Hi all,

I am new here, and am hoping maybe someone can lend some advice (not a diagnosis, obviously).

I'll give some history: I had a sinus infection the beginning of Dec., took a z-pak. The very next day, woke up with a very bad sore throat that lasted for about two weeks. I had very bad post nasal drip as well and was coughing up some yellow gook. I finally started to feel better, then I think I got some kind of flu with extreme sore throat again with pain radiating to the ears, body aches & pains, and lots of coughing. I did see a doctor 3 times during this time, I did not have strep or mono, they gave me another z-pak. I did not have any swollen glands.

Finally, I start to feel better and I go and get half a cracker stuck in my throat and embark on this gagging, coughing, choking fit that lasted for a good 5 minutes. It was awful and scary, lots of retching and I finally barfed it up. I pulled a muscle in my neck during this choking fit, and experienced eye flashers for about a week. From the day of choking, for about 2-3 weeks, I was very hoarse, very weak voice, and coughing a lot. No sore throat, tho. I was having trouble talking, as every time I started to talk, I would cough and my voice would crack, and my throat/neck felt very strained.

At the end of last week, all of these symptoms seemed to be subsiding. My voice sounds about 95% normal, coughing is pretty much gone. However, over the weekend I had a small argument with my hubby, screamed a bit, cried a bit, and my throat started to feel very strained again, and when I looked at my throat with a small flashlight, I see a small red area on my right tonsil, about the size of half of a pencil eraser. It does not hurt. It seems flat. It looks like a spot of blood. I lightly touched it with a warm damp q-tip, it did not rub off. If I push on the right side of my throat/neck while looking up, it hurts a little. Yes I am going crazy poking and prodding at things.

I have always had large tonsils, but have never had any infections or problems with them.

This red spot has me very scared. I am seeing an ENT at the end of the week, but I am very scared and can't sleep. Coincidentally, my left tonsil also has a whitish spot on it that has been there for a long time (its not a tonsil stone, it doesn't rub off). I am sure my doctors have seen it but no one has ever said anything about it.

I am a 41 year old female, in good health, I have never smoked and never drank, however my hubby does smoke a pack a day, and smokes in the house.

Oh - I do have acid reflux, but not sure if it could cause any of the above.

Thank you so much in advance for any help on what any of this could mean.

~ Carrie

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Carrie1970,

quote:

a small red area on my right tonsil, about the size of half of a pencil eraser. It does not hurt. It seems flat. It looks like a spot of blood. I lightly touched it with a warm damp q-tip, it did not rub off. If I push on the right side of my throat/neck while looking up, it hurts a little.

Hello Carrie

The red spot could be an enlarged capillary. Coughing, shouting strains the area and could have caused it. Let us know what the ENT says.

Best wishes

Vinod

Thank you, Dr. Joshi. I have panic disorder so every little thing tends to set me off into the crazies. I made my husband look at it and he said the same thing you said.

I will reply after my ENT visit on Thursday.

~ Carrie