to consult health professionals on there own
I have a chronic lung disease, Cystic fibrosis, I have been using alternative
treatments with much success for two years now. I learned aout them from
reading books mags and asking people…not from my AMA doctor! I want to
use this net to share my experiences and help others as well as learn from what
others have done. Your post says I souldnt. So what should I do have flame
wars on house and senate bills? Discuss niceties of the weather and vitimins
nice. NO. There is a reason 1/3 of Americans have used alternate treatments
and spent 1 billion dollars last year on alternative health because the AMA
FDA type have failed them! People need some guidance here. Alternative
care, NO, all health care is a do it to your self project. You have to be
aware of treatments used by other, what may/may not work, whats out there etc.
We’ve had the AMA now we got Bernie? If somebody with lung problems posts to
this net you bet your damdest Im going to tell them what herbs I use and
what acupucturist I use, and where how to get them. Thats my right and my
duty to my fellow human being. What he/she does with the info is up to them.
I trust their intelligence to use the information wisely.
Matthew Whiting
cavet emptor…
—
þ DeLuxeý 1.25 #12626 þ …Carpe Diem
I made the following statements, which I still stand by.
1) Do not ask for a diagnosis for your health problems on the net.
2) Do not try to treat chronic diseases by yourself, see a qualified
health professional.
As far as the first statement goes, I think the justification for it
is pretty obvious. No one can properly diagnose a patient from a
written description of the symptoms. One must be able to examine and
question the patient. I also believe the charter of this newsgroup
forbids such diagnoses.
The second statement is a little more controversial. Although people
sometimes discover effective treatments for disease on their own, this
approach is far from ideal. You should think of herbs as drugs. If you
suddenly had access to the contents of a pharmacy, would you start
taking the drugs to try and find a good treatment for yourself by
trial and error? Or would you rely on the judgement of the kid behind
the cash register? If you find that the treatment of your "AMA doctor"
is not working well, instead of trying to treat the problem on your
own you should seek out another health professional who practices
another form of therapy you feel is more likely to be effective.
Those who have read this newsgroup for a while know that I am not a
pawn of the AMA. However, I do believe treatment by an "AMA doctor" is
more likely to be effective than the untrained guesses of a layperson
trying to put together a treatment for a chronic disease on their own.
This doesn’t mean that there’s nothing for this newgroup to discuss,
one can discuss the success one has had with various forms of
treatment. For example, if I wrench my back, I could ask about the
effectiveness of therapeutic massage, acupuncture, or chiropractic
versus conventional pain killers. One can also discuss self-treatment
of nonserious problems, such as colds, traveller’s diarrhea, or jet
lag. But if this newsgroup becomes a forum where people solicit
diagnoses for their problems from untrained persons they have never
met, I think this newsgroup would be causing more harm than good.
—
Bernie Simon (bsi…@stsci.edu)