Fear of serious issue.

[cptcoco]

First off, I am 19, male, always been pretty healthy.  Over last summer I began smoking cigarettes on occasion with friends and then smoked (maybe 3-5 a day but not every day) for two or three months in college.  Since then I have quit then went back to occasional use and now really quit for good.  I have seasonal allergy issues for which i take Allegra.
  
About a week and a half ago I began having a lot of drainage and nasal congestion.  Then about a week ago I started having a feeling of something being stuck in my throat. I feared this had something to do with my smoking and went to the urgent care.  There the PA told me i had a lot of nasal blockage (even though i could breath through my nose fine) and gave me an antibiotic, mucinex, and told me to use saline nasal spray.  The next day when i checked my throat with a flashlight i saw some reddish bumps in the back of my throat.  At random times during the day I feel like theres something stuck in my throat, my throat feels dry and I have to constantly clear my throat and spit.  I've stayed on the antibiotic and it hasn't seemed to change anything.  I (today) started nasal irrigation in an attempt to stop any post nasal drip.  I also have a slight pain on the right side of my chest when i take a deep breath.  Also today when i spit there was a little bit of blood in it.

Am I just being paranoid or could this really have something to do with my past smoking such as throat cancer? Its causing me terrible anxiety and I don't know what to do.  I have an appointment with an ENT but it isnt for almost 2 weeks and I am debating whether or not to see someone sooner.  Please help.

[dianaramadani]

It sounds like the allergies I get.  That happens to me all the time.  Your throat can get red bumps just from post-nasal drip, which could also give you that feeling of something in your throat and hacking up mucus, and if your sinuses and throat get raw and infected, can cause some blood.  Low humidity can exacerbate this, too.

Now, I'm not a doctor, but to take a guess, this is "just" allergies.  Allergies can make you pretty miserable, though, and you can eventually end up with a bronchial infection (which it sounds like you are starting to get).

Compared to something like cancer, bronchial infections are easy to treat. Gargle with salt water a couple of times a day, use a humidifier in your room, irrigate your nasal passages (which is different than a nasal *spray*; I'm talking about trying to flush them out, as opposed to "just" moisturizing them, which you probably also need).  Mucinex is good because it cuts down on the mucus, which in turn will cut down on the hacking and swelling.  They also make it over the counter in a 12 hour release, which I like better than the every four hour pill.  Allergy medication will help, too.  Obviously, stay hyper-hydrated, and vitamin C and zinc may help too.

If you're developing a bronchial infection, you may need a different run of antibiotics for it.  Ask your doctor if s/he thinks you need to be screened for strep, and just FYI, most people need booster immunizations as an adult, so *while you're there* you might ask about those, but it's not like your childhood shots suddenly expire on your eighteenth birthday or something, so don't panic. :)

Again, I'm not a doctor, and I sympathize greatly, but I honestly just think it's allergies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-nasal_drip

[cptcoco]

Yes I live in the US. Never done any extensive travel anywhere.  I live at home and commute to college.  

Last night I had an anxiety attack from worry about this which made my throat seize up and i finally got to sleep (it took hours).  All day today my throat felt tense and I tried to consciously try and relax it which helped a little.  I saw the doctor today, she didn't seem concerned with my bumps in my throat.  I got blood work sent off to test for thyroid issues (have some of those on both sides of the family).  She gave me another prescription for flonase which i started tonight and said its probably something viral thats been lasting a while.  

I just hope and pray all this is just seasonal allergies getting real bad.  This was the coldest winter in a long while for where i live and its just now starting to let up. The main thing that bothers me is my voice sounds a tad different and the lump-in-the-throat feeling and now tense feeling of neck muscles.

[swampcritter]

Honestly, with the amount of smoking you did, and your age, its highly unlikely that you have throat or lung cancer.

You don't have a location on your profile. Do you live in the US? Have you done any extensive travel outside the US?

Are you living for college in a substantially different place than you normally live?