Hi

I have been experiencing the feeling of a lump in the back of my throat, around the right tonsil area for about 6 months now. I first noticed the feeling after a meal out with some friends, it felt like a tiny lump. Over the months the feeling has become much more noticeable and although some days are worse than others. Most of the time it feels like somethinh is stuck behind my tonsil although sometimes it feels like a fullnes in the whole of my upper throat. I have been to the doc a number of times regarding this, he has felt my neck and said everything feels fine although he has not actually looked down my throat. I have now been referred to ENT although I still have a 4 weeks to wait to see them. He also prescribed lansoprazole but this has not helped and I have no symptoms of heatburn etc. When I look in my mouth with a light I can see that my right tonsil is a different shape to my left and has a kind of lump sticking out of it. Could this be causing the lump feeling? I'm 23 and a smoker of 6 years. I realise the chances of this being serious is low due to my age but as this feeling has gone on so long with no relief I am really concerned now.I also get a bad taste which comes from my throat, could this be related? I feel like I'm going mad with worry. I am also aware of globus hystericus although I really do not think this is the case. Any ideas what this could be, or anything I can try to get rid of this?

Any info greatly appreciated.

Suz

Good Evening Suz,
You have done the right thing in pushing to see an ENT specialist,I am rather surprised that you have a four week wait but bide your time and make sure you make that appointment even if the problem seems to be clearing.Perhaps your doctor thought the bad taste was connected with refluxing hence the prescription of lansoprazole which is a very effective treatment for this problem.There are scores of reasons why lumps and bumps appear in the mouth and most of these are easily dealt with,some don't even need treatment but the advice is always the same "if the problem does not clear in three weeks see your doctor/dentist" so how about easing off in the worry department, I know it is easier said than done. Now it is
Saturday evening so you go out with your mates and enjoy yourself. Just one thing though,you know that smoking is a real risk and I am sure your better self knows what you should do about it.Please let us know how you get on.
Keep Smiling
John

Dear Suz,Sorry to hear you have this worrying wait ahead of you. you could phone the ENT surgeons Secretary,explain you are worried (they are used to calls like this) & offer to take a Cancellation IF one becomes available for the clinic.
Hope all turns out well & your worries are unfounded. As John says , let us know how you get on, all the best.

Thank you for your replies. I know I probably shouldn't worry so much I just get so frustrated with the long waiting times on the NHS.

I have decided to see a ENT doctor privately as I'm literally making myself ill with the worrying and as you say there is a lot of explanations for my symptoms.

Thank you so much, will let you know what happens.

Suz

Hi I am 37 years old, female and have had the feeling of a lump in my throat for about 6 months, like I always have to clear my throat and its still there. Doctor has written to the hospital for me to have a barium swallow, I get no pain and when I feel my neck I feel a small lump on the right and a large lump on the left side under my jaw but dont know if this is my gland as it is not sore.

I am slightly concerned as the doctor felt my neck then asked if I get indigestion, which I dont, then she told me about the barium swallow.

Help!

Hello S McMillan

It is right to be concerned but not right to be worried as while it needs investigating, it could be due to any number of things. You doctor is thinking about gastric reflux causing the throat irritation. I would also suggest that you request a referral to an ENT specialist at the hospital for a look down your throat. Sometimes a polyp, etc could be the cause.

Doctors are gate-keepers of the NHS but you shouldn't be kept waiting at the gate for too long .

Best wishes
Vinod

Dear Vinod
Thank you so much for your reply. I received a letter from my local hospital and I have an appointment on 26th June 10am for the barium swallow so will come back to the forum with an update once I get the results.
Best Regards

Hi suz, i have exactly the same problem minus anything to do with heartburn (though you said you didn't have that either) i only smoke occasionally... im seeing the doctor for the first time next week

i am 18 years old and i have the same problem for 8 weeks i have felt like i have had a lump in my throat or some sort of problem with my throat...not only has it decreased my quality of life but it has also caused me problems with work, friends and my boyfriend.
i feel like i can't eat anything as it will get stuck and when i drink it feels the same.
i have been to the doctors about 30 time in 8 weeks as i had convinced myself it was throat cancer.
i had an endoscopy planned on thursday but when i got there i was too scared to go through with it.
i also have been to see the ent people who reassured me it wasnt cancer.
i would really like to talk to someone who has this problem as i feel really alone and it is causing me to become severly depressed.

thanks

Hello lorad01, A feeling that there is a lump in the throat is most commonly caused by stress, even though the lump does feel very real to you. By what you have written it seems that you are getting yourself stressed up just thinking about what it might be. Seeing your doctor 30 times in the past 8 weeks is a bit extreme! If the doctor isn't worried about you then that should give you some comfort. He has even arranged an endoscopy for you so why didn't you have it done and that would have confirmed to you that there is nothing there to worry about.

18 is very young for this to be a serious complaint. If you can try some relaxation techniques perhaps your symptoms will reduce and eventually go away altogether.

I know of a couple of people who have had your feeling of a lump in the throat and it has turned out to be stress related in both cases. Give some thought to relaxation therapy and see if it does the trick. Good luck!

Hi Lorado1
though it is a young age to be getting this,the possibility of your lump feeling in the throat could be similar to mine.
It did feel like a blockage when i ate anything and was a constant irritation after food.re-schedule the endoscopy please,it's nothing to worry about as you can be put under for the procedure if you wish,you will just have to take somebody with you for support and to help you if the effects last longer,there were people who had been put under for it when i came out and they were sat there normally having a drink,but i had my last one while i watched and apart from swallowing the camera was nowhere near as bad as i'd imagined and they do numb the throat a little so absolutely NO pain is involved,mine was caused by an inflamation of the duodenum that was leaking acid into my oesophagus which was irritating the throat and making it feel like i had a lump,the doctor gave a me omeprasole but it didn't clear,then esomeprasole which stopped the feeling within a day.
even if the symptoms do go away,please re-schedule as at your age the damage to your oesophagus can be stopped and the problem solved.
the doctors are great at what they do trust me.
good luck and let us know the outcome.
mic

Hey,

I am 15 and i also have this lump feeling in my throat. Some days it feels better and is less noticible but i can still feel its there and others it can be really uncomfortable and i have trouble eating and swallowing. This has been going on for a couple of months now along with a really stiff neck sometimes clicks loudly when i move it, a sore throat and just recently i have noticed a swelling on the side of my throat which hurts when i press it.

does anyone know what could it could be?

thanks.

Hello Christie

It is unlikely to be a cancer but it is not possible to make a diagnosis over the Internet. Please see your doctor. Do let us know how you get on.

Besy wishe
Vinod

hiya did anyone find out about the lump in the throat because last week I suddenly got a lump on the left side of throat and its very painful when I drink/eat. I’m only 15, 16 this year.

if anyone can help me i would be very grateful.

Hi @d@m

The best suggestion I can give is to see your doctor about this as soon as you can.

Please let us know how this turns out.

Julia