HomeAnswersInternal MedicinegerdIs itchiness in the throat a sign of GERD?

I feel a speck of dust tickling my throat, which does not go away on coughing. What could it be?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Chithranjali Ravichandran

Published At April 10, 2021
Reviewed AtDecember 8, 2023

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I hope you could help me pinpoint if I can ignore and just wait it out or go to the doctor.

I feel that those facts could be the reason or a combination of them why I have what I have now.

I ate bread last night.

I went to bed and had that funny itch in the throat, I have it very rarely, but it feels like I have a speck of dust or a tiny feather tickling my throat. I coughed initially light, but it would not go, which was followed by a severe cough.

I drank some water and forgot about it it.

When lying on the back, I could feel a sensation as if my right lung was disconnected? Or moving a little bit. I started reading about it, and it felt a tiny bit like bubble wrap sensation but one big bubble and one small.

I did walk a bit and found that when back in bed on the back, I can feel the same as if part of my lung detached. When lying on the tummy, I did not have that feeling.

I went to sleep and hoped it would be it.

Well, today, it is not gone. I have a bit of chest pain, normally 1 out of 10. I can breathe pretty normally. If I move, the pain increases but only slightly. I tested it and did five pull-ups and around 20 pushups, no major drama but still this feeling in my chest. The thing I am concerned about is that when I jumped, it does feel as if something is bouncing in my right lung. It feels a bit as if I had a balloon filled with a bit of weight, and when I jump, it follows through as if a balloon with a jit of water would.

I try not to cough, and I do not really feel the urge, but when I do, it hurts. Let us call it maybe 4 out of 10. I have a bit of a strange feeling near my right ear, just underneath a bit of tension. I do burp or have a feeling that I need to force burp when I stand or move.

What do you reckon GERD? And is it something I wait out as I have overdosed on cookies, and then something got into my lungs? Or is it something more serious, please?

Your help is appreciated.

Answered by Dr. Sugreev Singh

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thank you for writing, and I understand your concern.

Usually, food particles do not pass to the lungs, so do not worry about that. This sensation can be due to GERD only. May the bread or cookies ate had some oily substance or infection that triggered your mucosa in the throat, so due to that, only you have these symptoms. So, first of all, I would suggest you not worry.

If you have such a sensation that something is stuck, then eat 1 to 2 bananas. It will help to get rid of that sensation.

Another thing is to take tablet Pantoprazole 40 mg once a day before meal for three days.

And please do warm water gargles. It will help you.

And I can prescribe you an antibiotic that will help reduce the inflammation or infection if it is there.

So please tell me:

Are you allergic to any antibiotics?

Do you still have abdominal fullness?

Was your bread expired?

Did you vomit? Or is there any headache or nausea?

Let me know so I can prescribe you an antibiotic.

Please do not worry. Everything will be fine in 2 to 3 days.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thanks for the reply.

I did not have a feeling as if something is in my throat or moved over.

I did not have any vomiting.

I had some breakfast today already, so no issues of fullness either.

I will eat a banana and gargle with warm water.

I rather not have an antibiotic, to be fair.

When jumping, I have pain in the right lung, not the stomach or liver, etc.

I am lying down now and do have that heaviness feeling in that right lung.

But moving towards the middle. Still, I feel the tightness under the right ear on the neck.

What do you reckon, please?

Answered by Dr. Sugreev Singh

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Thank you for the quick reply.

If you are not ready for antibiotics, then fine but take Pantoprazole 40 mg once a day. It is not harmful. It will help to reduce acids in the stomach, and you will feel good. These symptoms are more likely due to GERD (gastric reflux disease), which is triggered by some enzymes or substances, or food. And in your case, it was bread. In GERD, there is extra production of acids which makes you feel uncomfortable. So Pantoprazole will help. So definitely you can drink more fluids but not alcohol, at least for few days until you are fine. And please avoid spicy food and heavy meal such as red meat. Yes, continue jumping and exercises. It will help you. Go for a walk after eating. If anything else, please message me anytime.

And please do not worry.

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sugreev Singh
Dr. Sugreev Singh

Internal Medicine

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