I'm the guy who posted last month about using snuff for 20 yrs. and my throat hurts. Mimi, you remember me. Well I quit for good on 12/12/08. And I haven't had a rub of snuff since. My problem is my throat is still sore. When I swallow it is sore in the adams apple area, maybe to the right a little bit. I sort of taste infection and when I yawn it sometimes radiates out towards my ear. It doesn't feel right.
The ENT said it was OK a month ago...he looked down my thraot with a long mirror. I'm not looking for a diagnosis...just should I be asking for another test if so what kind of test.
Thanks again

Hello Randy
Firstly ~ CONGRATULATIONS! I'm really happy to hear that you have stayed off the baccy.
You may just have a low grade infection but whatever may or may not be happening, in your own words you say that it 'doesn't feel right'. Listen to your body and speak to as many drs as you need to to put your mind at rest. Better to have pushed for some answers and come up with nothing than to do nothing and regret it in the long run.
Keep us posted.
Cheers
Deborah

Randy,

Yup, I sure remember you. My response to your post was so scary that John Spencer said it even frightened him and he hadn't smoked in something like thirty years!

Am so glad you quit. It's so difficult but you did it. That's something to be very proud of.

Deborah is right on when she said 'listen to your body.' Go back to the ENT or get a second opinion from another ENT.

I went to my primary doc twice with what turned out to be tonsil cancer. Both times he said it was a viral infection and time would 'cure' it. When my ear started hurting I made another appointment and fortunately he was unavailable. The nurse practitioner is the one who noticed something unusual and had me in an ENT's office one or two days later.

Don't give up until you feel comfortable with a diagnosis or (lack of diagnosis). You certainly don't sound like a hypochondriac.

Let us know how it goes.

Mimi

Good Morning MImi,
It is all Obama country now not just California!
I'm still frightened about your posting, I saw an empty discarded fag packet in the street a couple of days ago and found myself crossing the road so that I did not have to go near it.
I am sure you will believe that!
Keep smiling
John

This message has been edited. Last edited by: John Spencer,

Hey Mimi,

When you say it radiated out to your ear thats what mine is doing...my throat burns as well. Should I insist on another test or is the "mirror down the throat" test sufficent.
Randy

Randy,

I really don't know. The ENT used the scope, saw the tumor or whatever it was and then biopsied it. If he hadn't seen anything I don't know what the next step would have been. A scan of some sort, I suppose, but it would be up to him.

The pain in my ear is what they call 'referred pain' (from Wiki: a term used to describe the phenomenon of pain perceived at a site adjacent to or at a distance from the site of an injury's origin) and it went away rather quickly once I started treatment. Both the sore throat and the ear pain weren't constant or extremely painful - they were just annoying and worrisome.

If I were you I'd go to a second ENT and explain everything as you have here.

Perhaps Dr. Joshi will drop by and give you some real information!

I wish you the best of luck. We all know what you're going through and hope you can get a good diagnosis quickly.

Let us know what happens.

Mimi

I'm taking your advice and making the appointment. Thanks, you guys are wonderful. ( I call everyone guys).
Randy

Hi Randy

I'm really glad that you're getting another opinion.

I sincerely hope that your docs are able to get you all sorted out, but if they don't you might want to see about a referral to the ENT at a teaching hospital; they tend to be a tenacious lot (at least they are at U of M). Plus, they tend to be up on the latest treatment modalities.

Let us know how things turn out.