Hi, I found a lump in my Left Tonsil about two weeks ago. It is hard and some what pointed. I went to my GP whom told me he didn't know what it was but I should not be worried about it. Instead of not worrying I worried and made an appointment for and ENT. The ENT looked around and within a minute or two said I need to have it removed and sent in for testing. So now I have sergury on the 4th. She then scheduled me for a CT scan with contrast which I had yesterday the very next day after I saw her. I still feel a bit warm and have the metal taste in my mouth. Anyways, she said it could be any number of benign problems or cancer. She didn't want to speculate what it might be but would rather wait and see the CT results and Pathology report on the object.

A little History:
I am an ex smokeless tobacco user for several years. I have Bruxism bad enough where I have broken several teeth that now have crowns.

Symptoms:
I found this lump when I felt like something was stuck in my throat on that side. I reached my finger in and found this hard pointy object that seems to go way under the skin and I have no idea where it goes from there. I have had that same feeling on the same side a couple times over the past year or two but never found anything before.
I have ear congestion on that side, have felt run down and sometimes get migraines. My jaw muscles are always stiff as well as my neck.

I have a Pre Op next Wed. to go over the CT scan and operation.

I was wondering what you thought about this, if you had any ideas or thoughts.

Hello JR

The hard lump could be a tonsil stone. Read Dr Hoffman's advice on tonsil stones . Then try a Google search for tonsil stones. Be amazed at how common they are, and the different things people on the various message boards have tried. Let us know what it turns out to be.

To stop clenching/bruxism, you need to wear my splint - the splint of air. It is free , but you need to make it yourself ! (See the instructions below.) Hope that helps you stop your clenching/bruxing. Let me know how you do.

You should become aware of what you are doing with the face and control any daytime clenching habit. When clenching is stopped the muscles relax, the joints are off loaded, and the symptoms of TMJ go away as the joint and muscles are allowed to heal, teeth stop wearing away and crowns stop breaking! Also stop other oral habits that put a strain on the jaw muscles like: chewing gum, biting your nails, nibbling your lip/cheek, leaning on your jaw during the day or night while sleeping.

Best wishes
Vinod

'SPLINT OF AIR' instuctions:

quote:

(1) Keep your teeth apart and lips only lightly (or not) touching except for when you swallow! Your jaw is designed to hang loose just like your arms hang loose by your side when you are relaxed. Keeping teeth together (clenching) is a habit helped by mothers who tell their children to "don't look like an idiot, keep your mouths shut!"
Learn the "Resting Tongue Position":
Place your tongue against the roof of your mouth and make a 'cluck' sound. At the end of this action, the tip of your tongue should be in the same position that it assumes after swallowing - the correct mandibular rest position. After identifying this position, attempt to maintain it. (The anterior one-third of your tongue should make light contact against the roof of your mouth. Breathe through your nose and use your abdomen ('stomach') muscles for breathing.)
(2). Don't lean on your lower jaw while sitting or sleeping - it encourages clenching as your resists the pressure you place on it.
(3) Learn how to stop clenching/bruxing at night:
My patients have found the following technique helpful :

The Relaxation - Autosuggestion Method
===========================================
1. Lay down on your back with the palms of your hands on your abdomen.
2. Close your eyes and breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose.
2. As you breathe out slowly, feel yourself beginning to relax; feel the tension leaving your body.
3. Now breathe in and out slowly and regularly, at whatever rate is comfortable for you. You should feel your abdomen rise as you breathe in and fall as you breathe out. (abdominal breathing). Do this for a couple of minutes.
4. Become aware of your breathing. As you breathe out, say the word, "ONE", silently to yourself. Breathe easily and naturally.
5. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes. You may open your eyes to check the time, but do not use an alarm.
6. End with a slow deep breath. As you breathe out say to yourself "I feel relaxed."
7. Tell yourself, "I will get a good night's sleep". "I will not clench on my teeth because I don't want to have wear away my teeth (and/or have an aching jaw.)"

Do not worry about whether you are successful in achieving a deep level of relaxation. Maintain a passive attitude and permit relaxation to occur at its own pace. When distracting thoughts occur, try to ignore them by not dwelling upon them and return to repeating "ONE." With practice, the response should come with little effort. Practice the technique once or twice daily, but not within 2 hours after any meal, since the digestive processes seem to interfere with the elicitation of the Relaxation Response.
- The Relaxation Response, Herbert Benson, M.D.
===========================================

===============How it works===============
Your mind is suggestible when it is in a relaxed state.
Your self-hypnotic suggestion will cause your subconscious mind to monitor any clenching and biting activity at night. When clenching is detected you will wake up alerted to the undesired behaviour. Once awake, you will relax your muscles and stop clenching on your teeth.

You will soon learn to stop clenching and have uninterrupted sleep. The sleeping brain is capable of responding to the clenching and modifying ingrained patterns of behaviour. After the first couple of days you will seldom awaken because your response will be so quick you will not be awakened. Patients report better sleep, and being more rested while using this method to control clenching.

This night-time retraining carries over into the day. You will catch yourself and be able to control any daytime clenching habit. When clenching is stopped the muscles relax, the joints are off loaded, and the symptoms of TMJ go away as the joint and muscles are allowed to heal, teeth stop wearing away and crowns stop breaking! Also stop other oral habits that put a strain on the jaw muscles like: chewing gum, biting your nails, nibbling your lip/cheek, leaning on your jaw during the day or night while sleeping.

This method is safe & effective, non-invasive and reversible, and free . It is easy to use and low cost. You will need to practice the method nightly for 6-8 weeks. Treatment length will vary between patients. Factors that affect treatment length include how long you have had your problem and how quickly you respond to behaviour modification.

Consistent nightly practice will promote rapid treatment progress. Skipping nights will slow your progress .

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

Thanks for the response, is highly appreciated. I am going to try your suggestions with the air splint. I catch myself tensing up so tight sometimes I cramp my tounge and jaw, getting this under control has been difficult. I will let you know what is said at the pre-op on Wed.

I saw the Doctor today to go over pre-op and the CT results. He said that the CT is pretty much normal except the pointed lump within my tonsil. He said that it is local and not deeply enbedded. He said it doesn't look like cancer and agrees with your theory of a possible tonsil stone or something along that line. He said to be sure they are going to remove it. He said the process should be quite simple but will put me in allot of pain for a week or two. He said a tonsillectomy should completely resolve the matter.

He also said this is good news, I agree but will be glad when this is all over.

My sergury is on the 4th, I will post the results a day or so after.

Thanks again for the advice.

Jr we will be praying for you on the 4th. I am asuming it is the 4th of October. You won't be alone,,,Always Vicki

Thanks Vicki! It is on the 4 October, and they said it will take most the day. I don't know how long it will take to get a pathology report. Hopefully not long.

Have a great weekend

I did have the Tonsil and the lump removed last Monday the 4th of October. It didn't take long at all. I only remember going one way down the hall and the next instant going the other way. The whole deal took less than an hour.

The pain was pretty severe but they gave me oxycodone that seemed to work pretty good. I quit taking them the other day and am taking tylonol instead. The hole where my left tonsil use to be is filling in. I no longer have a feeling of an object stuck in my throat.

Today is the 12th of October and it has been a long week. All kind of things have gone through my head and I have read everything there is available on Tonsil's and lumps in the mouth and neck area. Until this morning I was very concerned this lump may have been cancerous. At my post-op this morning the first thing the Doctor said upon entering the room was """Everything is OK!!""" They couldn't find any admormal cells in the lump what a relief.

Turns out the lump is a elongated ligament that has been growing since an injury way back in 1987.
After I finish healing I will be back to normal, maybe even better than before.

My prayers and thoughts are with anyone dealing with any kind of cancer.

Hello JR

Great news! You should have stopped bruxing now .

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee: