lung, throat, headaches, pain, strange sensations....

[snorgy]

im 20 yo male.. this all started 2 1/2 months ago. it was at first a strange feeling in my throat, like there was something stuck in there. it almost feels like there is a metal pipe stuck in there... i also started having really strange headaches and back pain.. i went to an ent and he said there was nothing wrong, just some inflamation . he gave me some antibiotics.... it never worked.. i saw my oncologist ( i had rhabdomiosarcoma 5 yrs ago) he took a chest xray and a neck and head ct scan and all came up clear.... everything started getting much worse... symptoms kept on adding on such as: pain behind the eyes, muscle twitching, pain on back of head, cough, strange weasing noise when couching (like rattling)... i saw a neurologist... he did an ekg and a cervical spine mri. he noticed some mild neuralgia in legs but he said that it is very likely that it wa caused by the chemotherapy i had been on previously... i also saw a internal pshysician who did an echocardiogram and told me i had no heart problems... finally everything just got real bad and i got this intense throat pain .... i went to the ent once again, he looked down my throat with this tube and told me i was really inflamed. he gave me some antibiotics and anti inflamatory.. my throat got better, but then i got a really intense cough... wheezing... i went to a pulmanologist , had a chest xray... came up clear... he gave some some more antibiotics and anti-inflamatory pills. anyways this is where i am at.. i am only getting worse... i feel like i am going to die and noone can tell me whats wrong.. help me

[southpaw sue]

Snorgy...one other thing that I think is worth mentioning and I completely forgot.
I have had hypothyroidism (treated now) for over 2 1/2 years.
I take Levoxyl 0.125 mcg's every day.  It has managed to keep it within normal limits.

[southpaw sue]

Hi! I just wanted to say that 99% of what you describe with your throat I also experience(d).  I also have off and on hoarsness, to the point I can hardly talk and it may even hurt to try and talk.
(I have several severe chronic medical disorders, but don't want to bore you with them here)
Anyway, I went to my specialist, G.P. and then to my E.N.T. doctor. He also scoped my throat and it was very red and inflammed.  He told me to try taking an acid reducer (ex: Pepcid, Zantac)  it just happened that I had prescribed to me Aciphex, but had not been taking it because I felt my reflux was gone and stomach pain was...
Anyway, I started taking the Aciphex daily and I think it has been working, though it took about a week - week and a half to see a difference.
I experienced that severe pain in my throat, almost like a 'stiffness' too.  At times my voice was normal and other times I could hardly speak.  I also was experiencing headaches (front and back of head) turned out I also had a sinus infection.
I hope this helps out some.
Also, (unfortunately) I am a smoker, though hope to quit within the year.  Otherwise, I do not drink or do any kind of drugs. (other than what is prescribed to me, and that is enough!:-) )

[snorgy]

ooops, i forgot to add. i also get a real intense pain when i try to sing or say something loud. really strange... the pain is followed right after with the cough and wheezing...i have a real bad taste in my mouth in the morning sort of acidic.. sometimes the throat sensation will get really intense and i will feel like i am being choked and the headache will get really bad at the same time, then it goes away after a few minutes.... uhh i dont even know if this is related , but i have a rash on the inside of my left thigh that has been there for 3 months...it itches and it just stays there... could it be lyme? but it doesnt have the bulls eye, and if it was lyme it should have dissapeared weeks ago...  i guit smoking about a month ago.. i dont drink... dont do drugs..

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

This is not likely to be thyroid based on what you present.  Make sure you don't have acid reflux ^ follow-up with ENT &/or pulmonary.  To be sure about thyroid - test TSH and do ultrasound, but the testing you have already had most likely includes thyroid labs and imaging.