Help! Constant throat tightness after taking LSD and DMT

[rusty_nail]

Around 11 months ago, I took a low dose of LSD (half a 200ug tab). I didn't really experience any particular effects beyond laughing and some pattern shifting, but also a noted tightness in my throat, which with some googling seemed to be expected. Around 7-8 hours in, I ran a hot bath, drank a couple of beers and hit my DMT cart, which sent me off on a five minute DMT trip, which itself wasn't pleasant, but tolerable. The concern is the moment I hit the cart, the throat tightness IMMEDIATELY got worse and since hasn't gone away, even almost 11 months later. I wasn't even aware this was something that could happen.

The first couple of months were the worst. I was panic googling hourly, searching everywhere online for any answers, though it seems my case is pretty unique. I tested the rest of the LSD I had, which passed the Erlich test, but didn't put me at ease. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) and put on Zoloft (sertraline), which I took for three months before swapping to prozac (fluxotine). It helped to counter the general anxiety and helplessness, but not the throat sensation. Eventually I stopped the SSRIs due to the emotional blunting, which had made me apathetic to almost everything. An Endoscope came back fine with only mild inflammation (they suspect due to allergies) and a course of PPI given, which also did nothing. An MRI neck scan revealed no structural abnormalities. On recommendation from my GP, I saw a therapist, and whilst she was lovely I found that it wasn't much help.

I will admit I wasn't mentally in a good place when I took the LSD & DMT anyways, I was ufufilled by my life and career. In this pit of disdain and hopelessness, I figured taking some psychadelics might provide an insight into my life, instead of which I have ended up with this.

Fast forward to now, and I am still coping. The hardest part outside of the discomfort is the lack of sleep, I often only get 2-4 hours of fragmented sleep with lots of "micro-arousals". It's also distracting and unrelenting, like being strangled 24/7. I have tried sleep medication which has provided a little relief, but isn't a long term solution. Nothing has really helped to numb the sensation, only being fully immersed in something can distract me. If I focus on it enough, it feels almost like I have a rubber band around my throat and have to breathe manually.

Any ideas suggestions? This has basically ruined my life at this point, this sensation just won't stop and it's driving me mad. I feel like I have permanently altered something in my head. I'll answer anything if I missed it out here.

 

[pupnik]

@rusty_nail
When I cannot sleep I face it as an opportunity to do lying down breathing meditation.
sometimes I go in and out of sleep and keep returning to body scans and breath awareness following the beginning , the middle and the end of the out breath, and same for the in breath, feeling a tingling between my thumb and fingers if they are touching.
It can go on for hours, I don't care if it is not sleep.
sometimes the dreams are pretty fantastic.
I am happy to get up early and make coffee.

when I do lsd (which is weekly) I usually do 30-60 mics. and if I have DMT I usually have a few vapes in the evening. If I have too much I do feel constrictions in my throat and pressure on the chest, but usually this passes in about 15 minutes -- days later I can recall the feeling but that does not mean it is recurring.

I hope you can get off those meds, and begin to focus on things you are interested in, or fascinated about. self esteem follows interest like a puppy