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How To Put My Anxious Mind At Ease- If Possible?
Question: Hello
I have an odd situation I would like a professional opinion on.
56 year old woman. Good health. History of breast cancer. Last treated 2011. Yearly checkups continue to show NED.
No medications except vitamins. Mild acid reflux, but no meds. No smoking, very occasional drinking, special occasions
Two nights ago, after swallowing vitamin, sharp terrible throat pain, But pill not stuck. Pain continued, not associated with swallowing. Woke at 2 in the, pain and aware throat was swollen on one side. Took two ibuprofen, which actually did seem to help the pain and then able to sleep.
In the am, light in back of throat showed ONE swollen tonsil- Palatine- on the left side. Pain has subsided and has not come back, but the one tonsil remains swollen. I went to a local clinic and a clinic doc looked at it and confirmed, yes, left tonsil swollen. But said no lesions, pitts, sign of blood. Also could find no swollen lymph nodes. Just to be safe, Covid test-- negative. No fever, nothing indicating strep. Recommended seeing ENT.
I will see an ENT, but it will be a bit before I can get in.
Getting rid of the elephant in the question, I am aware that a swollen left tonsil can be indicative of throat cancer. It would seem, however, that i have none of the other red flags. I don't know if that tonsil was swollen before or for how longer-- I don't typically look in the back of my throat uniless ill. The pain is gone and I don't feel as if my throat is swollen, but that tonsil clearly is. The one on the other side is barely visiible.
To put my nerves at ease until I can get a proper exam by an ENT, I wondered if you might have an opinion as to what else- what differentials- might be in play? The catalyst seems to have been the swallowed viitamin, but I've had them stick before and this was not the case. Why this swollen TONSIL?
Part of my unease is that I sing professionally and have a boatload of Xmas commitments coming up, so I'm eager for an answer.
I would appreciate any opinions, advice you might have to put my anxious mind at ease- if possible.
I have an odd situation I would like a professional opinion on.
56 year old woman. Good health. History of breast cancer. Last treated 2011. Yearly checkups continue to show NED.
No medications except vitamins. Mild acid reflux, but no meds. No smoking, very occasional drinking, special occasions
Two nights ago, after swallowing vitamin, sharp terrible throat pain, But pill not stuck. Pain continued, not associated with swallowing. Woke at 2 in the, pain and aware throat was swollen on one side. Took two ibuprofen, which actually did seem to help the pain and then able to sleep.
In the am, light in back of throat showed ONE swollen tonsil- Palatine- on the left side. Pain has subsided and has not come back, but the one tonsil remains swollen. I went to a local clinic and a clinic doc looked at it and confirmed, yes, left tonsil swollen. But said no lesions, pitts, sign of blood. Also could find no swollen lymph nodes. Just to be safe, Covid test-- negative. No fever, nothing indicating strep. Recommended seeing ENT.
I will see an ENT, but it will be a bit before I can get in.
Getting rid of the elephant in the question, I am aware that a swollen left tonsil can be indicative of throat cancer. It would seem, however, that i have none of the other red flags. I don't know if that tonsil was swollen before or for how longer-- I don't typically look in the back of my throat uniless ill. The pain is gone and I don't feel as if my throat is swollen, but that tonsil clearly is. The one on the other side is barely visiible.
To put my nerves at ease until I can get a proper exam by an ENT, I wondered if you might have an opinion as to what else- what differentials- might be in play? The catalyst seems to have been the swallowed viitamin, but I've had them stick before and this was not the case. Why this swollen TONSIL?
Part of my unease is that I sing professionally and have a boatload of Xmas commitments coming up, so I'm eager for an answer.
I would appreciate any opinions, advice you might have to put my anxious mind at ease- if possible.
Brief Answer:
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The most likely causes for the sudden pain are allergy, dryness, post-nasal drip, acid reflux, and sometimes infection or spasms.
2. It is common for one tonsil to appear larger than the other. I can vouch for that after having performed thousand of tonsillectomies. One tonsil often appears end-on and the other sideways.
3. Take multiple close-up images of your throat using the camera flash and upload them here. The back of the throat and tonsil area should be clearly visible and in focus. You can use the back of a spoon to gently depress the tongue. These images will help examine the tonsils remotely.
I hope that I have answered your query.
If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
There is no cause for worry.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for your query.
1. The most likely causes for the sudden pain are allergy, dryness, post-nasal drip, acid reflux, and sometimes infection or spasms.
2. It is common for one tonsil to appear larger than the other. I can vouch for that after having performed thousand of tonsillectomies. One tonsil often appears end-on and the other sideways.
3. Take multiple close-up images of your throat using the camera flash and upload them here. The back of the throat and tonsil area should be clearly visible and in focus. You can use the back of a spoon to gently depress the tongue. These images will help examine the tonsils remotely.
I hope that I have answered your query.
If you have any further questions, I will be available to answer them.
Regards.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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