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Hello- I Have A Concern Regarding A Lump Like Sensation When Ever I Swallow My Thyroid Test Results Were Normal What Tests Could I Do To Weed Out Possibility Of A Nodule Or Something Cancerous Growing? What Kind Of Doctor Or Specialist Should I See To Take Me Seriously?
Posted on
Sun, 12 Aug 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 12 Aug 2018
Answered on
Mon, 13 Feb 2023
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello- I have a concern regarding a lump like sensation when ever I swallow. I’ve had it since I developed allergies moving from California to Massachusetts. I’m not sure if it’s an allergy related thing (I take allergy medications religiously every day)- or a nodule growing down my throat. When I eat food , it’s uncomfortable to chew and swallow, move my neck, yawn, sneeze, drink or eat anything. It’s been a concern for awhile for about 3-4 years. It’s now starting to become more noticeable when ever I’m doing all these activities I listed. When I swallow there is a popping like noise only I can hear cause it’s very subtle. It feels like the lump is moving when ever I swallow. When I try to touch the area with my finger, I can feel and hear something popping/moving. It seems to hurt all the way down my tarecha on one side when I touch it. It’s not my Adam’s apple. I’ve been into the doctor before to get a thyroid blood test. My thyroid test results were normal. I was thinking it could possibly be related to my constant post nasal drip at night due to me using nose spray to relieve congestion, or some kind of lump or nodule growing... the intensity comes and goes and some days it feels worse than others. It sure feels like there is a lump there though when ever I swallow and even talk and makes my voice hoarse. There is pain when I touch the area above my thyroid near my lymph node. What tests could I do to weed out possibility of a nodule or something cancerous growing? What kind of doctor or specialist should I see to take me seriously?
Brief Answer:
feels like something is in throat
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Usually a sensation of a mass in your throat is not a symptom of allergy. Allergy symptoms include- red, itchy eyes, runny nose with clear secretions, coughing, wheezing. Chronic use of decongestant nasal spray has a reverse effect and the nose can swell. Do you smoke?
It is possible that there is a polyp in your throat or trachea. The best specialist to evaluate you at this point will be an ENT doctor who will be able to obtain X-ray and/or examine by putting a scope down your throat.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be happy to help.
Thanks.
Arnold Zedd, MD
feels like something is in throat
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Usually a sensation of a mass in your throat is not a symptom of allergy. Allergy symptoms include- red, itchy eyes, runny nose with clear secretions, coughing, wheezing. Chronic use of decongestant nasal spray has a reverse effect and the nose can swell. Do you smoke?
It is possible that there is a polyp in your throat or trachea. The best specialist to evaluate you at this point will be an ENT doctor who will be able to obtain X-ray and/or examine by putting a scope down your throat.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions, I will be happy to help.
Thanks.
Arnold Zedd, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I smoke marijuana occasionally. Nothing excessive though. I don’t smoke cigarettes ever. I have environmental allergies to dust and mold and live in a basement currently exposing me to what I’m allergic to constantly. How seriously could this lump effect my health? What could it most likely be basing it off of the things I described?
I went into an ent once and was treated very poorly because I used a nasal spray (afrin). He didn’t take me seriously and basically told me I was wasting his time and to stop using nasal spray... I can’t sleep without that at night and only use it once a day anyway...He scared me from ever seeing an ent again...
What should I tell the ENT the reason for appointment would be?
Another time a doctor has given me a “physical examination” by feeling the area that hurt and said “I’m fine there’s no lump”... making me feel stupid.
I can feel something there. Something tiny but big enough to make an impact.
I went into an ent once and was treated very poorly because I used a nasal spray (afrin). He didn’t take me seriously and basically told me I was wasting his time and to stop using nasal spray... I can’t sleep without that at night and only use it once a day anyway...He scared me from ever seeing an ent again...
What should I tell the ENT the reason for appointment would be?
Another time a doctor has given me a “physical examination” by feeling the area that hurt and said “I’m fine there’s no lump”... making me feel stupid.
I can feel something there. Something tiny but big enough to make an impact.
Brief Answer:
Patient's follow-up question
Detailed Answer:
If a symptom is worrisome to a patient, then it needs to be examined closely so that a reason for the symptom can be found and the proper treatment given. Yes, from what you have described it is possible that the sensation you feel could be a mass of some sort in your upper respiratory tract. If there is a mass, I would not be able to tell you whether it is cancerous or not. That is the reason for an ENT doctor to place an endoscope down your throat into your trachea to inspect and look for a growth. If a growth is found, a portion of it can be removed and examined by a pathologist for cancer.
Another reason leading me away from the diagnosis of allergy is your description of pain in a discrete, localized area. This does not sound like allergy.
At least try to stop the Afrin. Reduce the dose gradually. At first, take one-half spray into each nostril at bedtime every night. After the first week, reduce to one spray each side every other night for second week; then one-half spray every other night into each nostril for next week.
Then see if you can stop.
Additionally, place a warm(not hot) water humidifier next to your bed and allow the mist to blow over(not directly down on) your face to moisturize your nose. Drink plenty of fluids also.
You ought to locate another ENT physician who takes you seriously. Is there a nearby University Medical Center where you could be seen by a physician who is a member of the ENT Department?
I hope that I've been able to offer suggestions that will point you in the right direction for help.
If you do not have any clarifications you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health.
Arnold Zedd, MD
Patient's follow-up question
Detailed Answer:
If a symptom is worrisome to a patient, then it needs to be examined closely so that a reason for the symptom can be found and the proper treatment given. Yes, from what you have described it is possible that the sensation you feel could be a mass of some sort in your upper respiratory tract. If there is a mass, I would not be able to tell you whether it is cancerous or not. That is the reason for an ENT doctor to place an endoscope down your throat into your trachea to inspect and look for a growth. If a growth is found, a portion of it can be removed and examined by a pathologist for cancer.
Another reason leading me away from the diagnosis of allergy is your description of pain in a discrete, localized area. This does not sound like allergy.
At least try to stop the Afrin. Reduce the dose gradually. At first, take one-half spray into each nostril at bedtime every night. After the first week, reduce to one spray each side every other night for second week; then one-half spray every other night into each nostril for next week.
Then see if you can stop.
Additionally, place a warm(not hot) water humidifier next to your bed and allow the mist to blow over(not directly down on) your face to moisturize your nose. Drink plenty of fluids also.
You ought to locate another ENT physician who takes you seriously. Is there a nearby University Medical Center where you could be seen by a physician who is a member of the ENT Department?
I hope that I've been able to offer suggestions that will point you in the right direction for help.
If you do not have any clarifications you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish you good health.
Arnold Zedd, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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