Greetings One and All!

I've enjoyed reading, and learning from your site, and my Humble Prayers are with each and every one of you.


First the problem: for the last 4 days I've had the feeling of something being stuck in the back of my throat, on the left side, like a hair, or popcorn hull. I've tried every solution known to me or that anyone else can think of, and no relief. I finally got out the mirror, flashlight, Q-tips and tweezers hoping I could find whatever it was that was bothering me, and remove it. Lo and behold, there are over a dozen larger (1/8 - 1/6 inch) blister-looking bumps at the back of my tongue that weren't there two weeks ago, and heaven only knows how many smaller ones. I can't keep from tripping the Gag Reflex long enough to get more than a few seconds look by mirror and flashlight.

They are further back than I can reach with just my fingers, they are not painful, per-se, but this constant feeling of something stuck at the back of my mouth / top of my throat is totally driving me bonkers. I have long hair, so that was my first, and until this evening, my only assumption as to the cause.

I've done an extensive search of your site, and I've learned many things. I followed all the links the Good Doctor gave in other posts for "circumvallate papillae", and any/all other possibilities. The appearance of the back /base of my tongue is similar, but the lumps are larger than those depicted, more numerous, proceed further back on both sides to the attachment of the side muscles into the top of the throat. (do those papillae just blossom up all at once or something?)

I am a mid-40's female. Yes, I am a smoker. (endeavoring to quit, but not very successfully 1/2 pack of Lights 100's, and 1 pack of Ultra-lights 100's in an average day.(Ultra Lights in front of the computer, Lights whenever those don't quell the nicotine fits). And Yes, I'm going to have it looked at by my G.P. The catch is that an appointment with them takes over 3 weeks for Non-urgent situations.

So- Do you feel I have a set of circumstances that warrant "crying Wolf" to my Doctor, or am I worrying about a probably normal condition for my age, habits and lifestyle?

P.S. - ANY suggestions anyone may have on how to get rid of whatever it is tickling the back of my mouth & Throat I would be EVER SO GRATEFUL!!!

Thanks for your time, and sorry for the extra-long post,

MamaDragon

Don't wait to have it looked at, Go to an ear nose and throat DR. They can tell if it is cancer or not. When you wait to long it gets harder to treat. So get tough and get the Dr. going on this. We thought it was just a canker sore and waited several months, but my husband was wrong, it was cancer. Please check it out now! Good Luck!