Throat Swelling! Need advice!

Anaphylaxis fears Tony · Posted: 12/17/06 - 00:34 Post subject: Simular problems for me

Simular problem for me. The n h s here in uk is very slow for dealing with us suffers. I cant afford anything private i have to wait. In the mean time im avoiding fish and nuts. I feel everyday that im going to swell up its a nightmare. How are you coping? Best wishes from tony

USAgirluk · Newbie Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 4

CamaroGuy · Newbie Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

Hi all... Just wanted to provide an update.. Since my last post I received my CT results. With the exception of some "reactive" lymph nodes my tests came back clear. The lyumph nodes for whatever reason, they are not worried about. (They can swell due to virus, or other causes, however I still have a bit of a concern. As I am on synthroid for my thyroid, I know that it can take some time for my body to fullly start to adjust, which may explain some of the soreness at the fron t of my throat, (thyroiditis). All in all, over the past serveral week, my condition seems to be getting better. I alos believe that stress had something to do with it as well, (that big ball.lump feeling in my neck).

All in all I am feeling better, and I hope that you all have speedy recoveries. I will keep monitoring these posts, and will respond to questions if you have any.

Cheers....

klsmith402003 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 3

Hello. I've just been reading all the posts about swollen glands in the neck and throat with the feeling that your airway is getting cut off. I have this problem off and on and the docs feel like it is a form of acid reflux called Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPR). I already posted about it, but as I'm new, I don't know if I did it right, so I thought I'd post it again here (see below). Also, would like to know if any of you have had results from your testings/meds? Thanks, Karen

Here's my original post:

Hello.

I am 43 years old and here's my story:

Had problems waking at night feeling like I couldn't breath - that was about 2 years ago. Plus, had developed Meniere's Disease. Did not want to do allergy shots (took them for years off and on for allergies to mold, hay, grass, milk, etc.), finally went to herb doc and at the same time stopped all prescription meds and over-the-counter ones too AND stopped drinking milk - switching to almond milk and rice milk. Took Juniper Berries, Burdock, and allergy drops. Symptoms went away - even Meniere's Disease. (Also, did sleep clinic trial and tested negative for Sleep Apnea, but the doc did mention I was not evaluated on my back.)

Well, since then, I finished those herbs and took different ones to keep me healthy, continuing to NOT take prescription meds or over-the-counter ones and NOT drinking cows milk. Did take Advil a few times for headaches. Throat problem came back and after seeing herb doc and new herbs didn't work, I finally went to my family doc. I had researched on the internet and diagnosed myself with LPRD (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease). Had blood tests done to check my thyroid, neck xrays and ultrasounds of my neck, went to ENT and had flexible scope up my nose and down my throat. All results good. Did show small polyps on my throat around my thyroid, but ENT said they were nothing to worry about. Said he thought I might have LPRD, that I should start taking Prilosec.

In the middle of all these testings I had an unfortunate thing happen. The nurse who drew my blood, stuck the needle through the vein wall and caused inflammation in my arm. I went back there and they prescribed something for the inflammation saying it was basically a double dose of Aleve. Being tight on money, I chose Aleve.

Within three days of taking Aleve, and having been taking Prilosec for 5 days, my Meniere's Disease came back. I was devastated! I STOPPED the meds! The noise in my right ear makes me hard of hearing, I get confused like a person who wears hearing aids, AND a couple weeks later the dizziness and throwing up hit me. My husband gave me the Meclizine I had been prescribed a couple of years ago, and thank goodness it worked.

Saw the herb doc and started new herbs. Two weeks later got sick with sore throat and went back to herb doc and took another herb. Throat just hurt worse and now the right side of my tongue was hurting really bad. When I swallowed, it felt like the right side of my tongue was pulling my throat and ear. Don't know how else to describe it. My throat glands were swelling too. Herb doc explained herbs take longer to work. I didn't have time for the herbs to work, I was in severe pain.

Went to doc, he prescribed Naprosyn for the pain in my arm, and said my throat/tongue thing was probably acid reflux. He prescribed Prevacid for that. I stopped all herbs and took the Naprosyn first and the pain in my tongue/throat went right away. My throat glands were still swollen and two days later when I woke with the awful tightening feeling in my throat, I started the Prevacid. Just took my third dose of the Prevacid. My glands are still swollen. I'm still taking 500mg of the Naprosyn twice daily. My arm is 80% better, my tongue is 100% better as well as my sore throat. BUT, my throat glands are still very swollen . . . if I push on them, it cuts off my airway. AND, my right ear is constantly making the noise.

Think it is weird that all these things happened on my RIGHT side, except glands are swollen on my neck on both sides. Could the inflammation in my arm have traveled up causing problems with my tongue, throat, and ear?

Ok, sorry this is a BOOK - I didn't mean it to be one. I just want help in finding out why my glands are swollen all the time!

My friend said her mom's salivary gland was blocked, causing alot of the same symptoms. I'm going for another scope thing this Friday, will mention that to the ENT.

Thanks for ANY advice. Good luck to all you other people suffering with the feeling that someone has a hand around your neck and your airway will be cutoff at anytime!

Karen

CamaroGuy · Newbie Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

Hi Karen. Wow you have been through a lot. My condition has improvied a lot with the use of Synthroid. Your condition does not sound like a thyroiditis but some of the symptoms are the same. The one thing that you mentioned was a blocked salivary gland. (God that can be painful, but easily detected and resolved if it is the duct under the tounge.) If you have something like that, it can be caused by an infection or believe it or not, something tiny getting caught in the duct.
I had that once, and one side of my neck seemed to swell like a ballon, the pain was intense and hurt to my ear. I actually looked under my tounge and saw a tiny white dot, where the duct was. Being in so much pain, I started to squeeze the damn thing like a pimple, and slowly worked out this tiny white particle. It popped out, saliva squirted and damn I was cured. (Sorry - perhaps I got off topic here).

klsmith402003 · Newbie Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 3

Hi CamaroGuy!

THanks for writing. It is amazing that a tiny white dot could cause such pain. Someone I talked to, probably my husband, said you could just squeeze it maybe.

Well, since I started taking the Naprosyn, my tongue and throat don't hurt, so it probably isn't a blocked salivary gland; I still ask the doc about it though.

From all the posts here, there are SO MANY of us with this similar problem. When I woke up and felt like I couldn't breathe, cuz my throat was swelling, I looked in the mirror. My eyelids were swollen, and my neck glands were enlarged. WHY? WHY? WHY? Was it all the chocolate (no bake) cookies I gobbled up earlier? (Ok, I like sweets, but I'm not really fat, just about 10 lbs overweight at the most.)

If it is my being a little overweight, maybe I should try the "sugar busters diet" that I would be NO GOOD at! I love cookies too much. Can't do the Adkins . . . I like my fruits and veggies.

Anyway, if any one else knows WHY neck glands can stay swollen for months, please let me know. I remember reading one of the posts about getting a chest xray, so I may have that done too.

Thanks for listening!

Karen

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KALMANI · Newbie Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 1

I too have the same problem & I feel like shit & its been four days now. My throat feels like its being cut with something sharp & when I swallow it hurts more. I cant eat anything besides soup & jello. I have had a loss of appetite. I have chills. I have a muscle spasm in my neck. I feel tired all of the time. My throat & mouth does get extremely dry, no matter how much water & juice I drink. I have the worst headaches. My whole body aches. I cant go the docter cuz I dont have health insurance plus I've been going in to work so I wont lose my job. I've been researching on the net cuz I thought it was more then a flu & I came across a viral infection called " Infectious Mononucleosis " & I said damn, my symptoms are almost the exact same since I havent been to the docter I wouldnt know. btw here's the link to the info about Infectious Mononucleosis

http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10351.html

let me know if this helps cuz I'm still sick Crying or Very sad

CamaroGuy · Newbie Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

Kalmani,
Dude, if it is mono you really want to get it checked out. You will need an antiboitic, like penicillian or ampicillian.. best of luck

CamaroGuy · Newbie Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

Hi there KLsmith... Glad that you are feeling better. Strange thing with the glands.. They react to a number of things, and it seems once you have had something a little nastier, they seem to react quicker. (Which is probably a good thing). It has been a while since my thyroiditis has passed, but my lymphnodes, (glands) in my throat are still a little swollen, and have actually been a litte worse of the last number of days.. perhaps a bit of a cold... wishing you the best...

Throat Swelling! Need advice!

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