Fenerous, I've been in a very similar situation. I had agoraphobia for 3 years. You get the same kind of panic attacks as me. At first, I didn't even know they were panic attacks, because not being able to swallow isn't a really common symptom. But, that's the form my panic took. If I stepped outside my door, my throat would tighten up and I couldn't swallow. When I would go to the doctor (I had to be DRAGGED there by family or friends), I couldn't talk because I would be gritting my teeth and clenching my jaw and unable to swallow and have a mouth full of spit. I would have to go to the bathroom to spit and I couldn't swallow unless I was alone and even then, I would have to hold onto something and focus really hard on swallowing. I would have panic attacks if I even tried to sit out on my back deck. I was completely housebound and TERRIFIED about the thought of being anywhere other than in the safe zone of my own flat.

I thought I would NEVER get better. My doc did what your doc is doing, though. She gave me 0.5 mg Clonazepam to take each night before bed. I was scared of taking anything because I don't like drugs. It did WONDERS for me, though. It didn't change my personality or make me feel like I wasn't myself. It just made me feel more like my PREVIOUS self... just less panicked. It made me calm enough to go to weekly appointments with a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist and a psychiatrist (before the Clonazepam, I would not have been able to leave my home twice a week for appointments). My psychiatrist eventually prescribed Celexa in addition to the Clonazepam and CBT worked very well for me. Within 4 months of starting therapy, I was back at work full-time and only having occasional -- much milder -- panic attacks. That was a little over 2 years ago. I'm on Lexapro now and haven't had a panic attack in 3 months. I socialize, I go shopping, I go for long walks, I have a demanding, rewarding job, I travelled (numerous flights) all over the U.S. last summer, interviewed the lead singer of my favourite band, went to rock concerts, etc. I feel like I have my life back and I feel like I'm getting back to the person I was BEFORE I got sick. If someone had told me 3 years ago that this was possible, I would have called them a liar.

Don't give up hope. You CAN get better! I didn't believe that the panic would EVER go away, but it did. Clonazepam made me drowsy, but apart from that, the only effect it had was taking the edge off my anxiety and making me calm enough to get the therapy I needed. Good luck! You're on your way to getting better.