Hello,
I have had a rather odd phenomenon occurring off and on for the past few months. It feels as if I have a small amount of food lodged in the back of my throat.

Today, I visited the Dentist and oral hygienist. The hygienist had a look and said that she thought I had an ulcer on my soft palate. The dentist tried to examine the back of my mouth, but unfortunately I have a rather strong gag reflex and he couldn't get a clear look.

I have made an appointment to see my GP on Wednesday. I guess what worries me is that I have experienced this symptom before, then it has gone away, only to return.

It isn't particularly painful, more uncomfortable, given its location. I'm afraid I smoke 30-33 cigarettes a day, so I am in a high risk group for cancer.

I'm a bit worried that my GP won't be able to get a clear look at (whatever it is) and will just send me away. Having said that, I am rather prone to warts, bumps, cysts and nodules LOL.

I am 45 years old and weigh 22 stone.

Can you advise?

Many thanks

Hello wedge ( izza: ?)

There appear to be many expanations for experiencing a 'sensation of food lodged at the back of throat' .

It is one of the Symptom of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease . It can also be a symptom of Globus pharyngis , a common condition. It consists of a multitude of symptoms of which the most prominent one is � having a lump in the throat.� Patients with esophageal dysphagia generally complain that food feels as if it were stuck in their chest after it is swallowed. Stress is also a common cause for this sympton!

Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) is commonly a late symptom caused by a large cancer.

I would advise you to get a referral to an ENT specialist for a proper examination of your throat if you are still worried after reading all that!

:soapbox: It would really help your throat if you stopped smoking! Why do you want to remain a member of a high risk group?

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee:

Thank you, Dr Vinod

I am going to try to give up smoking.

I saw my GP today but she wasn't able to view my throat because I have a strong gag reflex.

The thing is...it feels like something quite small? It goes away when I swallow and then comes back. It doesn't feel like a lump but more like a bit of oatmeal stuck somewhere near my tonsils!

My GP prescribed a mouthwash. She said I should try it for 2 weeks and then if there was no change I should go to the ENT.

Could it be something like a polyp? I am very prone to skin tags and lumps and bumps.

Hello wedge izza:

You are taking a sensible approach. No point in speculating on what it is or is not. If it gets better - good. If not, you have a date with your ENT specialist. My ENT colleague told me today that often the examination (using endoscope or larygyscope) shows nothing wrong and they have to put it down to GERD (maybe he meant GOD ) or stress!

Stopping smoking will give your throat a holiday and reduce your risks of :ugh:

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee: