u/Educational-Mess5149

F25, for eight years, I’ve had constant tension/tightness in the upper part of my throat, in the oropharyngeal area, ever since I smoked cannabis in 2018.
Since then, this sensation has NEVER gone away for even a second, and I’ve learned to live with it.

I’ve had several ENT evaluations with normal laryngoscopies, neck ultrasounds, my thyroid is fine, everything is normal.
No organic cause has been identified.

However, over the past year, the sensation has gradually worsened to the point where it has started to interfere with my swallowing and eating.
It had never done this before.
Now I have dysphagia with everything, both solids and liquids, every single day, and it has been going on for many many weeks.

The problem is initiating the swallow.
I have difficulty getting it started;
it is no longer spontaneous and has become mechanical because of this intense, unbearable constriction/tension/tightness in the upper part of my throat that is with me 24/7.
It feels as though the upper throat muscles are paralyzed.
Once I swallow, I don’t have any problems; the food goes down normally.
The problem is actually initiating the swallow because of this blockage.
I don’t have any other symptoms.

Recently, I was admitted to a mental health facility because the tension in my throat was driving me insane.
They gave me high doses of intravenous benzodiazepines to calm me down, and during those days, swallowing food seemed to be easier, but then I got worse again.

I’m now taking amitriptyline, which I started a few weeks ago, and a benzodiazepine as needed because these horrible throat sensations are driving me fucking insane and I can’t focus on anything other than my throat, 24/7, without a single minute of relief.

What the fuck is happening to me?
Why the fuck did I get dramatically worse after years of stability during which I was functional?

This has ruined my life.
I can’t even study anymore to take my university exams.

Do I have to accept that this is going to be my new normal?

F25. Ho fatto una settimana di day hospital al centro di salute mentale perché non c’erano posti letto disponibili in psichiatria e mi sono sentita meglio anche se per poco tempo, grazie alle benzodiazepine massicce che mi avevano somministrato.
Adesso però mi sento di nuovo male e sto toccando il fondo, anzi lo sto proprio raschiando.
Non ho pensieri di suicidio o di farmi del male ma ho un livello di disperazione molto elevato e non faccio altro che bere alcol e piangere tutto il giorno tutti i giorni.
Domani mattina ho la psicologa, non so come convincerli per farmi di nuovo ricoverare.

F25, I’ve been dealing with significant clitoral numbness and very weak orgasms for over a year, with no obvious cause.
I’ve never had any pain, burning, or other genital discomfort.

My only symptoms are loss of tactile and erogenous sensation and persistent numbness.
Most of the time my clitoris feels almost completely numb, like a piece of rubber with no sensation.

Very occasionally, I’ll have a slightly stronger orgasm and notice a little more sensation, but those moments are rare.

I recently saw a neurologist who specializes in the pudendal nerve, and she had me undergo SSEPs of the dorsal clitoral nerve.
The results were normal.

Then I saw a pelvic-floor urologist who did an internal vaginal exam and found significant pelvic-floor muscle tightness in several areas, as well as provoked vestibulodynia.
She believes that the muscles around my urethra are extremely tight and may be compressing or irritating the dorsal clitoral nerve.

She recommended that I start pelvic-floor PT, which I’ll be starting soon.
She also prescribed several meds, including a muscle relaxant, magnesium, a neurotrophic supplement and low-dose amitriptyline as a neuromodulator.

I hadn’t started the treatment yet when I went through a period of severe psychological stress and panic attacks and ended up in a mental health day hospital.
I received benzodiazepine infusions for several days, and they also started me on amitriptyline 10 mg (10 drops) once a day.

What worries me is that amitriptyline was actually prescribed by my urologist specifically as a neuromodulator, but I also know that antidepressants can cause sexual side effects.

So now I’m wondering: could low-dose amitriptyline make my existing genital numbness and weak orgasms worse?
Or is the risk of sexual side effects significantly different when it’s being used at a low dose as a neuromodulator rather than at antidepressant doses?

I’d really like to hear from anyone who has experience with amitriptyline or other tricyclic antidepressants as neuromodulators, especially for genital numbness, neuropathy, or pelvic-floor-related issues.

Did you experience any sexual side effects? Did it make your symptoms better, worse, or have no effect?

And given that I already have significant genital sensory loss, would you personally be comfortable continuing 10 mg, or would you discuss stopping it with your doctor?

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience.

F25, I’ve been dealing with significant clitoral numbness and very weak orgasms for over a year, with no obvious cause.
I’ve never had any pain, burning, or other genital discomfort.

My only symptoms are loss of tactile and erogenous sensation and persistent numbness.
Most of the time my clitoris feels almost completely numb, like a piece of rubber with no sensation.

Very occasionally, I’ll have a slightly stronger orgasm and notice a little more sensation, but those moments are rare.

I recently saw a neurologist who specializes in the pudendal nerve, and she had me undergo SSEPs of the dorsal clitoral nerve.
The results were normal.

Then I saw a pelvic-floor urologist who did an internal vaginal exam and found significant pelvic-floor muscle tightness in several areas, as well as provoked vestibulodynia.
She believes that the muscles around my urethra are extremely tight and may be compressing or irritating the dorsal clitoral nerve.

She recommended that I start pelvic-floor PT, which I’ll be starting soon.
She also prescribed several meds, including a muscle relaxant, magnesium, a neurotrophic supplement and low-dose amitriptyline as a neuromodulator.

I hadn’t started the treatment yet when I went through a period of severe psychological stress and panic attacks and ended up in a mental health day hospital.
I received benzodiazepine infusions for several days, and they also started me on amitriptyline 10 mg (10 drops) once a day.

What worries me is that amitriptyline was actually prescribed by my urologist specifically as a neuromodulator, but I also know that antidepressants can cause sexual side effects.

So now I’m wondering: could low-dose amitriptyline make my existing genital numbness and weak orgasms worse?
Or is the risk of sexual side effects significantly different when it’s being used at a low dose as a neuromodulator rather than at antidepressant doses?

I’d really like to hear from anyone who has experience with amitriptyline or other tricyclic antidepressants as neuromodulators, especially for genital numbness, neuropathy, or pelvic-floor-related issues.

Did you experience any sexual side effects? Did it make your symptoms better, worse, or have no effect?

And given that I already have significant genital sensory loss, would you personally be comfortable continuing 10 mg, or would you discuss stopping it with your doctor?

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience.

Has anyone had any experience with nortriptyline or other neuromodulators that helped with swallowing difficulties and throat tension?

Hi everyone.
For the past 8 years, I’ve been living with a constant sensation, present 24/7, of severe tightness in my throat, as if someone were continuously squeezing the upper part of my throat and the area under my chin. It’s very difficult to describe. It’s not just a “lump in the throat” feeling, it’s a constant pressure, as if the whole area is blocked, altered, and permanently tense. Along with this, I also have difficulty swallowing.
Everything started 8 years ago after smoking cannabis, and this symptom has never gone away since then. Over the years, I’ve undergone many medical tests and seen several specialists. I’ve also had a nasal endoscopy and other ENT evaluations, but no organic cause has ever been found to explain what I’m experiencing.
The biggest problem, however, isn’t even the swallowing difficulty anymore. What is truly destroying me is this constant throat sensation, which has become dramatically worse over the past month. It’s now so intense that I feel like I’m in a constant state of alarm. It’s as if my brain can no longer ignore it, even for a single second.
Unfortunately, over the past month my symptoms have become dramatically worse, and I still don’t know what caused this severe flare-up. It happened during an extremely stressful period at university, when I was studying all night, sleeping during the morning, and drinking a lot of coffee throughout the night to stay awake. I don’t know if those factors triggered it, but the worsening started during that time.
I can’t concentrate on anything anymore. I can’t even watch a movie or a TV series because all of my attention is focused on this unbearable sensation. I simply can’t relax.
I’m a nursing student, and I’ll be starting my third and final year in September. I have an important exam that I have to prepare for, and for various reasons I simply can’t postpone it. The problem is that, in my current condition, I can barely study. I sit down with my books, but the throat sensation is so overwhelming that I can’t stay focused.
Even eating has become very difficult, and I now struggle to eat with other people. My quality of life has completely collapsed, and I feel deeply discouraged and devastated.
Several doctors have told me that it’s possible my condition is functional in nature, but that possibility terrifies me, because I’m afraid there may be nothing that can at least make me feel a little better.
Right now, I would really appreciate reading some positive experiences. I know everyone is different, but I desperately need a little hope.
Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to reply.

I really need to hear from someone who has been through something similar, because I feel like I’m losing hope.

Hi everyone, F25 here. I’m posting here because I’m looking for people who have symptoms similar to mine or who have experienced a major worsening of their FND and are willing to share their experience.

For the past 8 years, I’ve been living with a constant sensation, present 24/7, of severe tightness in my throat, as if someone were continuously squeezing the area under my chin and the upper part of my throat. This is not a symptom that comes and goes, it is there all the time 24/7. On top of that, I have difficulty swallowing and often have to make strange movements with my throat or neck just to get food down. It’s extremely difficult to describe, but it feels as if my swallowing mechanism is altered and my throat is numb, tight, and blocked.

Everything started 8 years ago after smoking cannabis, and since then this symptom has never gone away. Over the years I’ve had countless medical tests and have seen many different specialists, but no organic cause has ever been found to explain my symptoms. That’s exactly why I’m posting here, hoping to connect with people who may have gone through something similar.

Over time, I somehow learned to live with it and managed to continue with my life despite everything.

Unfortunately, over the past month something changed and my condition has worsened dramatically. During that period I was under extreme stress because of university: I was studying all night, sleeping during the morning, drinking a lot of coffee, and getting very little sleep. Around the same time, my throat symptoms became dramatically worse.

Now I struggle much more to eat, sometimes even liquids are difficult, the tightness has become much more intense, and my swallowing feels far less coordinated. Eating in public or with other people has become almost impossible, and I’m avoiding many social situations because of it.

I’m a nursing student. I recently passed my final exam and will soon start my third and final year. I should be happy, but instead I feel completely devastated. I’m terrified that I will never recover from this flare-up and that all my plans for the future will disappear because of this condition.

My quality of life has completely collapsed. I spend almost all my time at home, I feel depressed, and at my worst I’ve even started drinking alcohol just to try to cope with this unbearable sensation.

I’d really like to ask those of you who have been diagnosed with FND or have experienced similar symptoms:

* Does anyone have a constant 24/7 sensation of throat tightness and swallowing difficulties like mine?
* Have you ever experienced a major flare-up after a period of severe stress, sleep deprivation, or other triggers?
* Were you able to get back to the way you were before the flare-up?
* In your experience, can these flare-ups improve, or do they tend to be permanent?

Even getting back to the way I was before this worsening would mean the world to me. I know I wasn’t “cured,” but I had learned to live with it and continue my life despite everything. Right now, though, I’m truly afraid that I’ll never get back to that point.

Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to share their experience.

F25. La mia vita è miserabile, sono depressa e ho ansia sociale, sono malata con la gola, con le orecchie e con le parti intime, e le mie condizioni stanno progressivamente peggiorando (continuo a fare accertamenti medici che non portano a nulla ma soprattutto a nessuna cura).

Non riesco a mangiare in pubblico quindi neanche con altre persone nuove per via dei miei problemi alla gola, perché ho una forte tensione alla gola che è comparsa improvvisamente 8 anni fa dopo aver fumato un po di erba e da allora non se ne è mai più andata via quindi mi rende difficile deglutire anche il cibo.

Non posso frequentare feste e luoghi rumorosi per colpa dei miei problemi di udito, soffro di acufene e iperacusia (ipersensibilità ai rumori ambientali, esco di casa con dei tappi nelle orecchie e certi luoghi li devo evitare) per via di un trauma acustico subito tre anni fa perché mi sfondavo le orecchie con la musica a massimo volume.

Non posso fare sesso in modo normale per colpa della mia perdita di sensibilità alle parti intime perché soffro di neuropatia del nervo pudendo e ipertono del pavimento pelvico, quindi addio orgasmi per me da qualche anno.

Tutto ciò che è bello nella vita mi è stato tolto.

Non ho amici, non ho relazioni sentimentali, non ho vita sociale, sono figlia unica e sono vergine, tutto questo a 25 anni.
Sono sola e vivo nella solitudine da circa tre anni, prima avevo amici e una vita, poi è andato tutto a puttane.

L’unica cosa che faccio è frequentare l’università, che tra vari sbattimenti e fatiche (sono fuoricorso di due anni) la sto quasi concludendo, sono al terzo anno di infermieristica (sì esatto dopotutto voglio pure fare l’infermiera).

Nel mio tempo libero (ovvero sempre, tranne quando devo studiare per preparare un esame), sto sul divano a fare scrolling su Tiktok, nient’altro.

Non ho passioni, non ho hobby, non ho nulla di interessante da portare agli altri se non i miei problemi, che per qualche ragione potrebbero risultare interessanti.

Sono brava a parlare e ad ascoltare le altre persone, ma sono più brava a parlare solo quando devo parlare di me stessa (e dei miei problemi, soprattutto).

Non ho voglia di fare assolutamente niente durante le giornate, soltanto stare sul divano e non fare nulla.

Ovviamente non mi piace la vita che sto facendo, ma questo è il risultato della depressione, l’esaurimento mentale, la solitudine, l’ansia sociale e le patologie fisiche croniche di cui soffro (queste ultime sono state il trigger che hanno innescato tutto il resto, portandomi a isolarmi).

Dato che all’università non ho fatto vere amicizie perché non mi si incula nessuno dato che sto per i cazzi miei, ho pensato di scaricarmi qualche app di incontri per spezzare la monotonia e darmi l’opportunità di conoscere una nuova persona, donna o uomo che sia non mi interessa, per conoscerci, fare un aperitivo, bere e magari farci delle risate, perché mi manca troppo farlo.

Poi chissà, se le cose vanno bene si può proseguire in amicizia o in altro, altrimenti ci si può fermare.

Sono una persona particolare, non ho esperienza e come si può notare, non ho molto da offrire, ma chi vuole andare oltre a questi evidenti ostacoli sarà ben accetto a conoscermi e conoscerci meglio.

Ditemi cosa ne pensate.

F25. La mia vita è miserabile, sono depressa e ho ansia sociale, sono malata con la gola, con le orecchie e con le parti intime, e le mie condizioni stanno progressivamente peggiorando (continuo a fare accertamenti medici che non portano a nulla ma soprattutto a nessuna cura).

Non riesco a mangiare in pubblico quindi neanche con altre persone nuove per via dei miei problemi alla gola, perché ho una forte tensione alla gola che è comparsa improvvisamente 8 anni fa dopo aver fumato un po di erba e da allora non se ne è mai più andata via quindi mi rende difficile deglutire anche il cibo.

Non posso frequentare feste e luoghi rumorosi per colpa dei miei problemi di udito, soffro di acufene e iperacusia (ipersensibilità ai rumori ambientali, esco di casa con dei tappi nelle orecchie e certi luoghi li devo evitare) per via di un trauma acustico subito tre anni fa perché mi sfondavo le orecchie con la musica a massimo volume.

Non posso fare sesso in modo normale per colpa della mia perdita di sensibilità alle parti intime perché soffro di neuropatia del nervo pudendo e ipertono del pavimento pelvico, quindi addio orgasmi per me da qualche anno.

Tutto ciò che è bello nella vita mi è stato tolto.

Non ho amici, non ho relazioni sentimentali, non ho vita sociale, sono figlia unica e sono vergine, tutto questo a 25 anni.
Sono sola e vivo nella solitudine da circa tre anni, prima avevo amici e una vita, poi è andato tutto a puttane.

L’unica cosa che faccio è frequentare l’università, che tra vari sbattimenti e fatiche (sono fuoricorso di due anni) la sto quasi concludendo, sono al terzo anno di infermieristica (sì esatto dopotutto voglio pure fare l’infermiera).

Nel mio tempo libero (ovvero sempre, tranne quando devo studiare per preparare un esame), sto sul divano a fare scrolling su Tiktok, nient’altro.

Non ho passioni, non ho hobby, non ho nulla di interessante da portare agli altri se non i miei problemi, che per qualche ragione potrebbero risultare interessanti.

Sono brava a parlare e ad ascoltare le altre persone, ma sono più brava a parlare solo quando devo parlare di me stessa (e dei miei problemi, soprattutto).

Non ho voglia di fare assolutamente niente durante le giornate, soltanto stare sul divano e non fare nulla.

Ovviamente non mi piace la vita che sto facendo, ma questo è il risultato della depressione, l’esaurimento mentale, la solitudine, l’ansia sociale e le patologie fisiche croniche di cui soffro (queste ultime sono state il trigger che hanno innescato tutto il resto, portandomi a isolarmi).

Dato che all’università non ho fatto vere amicizie perché non mi si incula nessuno dato che sto per i cazzi miei, ho pensato di scaricarmi qualche app di incontri per spezzare la monotonia e darmi l’opportunità di conoscere una nuova persona, donna o uomo che sia non mi interessa, per conoscerci, fare un aperitivo, bere e magari farci delle risate, perché mi manca troppo farlo.

Poi chissà, se le cose vanno bene si può proseguire in amicizia o in altro, altrimenti ci si può fermare.

Sono una persona particolare, non ho esperienza e come si può notare, non ho molto da offrire, ma chi vuole andare oltre a questi evidenti ostacoli sarà ben accetto a conoscermi e conoscerci meglio.

Ditemi cosa ne pensate.

F25. La mia vita è miserabile, sono depressa e ho ansia sociale, sono malata con la gola, con le orecchie e con le parti intime, e le mie condizioni stanno progressivamente peggiorando (continuo a fare accertamenti medici che non portano a nulla ma soprattutto a nessuna cura).

Non riesco a mangiare in pubblico quindi neanche con altre persone nuove per via dei miei problemi alla gola, perché ho una forte tensione alla gola che è comparsa improvvisamente 8 anni fa dopo aver fumato un po di erba e da allora non se ne è mai più andata via quindi mi rende difficile deglutire anche il cibo.

Non posso frequentare feste e luoghi rumorosi per colpa dei miei problemi di udito, soffro di acufene e iperacusia (ipersensibilità ai rumori ambientali, esco di casa con dei tappi nelle orecchie e certi luoghi li devo evitare) per via di un trauma acustico subito tre anni fa perché mi sfondavo le orecchie con la musica a massimo volume.

Non posso fare sesso in modo normale per colpa della mia perdita di sensibilità alle parti intime perché soffro di neuropatia del nervo pudendo e ipertono del pavimento pelvico, quindi addio orgasmi per me da qualche anno.

Tutto ciò che è bello nella vita mi è stato tolto.

Non ho amici, non ho relazioni sentimentali, non ho vita sociale, sono figlia unica e sono vergine, tutto questo a 25 anni.
Sono sola e vivo nella solitudine da circa tre anni, prima avevo amici e una vita, poi è andato tutto a puttane.

L’unica cosa che faccio è frequentare l’università, che tra vari sbattimenti e fatiche (sono fuoricorso di due anni) la sto quasi concludendo, sono al terzo anno di infermieristica (sì esatto dopotutto voglio pure fare l’infermiera).

Nel mio tempo libero (ovvero sempre, tranne quando devo studiare per preparare un esame), sto sul divano a fare scrolling su Tiktok, nient’altro.

Non ho passioni, non ho hobby, non ho nulla di interessante da portare agli altri se non i miei problemi, che per qualche ragione potrebbero risultare interessanti.

Sono brava a parlare e ad ascoltare le altre persone, ma sono più brava a parlare solo quando devo parlare di me stessa (e dei miei problemi, soprattutto).

Non ho voglia di fare assolutamente niente durante le giornate, soltanto stare sul divano e non fare nulla.

Ovviamente non mi piace la vita che sto facendo, ma questo è il risultato della depressione, l’esaurimento mentale, la solitudine, l’ansia sociale e le patologie fisiche croniche di cui soffro (queste ultime sono state il trigger che hanno innescato tutto il resto, portandomi a isolarmi).

Dato che all’università non ho fatto vere amicizie perché non mi si incula nessuno dato che sto per i cazzi miei, ho pensato di scaricarmi qualche app di incontri per spezzare la monotonia e darmi l’opportunità di conoscere una nuova persona, donna o uomo che sia non mi interessa, per conoscerci, fare un aperitivo, bere e magari farci delle risate, perché mi manca troppo farlo.

Poi chissà, se le cose vanno bene si può proseguire in amicizia o in altro, altrimenti ci si può fermare.

Sono una persona particolare, non ho esperienza e come si può notare, non ho molto da offrire, ma chi vuole andare oltre a questi evidenti ostacoli sarà ben accetto a conoscermi e conoscerci meglio.

Ditemi cosa ne pensate.

Are you still able to have friends, a romantic relationship, and a social life with this condition?

Has anyone tried antidepressants/neuromodulators for their dysphagia and globus sensation (lump in the throat feeling)?
Has anyone experienced any benefit?

For those with functional dysphagia accompanied by constant, severe throat tightness 24/7:
Can chronic sleep deprivation make it worse?
I mean sleeping only 4–5 hours a night, sometimes even less, for many months.
If sleep deprivation is contributing to it, can the condition improve after restoring healthy sleep?
I’m afraid I’ve permanently damaged myself because of my long-term lack of sleep, it’s awful.

F25. Eight years ago, after smoking a bit of weed, I developed this weird sensation in my throat that has never gone away and has gradually led to dysphagia.

I feel a constant pressure/tightness 24/7 in the upper part of my throat, near the hyoid bone.
It feels like my throat is half paralyzed, and my perception of swallowing is completely altered, having difficulty initiating swallowing.

I’ve seen countless ENTs, had multiple laryngoscopies, neck ultrasounds, and even saw neurologists.
Nobody has ever found anything wrong with my throat.

For all these years, I somehow got used to the sensation and managed to live a normal life because it appeared suddenly eight years ago and then just… never left!

Lately, though, it’s gotten so much worse.
Along with it, my dysphagia has progressively worsened over the past few months. I’m struggling to eat, and I’m terrified!

I’m not afraid of the dysphagia itself because I’m convinced it’s just a normal consequence of whatever the hell is happening to my throat.
What drives me completely insane is this altered sensation, this constant pressure/tightness 24/7 in the throat.
I’m literally fighting for my life and trying not to lose my mind because I feel it even when I’m resting.
I’m tortured. It’s fucking unbearable.

Nothing happened that could explain this sudden worsening.
The only thing I can connect it to is an extremely stressful period, severe sleep deprivation, and a lot of caffeine over the past few weeks because I was studying for my university exams.
Then… boom.
Out of nowhere, the crushing tightness inside my throat got even worse.
It almost feels numb now, and I’m struggling to do something as simple as drinking a glass of water.

After eight fucking years, I still don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me.
No doctor has been able to help me.
They keep saying it’s globus pharyngeus, but I don’t have the sensation of a lump or a foreign body.
My throat feels blocked, altered, like someone is constantly digging their fingers into it and pressing underneath my chin 24/7.

What the fuck is this condition that’s been haunting me for eight fucking years just because I smoked a little cannabis when I was 17?

The only explanations I’ve gotten have come from AI.
It says it sounds like some kind of sensory nerve dysfunction, altered sensation, maybe fucked-up nerves and central sensitization, basically that my brain got used to this abnormal nerve activity and keeps sending a false alarm to my throat.

I don’t even know if treatments for something like this actually exist or if there’s any chance I can improve.
Hell, just getting back to how I felt a few weeks ago would mean everything to me.

I seriously don’t understand why I’ve gotten so much worse.

The only treatment options that seem remotely possible are neuromodulator medications, muscle relaxants, speech/swallowing therapy, and maybe even Botox injections into the muscles??
But those are just guesses. Nothing is guaranteed. Nobody seems to have what I have.

My life is fucking miserable, and I don’t even know if I’ll be able to continue university like this.

Please… tell me if anyone here has experienced anything similar and if there’s any hope of getting better.
For fuck’s sake.

Hi everyone,
F25, I’ve been dealing with a constant throat sensation for about 8 years.
It’s not the typical “lump in the throat.” The best way I can describe it is a constant feeling of tightness, pressure, and tension high up deep in my throat, as if the upper part of my throat were tight or partially paralyzed, it almost feels like a sensory alteration.

It all started suddenly, completely out of the blue, after taking a few hits from a weed joint, and it has never gone away since.
I don’t know whether that was the actual cause or just a coincidence.

Because of this, I have constant dysphagia and the sensation of swallowing feels different.

The condition is present 24/7, every single day.
It doesn’t come and go, and it doesn’t seem to depend on my body position or on whether I’m eating or not.
I don’t even remember what it feels like to be normal anymore.

For many years, the symptom stayed relatively stable. It was always there, but I was still able to live my life.

Over the last year and a half, I went through a prolonged period of poor sleep (often only 4–5 hours per night, sometimes even less), although I don’t know whether that’s related or just a coincidence.

Then, about 6 days ago, the symptom suddenly became dramatically worse, almost as if a switch had flipped.
Since that moment, it has remained at this much higher intensity and has become extremely disabling.
Now I have extreme difficulty eating and drinking.

I'm afraid I may have harmed myself through sleep deprivation and caffeine consumption, and that the worsening is irreversible.

Regarding swallowing, I can feel food and liquids passing normally, but initiating a swallow is difficult, and I occasionally have to swallow more than once.

So far I’ve had:
ENT evaluations
Flexible laryngoscopies
Neck ultrasound
None of these tests found a clear cause.

Doctors have never been able to tell me what I have.
They have suggested it could be a functional disorder or perhaps a sensory issue?

At this point, the sensation has become so overwhelming that it’s seriously affecting my daily life.

Has anyone experienced something similar?
Are there conditions that can cause a constant throat tightness/pressure sensation, sensory alteration, despite normal ENT examinations?
Are there any specialists, tests, or conditions that you think I should look into?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone with a similar experience or any ideas.
Thank you.

Hi everyone,
F25, I’ve been dealing with a constant throat sensation for about 8 years.
It’s not the typical “lump in the throat.” The best way I can describe it is a constant feeling of tightness, pressure, and tension high up deep in my throat, as if the upper part of my throat were tight or partially paralyzed, it almost feels like a sensory alteration.

It all started suddenly, completely out of the blue, after taking a few hits from a weed joint, and it has never gone away since.
I don’t know whether that was the actual cause or just a coincidence.

Because of this, I have constant dysphagia and the sensation of swallowing feels different.

The condition is present 24/7, every single day.
It doesn’t come and go, and it doesn’t seem to depend on my body position or on whether I’m eating or not.
I don’t even remember what it feels like to be normal anymore.

For many years, the symptom stayed relatively stable. It was always there, but I was still able to live my life.

Over the last year and a half, I went through a prolonged period of poor sleep (often only 4–5 hours per night, sometimes even less), although I don’t know whether that’s related or just a coincidence.

Then, about 6 days ago, the symptom suddenly became dramatically worse, almost as if a switch had flipped.
Since that moment, it has remained at this much higher intensity and has become extremely disabling.

Regarding swallowing, I can feel food and liquids passing normally, but initiating a swallow is difficult, and I occasionally have to swallow more than once.

So far I’ve had:
ENT evaluations
Flexible laryngoscopies
Neck ultrasound
None of these tests found a clear cause.

At this point, the sensation has become so overwhelming that it’s seriously affecting my daily life.

Has anyone experienced something similar?
Are there conditions that can cause a constant throat tightness/pressure sensation, sensory alteration, despite normal ENT examinations?
Are there any specialists, tests, or conditions that you think I should look into?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone with a similar experience or any ideas.
Thank you.