Pain in lower throat area

[Murdoc_OS]

Hi all. For a few months now, after physical activity, everything is fine until the next day when I get a strange burning-like pain in my lower throat where the neck meets the collar bone. The pain lasts about a week. It does not resemble a sore throat from a cold, nor does it resemble muscle pain. When I smoke a cigarette, it makes it burn more when the smoke passes that area, so I don't smoke as often anymore. Also, breathing in deeply makes the pain worse. When the pain goes away after a week, I get bad air hunger that lingers indefinitely. Nothing, not even time, makes it go away.
I don't exercise a lot. Maybe 3 times a month, but I'm certainly not overweight, and before all this, I was able to do anything without any consequences.
It might also be worth mentioning that humming low tones, or speaking in low, quiet tones is difficult. Choppy, hoarse sounds do come out but mostly it's just air and no sound.

Also, the hearing in my right ear is distorted, and when I wake up in the morning, both of my ears feel "full", but that goes away throughout the day. The doc says it's not wax, but said I should see an audiologist so I will.

I've also spoken to my doctor about the pain and air hunger but he has no clue what it is so he's referred me to a specialist. Before I see him though, I'd just like some input/ideas about what this is to better ready me for when I do see him.

Sorry for the long post and thanks for your input.