Chokeing pressure

[Tahiri_Veila]

Okay this has happened a lot, but never as bad as today.  It is a pain in my neck. It makes it hard to breath and hurts like someone is choking me.  It usually is accompanied with tightness in my chest.  The pain in my neck was so bad today that I started crying.  I could hardly breath.  What is this?
Tahiri

[sllowe]

Oh Girl, I just don't know, and I'm sorry.

I have my share of neck/throat tightness and it's horrible.  Mine feels like someone has shoved my head into my neck too far, and wish I could put a plunger on that little  groove of  my throat and just open it up for a little while.  It's horrible, and I wish I could explain technically exactly what it is, but unfortunately, I think it could be a number of things that only a Dr can finalize.

So, for relief, this is what I do, and I hope it helps you.  I take a cloth (100% cotton - always), and wet it with cool water.  I sit on the couch in the most relaxed position I can get into and just wrap it on there very, very lightly.  If it feels like mine, even having it on there feels tight, so you may only be able to hold it on there.

Keep flipping the cloth over to keep it cool at all times.  The only other thing I only the slightest relief in is an anti-inflammatory.  Works sometimes, sometimes not.  

Eating make it worse? Mine does....yuck! I hate it.  Please try not to cry honey, it will make it worse.  Oh! Mine feels better when lying down BIG TIME!  Forgot that one.

xoxox
Here for you,
Shelly

[Tahiri_Veila]

I don't know about eating as it usually happens at night.  Lying down doesn't necessarily help it.  I will try the cool cloth next time it comes.  It lasts a couple of hours and then goes away for a little bit.
Tahiri

[jensequitur]

Sounds like me!  Since your symptoms are happening at night, it's possibly acid reflux.  That's a common problem with MS patients, because the valve at the top of the stomach gets loose and floppy, letting acid come up into your throat.  With me, my throat starts to cramp up, because it's irritated by the acid.  This happens when I eat something with lots of fiber, like beans, or anything greasy.

I deal with it by drinking room-temperature water.  As I drink, I can feel my throat relaxing, until finally it stops cramping and it's just a little sore.  I keep a bottle by the bed so I won't have to get up if it happens.

If room-temperature water won't do it, try warm liquid, like hot tea.  Also place something warm on your sternum - that sometimes helps.  And think about relaxing!