Dear canada74,
Thank you for writing back.
Glad to know that you are better now. Also great to hear that you are quitting smoking. Occasional alcohol intake is not a problem. Control your acid reflux (GERD / LPR) to sustain the improvement.
Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.
Best Regards
Dr. Sumit Bhatti.
Good Afternoon Dr. Bhatti.
Just a quick note to inform you of my results...as insane luck would have it...I ended up at the right place at the right time speaking to the right person and got slotted in for an ENT appointment yesterday. Lucky I know...my wait went from 4 weeks to 1 day in an instant.
Anyway...they did a scope and they of course found the first thing that you suspected...no tumor...no cancer...(whew)...just some very irritated vocal cords and lots of secretions.
He took one look at it and said that sometimes you can never really be sure...but it apparently screamed Acid Reflux/GERD. So we had a good discussion about natural ways to reduce it via diet, sleeping habits and the like. He also perscribed some medication (forget the name).
Anyway I can already feel a massive improvement...but that may not be because of the medication just yet...I took it upon myself to do something productive during what was to be a four week wait so I'm in the middle of a four week holiday from alcohol and I quit smoking about one week ago today. That and ya...the stress just lifted immediatly when I got the all clear on the nasty possibilities :).
I'll admit...there's no way I'm giving up my casual beer now and then...but if the worry only results in me quitting smoking then that is certainly a great thing :).
Anyway...thank you very much for your response! Turns out your initial thoughts were spot on.
Just wanted to let others know three things in this forum...
First...obviously the advice you get here is spot on.
Second...months of any symptom is distressing and it's hard not to get a little nervous...but it is true...most symptoms could be numerous things and on average it's not going to wind up being the worst case scenerio. Easier said than done I admit.
Third...those damn cigarettes do amazingly bad things all around...if you have problems...and you smoke...take the plunge and quit because odds are that it may or may not be directly responsible...but it sure as hell ain't helping :). I have a long road ahead of me but I'm commited to sticking with it.
Have a good one doc!
Slept like a baby last night by the way :).
While waiting you can do this Ujjayi pranayam to help the throat recover.It will also help if you have a thyroid problem.
Thyroid point – press the fleshy bit on palm between the base of thumb and wrist on both hands. If you feel sharp pain when you press, then you have thyroid problem.
Ujjayi pranayam
Procedure: While breathing in, tighten throat(contract glotis) and there will be sound from back of throat, then drop chin(rest chin on chest), hold breath as long as possible.Then chin up, close right nostril and slowly breath out through left nostril.
Duration: 5 – 21 times
How to do Ujjayi
When you clear your throat, you tighten your throat and breath out, twice, with a pause in between. . Now if you reverse this, that is, tighten the throat and breath in continuously for abour 8 to 12 seconds, then hold your breath for 4 seconds with the chin down, then chin up, close right nostril and slowly breath out through left nostril, you have just done Ujjayi pranayam.You will feel like coughing initially.
November 22, 2011
Dear canada74,
Thank you for your query.
Based on the symptoms that you describe you also need to rule out acid reflux which includes GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease) and LPR (Laryngo Pahryngeal Reflux). It worsens with alcohol and smoking. A post nasal drip may be associated. Lymphoid hypertrophy may be seen in the throat. Throat cancer or lymphoma are rare at your age and cancer will get progressively worse. I would also like to rule out stress induced tightness in throat, especially since you are worried about cancer as a cause of your symptoms. Some other possible causes for your symptoms could be:
1. Allergy or Intolerance to beer / food and their ingredients
2. Occupational exposure to wood dust, moulds, fungi and chemicals.
3. Very rare causes include neuralgias, hyoid bursitis, and styloid enlargement
I would also suggest to rule out a thyroid swelling by getting a USG Neck done. Sub centimeter lymph nodes are usually reactive and not considered problematic, even if multiple.
A direct video laryngoscopy will help settle the diagnosis and easily rule out cancer. You should get your ENT consultation sooner if possible. Quitting alcohol and smoking is always recommended.
Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.
Thank you for using MedHelp's "Ask an Expert" Service, where we feature some of world's renowned medical experts in their fields. Millions have benefitted from our service to get personalized advice for them and for their loved ones.
Best Regards,
Dr. Sumit Bhatti.