Sore throat and ear on left side, thick mucus

hopper83 · Newbie Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 5

I am a 23 year old male and the left side of my throat has had various levels of pain EVERYDAY all day for almost a year now. As well my left ear is also irritated and sore as well as the gland under my jaw bone. I also get very thick mucus from the left side where my tonsils used to be (had them taken out a year ago) and my breathing has gotten worse. I am taking a steroid inhaler to control my breathing as well as a steroid nasal spray for allergies. I have also had an MRI, my thyroid tested, and blood tests and they have all come back clean. My family doctor has found what he calls a "mucus retention cyst" just below where my tonsil used to be closer to my tongue. I am going to see an ENT in two weeks but I am hoping someone else out there may be experiencing the same thing. I cannot escape the pain... pain killers have little effect. I am thinking it has something to do with the mucus retention cyst or that it might be GERD (acid reflux) but so far doctors havn't been able to help. Is anyone else out there experiencing anything similar or can help??? Thanks.

VChung · Newbie Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

It is interesting to read your message as I have the similar program. I had an irritation throat nearly 2.5 months. My GP couldn't find out the problem. I noticed 6 weeks ago myself that I had a white spot near my left tonsil (near the entrance of the throat). I don't have problem of eating, but the discomfort seems inside. Whenever I feel the discomfort, I also have pain near my left eye and my left ear. It comes and goes. I found that I don't have any discomfort sympton if I lie down for an hour. However the discomfort came back about average 30 min after I stood up. I went to see an ENT specialist who told me that it is a mucus retention cyst. He said that it could be caused by reflux acid from the stomach and advised me to take anti gastro pill first to see if an operation is required. It is very funny too. I had a long haul flight recently and feel the cyst is smaller after the journey. The discomfort seems less. I did look into my throat and found that it is smaller and looks flat. Really don't why. I did have an antibiotic course 10 days again because of an infection in other part of my body. I will be going to see my ENT specialist one month later. Hope he can explain the reason as I am worried the cyst may come back again.

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did you get an answer

Guest · Guest

i am 26 f and have been experiencing this for almost a year. it started with waking up in the morning and clearing my throart and producing heavy, thick, yellow mucuos with "booger" looking pieces. I know its gross...but its reality. Then it progressed to being everyday, allday long. I am constantly spitting this heavy phlegm out. I have a constant swollen gland on my left side and very frequent sharp pain in my left eye as well as sharp, piercing headaches on my left side. Whenever I drink alcohol even if its just one drink, I have the raspiest voice in the morning. I have not been to a doctor for it. Ocassionaly I have jaw pain on the left side. I thought it was throat cancer or something cause it's constant. I think I need a dr. appt.

hopper83 · Newbie Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 5

Well VChung it sounds like we have the same problem or at least it is very similar. For a short while the pain on my left side was not too bad and when I felt the cyst or bump down in my throat I noticed it was smaller than usual. I also lie down when the pain is bad and it does seem to get better but, just like you, once I am standing again it comes right back. I saw my ENT specialist a couple weeks ago and he sent me for a CT scan of my sinuses but they haven't called me back yet. I will be calling tomorrow to make another appointment. Please let me know what your specialist says and I will do the same. Thanks.

hopper83 · Newbie Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 5

Just wanted to update my situation. I have visited 2 different ENT doctors about 3 times since I last posted and still they can't find anything. One believed it was a problem with my nerve. However, it turns out the real problem might be acid reflux. I had been having minor problems with my bowels (completely separate issue from the throat problem) over the past year or so. The bowel specialists suggested I have a barium swallow so he could observe what was happening. Turns out everything is mostly okay with my bowels but what they did find was that I have acid reflux. I will be starting my medication today to control this condition and will post again in a few weeks to let you know if anything improves.

ziggy3 · Newbie Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

Im posting in this section because i have had something very similar to all of your experiences. for the past 5 months+ i have had a weird throat problem. it feels like a lump stuck in my throat halfway down the left side. it seems to come and go but never really leaves. some days its more swollen, others i can hardly feel it. along with the throat pain i get headaches, and ear aches on the same side of my head. i used to be an avid smoker for about 3 years but am only 22-years old and cant see this being throat cancer. i have been to the ENT many times, and had a CT scan done on my throat and nasal cavities. this came back without any results and all my ENT specialist can conclude is that "you dont have cancer", advising me to use saline salt sprays for my nose. this is really frustrating and i have been worried this entire time. the feeling like something is stuck in my throat has not left and i get a weird pain along my left jaw as well, as though the bone itself is sensitive in a specific spot. any help would be awesome.

johnson · Newbie Joined: 21 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

I as well have had similar issues regardless a relentless sore throat.
It started about 4 months ago with both glands on the side of my neck swollen-bad enough to cause discomfort when lying down.
The problem has also been associated with think mucus in the morning. I went to my GP and was told I had a cold and was giving Ibuprofen to help
with the possible inflammation. No change, tried cough drops and sore throat spray- nothing helps ease the mild constant burning. Note; I have been diagnosed with an auto immune disease. Which one-don’t know-looks like Lupus.
I have an appointment with my Rheumatologists in May and will ask for more thorough testing including my Thyroid.

kazza_uk · Newbie Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 1

Strangely I am glad to read this thread and hear that most of you are being diagnossed with Reflux. I was diagnosed with GERD 2 years ago and have been managing it with medication and a change in diet and lifestyle (I sleep on a slope). However, since January I have had a chronic sore throat, so went to see my dr after a couple of weeks.

She said my sore throat was "most likely" due to my reflux but I disputed it as in the 2-3 years that I have suffered from GERD I never had sore throat, I always had heartburn symptoms and a "lump in the throat" feeling, which I no longer get because of the meds.

Anyway, after 12 weeks with my throat still sore, I went back to the Dr, my throat is a little inflammed but nothing major, however my Dr decided to put me on 10 days of antibiotics as I have had the sore throat for so long. 9 days in and my throat isn't any better, so I think the doctor was right to start with, my sore throat is being caused by my GERD. And reading this thread and the diagnosis you are all getting too, I am more reassured.

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Well after 9 months of having a sore throat and ear pain, the second ENT stated between having a mucous cyst in my throat along with ACID REFLUX ws the cause of the pain. I have been on Aciphex for about 10 days and the pain has subsided Razz

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Sore throat and ear on left side, thick mucus

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