i have a recurring sore throat in one specific spot in the
back of my throat for about two months. it hung around
for a couple of weeks and then went away. it seems to go
away for a few days and then come back for a few. often,
on days when i feel it, it ebbs and flows...goes away entirely
for three hours, comes back for a few, etc. it's extremely inconsistent
and variable.
at its least painful, it's a mild dry irritation. at its worst it's
maybe a four or five on the pain scale...moderately irritating
but not really that bad.
two years ago i suffered a bout of sinusitis. it lasted six
weeks. a spot in my throat would be sore for a day,then go
away, then recur in a different spot. this time i think the spot
has stayed in the same place. i had a mild cold in the past
two months but nothing like the sinus infection from two years
ago. i believe i've always had a deviated septum...i can't remember
a time in my life when i've been able to breathe through both
nostrils normally. i use Breathe Right strips at night to help breathing.
i'm kind of a hypochondriac which isn't helping. ;-) i've noticed some
pain in my left ear (same side as the throat) but the pain is really identical
to ear pain i've had off and on for fifteen years (the ear opening is tender
to the touch, but the pain isn't deep, and you can't feel it when i swallow
or talk...it seems very topical, like a mild infection on the very outer part
of the ear opening, away from the ear drum. it comes and goes. i know
ear pain can be a symptom of throat cancer, which doesn't help my peace
of mind.
i'm 43, no tobacco or alchohol use, exercise daily, eat very well. i suspect
this throat thing is sinusitis related (its ebbing and flowing for days or
hours makes me think there isn't any lump or growth; i have no problems
swallowing. it doesn't *feel* like anything is in there.)
I'm seeing my DR tomorrow, but he's an internist, not an ENT. i'm hoping
he can look and rule out anything serious. overall it's a very mild but annoying
problem, worse for a hypochrondriac like me.
Just wondering if you have any wisdom...thanks!